Are Student Loans Modern Slavery?
I must first give you some background on why this issue means something to me. About 2 years ago now, I along with a few other gentlemen started a non profit organization called ‘The Beehive’. It was our intention to take health and see how it could be tool to reach the various and many different demographics in this world. As we set out on our endeavor over the past few years we have looked for others to join us. Ideally it would be great to have those with talents needed in today’s marketplace i.e. graphic design, marketing, accounting, film production, management and more. Most of the people who excel or are at least trained in those areas are coming out of college and ready to conquer the world. We found that people wanted to join us but were enslaved to so much debt that it was impossible.
They say that the sentiment today is that most graduates would rather find a fulfilling job than a high paying miserable one. And here is where the big debt-ridden red elephant enters our discussion. The truth is that our organization as well as others have been unable to lure a great deal of these graduates due to something beyond their control at this point: DEBT.
The Bible says in Proverbs 22:7 – “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” This could not be more true.
As a sidenote, when studying bible prophecy we see a beast in Revelation 13 that has the characteristics of the beasts of Daniel 7 i.e. the Lion-Babylon, the Bear- Medo-Persia, and the Leopard-Greece. This beast in Revelation 13 is a combination of those beasts. The primary feature described though is not it’s head or feet but it’s overall body and appearance. Yes it has a mouth like a lion and feet like a bear but he identifies it as a Leopard. Why is this and is there any lesson for us?
Personally I believe the reasoning for the elements described on this beast of Revelation 13 are due to characteristics that would be exemplified by the beast. The mouth like a Lion represents Babylon’s characteristic of speaking boldly and forcefully and later we see a beast speaking like a dragon, similiar idea.
The second with the feet of a bear is that the greatest element of Medo-Persia was their laws. We see that from the story of Daniel in the Lion’s den. Not even the king could revoke law in his kingdom.
What was the greatest feature or characteristic to come out of Greece? I believe it was their educational system. Today I would say that the beast of Revelation 13 has his primary emphasis in the way men and women, boys and girls are taught in our educational system. Think about it for a second. A child is trained with non-biblical principles from the time it is 3 in day care to the time he or she is 25 and graduating with a Masters Degree. More time is spent in a classroom than with a parent in the training years of life. Now we can see why Daniel, Moses and others were trained so diligently at a young age by their mothers.
So to bring this altogether, the United States finds itself in a situation where the entire country is in debt on an individual level as well as the country as a whole is in a debt crisis. There are many theories and realities as to how we got here but one interesting one to me is our educational system.
Did you know that student aid loans given for college and university are one of the only forms of debt in the United States that someone cannot bankrupt from and escape? This means that this debt is attached to you until you pay it off. In essence a borrower being servant (slave) to the lender. The lender in this case is the United States government that has backed the loan. The colleges are getting paid and they are happy to get as many students loans as possible. The loans are easy to get and we push higher education so it is a nice sweet picture that we are painting. This picture is even painted in Christian circles and yet Christians were to be missionaries on the earth and not slaves to a system where we are taught merely to reflect the ideas of other mens thoughts.
I know that the most innovative creative people and hard working people I can think of in this world have no formal college degree. I know in my own experience as I look back, I was trained with dated methods that were out of date the minute I graduate college.
So for the proof in the pudding, here are two articles about this issue in the news. The founder of “The University of Phoenix” which is an online educational training school is a for-profit company. They have helped students get government backed loans over the years and have been raking in the cash while students are leaving with tons of debt and can’t get jobs. So the government has decided that they will no longer help this debt creation debacle unless schools can show that at least 35% of students are attempting to pay back these government loans. This means basically that perhaps University of Phoenix has been doling out degrees at the cost of the US government and not many students are paying back their loans. Some have called it another ‘housing’ type implosion in the making.
The founder of University of Phoenix is selling off his shares in a large part as he sees the writing on the wall and another story linked to below shows why.
Bottom Line: Education is not what we have made it. There is something far greater than getting a load of debt so that you can go join the rat race. I challenge people with students soon to enter college to rethink the entire process. Also, how can anyone find time to be a missionary or spread the gospel if trapped in a rat race where you have so much debt obligations? Some will say then what should we do “not go to school”. I think debt is like a cancer and ruins lives. If saving up for it is what is needed then so be it. Shame on Christian institutions especially that allow young people to leave with so much debt. This is unbiblical and wrong. We are seeking to compete with the world and thus run down the accreditation gauntlet which has led us to where we are.
