Earth Day needed as much as ever

Our four-week emphasis on the environment ends with a number of resources for thoughtful theological reflection, from Word & World’'s careful, scholarly examination to Sojourners’ stirring calls to action. Together they provide a compelling rationale for why the environment should be a big issue for Christians and what we can do to help make sure our great-grandchildren live in a world cleaner and healthier than the one we leave behind.

This past week the nation observed Earth Day with mixed enthusiasm. Some commentators wondered whether Earth Day was really needed now that our nation enjoys demonstrably cleaner air and water. But they miss the point: We have an environment cleaner by some measures precisely because of widespread concern for the environment that resulted in the first Earth Day in 1970.

It was not a coincidence that the federal Clean Air and Clean Water acts were both passed in the 1970s. Pollution had reached a point where the public stood up and demanded action.

Now that a generation has taken a cleaner environment for granted and there is no longer a pressing outcry, some public officials want to dismantle environmental controls that cleaned things up in the first place. (Check out this week’s gleanings for editorials and stories about Earth Day.) It’s just this reason why it’s worth raising the green flag every April.

-Rob Blezard, Editor and Webmaster (webmaster@stewardshipoflife.org)

New This Week: April 26 - May 2

Jürgen Moltmann: Reconciliation with Nature
This fine essay by one of our era's pre-eminent Protestant theologians is just one in a classic edition of Word & Word, published by Luther Seminary, St. Paul. The issue provides in-depth scholarly treatment to the environment issues, including:
The Responsibility of Royalty: Genesis 1-11 and the Care of the Earth - James Limburg
The Weeping Mask: Ecological Crisis and the View of Nature - Vitor Westhelle
Environmental Concern and Economic Justice - Peri Rasolondraibe
Ecology, Feminism and Theology - Mary Ann Hinsdale
The Church's Role in Environmental Action - Calvin DeWitt

Leaf Composting on the Prairie
"Solid waste disposal facilities are at a premium. It becomes clear than that these facilities cannot afford to accept materials that can be easily composted.  But that's not the only to consider composting leaves! Composted leaves are a valuable resource. It can be used to fertilize lawns and gardens, as an excellent mulching material, and can even be utilized as part of a potting soil mix."  By the Rev. Kathleen Kinney, in the Lutheran Laity Movement Archives.

Down-to-Earth Theology
One of the most prophetic voices in American Christian thought, Sojourners devotes its entire March issue to the environment. Every article is rich, provocative, passionate and faithful. Highlights:
Consider the Turtles of the Field - Many evangelicals find themselves in an emerging theological habitat, where care of creation is central to mission.
Rockfish, Redfish, Stockfish, Foodfish - Seven biblical principles for the care of creation.
To Serve and Preserve - The Bible calls us to dominion over creation. Or does it? 
Sins of Emission  - No politician seriously believes that Americans are willing to deal with global warming. Is it too late to prove them wrong?  By Bill McKibben

No Time? Then It's Time To Pray
"For all of our talk about being justified by grace, sometimes we Lutherans function as if we think we are going to work ourselves into the kingdom.  If I just take on one more project or help one more person, then it will be enough. " In Dana Reardon's weekly reflection.

 Spiritual Circuit Breakers
"Did you ever consider pain as a blessing from God? Humans can invent devices that break or disconnect when continued use could cause damage. Motors have thermal switches that turn them off if they get so hot their coils could be damaged. Electrical circuits have fuses that blow. ... God has built into the human being devices that warn of dangerous physical activity. In Christians, God also builds in warnings of dangerous spiritual activity. God blesses us with warnings to "take a break" from questionable or dangerous activity. Paying attention is good." StewardLife, from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
NOTE: This is the last of the 43 lessons in the StewardLife series. Thanks to the LCMS for letting us link to them. They have been great!    --Webmaster