I have been going to church for many, many years. And, I have to say, this is not something I've ever heard preached from the pulpit before.
Bloomberg reports that, last night, executives from the big banks went to churches across London to spread the word that their billion dollar bonuses are actually inspired by biblical teachings. According to Goldman Sachs bigwig Brian Griffiths, Jesus' teachings were an "endorsement of self-interest." He went on to say, "we have to tolerate the inequality as a way to achieving greater prosperity and opportunity for all."
The term "inequality" doesn't even begin to describe the situation, though. Wall Street banks - Goldman Sachs included - are still paying out record bonuses in the billions of dollars. In fact, Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein was one of the highest paid executives in the country last year. All this while millions of Americans are filing for bankruptcy, foreclosures are at record high rates, and unemployment has skyrocketed - largely due to the risky behaviors of these big banks.
That's not just inequality, that's injustice.
I don't pretend to be an expert on religious teachings; and I wouldn't dare presume to know what Jesus thinks of Wall Street's behavior. I want, instead, to post a few Bible passages that address this subject directly:
35 ' If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.
36 'Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you.
37 'You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit. (Leviticus 25:35-37)
17 Who has withdrawn his hand from the poor And not received usury or increase, But has executed My judgments And walked in My statutes -- He shall not die for the iniquity of his father; He shall surely live! (Ezekiel 18:17)
10 "I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury!
11 "Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them." (Nehemiah 5:10,11)
It's up to us, regardless of our faith, to decide if we want to live in a country that allows this behavior to continue.
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From my http://johnturmel.com/poembibl.htm
Leviticus, in 25, verse 35's no jest:
"You must not lend him any money at an interest."
--
EZEKIEL
Ezekiel 3:18 adds responsibility,
God states his laws for life with his expected certainty:
"And when I tell the wicked man that "You will surely die,"
You will be held accountable if you don't warn the guy?
But if you speak up and he doesn't change his wicked way,
You will have saved yourself and he will be the one to pay."
In 18:5: "Suppose a man takes not much interest,
He takes no usury. He'll live! His actions I have blessed.
Suppose he has a son who takes excessive interest,
And lends at usury. He'll die! His actions I detest.
But if this son too has a son who doesn't do the same,
He does not take the pledge for loans, his greed he overcame.
He takes no usury nor interest that is too high,
He will not die for his father's sin, the soul that sins will die.
But if a wicked man turns from the sins he did commit,
He gives back what he took in pledge. His sins I will acquit.
Forgotten will be his offences when I come to judge,
Because of good things he does now, I will not hold a grudge.
But if a righteous man turns from my law to evil way,
None of his righteous deeds will count. He'll die! I do inveigh.
So cleanse yourselves of all your sins and cease to be such fools,
I take no pleasure in the death of men who break my rules."
Ezekiel declared that usury and interest,
Could have a different effect, there was a simple test.
If interest demanded is of something that can breed,
Such interest is payable and not sin I concede.
So if you lend a hundred head and ask to get two more,
That might not be excessive action that he would abhor.
But if you gain all of the calves and he still owes you some,
That would be judged excessive. That is more than maximum.
And if the interest is on some silver or some gold,
It's usury because there are no babies to behold!
It's interest if principal can breed to multiply,
It's usury if principal cannot so classify.
--
NEHEMIAH ABOLISHES INTEREST
In Nehemiah 5 we hear complaints by needy men,
Of the conditions that existed in the nation then.
Some said "We've had to mortgage all our vineyards and our fields,
To get grain during famine though they've had abundant yields."
Some others said "We've had to borrow money for the King,
Whose taxes on our fields and vineyards leave us not a thing."
Still others said "Their flesh and blood is of our family tree,
Yet our children suffer under yoke of slavery."
When Nehemiah heard them, anger great he could not mask,
The nobles and the rulers were the ones he took to task.
He called a great assembly where he chose to lay the blame,
On bankers, judges, politicians who had run the game:
"You are exacting usury of your own countrymen,
Unlike my men who freely lend to needy brethren.
What you are doing is not right, you must do as we do.
So "Stop exacting interest!" It is the Big Taboo.
Return their fields and vineyards and their houses and their grain,
And also all the usury, the whole illicit gain."
The nobles and the rulers said: "They will not have to pay.
We'll give them back all their possessions. We'll do what you say."
Prosperity resulted from his ban on interest,
"Remember me, O God, with favor" was his last request.
Watch out for many Bibles where the most important phrase,
Has been deleted from the text, the problem not to faze.
The message Nehemiah states is "Stop the interest,
And give them back what you have seized and it'll turn out best."
The newer versions of the Bible simply state "Atone,
And give them back their stuff." No talk of interest on loan.
Who chose to cut the answer out? Who played this evil role?
We know the ones who own the publishers have sole control.