How Texas churches are fighting predatory lending on behalf of the poor
Religion & Liberty Online

How Texas churches are fighting predatory lending on behalf of the poor

How should Christians address predatory lending that takes advantage of the poor when they are in dire straits? As I’ve argued before, I believe a helpful first step is to get churches and other faith-based organizations involved in providing short-term loans and financial counseling. But sometimes education and sacrificial generosity is not enough to solve the problem, and communities have to pursue other measures.

A prime example is found in Texas where several groups—including an alliance of Baptists and Catholics—worked to defend the poor against the payday loan industry. Deidox Films produced The Ordinance—a documentary which you can watch in its entirety below—that shows what can happen when churches, nonprofits, and individuals join together to protect the vulnerable.

Joe Carter

Joe Carter is a senior writer for The Gospel Coalition, author of The Life and Faith Field Guide for Parents, the editor of the NIV Lifehacks Bible, and coauthor of How to Argue Like Jesus: Learning Persuasion from History’s Greatest Communicator. He also serves as an associate pastor at McLean Bible Church in Arlington, Va.