Christian Topic: Church Borrowing
November 16, 2004 - by Crown Financial Ministries

Although it is not a sin for a church to borrow money, it is not God’s best for a church.
 
The use of debt to build or expand the outreach of a church is so common a practice today that even to challenge the idea can create an air of animosity. However, just because a practice is normal does not mean it is scriptural or that it is best. It should be noted that most churches repay their debts according to contract. So the discussion is not whether a church can repay, because they must; it is whether churches should borrow even if they can repay.

Scriptural precedent
After reviewing the references to borrowing in Scripture, several conclusions can be drawn. One, borrowing is always presented in the negative (see Proverbs 17:18). Two, God never made a promise to anyone and fulfilled it through a loan. Three, God promised His people that if they would obey His commandment they would not have to borrow (see Deuteronomy 28:12). Four, God had worship structures built at least three times in the Bible, and no credit was used. "Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ’Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution’" (Exodus 25:1-2). "O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Your" (1 Chronicles 29:16). (Also see 1 Kings 6 and 2 Kings 12.)

A Common Question
"If money to do God’s work is borrowed by a church and is repaid on time, what’s the harm?" This question is logical and is frequently asked. There is no single answer but rather a series of answers.

1. Each church leader and member must search God’s Word with an open mind and heart and determine whether God desires churches to be funded with debt. If it is determined that to borrow is a compromise to God’s will, to do so is to sin. "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

2. Borrowing denies God’s people the opportunity to experience His overwhelming blessings in response to giving what is clearly within His will (2 Corinthians 9:10). We are told in 1 John 3:22 that we can ask of God and expect to receive. Certainly, this would be true of the needs of the church. The experience of seeing God provide through His people is a witness to those within the church and to those looking at us.

3. A debt within a church restricts the members' abilities to serve God. Quite often, the controlling decisions are based on the need to meet the debt payments rather than on God’s redirection of funds to current needs.

4. Often, the ability to repay the debt is dependent on the ability of the pastor to preach. In many instances, lenders have required a signed contract from the pastor that he would not leave while the debt existed and would maintain an insurance policy to pay off the debt in the event of his death. "Come now, you who say, ’Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit’ " (James 4:13).

5. 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 major denominations spend more on interest payments than on foreign missions.

Conclusion
I trust that this brief survey will not be viewed as any kind of indictment of churches or other ministries, because it is not. The purpose is to show church and ministry leaders, as well as their members, that God can and will provide (through His people) whatever is necessary to do His will.

"Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, ’Let neither man nor woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.’ Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it" (Exodus 36:6-7).

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