Lutheran Social Services Under Fire

On Sunday, I got home from preaching about the Feast Day of the Presentation to find people across social media in a state of disbelief and outrage about remarks made about Lutheran Social Services, with Mike Flynn accusing the group of laundering money. Good grief. It would be laughable if I didn't know so many people would take this seriously.

I've worked for LSS in my youth, and I have continued to be part of groups that partner with them. I have seen the good work that they do. I am also old enough to remember that many of these social service agencies grew bigger as past presidents like Reagan cut government services saying that religious groups should be taking care of the needs of impoverished citizens. And now, after decades of doing that, there's criticism and blow back/up.

It's flabbergasting to watch the situation in Washington, D.C.--as I'm sure the ones doing the breaking up of government want it to be.  I am interested in what happens to the Department of Education.  I am irked by what is happening at USAID.  I am convinced it's not about saving money, no matter what these DOGE folks say.  These are the most underfunded parts of government.  If you want to save money consequences be damned, set your sights on the Department of Defense.

This is the strangest time in U.S. history that I have ever seen, and I am not thinking I will see normal times again in my lifetime.

But let me remind myself of past times of poor prospects that suddenly brightened.  Let me remember the fall of the wall that separated East and West Germany.  Let me remember Nelson Mandela being released from prison.

Let me continue to do what I can:  taking the longer view, making phone calls, making art.  This morning's reading from Psalm 37:  34-40 gave me hope (posterity for the peaceable!):

Wait for the Lord and keep to the Lord's way,
and the Lord will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on the destruction of the wicked.


35 I have seen the wicked oppressing
and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.
36 Again I passed by, and they were no more;
though I sought them, they could not be found.


37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is posterity for the peaceable.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.


39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
the Lord is their refuge in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and rescues them;
the Lord rescues them from the wicked and saves them
because they take refuge in the Lord.