The news regarding college loan forgiveness has sparked A LOT of chatter on social media {and I imagine among people in real time} People on both sides of this issue share their feelings openly on social media. To be honest, I do not need one more divisive topic in my life right now. People on both sides will double down and refuse to listen to each other.
I'm blessed that I do not have any outstanding school loans. However, anyone who has known me or has followed me on social media will know my views on this topic {hint, my views are based on Jesus of Nazareth's teachings in the Gospels}
I do not wish to further divide my dear readers by tacking school loan debt relief. Rather, I want to look at what Jesus says about debt forgiveness and what the word " debt" might have meant in His time. We modern American capitalists define the word " debt' as money owed to another, but perhaps Our LORD might have used another word that got translated into " debt".
Let us take a look at how Luke tells the story of Jesus showing the disciples how to pray.
" ... give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our SINS , as we forgive those who SIN against us...
for we forgive everyone INDEPTED to us..." {Luke 11:3-4 NRSV}
According to my source, The Jewish New Testement: New Revised Stanndard Version, the Aramaic word " hav" can be translated to either " sin" or " debt". In rabbinic literature, sins were considered debts against God.
Hmm. Sin= debt against God.
Christ, by His death and resurrection, paid this sin-debt.
If we Christ-followers in the 21st century return to the original language of the text and see it as perhaps the original hearers would have understood Jesus' teachings about sin, and what forgiveness we are to pray for, we might understand that our modern sensibilities cloud the Scripture.
Our economic system gives us a lens that sees "debt" as only money {or other forms of payment owed for goods or services. Given our capitalistic sensibilities, it is natural that we think as debt as some payment one owes another.
If we look at Jesus' definition of " dept" as a debt of sin to God-- a debt that everyone owes, then perhaps the conversation can be less about money and more about forgiving each other from sins that we all commit daily.
The prayer that Christ teaches goes on to say
" for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial...
Maybe the lesson surrounding the college loan forgiveness discussions can take on a more big-picture view now and in the future. ow can we collectively forgive ourselves and others for the debt of sin that we make each other carry for a long time?
In the Name of the Holy Three...
Amen.
Sarah McCarren
8/25/22
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