19 June 2011
Genesis 1, Psalm 8
How beautiful is the literature of the Old Testament. The scriptures appointed for today demonstrate a balance and parallelism worthy of study by any aspiring writers, poets, or lyricists.
Take, for example, this first account of creation: in six acts, the first three parallel to the second three:
1. Light 4. Sun, moon and stars
2. Sea and Sky 5. Birds and fish
3. Earth, and plants 6. Animals, and everything
that creeps and crawls
and walks and stalks
upon the earth.
And people. It is fascinating coincidence to me that the first chapter of Genesis agrees with the modern scientific account in this respect: we are the latecomers. The second chapter’s creation story is different, but we’re not going there today. Let’s just remember that there is no conflict between science and religion, there never has been, really, until the early twentieth century when a small minority decided to take offense at Darwin. For most of Christian history, and for most Christians, both science and religion are approaches to understanding the universe. They ask different kinds of questions, and yet, often come to similar conclusions.
The choral response to each act of the creation story is , “it was good.” Before there was a concept of original sin, there was original blessing. Original blessing takes canonical precedence.
In Friday book group we are reading a book called Saving Paradise which talks about how Christians, for the first thousand years held that paradise was not some distant heaven above, that paradise was here on earth. It is this understanding that we lost, somewhere along the line. We lost, and the earth lost as a consequence. Hold that thought while we consider the psalm.
Psalm 8 is also a beautifully crafted piece of literature, built upon the framework of the first creation story. It’s a riff on the creation story. A riff, as I understand in musical terms is a musician’s take on a particular melody. Think jazz. Think of how the musicians take the solo in turns: the bassist, the keyboards, the saxophone, even the drums. Each has his or her own take on the melody. This psalm is somebody’s riff on the creation story. It moves in along in a similar groove, from the heavens, downward to the individual, and embellishes the personal implications of the general story.
What does it mean to be a little lower than God? What does it mean to be given dominion? The question remains unanswered, it echoes down through the ages and invites us to consider for ourselves, our place in the universe. What are the moral implications of dominion?
Some people seem to think that dominion is like being given the keys to mom and dad’s house, when they go away for the weekend, so they can have a party. They invite all their friends over, and then they trash the place! They can do whatever they want, right? Except, they seem to forget that mom and dad are coming home, eventually. And mom and dad are not going to be OK with this.
Actually, that metaphor can work, if we remember that mom and dad gave us the keys, because they trust us. They trust us to feed the fish, and look after the lawn. So if we find that our friends are digging up the lawn looking for treasure, if we find that our friends our mucking up the koi pond and killing the fish, it is our responsibility, as trusted caretakers, to do something about it.
Who are we as a church, to challenge Monsanto? Who are we to go after Big Oil, or Coal? We are the church, that’s who we are. We are a church that celebrates, and honors, all creation. We are a people called to care for creation.
Let us not forget that this is the paradise that God has created, and declared good; and to this paradise, to the fish and the birds and the beasts and all cattle, God has given us, for caretakers. So let us contemplate together, our identity as a church that celebrates paradise, and honors and protects all God’s creation. Amen.
I would like to acknowledge Rev. Linda Jaramillo, Executive Minister for Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ, for providing inspiration for this sermon, in her address to the Minnesota Conference Annual Meeting last weekend. Thank you.
