By Eric Swanson

What is the most recognized Sabbath day in America?

Sunday

What is the most profitable day for retailers in America?

Sunday

Why do some Christians say Sunday is the Sabbath and then go out to malls and restaurants to force others to work on their holy day?

In the Old Testament, God told the Hebrews to “Honor the Sabbath”:

But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. – Exodus 20:10

As many Christians believe today, we are not bound by those laws of the Hebrews.  But, out of respect, Christians strive to uphold the 10 Commandments.  Christians seem to find it easy to list more popular Commandments like

• Honor your parents.
• Thou shalt not murder.
• Thou shalt not steal.

But why is honoring the Sabbath such a forgotten Commandment?

Do we think shopping is not work?  To facilitate the shopping experience, many people must be employed.  Some stores must double their personnel in order to accommodate the amount of people seeking to buy their products or services on that one day.  As Christians, should we be forcing people to work on the Sabbath just because we want to shop for products and services?  Mark Daniels shares his insight in a recent Crosswalk.com article,

Perhaps, as a society, we are past the days we might agree to carve out a day each week to set aside the baser, daily demands of mere capitalism in favor of the higher pursuits of faith and family. If so, we’ll continue to suffer from the cumulative effects of unrelenting physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual exhaustion. But much worse, we’ll miss out on one of God’s greatest gifts to His beloved children: the privilege of sharing in His Shabbat. – Mark Daniels

Let’s imagine an economy in which Christians do not shop at least one day a week.

That thought raises some very interesting questions…

• Would there be less people forced to work on the Sabbath if Christians stayed away from consumerism at least one day a week?
• Would the environment be cleaner because there were less cars on the road for at least one day of the week?
• Would Christians be going into so much debt if they planned their shopping around the Sabbath, instead of on it?
• Would there be more dedicated family time if more Christians found other things to do on the Sabbath rather than shopping?

If all those questions created positive spiritual, financial, and environmental answers and benefits, should Christians continue shopping on the Sabbath?

Should Christians “Honor the Sabbath” by not shopping at least one day a week?

Image by Joe M500

BEATINGDEBT.org

–Teaching Debt Prevention–

By Eric Swanson

The usual quote about helping the less fortunate is:

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” – WikiQuote

However, according to a recent New York Times article, helping the less fortunate has turned into something Stephen Colbert calls good business:

“Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day.
Give a man a sub-prime fish loan, and you’re in business, buddy.” – Stephen Colbert

So why would we think that lending a fish, at exorbitant interest rates, is going to help anyone except banks and investor class?

Let’s turn from our trust in banks and debt to solve our global social problems.  Let’s turn to God and learn to live humbly, stay away from debt, and give generously.  The obedience to trust in God in those three action steps will help the less fortunate far more than lending a fish will ever do.

BeatingDebt.org

–Teaching Debt Prevention–

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By Eric Swanson

A Christmas Carol had a darker side,

“The Dickens classic is not just charming. It’s also brutally realistic about the world, then and now.”
“This was Dickens’s London – a place where need was perpetually apparent, where the government had seemingly provided for the destitute.”
“England’s urbanization and demographic rearranging in the 1700s and 1800s made existing systems of charity within a single parishes impractical and ineffective.”
“There is also the accusation – thought it must be leveled with caution – that the established church of the 18th and 19th centuries was a bastion of elite, intellectualized men unconcerned with the plight of those over whom they ruled.” – Lisa Toland

Unlike during Dickens’ time, Americans have the opportunity and resources to help the less fortunate.  Jesus said,

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” – MATTHEW 25:40

Though the Church since Dickens’s time subjugated its role to truly care for the least of these.  Americans have the resources to change all that and deliver real results to the kingdom of God.  As more Christians walk away from their beliefs in consumerism and embrace a life[style] of living humbly, staying away from debt, and giving generously, Christians will find they can finally be effective in caring for “the least of these”.

Don’t let the recession overtake your ability to show God through your financial choices.  Commit to beating debt and shine Jesus to the least of these.

BeatingDebt.org

–Convincing People To Stay Away From Debt–

By Eric Swanson

The below picture is a graph of the U.S. inflation rate by month from Dec 2007 to October 2009.  Notice that inflation is positive until about the beginning of 2009 and then it starts going negative.

BeatingDebt.org

–Convincing People To Stay Away From Debt–

Just as the Pharaohs of Egypt once confined God’s people to slavery, today many Christians are severely limited in their serving Jesus fully because of a ‘new Pharaoh’, debt. Never in its entire history has America and her people been so completely entangled by debt. Pastor Steve looks at what the Bible says about borrowing and then God’s clearly prescribed method of freeing the Christian from the strangle hold of debt. – Ken Lewis

Image by roblisameehan

BeatingDebt.org

–Convincing People To Stay Away From Debt–

By Wayne Coleman

The word debt is not the issue, but must be defined.

