[ACNS] Jesus sees people as of infinite value whatever their debt or credit position, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said in the first of four new ten-minute videos that have been produced as part of his To Your Credit initiative to create a fairer financial system. In it, Archbishop Justin says that the sovereignty of money over every aspect of life must be challenged.

The first video, in the series, Money, Debt and Salvation, was launched today. The video series will include contributions from six theologians reflecting on the themes of money and debt.

“Credit and debt is one of the key issues that people face because it’s pervasive, it’s everywhere,” Archbishop Justin said in the first video. “The reason it’s so important is because the knock-on effect of credit and debt going wrong is so destructive. People’s lives are torn apart, their families are damaged. . .

“It’s a prophetic thing to get stuck into these issues because it just seems to be one of those moments where we have to challenge the sovereignty of money and finance over every aspect of our life. And to say in quite a revolutionary way, no you’re not in charge, human beings are the ultimate value.

“The human person is what matters – and Jesus Christ’s view of the human person is of someone of infinite value, whoever they are, whatever their debt or credit position. . . And it’s prophetic in challenging that deeply improper power over people’s lives.”