Financial Management With A Christian Perspective
It seems like many churches are waking up to the problem of church goers suffering under the heavy burden of debt. It seems like a serious problem in the US, the sub-prime lending market and many people getting in over their heads with debt. Where there is opportunity, opportunists are never far behind. The Bible teaches us to be frugal and not to go into the excess and many churches have jumped on the bandwagon offering debt counseling.
Churches should be offering debt counseling. It is the Christian thing to do and prudent Christians watch their finances. Unfortunately, it seems like these churches are offering debt counseling that ignores biblical truths. Take a look at this quote:
The programs resemble secular plans, with two exceptions, said Dave Briggs, director of the Good Sense Stewardship Ministry at Willow Creek. “A secular adviser might say, it’s O.K. to stiff your creditors through bankruptcy,” Briggs said. “Biblically, bankruptcy is only an option if you need time and space to pay back what you owe.”
Excuse me, Mr. Briggs, but didn’t the Lord in all of his infinite wisdom provide people with the 7 year release. The 7 year release is God’s way of breaking the yoke of debt so that it isn’t all suffocating. Sure, you should pay back what you owe, but taking the 7 year release, in the form of bankruptcy, is an option that God and the legal system provide us.
Not counseling those to take what the Lord has offered is not very Christian-like in my opinion…I guess that’s why most churches would rather not have me attend them.
So are churches profiting off of this? You bet! Dave Ramsey, a radio host, is offering up a course in financial management for Christians. Awesome offer it is, is it? You’d expect a great program right?
At Southeast Christian Church, a video presentation featuring Ramsey was followed by an hour of discussion, mixing quotations from Proverbs with advice on buying used cars, time shares and generic drugs. The discussion was led by a retired police officer, Rusty Bittle, 43, who has no financial background but who paid $2,000 to take a 50-hour course to become a certified counselor for Ramsey’s program.
Mr. Rusty took a 50 hour course and now he is qualified to teach you Christian financial planning…. Woohoo!
I think I’ll pass…..
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