One commonly used definition of the word debt states that as long as ones assets exceed the value of their liabilities, technically they are not in debt. {This definition is made presumptuous by not considering that the value of the asset can fall while the amount of liability is not affected by market values. Should the value of the asset become lower than the liability before the contract is satisfied, that which was not debt, becomes debt.}

Another definition states that as long as one makes their payments and does not violate the terms of their credit contract, they are technically not in debt. {This definition leads to financial suicide. By the time you cannot make your payments, you have long since been in trouble.}

The third definition states that if you borrow for an appreciating item, that is an investment.  To borrow for a depreciating item constitutes debt. {This definition fails the same test as the first because it presumes the value of the asset to always appreciate. In definitions 1 & 3, debt is not determined by the borrowing, but rather by the value of the assets. }

The common bond between all of these definitions is that money must be borrowed before debt exists.  Therefore the true definition of debt becomes very simple, if you borrow you are in debt.

In order to settle the issue as to the obedience of the church borrowing money, one must first settle the issue of the obedience of borrowing money personally.  The following items should be given consideration in making this determination:

Borrowing was prohibited in the Old Testament.

Duet.15: 6 and Duet. 28:12 issue commandments from God that state “Thou shall not borrow”.  Careful study of these areas, especially Duet. 28:1-14 will define the loving grace of God as completely sufficient, to eliminates the need to borrow.

• Verse 10 is one of the key verses.  God chose to take a people the prosperity driven world {same as today} looked upon as being absolutely worthless and show this world who their God was by the way he prospered them.  This prosperity was not purposed to bless the people, but to glorify God.  However, in the process of God being glorified the people were blessed.
• Verse 13 states that by not borrowing they remain the head and on top, the positions given over to the lender when borrowing takes place.
• Verse 14 states we must be very careful not to bow down to other Gods for provision.  It is God’s desire that he meet all our needs from His grace according to our faith as part of an obedient relationship with Him

This passage most definitely warns us of the false God of credit. In the New Testament we are told in Romans 13:8 to “owe no man anything.”  Every building and renovation program in scripture was accomplished without borrowing.

Borrowing forces the borrower to become servant to the lender.

There are no exceptions.   Proverbs 22:7 states that the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.  Matthew 6:24 states, “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or will hold to one and despise the other.  You can not serve God and mammon”. {material things}.

In order to use the lenders money, you must first bow down to all of his requirements, and since his wheel squeaks the loudest, he gets his money first.  If the lender is not completely satisfied he can pick up all the assets and leave you with nothing but the liability.

Borrowing is established through presumptuousness, not a faith that comes from hearing God.

Romans 14: 23 states that, “whatever is not from faith is sin”  Romans 10:17 states, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”  I make the assumption that anyone reading will agree that God was, is, and will always own all of His creation and that as stewards we are called upon to manage them according to His will.  Then how can we purchase a new automobile, finance it for 48 months without knowing the mind of God 48 months in advance, and assume that we are functioning by faith.  Do we have a guarantee from God of the income required to meet the lender’s requirements and do we have advance permission from God to use this future income for this purpose.  I personally have never met a person that had the mind of God 48 months in advance to this kind of detail. Use of the credit system is a presumptuous leap into the dark.  Acting upon the revealed truth of God, is a solid step into the light.

Borrowing hinders God from meeting our needs supernaturally .

God has never allowed a need for which He had not previously appropriated a provision.  We are accountable to submit all our need before Him in order that He may confirm the definition of our need and provision, define the circumstances as to our receiving the provision, and especially the timing of our having it.  It is God’s desire that he meet all our need in order to show us and those around us that He is our sufficiency.  II Corinthians 3:4-5 states in the KJV translation, “And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward, not that we are sufficient of ourselves as to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency  is of God.”  There is no greater experiencing of God for the believer than to have a personal need, seek God, and have that need met in a way that can only be explained as God being the source.  The more often we experience God the keener our awareness becomes as to who He is in our life and we become an exhibit of the loving grace of God to those who watch us.  God defines our need as everything it takes to completely perform His total will for our lives.  If there is one need anywhere in our lives He has not met before we see the need,  He is not God and we should stop pretending that He is.  Part of the evangelistic ministry of our lives is to show others of His sufficiency.

Borrowing causes stress in the life of the borrower.

A little borrowing, a little stress.  More borrowing, more stress.  Bankruptcy is a privilege set aside exclusively for borrows.  Only those who borrow can declare bankruptcy.  Many if not most, marriages that end in divorce fail because of financial disorder.  Of the marriages where divorce does not occur, financial disorder robs the intended joy from the marriage.  Almost all family financial disorder is caused by borrowing.  Surely we can agree that borrowing causes stress.  This kind of stress is truthfully not a fruit of the Holy Spirit, but that of an evil spirit and does not exhibit a peace that passes all understanding.

Borrowing prevents God from saying “no” as an act of love to protect us when we have desires for things that prevent His will from being done and may harm us.

