This memory from the morning has come back to me as I have been preparing the sermon this Sunday. Psalm 8 speaks both of our distance from God and our closeness to God. As creatures who are "a little lower than God, and crowned...with glory and honor" (vs. 5), we humans are in a particular role of responsibility. Created in the image of a merciful and loving God, we are called to live like the One after and by whom we were created. We have been "given...dominion over the works of [God's] hands" and have "all things under [our] feet" (vs. 6). So what does all this mean when we are faced with the question of whether to stomp an ant walking across our path? Is it wrong, or does it even matter? What does/should our particular relationship with God and our responsibility for creation shape the small and significant decisions we make about how to interact and coexist with the rest of the world? This question seems to apply to so many things going on right now:
- illegal aliens
- war
- "fracking" to produce fuel
- political disagreements
- making personal sacrifice to give to tornado victims
If we refuse to work with one group of people because they disagree with us, does it matter? If we only damage a small portion of the earth, does that matter? If we share the love of God our Creator with one person, does it matter?
If we just smash one ant, does it matter?
Julie,
ReplyDeleteI have written a paper on Human Responsibility as Part of God's Creation. Your post reminds me of my paper, but it also made me think of something else.
So often we speak of "mankind" and of "creation" as if they are two different things. Or, we just disregard the people who are different from us, and never consider that they are part of creation just as we are.
And all of us are "in the image of God." Yes, even "them," whoever that may be.
Thanks for your thoughts, Joe! I would like to read your paper sometime.
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