Forgive Debts

Forgive Debts: Practical Guide

This page provides practical guides for forgiving debts—both personal debts and working for economic structures that reduce exploitation. Debt forgiveness is central to Jesus’ teachings and connects directly to economic justice.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” - Matthew 6:12

Scripture Foundation

Key Passages:

Why Debt Forgiveness Matters

Jesus taught that we must forgive debts as we have been forgiven. This is not just about personal forgiveness—it’s about economic justice. Debt structures can be exploitative, and we are called to address them.

Personal Debt Forgiveness

Forgiving Personal Debts

What This Means:

  • Release others from what they owe you
  • Don’t hold debts over people’s heads
  • Practice generosity and mercy

Getting Started:

  • Identify debts owed to you
  • Pray for the ability to forgive
  • Release the debt
  • Practice generosity

Going Deeper:

  • Make debt forgiveness a regular practice
  • Create structures for debt forgiveness in your community
  • Support others in forgiving debts

See Also: Jesus on Forgiveness

Receiving Debt Forgiveness

What This Means:

  • Accept forgiveness when offered
  • Don’t take advantage of generosity
  • Pay forward the forgiveness you receive

Getting Started:

  • Be open to receiving forgiveness
  • Express gratitude
  • Pay forward the forgiveness

Community Debt Relief Programs

Starting a Debt Relief Program

Step 1: Identify Needs

  • What debt issues exist in your community?
  • Who is struggling with debt?
  • What resources are available?

Step 2: Gather a Team

  • Find others who want to help
  • Share the vision
  • Divide responsibilities

Step 3: Create a Structure

  • How will you provide relief?
  • What are the guidelines?
  • How will you fund it?

Step 4: Launch

  • Start small
  • Learn as you go
  • Adjust as needed

Step 5: Sustain and Grow

  • Build relationships
  • Create systems
  • Expand gradually

See Also: Community, Community Projects

Supporting Existing Programs

Ways to Support:

  • Donate to debt relief organizations
  • Volunteer with programs
  • Advocate for debt relief policies
  • Raise awareness

Resources:

Alternatives to Predatory Lending

Understanding Predatory Lending

What It Is:

  • Lending practices that exploit borrowers
  • High interest rates
  • Unfair terms
  • Targeting vulnerable populations

Why It Matters:

  • It’s exploitative and unjust
  • It traps people in cycles of debt
  • It violates Jesus’ teachings on economic justice

Action Steps:

  • Learn about predatory lending in your community
  • Support alternatives
  • Advocate for regulations
  • Create alternatives

See Also: Economic Justice, Policy

Creating Alternatives

Alternatives Include:

  • Community lending circles
  • Interest-free loans
  • Debt forgiveness programs
  • Financial education

Getting Started:

  • Research existing alternatives
  • Partner with organizations
  • Start small
  • Build gradually

See Also: Community Projects

Economic Structures That Reduce Exploitation

Working for Economic Justice

What This Means:

  • Supporting policies that address predatory lending
  • Working for economic structures that reduce exploitation
  • Advocating for debt relief
  • Creating alternatives

Action Steps:

  • Learn about economic justice issues
  • Support organizations working for justice
  • Advocate for policies
  • Create alternatives

See Also: Economic Justice, Policy

Practical Steps

This Week

  • Identify one debt you can forgive
  • Pray for the ability to forgive
  • Learn about debt issues in your community
  • Support a debt relief organization

This Month

  • Forgive a personal debt
  • Support or start a debt relief program
  • Learn about predatory lending
  • Advocate for debt relief policies

Ongoing

  • Make debt forgiveness a regular practice
  • Support economic justice
  • Create alternatives to exploitative lending
  • Advocate for policies

Common Challenges

I can’t afford to forgive debts

Start small. Forgive what you can. Even small acts of forgiveness matter.

What if they take advantage?

Forgiveness is about your heart, not their response. Forgive and set boundaries as needed.

How do I start a program?

Start small. Research existing programs. Partner with organizations. Build gradually.

What about my own debts?

Work on your own financial health while also practicing forgiveness. Both matter.

Connection to Policy

Debt forgiveness connects to policy:

See Also: Policy, Economic Justice

Connection to Community

Debt forgiveness is best done in community:

See Also: Community

See Also

Categories:
Action