Is Debt Always Wrong? (Q&A Day Submitted Question We Didn't Get to But Are Not Dodging)

What does the church teach about debt? Is it always wrong or is it allowable sometimes?

The Bible gives a very clear warning about debt, in Proverbs 22:7 (NIV), “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”

Much more can be said, but Alex Giannetti will be discussing this very thing this Sunday! I wouldn't want to spoil it all here and leave people feeling like maybe they don't need to be at HBC on Sunday. :)

Well that was short. Maybe we should cover another question we didn't have time for on Q&A Day: 

Is it ok to lie to defeat evil? - Shawn#

No. The ends do not justify the means. Do not overcome evil with evil, overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). We are called to do the right thing, the God honoring thing, and He is the one who will defeat evil, anyways. He doesn't need us to do the wrong thing even if it looks like it will result in a good outcome. 

More "Q&A Day Questions we didn't get to on Q&A Day" coming next week!

Pastor Jeff

-really needs a better title for this blog mini-series 

Dead to Sin!

One of the most encouraging passages in the Bible about having victory over sin is found in Romans 6:2.  The Apostle Paul asks the rhetorical question, "How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" (NASB). If we're a blood-bought believer in Christ, having confessed and forsaken our sins, and surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ, then we DIED to sin. To continue in it would be unthinkable!

The phrase "died to sin" refers an act or event that happened once in the past and is now completed.   We died to sin the moment we placed our faith in Jesus Christ.  Because of His finished work on the cross, the reign of sin has been crushed in our lives and replaced by the reign of grace.  The cords of the enemy that held us in bondage were broken and we were set free. This is fantastic news! 

Dying to sin does not mean that we are perfectly sinless now.  Even despite our heightened vigilance against sin and temptation, we will still continue to succumb to our human nature and commit sin.  But what this passage is saying is that sin does not have a death grip on us anymore. This means that we are no longer slaves of sin.  We are no longer under sin's dominion. Sin no longer controls us. The sin that once terrorized us and defeated us has been rendered powerless in our lives.  When sin controlled us, we had no option but to sin.  Sin was our master, and slaves must obey their masters. But things are different now!  We have a different Master!   

Yes, we're going to sin. We are going to blow it. We're going to stumble and fall sometimes.  But when this happens, we confess, repent and get back up. Why?! Because we died to sin.  Sin doesn't reign over us anymore, God's grace does.

free

Last Sunday, Taylor Brown brought the Word to us regarding the freedom from sin we have in Christ. Powerful message from a great preacher! I have been thinking a lot about it this week. And here is the thought that keeps resonating…

Something I have found profoundly interesting is that, when you look at the way the world thinks / operates, it is almost always the exact opposite of the way God and His kingdom think / operate.

For example, your neighbor’s dog tears up your garden. What worldly advice would you get from your worldly friends? Tear up his garden, right? Get even!

But what is the opposite of that? Opposite of destroying your neighbor’s garden: help him build his own garden up. That sounds crazy!

And it sounds like the kind of thing Jesus would do.

Here is another opposite for you when it comes to the world’s way / God’s way:

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:31-36)

When worldly people think about Christians, they often think of us as people who have to live according to a strict list of rules. Oh you poor Christians. So restricted in the way you live.

First of all, we were not meant to live by a list of rules. Jesus saw to that. (Galatians 2:21)

But even more fascinating about this: take a look at what is really happening. We are thought of as being restricted, while worldly people view themselves as being free. They define freedom as “the ability to do whatever you want”. But such a mindset never leads to freedom - it always leads to bondage!

Sin is enslaving. And immersing yourself in sin in the name of freedom always leads to bondage. Name a sin that doesn’t trap someone in addiction. Name a sin that doesn’t hold people in bondage when they make it a practice. What sin does not lend itself to being "hard to shake" once it is started?

Pornography, alcoholism (or other drugs), lust, gossip, envy, greed, stealing, hatred, illicit sexual activity - the list goes on and on. All sin carries a hard reality of enslavement.

Jesus brings real freedom. Not merely “freedom to do whatever the heck I want to do”. But freedom to be who God created you to be. Not freedom to sin. Freedom from sin. Free indeed.

Have you been freed?

p.s. - needs to apologize to his neighbor for his dog’s behavior…

Well, I Just Learned a New Word…

Affluenza.

Did you hear about this?

So a couple of weeks ago, a Texas teenager kills four people in a drunk driving accident. And his defense attorney lays the blame on a condition the 16 year-old has been afflicted with: Affluenza. What is that?

It is the inability to tell right from wrong because your parents make too much money.

Yes, I’m serious. See?

http://kfor.com/2013/12/16/victims-families-file-multimillion-dollar-lawsuits-against-affluenza-teen/

Has anyone else heard of this “disease”? I have to tell you, I never heard of this one. Can it be caught? Should I carry hand sanitizer with me? Is it still safe to use public restrooms? What if someone coughs on me? What if I get coughed on while inthe public restroom? Can I get vaccinated for it?

Sorry for the sarcasm. I just get worn out with people treating sin like a disease akin to the flu or diabetes. Showing my age here, but I remember when being a “spoiled brat” was a description, not an excuse. It is a disease all right - sin is a disease on your soul.

As the calendar turns to 2014, in order to avoid affluenza, greed, covetousness, envy, or any of the other afflictions that come with money this year, adopt the attitude of Agur from Proverbs 30:

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. (v7-9)

God, don’t let me be poor - I would hate to dishonor you. But don’t let me be rich, I would hate to start to think I don’t need you.

Here’s a good plan: let’s ask God for enough. And let’s be satisfied with whatever He provides that He determined is enough.

p.s. - doing his part to stop the spread of affluenza