I would love to hear your feedback on this thought provoking issue: Jared
many people don’t take the time to consider whether what they will incur in debt can be paid off by the salary they will make in the market place. Nor do many people choose the road less traveled and WORK while going through school. So school loans may be a necessary evil for some to get the kind of education needed for a well paying job. However, there needs to be a strategy of getting the education with as little loaned money as possible and then a plan to get out of debt once they graduate and get a job. Or stay in school longer, take less classes, and work longer as close to the field you are pursuing so one’s resume and references will stand out against the competition. Anyone in debt now needs to become a Dave Ramsey fan ASAP, daveramsey.com
Amen and Amen. I have been sharing the same sentiments in this post with people for a little while now. It is right on point. As we prepare for the coming of Jesus we must rethink the ways in which we have operated in times past. An excellent book on what God’s ideal is for true education is “Principles of Christian Education” by E.A. Sutherland.
I must say that you have hit it right on the head. This article is true from top to bottom. Am recent college graduate who is currently looking for a job, just like the other 6.2 million people. My time spent at home looking for a job, has made me realize how messed up our system is. I had this discussion with other people at a recent camp meeting, and many realized how much better off their life will be financially had they learn a vocational skill and worked to pay for college instead of taking loans. I use to frown upon people who took the decision to get a certification or learn a vocational skill instead of going to college. now their the one’s with jobs, and are able travel on mission trips building houses, schools, and churches. I realize now that as christian’s our educational goals and ambitions must be pursued with pray and fasting. There is nothing wrong with going to college, but it pays for us to give it some thought before taking the decision. God bless you for this article.
I am seeing the truth in this article. I have a medium size student loan I guess you could say.But I come from a poor family and was not able to even attend college until I was an adult. I was living in a large metropolitan city that was filled with crime, drugs, filth, etc. Unless I had obtained a student loan, gone to college and was able to make a decent living, I would not have been able to move from the city.
It is a shame that this is the way life is set up. If you are not rich you have to suffer with those who decide to obtain student loans. Now, having graduated from college, I have been able to give my kids a better future. It is a shame that colleges are allowed to charge such high tuition.
Not only is the tuition outrageous, but books and school supplies. What else is a potential college student to do? Not everyone is successful at a trade school or is lucky to get a good paying job.
Very good article.
I am already in thousands of dollars of debt and I decided to go to cheaper schools. I would have loved to go to a Christian institution, but unfortunately it’s way too expensive.
Weren’t we given counsel on how to have student canvass or be able to work their way through school–thus their tuition could be paid for? There is no reason why our schools are so expensive.
Why should I be forced to go to a secular school? It’s very discouraging. Is the degree really worth it? I do not know…
I could not agree more. I have had a strong desire to serve in some kind of mission but I and my wife are buried under school loans and other debts. There is no humanly possible way we can ever pay these debts off and serve. Our jobs only maintain the minimum payments, so we will be old by the time these debts are paid down.
Plain and simple, we need to be counselled from a young age to save up for college (academy, too) and even delay a few years between academy and college. In that way we will have no loans, will have to work less during college and can have more time to focus on our course of study. All three of the SDA college/university campuses I attended gave me loans but not once was I counselled that it was not a biblical way to proceed.
May God grant our institutions wisdom as they make decisions about guiding students through the financial planning process.
The Lord in his everlasting mercy has been with me in being able to pay my school debts, bachelors and masters, all without my parents help. I was able to buy my car and house and still be comfortable. but, after reading and praying for guidance i was impressed to sale my house and get out of that debt too. my merciful father has aided me and now my house sold in February and I am totally debt free. I have a great burden to work for the Lord in some line of ministry but don’t know where. I have volunteered in some places to see if that’s where the Lord is calling me but haven’t had a strong impression yet as to where. I want to serve the Lord and I pray is loving, caring hands will lead me to the place He has for me to serve Him.
Debt is an obstacle to fully being used by God. Pray the Lord will help you get out of debt, trust and move towards in faith of that prayer and start liquidating your debt…the Lord will be with you.
Well said. Amen. Amen. Amen. Many are chasing an illusion that puts them into loads of debt. I wish our Christian institutions would wake up and go back to why God established them – to train workers for Christ. But you know we can not whine and complain about what is not being done, we must through Christ establish centers of education to train workers for Christ. Stay faithful. Have a minute I would like to meet you guys. Email me at rodgersoc01@yahoo.com. Also visit our website at http://www.PathwaytoPeace.net. HAPPY SABBATH!!!
Why not try to create an even playing field. I think if you want to attract the professionals coming out of college, you should start to look at the means to be as attractive as your competitors. I notice you are looking at their respective “debt” and according to you its their “debt” that is preventing them from working with your organization. Its not really only their debt, I am convinced that you should also look at the opportunity you are offering them and atleast compare it to what else is available. Are you paying as well or nearly as well as they would receive elsewhere?
