Who said that Old Testament laws are not relevant today?

In Tennessee, a woman borrowed $1,000 for 30 days. At the end of 30 days she owed $1,000, plus another $220!

After 18 months the woman paid more than $4,000 and still owed $1,200.

There must be a law to stop these kinds of predatory practices.

Tennessee State Rep. Craig Fitzhugh and State Sen. Roy Herron wrote about this situation:

Mind you, the rich preying on, instead of praying with, the poor is an issue as ancient as Scripture. That is why Old Testament law prohibits lending practices now common in Tennessee. That is why the Hebrew prophets like Hosea, Amos and Micah raged against injustices done to God’s people.

The good people of Tennessee must learn from the laws of the Old Testament and prohibit lending practices that prey on the poor.

The prophet Micah compared the people who abused the poor with cannibals, because they stripped off their skin, and broke their bones, and ate their flesh, Social cannibals are people who chop people up like meat for the cooking pot. Here is what Micah said:

“Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong, but you are the very ones who hate good and love evil. You skin my people alive and tear the flesh from their bones. Yes, you eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin, and break their bones. You chop them up like meat for the cooking pot. Then you beg the LORD for help in times of trouble! Do you really expect him to answer? After all the evil you have done, he won’t even look at you!” (Micah 3:1-4).

I hope the good people of Tennessee will put an end to these social cannibals.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary