By Klaus Issler; part three of a series. Reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. When friends learned I was studying lending in the Old Testament, some asked: What about “payday loans”? Let’s see how the Old Testament’s teaching about loan ethics applies to this controversial practice. As we have seen, one component of Old Testament generosity for the working poor is loans to…
By Klaus Issler; part two of a series. Reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. What implications can be drawn from the Old Testament Torah teaching on lending and interest passages (Exodus 22:25, Leviticus 25:35-36, and Deuteronomy 23:19-20)? The previous article in this series showed how access to loans without interest is an important component of generosity and compassion for the working poor in…
By Vernée Wilkinson, digital marketing manager, Theology of Work Project As we step into the new year, we often welcome resolutions and reflections. We look at the year behind, and cast hopes and goals into the new year – and even the new decade – ahead. This fall, the Theology of Work Project launched a new podcast, Making It Work,…
By Klaus Issler; part one of a series. Reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. The question of what the Old Testament has to say about lending money at interest has engaged the attention of Bible scholars for centuries. In a recent series of articles, I presented a case that the three passages in the Torah on lending money at interest (Exodus 22:25, Leviticus 25:35-36 and Deuteronomy…
By Brian Fikkert; reprinted from Made to Flourish, by permission of The Chalmers Center. At the Chalmers Center, we long to see people who are struggling with material poverty restored to all that God has created them to be as his image-bearers. That’s why we work to equip churches and related ministries to more effectively walk alongside people living in…
By Meryl Herr; excerpted from The Four Mondays of Advent: Daily Meditations on Faith and Work. Editor’s note: This week only, The Four Mondays of Advent is available at the special introductory price of $2.99; the price goes up on November 12. Peace “For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’ For…
By Klaus Issler; part four of a series. Reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. Three main passages in the Torah address the topic of lending and interest: Exodus 22:25: If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor…you shall not exact interest from him. Leviticus 25:35 and 37: If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with…
By Leah Archibald, reprinted from Made to Flourish. What’s your measure for success at work? Somewhere in the back of my mind I carry around a little scorecard for success at work. “How was your day today?” my husband will ask me over dinner. To answer his question, I take out my little mental scorecard and review how many boxes…
Reprinted from Regent College. Since May 1, ReFrame has been available for free streaming at reframecourse.com. And now we’re pleased to announce that free downloads are also available! Our Spanish, French, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese translations, as well as our regular and subtitled English versions, can all be downloaded online for free. It’s easy: simply visit this page, enter your email address, and hit subscribe. Once we…
By Klaus Issler; part three of a series. Reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. This series wrestles with the question: Does the Old Testament teach that charging interest on a loan is sinful? Deuteronomy 23:19 states: “You shall not charge interest on loans [nāšak II, verb] to your brother, interest [nešek, noun] on money, interest [nešek] on food, interest [nešek] on anything that…
The Green Room 