Has your child ever had a burning desire for something that you were wise enough to know would harm your child.  If so, your loving answer -was “no” in order to protect your child from the foreseeable harm.  Your child could go outside your loving care and borrow the item.   The harm comes because the child made a conscious choice to move outside to loving protection of the parent’s “no”.  When we pray we have usually self evaluated the situation and are simply asking God to agree with us.  Rarely ever will we hear a “no” and believe it is from God.  His “no” is from the same love as is His “yes”, but we can borrow and receive the slavery position with the lender, and stress that he was trying to protect us from.  Borrowing money is always a personal choice, never an accident.

The most critical indictment against Christians using borrowed money is that there is not one element of genuine God glorifying faith involved in the process.  Answer these questions:

1. How can you explain God as the source when money is borrowed? If the lender is an agent for God’s grace then the lost  and saved alike have the same access to His grace through the lender.
2. Does borrowing meet your need?  No, it actually increases your need by the increased cost added by the lender, but it does get you what you want, when you want it, without having to seek God.
3. Does borrowing eliminate paying cash?  No, in fact it causes more to be paid back in such a timely manner as pleases the lender and in all probability creating stress for the borrower.
4. Can you name one single anything about borrowing money that exposes God to you as a source of provision received in a state of freedom?  If you have ever had a need you know beyond all doubt that God met, you could testify the provision came with no strings attached.  The practical definition of the word “faith”, as it relates to provision and need in our relationship with our Father which art in heaven,  is that we are to live within  the limits of our provision.  Cash pay as you go is the definition of “Faith “.

We live in a culture whose objective of life is to have what it wants, when it wants it.  The false god of credit can satisfy that self-centered desire.  Paul implies in II Corinthians 5:9 that his ambition or objective is simply to please God.  Hebrews 11:6 informs us that this is impossible without the function of faith.  There is no evidence of genuine faith in borrowing. Until pleasing God becomes of a higher priority than having the thing you want and want now, the above referenced truths will not be understood.

Now to answer your original question, “Why should the corporate church be debt free”.

1. To set a good example for the believers.
2. To not make the Church servant to the lender.
3. To show a lost world that God is the sufficiency to all the things they are seeking.
4. To free moneys for missions and ministries. {Most of the evangelical  denominations of today spend more of God’s money on debt service than on missions.}
5. To confine God’s financial activities inside the framework of His Church.
6. To prevent the stress from borrowing that can quench the spirit of the people and even destroy the local corporate Churches {There have been numerous Churches across the land in the recent past that have lost their facilities due to foreclosure.}
7. To be obedient to His word.

BeatingDebt.org

–Convincing People To Stay Away From Debt–

By Eric Swanson

In the past decade, many Christians felt that their self-worth was wrapped up in the following concepts:

Becoming Wealthy.

But Jesus said,

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” – Luke 6:24

Seeking wealth leads only to temporary comfort.

Establishing a comfortable life[style].

But Jesus said,

^“Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.” – Luke 6:25

Seeking a life of ease will eventually lead to a life of hunger.

Seeking to be the most popular.

But Jesus said,

^“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.” – Luke 6:26

Seeking popularity leads to more problems.

If we want to be prosperous in this new economy and in this new decade, we should follow some of Jesus’ other teachings:

Live a humble life.

Jesus said,

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” – Luke 6:20

Seek to live a humble life and maintain a humble lifestyle, and you will be blessed.

Live joyfully for Him.

^“Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.” Luke 6:22-23

Seek to live fully for Jesus, and you will be blessed.

The prior decade saw many Christians trusting in money and power to get ahead.  This decade, let us try to follow Jesus’ words of living humbly and joyfully for Him and see what kind of impact we have on this world.

BeatingDebt.org

–Convincing People To Stay Away From Debt–

Images by: nDevilTV & nonsogoodphotography

As we end this year and decade, we can start afresh by performing some proper prior planning that will deliver better results.  As we’ve seen, this past decade brought unprecedented levels of over-consumption and personal debt.  This new decade, we can choose to live a better life by planning before things happen.

Financial planning is a wonderful tool God gives us, so we can ensure our spending decisions have the most effect. 

BEATINGDEBT.org

–Convincing People To Stay Away From Debt–

Why do we give gifts at Christmas?

Many people give gifts ‘in remembrance’ of the Christmas story.  Specifically, the tradition comes from the New Testament when the three kings gave gifts to Baby Jesus.  However, have we ever examined the actual event to see if this is something that relates to us?  So, the story of the three magi goes as follows…

If you would like to learn more and help tell others about the good news of Christmas that does not lead to more debt, then please go to:

DebtFreeChristmas.org

Image by: blmurch

Michael Moore has created many controversial movies that has alienated him from the mainstream Christian community.  However, recently he wrote a blog about a religious subject that is near and dear to our heart. 

Read more here at Michael Moore’s Blog