The Lingering Vulture of Debt in America and Beyond

The Year of Cancellation of Debts

What the Scriptures Say About All Your Outstanding Loans

(Deuteronomy chapter 15, verses 1-11) by Rev. Paul J. Bern

I am dedicating this weekly message to people everywhere who are in debt, which includes the majority of the adult population in the US, Canada, western Europe and Japan, among other places scattered across the planet. When I use the term ‘in debt’, I’m including mortgages, car loans, credit card debt, furniture, appliances, pawn shop and title loans, and whatever else you can think of. What do the Scriptures say about this? You’ll be very surprised at first, which will likely be followed by anger and outrage. First, let’s examine mortgages.

The Year for Canceling Debts

“1) At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 2) This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the Lord’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. 3) You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you.” (Deuteronomy 15, verses 1-3)

Paying Off a Mortgage? You’ve Been Had

All you who read or view this, if you’re trying to pay off a 30-year mortgage, you’ve been victimized. All of you who are mortgage holders are being ripped off right up in your faces. For many years you have worked diligently to repay your loans, only to find out as you read or view this that you’re being robbed, and that this has been going on in your lives for years, possibly many years. Capitalism used to be the best overall economic system in all of human history, but it has been abused to the point of being run into the ground. An example of how this is occurring can be found as we continue from the text I’m using.

Follow My Commandments for a Rich Life

4) However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5) if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.” (Deuteronomy 15, verses 4-6)

The Severity of Our Situation

Let’s contrast this with what has been happening within the US today. Thanks to rampant economic inequality, we have a situation where a little over 1% of the US population has firm control over 99% of the total wealth. America used to be the world’s economic powerhouse, but today she has a national debt exceeding $17 trillion dollars, an impossible sum to repay. Homelessness has become a real problem, especially in large cities. In the US today, 35 million people are hungry, or don’t know where there next meal will come from, and 13 million of them are children. If another country was doing this to our children, we’d be at war. The Bible tell us plainly in the next verse how all that money should be redirected.

Generosity Is a Virtue Too

“7) If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelite’s in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8) Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. 9) Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelite’s and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.” (Deuteronomy 15, verses 7-9)

A 21st Century Solution to an Age-Old Problem

When you substitute “fellow Americans” for “Israelite’s”, this passage fits the US to a tee. All that has to happen is for the top 1% to return a portion of their money, which was taken at the expense of the overwhelming majority of the population. Although this may be easier said than done, ultimately this is what is going to have to happen. Since the rich will undoubtedly refuse to surrender their ill-gotten wealth, legislation is currently being finalized known as “Universal Basic Income ”, and support for this is gradually building as time goes on. It is also being viewed as a solution to the need for a higher minimum wage, taking the burden of increasing wages off the backs of small business owners and taken over by governments at the state and federal level. In verse 9, a warning is found for those who think they can game this Biblical system at God’s expense. They “will be guilty of sin” of a particularly deliberate kind.

There Will Be No Stingy People in Heaven

The following 2 verses are a direct order from the Lord Jesus Christ: “10) Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11) There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelite’s who are poor and needy in your land.” If those who are able to render assistance to someone in need would only do so, much of the ongoing pandemic of poverty would go away by itself. All we have to do is to simply obey these two commandments just above, and that would put forth an enormous, comprehensive solution to homelessness and hunger.

If We Continue As We Are, Disaster Awaits Us All

As it stands right now, we as a united people are all that is standing between prosperity and despair. But before this can happen, we have to unite as an American people and demand that real change takes place with respect to indebtedness. We must boycott 30 year mortgages, car loans that take longer to pay off than the vehicle will last, and let’s not forget about our student loans while we’re at it. As it stands right now, If rent, mortgage and food prices keep going up at the current rate, all of us will be homeless within a year or two.