Harsh Words for Martin Luther (Words of Hope for Haiti)
Like everyone else, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about Haiti this week. But not so much about the tragedy, more about the tragedy before the tragedy. The slaughter in Haiti wasn’t really caused by an earthquake, it was caused by economic exploitation. And that got me to thinking about Thomas Munzer.
Munzer was a German Anabaptist Theologian contemporary with Martin Luther – and quite the troublemaker. The two clashed severely over the increasing privatization of property and practice of usury – issues that led to a major tragedy in 1524-1525 called the Peasant’s War that resulted in the death of 100,000 people. Here are some of Munzer’s thoughts on Luther’s economic proclamations:
Luther says the poor people have enough in their faith. Doesn’t he see that usury and taxes impede the reception of the faith? He claims that the Word of God is sufficient. Doesn’t he realize that men whose every moment is consumed in the making of a living have no time to learn to read the Word of God? The Princes bleed the people with usury and count as their own the fish in the sea, the bird in the air, the grass of the field, and Dr. Liar says, “Amen!” What courage has he, Dr. Pussyfoot, the new pope of Wittenburg, Dr. Easychair, the basking sycophant? (from Here I Stand)
Munzer rightly understood that there is no real separation between sacred and secular and that economics is a realm of ethics, not science. There is no salvation without food, shelter, clothing and health. I’m glad to see outpourings of mercy toward Haiti – that’s what is needed right now. But what comes next? Will the Church be so quick to rally on behalf of just and sustainable economic work for the most devastated nation on earth?
(For a good example of that kind of work, please check out Plant With Purpose)
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