I know that debt is an enemy and we should stay clear of it, however, just praying to God will not give anyone the power or the means to overcome it. In addition to prayer we need to invest wisely and look at multiple sources of income. A job is not what it once was. In today’s economy, we have to look at other sources of income.
Secondly, I know that God’s promises are still true, texts like Jer 29:11 and 3 John 1:2 are still true today. With that said, why does it seem that we as Christians serving the Almighty God, seem to always be lagging behind financially; I am saying all this to say. If you would like the talent coming out of college, find the means to afford them, we are God’s people, you must be able to pay God’s people a great wage as well. So its not only all about their debt, its also about your stewardship, find a way to create the income you need to pay God’s people properly. If even they had the means to pay off their tuition without a loan, that money came from somewhere. i am sure they did not just invest that money to get a certificate, we dont need a college degree to get to heaven or even study the bible they did so to make themselves more marketable.
1. In order to secure Godfearing teachers, living wages need to be provided. And inflation does not help to decrease tuition. I agree with the responses above, that students should be educated not to go into debt even if it means graduating a little older.
2. Accreditation can be appropriate:
J. A. Burden: “The governments of earth provide that if we conduct a medical school, we must take a charter from the Government. That in itself has nothing to do with how the school is conducted. It is required, however, that certain studies be taught. Physiology is one of these. It is required that those who labor as physicians shall be proficient in those subjects. In starting sanitariums for the care of the sick, we must secure a charter from the government. Our printing office must do the same. Would the securing of a charter for a medical school, where our students might obtain a medical education, militate against our depending upon God? {LLM 445.1}
E. G. White: “No, I do not see that it would, if a charter was secured on right terms. Only be sure that you do not exalt men above God. If you can gain force and influence that will make your work more effective without tying yourselves to worldly men, that would be right. But we are not to exalt the human above the Divine.” {LLM 445.2}
3. Perhaps some website/group can be formed for the growing number of debt free young adults who are responding to fulfill the gospel commission fulltime?
I am in total agreement with the issue at hand, and unfortunately I am considered a modern day slave as well. My student loan is discouraging, and as much as I try to be debt free, it keeps staring me in the face. This year I made a decision to go into the mission field, one of my most difficult challenge was to figure out how to pay off my student loan and care for my family at the same time. Needless to say, I am still here trying to figure out how to juggle both- (mission work, and debt). It has been a tough decision, I am sure I am not alone, the sad reality is that our predicament is quite frightening. I am praying and trusting for deliverance.
Thanks a lot for the great work to open up my sight. I’m just one semester old in college and it’s good to enlighten me about all that. GOD BLESS
This is the stinging truth bro.Especially on the issue of evangelism and stewardship.I’d rather be ‘foolish’ but FREE.
I agree with the sentiments above. There is a growing movement out there primarily in the world. It’s focus is on sizing down on their housing, utility and debt needs in order to free up resources to live life and get out of debt or stay out of debt. There is a tiny house movement and a small house movement. Basically people are re-thinking how much stuff do they need in order to live life and find happiness. Do they need a 1200 s.f. apt while they are in college with all the bells and whistles? Can even a married couple live in small but efficiently built quarters where they are not throwing money away in rent and have worked a bit to own a small or tiny home with minimal investment? Can they stay at home until they have accomplished this? Then with that behind them proceed to invest their income into college tuition and already have a small but suitable dwelling paid for until they can sell that down the road and upgrade to a small home when children enter the picture? By working, and living at home or in small quarters that are paid for and many of these people opt to provide their small dwellings with off grid options I see them as one step ahead of the game. How appropriate a response would this be for SDA’s who believe in the vision of Ellen White and the Narrow Road? She saw as they went up the road got narrower and steeper and more and more of our earthly belongings had to be discarded in order to keep traveling the road and eventually all had to be left behind. Why do we cling so tightly to our materially possessions and yet claim to want to be missionaries and say we don’t want debt and yet we feel we need to start out in life with big homes, new furniture and fancy cars. We complain about our debts and how we can’t afford to serve God because of loans and cost of living expenses, but do we not bring this on ourselves because of our own choices that God has not brought onto us? I see people out in the world making choices that will help them in the end to be part of the multitude that will come into the church because they are lining themselves up now to be free of debt, dependency on the worlds resources to live and letting go of their grasp on wanting worldly possessions to bring them happiness! You don’t have to make as much if you don’t require as much to live. You are free to travel and work for God with out a huge expense to maintain your expensive lifestyle.