I write a lot of these articles while on airplanes. Why? Because I spend a lot of time flying. Today is an unusually long day. Presently we’re at about 30,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. We just concluded our 246th No Debt No Sweat! presentation at a church in Paris, France. 

I mention this because it is relevant on two levels: First, it reminds me that I’ve talked to a lot of people about debt and its dangers. Second, it points out the fact that people in developed nations worldwide are struggling with the debt trap. Last week a London newspaper reported that the British are now spending over 18% of their income paying off debt. That isn’t far from Americans, who are spending an estimated 20% of their incomes to pay off high interest, short-term debts like credit cards.

Now before you click to the next article, let me tell what I don’t believe. I don’t believe debt is always wrong. Yet, I’m not a fan of most forms of debt. 

Personally, I’m uncomfortable with both extremes on today’s Christian spectrum. The people we hear telling us just to, “Say the prayer and borrow our way to financial wealth” are promoting a gospel of greed that turns God into a cosmic slot machine. I vehemently disagree with these people. 

However, I’m also at odds with some contemporary Christian teachers who are telling other godly people that all forms of debt are sinful. From my perspective, it would seem that some of these people may not be consistent themselves. Let me explain.

Suppose that this article isn’t about debt and borrowing. Instead, suppose I am writing about living a chaste, moral lifestyle  In the article I make the case that, before marriage, a couple should remain pure and that premarital sex is wrong. And, after marriage, that they should be monogamous and faithful to each other. Then, at the end of my article, suppose I told you that I make my living with a pornographic website that I’d like for you to visit!  

Question: Would you have a problem with that?!? I hope so! I hope you would log off and never read another one of my articles. 

Now, it may not be as dramatic, but I believe it’s the same thing when someone like me tells other godly people that it’s wrong for them to borrow money, when I have money in the bank myself. Remember, the bank doesn’t want my money to protect my money. The reason the bank wants my money is to lend it to you. The bank will loan up to eighty-five dollars out of every hundred dollars in my account back out to borrowers. So, doesn’t it seem fair to ask:  How could I tell you not to borrow money when I’m the very guy who is funding the system? Do you see the disconnect in this?