Page 115 - Ecclesiology revised short_Neat

all personal freedoms of self-determination and yields his life to his master. So when the church
borrows money, the church enters into a slave-master relationship with the lender.

In his article, A scriptural approach to church borrowing, Larry Burket posed an important thought when
it comes to church borrowing:

The church as a physical entity exists for just one purpose: to glorify God. It stands as the visible
image of God's best--not subject to worldly compromise. It seems contradictory to profess the
belief that God can heal the sick, feed the poor, and even transform the very hearts of the corrupt,
but He can't supply the funds (in advance) with which to do these things. "And my God shall supply
liii
all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

Here is the problem with borrowing and going into debt:

1. Once a church enters into debt transaction, they owe a lender the repayment for the loan. And
just as a slave, they must give up all freedoms. The church becomes a slave to the repayment. And
quite often, the cost of repayment may prevent the church from supporting missionaries or financing
new ministries that God may be leading the church to enter into.

2. Another problem with debt is that it presumes on God. When the church borrows money, they are
actually borrowing the money based on future contributions to repay the loan. The questions the
church must ask are these: “How do you know that God will provide in the future the same amount of
income He is presently providing.” “How can you obligate God to provide future funds to repay the
debt?”

God is under no obligation to pay debts. Nowhere in Scripture does God promise to pay debts. He
promises to meet your needs, not your debts. By entering into debt, you are in a sense telling God that
HE MUST provide the money you have obligated yourself for by entering into debt. You are presuming
upon God. Not good!

James 4:13–14 Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a
year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.
What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”

3. A THIRD PROBLEM with debt is that the borrower almost always charges INTEREST to
obtain a return on his investment. So, in the process of borrowing and repaying, you are
not only repaying the amount of your debt, but also must pay the interest required. Huge
sums of believers’ money go to meet interest payments. This money could be used to
further God’s kingdom rather than Satan’s. Many churches spend more on interest
payments than on giving to foreign missions!

Proverbs 14:29 He who is impulsive exalts folly

Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another, for he
who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

113