Is Sin Debt the Same as Student Loan Debt?
This morning a woman on Twitter was making fun of worship leaders who would now be pulling songs from their worship sets about God forgiving our debt because of this student loan issue. It was a clear attempt to illuminate hypocrisy in Christians for trusting God for grace while also being unhappy with the Biden administration’s decision about college loans.
At first glance, it would appear to be checkmate. Ouch, right?
Well, I don’t think so. :)
I truly believe to compare the incredible grace that leads to eternal salvation with a political college loan debt issue is ultimately an incredibly fallacious and dishonest argument constructed only to shut down conversation. The two are not the same thing at all, even if some similar themes exist. Here’s why:
In both scenarios, the bill must be paid somewhere. Always. In regard to our sin, The Father didn’t snap His fingers and make our sin just disappear. The debt securely existed, it must be paid, and somebody (either the debtor themselves or somebody else) has to take on that debt. In an eternal plan from before the world was made, God the Son willingly went to the cross to pay the debt in full for all those who would believe. His sacrifice was a once-for-all final atonement for His people forever. God loves humankind, and made a way for them to be saved (John 3:16). It’s the most incredible thing that’s ever happened in the history of the universe.
This is where I get sideways. Comparing this incredible, mind-blowing, selfless, loving, sacrificial truth with a decision made by a country that’s already in severe debt and only adding to it every day in a move to gain some sort of political points is NOT the same thing. The comparison is not made in good will. It’s a gotcha, and a pretty weak one when you actually dig into it. I really believe it to be a disgusting and even blasphemous insult to compare the two, and from what I’ve seen, it’s just an ad hoc response to shut down the concern of those who bring up any potential problems with the government’s decision. Remember, this stuff all comes back to left and right, teams and tribes. Don’t forget that. The logic exists, but it gets incredibly obscured by political affiliation.
But to say, “You think it’s unfair to forgive this debt, but God’s grace is unfair and you’re good with that - therefore, you’re a hypocrite and college loan forgiveness is good and right,” is a clear false dichotomy (a fallacious argument used to shut down the opposing viewpoint), and it’s a pretty slimy one too. Comparing God’s eternal plan of salvation to a potentially irresponsible political move? Really not ok, and I just won’t hear it.
I do keep hearing about “fairness” though. Personally, I don’t think the issue is fairness in either situation. Neither are fair, and that’s accurate. It’s about willingness. The idea of God forgiving our debt has everything to do with Jesus willingly taking the debt for us. It has nothing to do with college loans being applied to the unwilling tax payer. To suggest otherwise is just a bad argument meant to shut down conversation. Don’t be pulled in. Keep every single song about our debt to God being forgiven in there, because it was accomplished by Christ, and has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with college loans. Incredible I even have to say that! That we would be confused here is a work of the enemy.
It’s ok to discuss issues of governmental policy in a reasonable way that affect people’s finances and wellbeing in the country we live. It doesn’t make you a hypocrite. The hope would be that we could converse about these things without our misunderstood religious beliefs thrown in our face. It’s all meant to confuse you and shut you down. Don’t take the bait.
Blessings!
