The Story of the People

I think the story that needs to be told about the people in our service is how many of the people in the Washington neighborhood, especially those that I see each and every time I work the Open Closet, are struggling to meet everyday needs. There are many fortunate people in the Dubuque area and these people receiving the free clothing appreciate so much that a basic need is given to them and it is one less thing to worry about. Unfortunately, there are more needs that these people have, and only they know if they are being met. They need a roof over their head and food in their stomachs and we do not know if those needs are being met. I believe that the community and St. John’s are doing a great job of caring for the less fortunate in the community by clothing them with the clothing at the open closet and by serving meals. I believe that more could be done.

This past Friday night I went to see “The Blind Side.” This is a movie that tells the amazing story of Michael Oher. Michael's mom abused drugs and he was taken from her at the age of seven. He rarely saw her after that. He was in and out of foster homes and occasionally slept on his friends couch. His friend’s dad got his friend and him into a Christian school. He attended this school and shortly after they started, he heard his friend’s mom talking about his burden on the family and Michael took to the streets. Everyone at the school knew him as big Mike and while walking in the cold and rain with only a t-shirt and shorts on, he was picked up by a very well off family whose kids attended the same Christian school as Mike. The let him sleep on the couch as long as he wanted to, bought him clothing, and eventually gave him a room and a life where he did not have to scrounge for his basic needs. He started playing football at that high school, went on to play at Ole Miss, and now is a Rookie in the NFL. It is amazing what people can do with resources. This family has been a great blessing on Michael and watching his story moved me to tears. I am so fortunate to have my basic needs met and I will be the first one to admit that I take them for granted each and every day. I wish I could be to someone as this family was to Michael Oher.

From watching this story, I empathized so much. If I had the resources and money that this family did, I would do exactly what they did. I think by telling the story of Michael Oehr’s life, more people are aware of the needs surrounding them. It is in our back yard and we do not even realize it. I think if we told the story of the people in the Dubuque community to those more fortunate in the community, we could get more people to help them out with their basic needs.

Nussbaum would agree with this. She believes that if we tell the story of people who are silent, that their voices will be heard. We can do this in the Dubuque community. She believes that literature builds compassion. The readers would have compassion for the people that are struggling to meet their basic needs. She also believes that this would enhance the understanding of human beings. It would also make us aware of our own vulnerability. This sounds kind of negative when I read that word, but I do not mean it in a negative context. She also believes that we live in a society that we urgently need to understand and I do not feel as if everyone understands the struggles of these people when their daily needs are met. We also could gain understand of why people are different than us. Awareness of cultural differences is essential in order to promote respect for another, and this is an essential foundation for dialogue.

The Lutheran Church (ELCA) vs. Catholic Church

There are a lot of differences between the Catholic Church and the ELCA. The Catholic Church is much older than the ELCA and the ELCA was a church that broke off from the Catholic Church because they did not agree with some of their teachings, practices, etc. The Catholic Church also has a papacy which is different from the ELCA. The Lutheran Church does not have a hierarchy like that. There are some beliefs in the Catholic Church such as the Nicene Creed that is said during mass. The Lutherans do not have this.

A big difference between the Catholic and Lutheran church is the sacraments. The Catholic Church observes seven sacraments. They are: Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the sick, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Holy Orders, and Holy Matrimony. The Lutheran Church only observes Baptism and Communion. The Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church both observe communion but there is a major difference. Catholics believe in transubstantiation and Lutherans do not. This is the belief that the bread and wine is actually changed to the body and blood of Christ. The ELCA has an open communion and the Catholic Church does not. If you are Catholic, you cannot participate in communion.

Another big difference is the role of women. Women play a much bigger role in the Lutheran church because they are allowed to. In the Catholic Church women are not allowed to be priests. Lutheran women are allowed to be pastors.

In the Catholic Church, beliefs are very black and white. When it comes to abortion, there is no room for it. From the “womb to the tomb” a life must be respected. Life has dignity and this must be respected. Catholics also believe in a just war, but they also believe that we have never had one. Lutheran’s know that sin is present in the world and therefore believe that war is going to happen. This was apparent in the readings as well. There were fewer references in the Catholic religion about recognizing sins. Catholic’s believe that it is okay to be homosexual but is wrong to act on it. Therefore they cannot live together. In the Lutheran Church, homosexuals can live together as far as I know.

One common theme between the two churches is that on the idea of immigration. Both churches were very active in helping those affected by the raid in Postville. They both believe that everyone has human dignity and should be able to make the life that they want. Both churches are also very active in helping the poor in the community.

The Lutheran Church (ELCA) vs. Presbyterian Church

I think that there are quite a few similarities with the Lutheran Church and Presbyterian Church but there are also some differences. In the sense of institution, I believe that there is a big difference. I do not see the influence of government in the role of the Lutheran Church. I see this more in the Presbyterian Church. The Presbyterian Church has a positive view of government and social institutions. They also have commitment to order and orderliness. They draw members from more educated groups that have had a certain access to power. This struck me, because up until the readings and presentation I always believed Catholicism did that. This might just be me, but I see Catholic’s as well educated and well off in life. That is just my stereotype I guess. One other thing that was mentioned in the area of institution is that even though they came from more educated groups and had access to power, they are also concerned with defending the rights of the poor. They also believe that God alone is the Lord of the conscience.

The Presbyterian Church says that people are saved through faith not works and that works are a manifestation of faith. The Lutheran Church would agree with this. Another thing that the Lutheran Church would agree with, as well as the other denominations, is the idea of human dignity and protecting the poor. This has been a common theme throughout our discussions.

One thing that I believed was different was the government within the church. The government in the Presbyterian Church had sessions compromised of pastors and elders. A presbytery is a basic unit of government within their church. They have meeting that consist if equal amounts of ministers and elders. I do not know who is in attendance at the synod meetings in the Lutheran Church but Pastor Jay said nothing about people from the church being present. The government in the Presbyterian Church is more similar to Catholicism than Lutheranism. One thing that is opposite of what Catholics believe is that everyone has an individual conscience which has a supreme authority over popular thinking.

The Presbyterian Church has a similar stance on social issues in general with the Lutheran Church. Contrary to Catholicism, social issues are not so spelled out on what the response by the church should be. When it comes to the issue of abortion, the Presbyterian Church believes that the issue is personal and that people are empowered to make a moral decision on whether or not to end a pregnancy. They believe that the decision must be based on scripture, faith and Christian ethics. They also believe that in any choice that we make, we are accountable to God but he offers forgiveness. This seems to be a contradiction. I believe that both are true but it kind of seems like they are getting around the issue, but again, that is my personal belief. The Lutheran church believes that the issue is complex and that the mother’s life is more important. The Lutheran Church seems to spell out specific instances rather than general beliefs.

Another similarity that the Lutheran Church and Presbyterian Church have is that I believe that they are more realistic than Catholicism. On page 35 of the first article that we read it says “At the same time, there is the “realistic” awareness that no human institutions or authorities may claim absolute authority. Because of human sinfulness power may become corrupted…” This agrees with what Lutherans believe. They have clauses to account for the fact that we live in a fallen world and they accept that. This is very different from the Catholic Church.