This is not a ministry we chose. It’s not an easy thing to tell people that they’re in sin because of their finances. Just as no one seems to want to be told how to raise their children, they also don’t want to be told how to spend their money that they earned through their hard work. (Notice the absence of God in that line of thinking) It’s been said from many pulpits that you can gauge a person’s spiritual walk by taking a look at their checkbook. Granted, this is usually just a means to get the members to tithe by making them feel guilty. Imagine the long faces if a pastor was actually able to take a look at the books of his congregation!

The fact is, everyone knows that debt is wrong, and no one refers to it as if it’s a good thing. Yet the further we seem to wade into financial bondage in America, the more our Christian financial counselors and pastors falter when it comes to the Word of God.

Let’s cut to the chase: Debt is a sin. It’s a sign of a covetous heart, and not trusting that our Heavenly Father will provide us with everything we need. Since American Christians worship an insufficient savior, they turn to credit to purchase the things they want. The Scriptures are consistently negative when discussing financial debt for believers. It’s never neutral or positive, as many financial counselors will tell you.

When we search the Scriptures, we find these truths: Borrowing is only allowed to sustain life in dire, unforeseen circumstances (a widescreen television does not qualify under this category). We are only allowed to borrow from a fellow believer, and then at no interest. In the Old Testament, borrowing was only allowed over a period of less than seven years. Borrowing is directly equated with sin and slavery, and borrowing from a pagan is a curse.

Debt is sin, including your mortgage. The lie in America is that a house is an investment, and you’re pumping equity into that investment. Fine. Stop pumping equity into “your” house for a few months, and see how long the bank allows you to continue to live in “your” house, which you think you “own”.

Rather than exposit all the debt verses in the Bible, which we do in our upcoming book, we encourage you to do the research yourself. Like the noble Bereans, check the Scriptures to arrive at this truth for yourself. Don’t be like the rich young ruler, who went away weeping. He lived an outwardly pious life, yearned for salvation, and went away lost after talking to Jesus. His possessions were great. Here are some verses to get you started:

Exodus 22:25-27; Deuteronomy 15:6; Deuteronomy 28:12; Deuteronomy 28:43-45; Leviticus 25:35-38; Nehemiah 5:1-5; Psalm 15:5; Psalm 37:21; Proverbs 6:1-5; Proverbs 11:5; Proverbs 12:9; Proverbs 22:7/1 Corinthians 7:23; Ezekiel 22:12; Matthew 5:42; Matthew 6:24; Luke 6:34-36; Luke 16:13; Romans 13:8; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Many Christians we counsel on debt are so far into slavery that they don’t want to acknowledge the above truths. These people deny the truth, they say we’re wrong, or simply call us legalists. Before you choose to judge us, please know that we’re speaking from experience when we refer to financial debt as a form of slavery. We’ve been there. Our prayer is that you’ll search the Word and come to the same conclusions we did, and seek to get out of debt.

Also, if you want to object to anything we say on this blog or in our other writings, please back it up with a verse from scripture (we’ve been searching for a loophole for a couple of years around the debt issue, and still haven’t found one). If you can’t do that, examine your heart. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to you. Study the verses above, and then get on track to getting out of debt!

If you don’t really know God the Father, and Christ His Son (and this is eternal life), then please read this:

Answer these questions: Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever used the Lord’s name in vain? Have you ever disobeyed your parents? Have you ever murdered someone? Think again…have you ever hated someone or been angry at them without cause? If you answered yes, then Jesus says that you are a murderer at heart. Have you ever committed adultery? Think again…have you ever looked at someone with lust in your heart (a co-worker, celebrity, friend, church member)? If you answered yes, then Jesus says that you are an adulterer at heart. Have you ever coveted other people’s things? Is that why you’re in debt in the first place? Have you ever stolen something, even a small thing?

If you answered yes to any one or more of these questions, and if you were to die right now and stand before God (as we all will, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”(Hebrews 9:27), you would be found guilty of breaking His laws. In fact, you would be guilty of breaking ALL of His laws, “for whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”(James 2:10).

Where would God, who is holy, just and righteous, have to send you for breaking His laws? Heaven or Hell? The answer is Hell. In fact, as you’re reading this, the wrath of God is resting on you (John 3:36). This is the truth and I have included the scripture references for you to read these verses for yourself. It is a scary thing to think that you can worship or please God in your own way, make up an image of God according to your own likings (which breaks the second of the ten commandments), and to think that you are in right standing with God, only to find out upon death, that you will spend an eternity in Hell, separated from God:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7: 21 -23).

BUT!!!! God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to pay your sin debt. This is a debt that you could never repay with anything that you are or have or do. God in His infinite grace and mercy, loved us while were still yet sinners (which you are), and while you wared with Him in your heart, He already died for your sins! HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS IS THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT FOR YOUR DEBT.

WOW. This is why the children of God can sing wholeheartedly the song, “Amazing Grace.” But you are not yet a child of God. Yes, He paid the debt, but He requires the following from you:

1. Repent (turn away from your sins, stop living in darkness) and

2. Put your faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and the forgiveness of your sins (not your “good” deeds which He calls filthy rags) .
Pray to God, confess that you’re a sinner, ask Him for forgiveness, and ask Him to grant you mercy and faith to believe in His Son Jesus Christ. Start reading your Bible so that you can love, know, and obey Christ (I recommend starting with John and 1 John).

Listen to men who faithfully and truthfully preach and teach God’s Word. There are many false preachers on Christian radio and especially on television. Pray and ask the Lord for discernment on who to listen to. There are very few pastors, we listen to on radio or online. Here is one we recommend:

Paul Washer (scroll down) of Heart Cry Missionary Society.  Click here for one of my favorites sermons of his to listen to.

It’s not easy as just saying a simple prayer to become a child of God. Jesus said, “so likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33). He said another way, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) You must be willing even to die for your faith in Christ. Are you?

Then cry out to Jesus and look unto Him every moment for the rest of your life:

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2).

God is faithful. He will conform His children into the image of Christ, and keep them for eternity:

“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”(Romans 8:30)

If you’re not sure whether you’re a child of God, study 1 John. It was written to let you know if you are obeying the true Gospel or a false Christ.

If you have any questions about repenting and putting your faith in Christ alone for salvation, eternal life, or walking with the Lord, please leave a comment. We would love the opportunity to teach you the Word of God, and how to love, know and obey Him. That is ultimately His will for this ministry.