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 Bro.
Turner:
Is
it in harmony with the spirit and general teachings of the N.T.
for the church to borrow money from worldly people? Is borrowing
money for a “preacher’s house” borrowing money to support
him? Should we not consider “be content with such things as
you have,” Heb. 13:5 Matt. 6: Acts 2: 44-47; 4: 32-37 17:
24-29? HK
Reply:
Heb
13:5 does not teach a poor man to drop his plans for getting a
better job. It urges contentment as opposed to covetousness.
The one-talent man was expected to “gain other talents.”
Matt. 6:19-f. teaches us not to make earthly things our treasure,
or our master. Acts 2: and 4: teach us selflessness (Phil. 2:4)
so that we would, if need demanded, sell our own possessions to
help our brother. This does not teach communism as a way of
life. The Corinthians were differently prospered, (1 Cor. 16:2).
And Acts 17: teaches that we can not worship God with materials
per se. But if we have the proper attitude toward God we will,
use our materials in His service, as seen in foregoing verses.
These
passages have to do with the individual’s attitude toward
material things, plus the example of collective care of needy
saints, and forbid neither church nor individual to borrow
money. They certainly teach us that fancy buildings, “Keep up
with the Jones,” covetous living above our means, etc., are
contrary to Christian principle — for individual or church.
And let us here note that the Spirit of N.T. teaching is
always in keeping with the teaching — i.e., what it says.
We must be careful never to imagine
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the spirit of the word to differ
from what it actually says.
Alliance
with the worldly, sharing or “fellowship” in evil, is
clearly forbidden (2 Cor. 6:14); but this is different from
buying his bread, taking passage on his ship, or even doing
banking business with him. (Matt. 25:27) Saints are authorized
to act collectively (Phil. 4:15) and they buy materials and
service for anything in which the collective is authorized to
act on the same principle by which an individual buys such. And
make no mistake about it — when one borrows money at interest,
he buys the use of money, whether from bank or
individual. The same is true of bonds. We buy the use of
money, even though we call it “selling” bonds.
Now
a church could sin in building an elaborate place of meeting —
catering to pride, ignoring more important obligations, wasteful
of resources, etc. — even if it had ready cash on hand for
the whole thing. I also believe it could sin in failing to
accept opportunity to scripturally serve the Lord, even if this
meant borrowing money. How can a saint have the right to borrow
money to advance his business, and deny the church the same
right? What would make it wrong for a church (the moral principles
involved) would stop the individual.
Providing
housing, clothing, food, etc., for a preacher is providing his
“support” “wages”. (Study 2 Cor. 11:8) Of course I can
not judge the wisdom of various circumstances. I
personally prefer money, to buy my own house.
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