The Bible - both the Old and New Testaments - has more to say about 'forgiving debtors' than is heard in our sermons. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:1127) doesn't necessarily justify lending at interest. Rather, putting money in the bank to collect interest is likened to 'reaping where one has not sown.' Early 'church fathers' like Chrysostom, Clement, Tertullian, and Augustine encouraged generosity and debt forgiveness and condemned lending at interest.

Western Christians rarely think twice about borrowing at interest to purchase a house. While almost all of us take a firm line on sexual sin or foul language, most of us never, or rarely, forgive debts, we mostly lend money at interest, and we give away less than a tenth of our income.

In a world where the poor are getting poorer we may need to read our Master's instructions again.

Lord, forgive me for being selective about what I take literally in the Bible. Help me as I reflect on this to figure out what I should do to help the poor (and thereby be less embarrassed at the Great Judgment). Amen.