(RNS) — Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced a sweeping plan to address the US student loan crisis, including provisions for debt forgiveness and an extension of the federal payment pause.
This announcement generated polarizing Christian responses on social media with #studentloanforgiveness as a top trending hashtag on Twitter. Many Christians applauded the proposal, citing manumission laws from the Pentateuch such as, “Every seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts,” (Deuteronomy 15:1, all Bible quotations from NRSV). Others condemned the proposal, stating that it violates responsibility and equity, and turning to such texts as, “The wicked borrow, and do not pay back” (Psalm 37:21). One of the more prominent Christian voices against debt forgiveness, Albert Mohler, claimed that student loan…
