In most, if not all the middle east countries, non-payment of a financial obligation like loans and credit card arrears is criminal in nature. It is not just a civil case. In fact, many Filipinos and Christians landed in jail.
A lot of Christian believers might be wondering whether or not Christian Churches and its leadership has done something to help these brethren who are in financial trouble? The sad fact is that many believers' mind are conditioned that the church and the brethren should dole out for the amount needed, especially if the Church is blessed financially.
For the sake of our further discussion about helping brethren who are in financial distress, let us first agree on two simple truths. If you will not agree, then do not read any further.
Firstly, the church is not a charitable institution; and secondly, money is not the person's real problem, as I have mentioned in my prior article "No, Money is Not the Real Problem."
If your eyes are still glued to these letters, then let me proceed.
Though caring for each other is a primordial function or task to be promoted inside the Church, dole out of cash to those in financial trouble, I believe is not one of them. Especially if the main reason why one has to be in the situation is his or her own misuse of money on unimportant things.
The Bible, specially in the new testament, as far as I could find (well anybody could point it out to me) mentioned the following as the items where the Church's fund should be appropriated:
- To help the needy, not those that has the capacity to provide for themselves and their family. These brethren does not lack because his nothing is left of his salary after deducting the loan or credit card payments;
- For the administrative costs like honorarium of the Church worker that includes the minister, secretary, clerks, and other volunteers, as well as rental payments for the venue of Church services;
- To defray expenses incurred in the on-going Church activities and projects; and
- To support for the missions.
Nothing could I found any verse that a Church giving or lending money to pay off debts of one of its members.
Instead, the best way the Church could care for its membership is to teach personal finance and stewardship. This is a very valuable help than the giving of money, for money is not the real problem. The real problem is the lack of education in terms of personal finance and stewardship.
It is now high time for the Churches to teach its membership to be faithful with their tithes (10% of their income), and the remaining (90%). After all, God owns everything we have.
