Some scholars argue that the most significant archeological find of the Reformation happened when they discovered Martin Luther’s toilet.
Calling it his “secret place,” it is thought that Luther did most of his writing while he battled chronic constipation.
While modern science may have been able to cure his reformational angst with pills and tonics, it was fear that paralyzed his bowels.
Luther carried the fear that he would go to hell deeply in his gut.
So when Luther had his breakthrough realization that he was freed in Christ to serve, that there was nothing he could do to screw up the salvation promised to him in his baptism and fulfilled by Christ on the cross, I imagine that the “a ha” came from inside his guts, which started to become unloosed (the literal translation of the Greek word used by Jesus for forgiveness in the Gospels).
This Fourth of July holiday, I’ve been thinking about how the traditional American understanding of freedom compares to the Lutheran understanding of freedom.
In contemporary American politics, it is much easier to find people who are paralyzed by fear, or paralyzing others with their rhetoric to be afraid of their neighbors, than people making gutsy on-the-record efforts to ensure that all Americans are not only free, but that we are the most free when we are seeking wholeness and health for all our neighbors, regardless of nationality, ability to obtain official paperwork, identification, a mailing address, work or any other difference real or perceived.
Even if we were able to imagine an America that lived up to the ideals crafted in our Constitution or Bill of Rights, they are still only focused on individual freedom.
Justice for all
Lutheran freedom seeks corporate freedom, encouraging communities that become kin as they share communion with each other to be like the widow searching for a lost coin, relentless in our pursuit of justice for anyone who is labeled “the least” by society.
Any parent who has advocated for their child when it seems like the world is against them, knows what it’s like to be compelled by their gut. We of the ELCA are called to be people ever learning and listening to the needs of the world so that we can become mindful and train our Lutheran guts to act without hesitation when we are called to be God’s hands, heart or conscience in the world.
Beyond this, during the weekend of celebrating freedom, let us rejoice that our Lutheran freedom is given to us as a gift without need of war to create or defend it, a majority vote to decide who it applies to, electrified walls to contain it or the need to be blind to poverty, racism and all the other ism’s that prevent us from truly feeling free.
Let us join in the chorus of ELCA congregations around the country that will be praying for the members of our armed forces, police officers, fire fighters, politicians, all civil servants and many others.
And though I know it sounds strange, next time you visit the bathroom, remember that faith and a real sense of forgiveness can come from the most ordinary and sometimes from unsanitary places. Be open to the ways that God may be calling you to unloose.
Megan M. Rohrer is an ELCA pastor called by four congregations, who has served as a missionary to the homeless in San Francisco since 2002.
I was initially not going to respond to this post, but it kept working its way back to the front of my brain. So decided that, maybe if I respond I can get it out of my brain for good. So here goes.
Come on, really? There has got to be better way to associate the Gospel of our Lord than to associate it with a bowel movement!
There, I feel cleaner now anyway. Hope this works.
Sorry, but this reminds me of the graphic in this month's The Lutheran Magazine -- the pastor with a toilet plunger in her hand and tp wrapped around her feet. (Shouldn't we have just a bit more respect for our clergy?)
Karen V.
When one compares the Greek word for “unloosed”, in relation to what was used by our Lord for our forgiveness in the Gospels, to a long overdue release of human excrement from Luther’s guts; I ask myself, really, is that the image the good Pastor Rohrer wants to portray?
Far be it from me to disrespect anyone, especially clergy. And I am never an advocate to eliminate speech. As far as I’m concerned I would like as many people as possible read this blog and decide for themselves if this is the type of writing they can relate to.
All I was saying in my comment was “that’s not for me”. Think about it, what other bodily functions can we expect to hear about next from the clergy when relating something to the word of our Lord?
I don’t like seeing a likeness of mother Mary with baby Jesus made of elephant dung or a crucified Jesus in a jar of urine either. Some call that art, but it’s not for me. No disrespect intended.
Davebob -- I'm new at this commenting thing, and maybe I wasn't clear enough with my first "this." I meant Rohrer's post -- not your comment! I like your comments!
Sorry Karen V.
My bad! Thanks for correcting me. In that case…never mind. ;o)
John Viola,
I’ve read Luther, but by no means am I an expert. And just because I’m Lutheran, does not mean I think Luther is flawless. If Luther ever associated our Lord’s words, with regards to “unloosing” forgiveness on creation, with going to the bathroom, I would take issue with him as well. Unlike many, Luther is not the all in all for me. He was just a man. I write “he” or “him” with a small “h” when discussing him. I find it funny, and not just a little sad, how quick we are to quote Luther, or try to “imagine” what he was thinking on a certain issues, and all you hear is crickets when what he had to say offends. I guess we all look for Luther to on our side, and when he’s not we don’t know who Luther is.