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…
To mark the occasion of Martin Luther King Day, we are reposting this article from our archives. It was originally part one of two; read part two here. The post originally ran on Feb. 6, 2018. “The American ideal of racial progress is measured by how fast I become white.” James Baldwin As a white person I’ve never been very cognizant…
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 Lisa Slayton; part four of a series. Reprinted from The Wholeness Journey. Last time we examined Myth #2: that a life of comfort and ease will somehow magically occur once we’ve “figured out our calling.” Tied very closely to this is our broken and reductionistic understanding of “God’s will.” Myth #3: God’s will for me is a job, or house, or…
Earlier this summer, I joined the launch team for Jeff Haanen’s An Uncommon Guide to Retirement with the goal of getting a review out to you all on this blog as part of the book’s launch. Unfortunately I then broke my nose, which is not a recommended productivity technique – so now I am late to the party. Sorry, Jeff! If you…
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…
By Lisa Slayton; part three of a series. Reprinted from The Wholeness Journey. MYTH #2: CLARITY OF CALLING BRINGS EASE AND COMFORT This series was first presented as a talk to college seniors and young 20-somethings. If the #1 Myth is ‘Pursue your Passion’ and ‘Make an Impact’, then Myth # 2 will unpack further why this is problematic and the implications…
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…
By Lisa Slayton; part two of a series. Reprinted from The Wholeness Journey. MYTH #1: PURSUE YOUR PASSION MYTH #1: You should pursue your passion and find your dream job. This is a big one, and has a related Myth – Myth #1.1, that you should seek a job that “makes an impact.” There is a commonly held adage that furthers this myth:…
The Green Room 