A recurring thought, stirred up more recently due to the economic problems in the world, presented by means of an example:
We have a new family attending, who mysteriously have not joined. He is a graduate of Greenville Presbyterian Seminary, very bright and articulate, but probably would not make a good pastor. His wife is weird. He came to Florence because of a job teaching at the local technical college. He is the last hired on the faculty. Nonetheless, in September they borrowed money and bought a house. He considers it a Godsend because the loan went through literally hours before Fannie Mae went into federal receivorship. Now, the state is cutting budgets and his job may disappear.
What if he loses his job? What is the church’s responsibility? Would it be different if he were a member? They live quite frugally. I recall Ron Blue, now deceased, a Christian financial advisor from Gainesville, GA, who taught a generally conservative line on family finances. However, he clearly regarded mortgage debt as somehow insulated from his normal advice not to engage debt electively. He never had a biblical argument for that distinction (I’m quite sure you could not make such an argument). Similarly, there is an undercurrent that our church may need to build a larger sanctuary (though we’ve had no numerical growth in 2 years). It would cost 3/4 million more than we have in the bank. Where is there teaching on this type of matter? Is not the church somewhat culpable in its omission?