This blog is about PayDay loans.
A widow living on $500 a month became ill. She couldn’t pay her medical bills and still meet her basic cost of living. She didn’t want to burden her children so she got a “payday loan”, thinking that when she was well enough she could earn some extra money by sewing and selling tamales. She never got well. The stress of the illness and the worry of a loan spiraling out of control cost the widow her home, her self-reliance and eventually her mental well-being.”
In Hebrew and Christian scriptures the prophets and Jesus proclaimed God’s will for economic justice for the poor. The ‘poor’ were the economically poor, the vulnerable and marginalized citizens.
The prophets and Jesus challenged those who acquired and maintained their riches through dishonesty, exploitation, greed, stinginess, or violence. Jeremiah declared, “Your eyes and your heart are only on dishonest gain . . . Jesus condemned how we become rich and what we do with our riches that either oppress or maintains the oppression of the poor.
Today, these messages of the prophets speak to high interest rates of Pay Day Loans, charges by check cashing businesses and high overdraft rates of banks. CCO’s first target is Pay Day Loans and the legislators who co-operate with them by refusing to seriously consider legislating more fair and just interest rates.
Our legislators who take the money of the lobbyists for their campaign coffers are also addressed by Jeremiah and Jesus. Isaiah proclaimed “Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves, everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. (Legislators who work for the lobbyists money, more than the people who vote for them.) Ezekiel declared, “It’s officials . . . are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives for dishonest gain.”
Obrey Hendricks says it well, The Gospel of John “portrays Jesus as rearticulating humanity’s relationship with God, . . . .upon God’s largesse and loving generosity” This was also the Hebrew understanding, before Jesus, but not presently PRACTICED. Obrey continues, “In this divine economy, the haves care for have-nots, the rich for the poor, those who have bread share with those who have none; those in power are obligated to do their best to fulfill the needs of the those entrusted to their care (and for us) Obrey says, “ those who profess to represent God concentrate on giving to the people, rather than what they can get from them. After all, if the peoples needs are holy, then fulfilling them is a holy act, a holy offering to God.”
OUR RESPONSIBILITY
The 7th Tactic of Jesus, according to Hendricks is, Don’t Just Explain the Alternative, Show It. Or, “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of ACTION.”
We who portray ourselves as believing that God’s will is for liberating the poor from oppression, exploitation, and being on the side of justice, have two responsibilities.
One responsibility is to speak truth to power in our legislative halls; for them to listen to biblical prophets and Jesus; to do justice by legislating interest rates on Pay Day Loans no higher than 36% APR.
Our second responsibility is not to EXPLAIN THE ALTERNATIVE and expect someone else to do it. We need to SHOW IT BY OUR OWN ACTION.
In Kansas City, a coalition of FDIC, community organizers, banks and other financial institutions, congregations and social service agency are developing a small dollar loan program as an alternative to Pay Day Loans. More will be posted as information is available.
