Who could rationally approve of the senseless destruction of private and public property, the mob justice, and the anarchist demands we have been witnessing in our streets since May 25th? Only those who do not understand the power of peacemaking and developing a winning strategy. I call them “appeasers.”

The appeasement we should avoid is yielding or conceding to the belligerent demands of a nation, group, person, etc., in a conciliatory effort, sometimes at the expense of justice or other principles. Essentially, the appeaser gives in to the bully, hoping that surrender will make the conflict go away. This typically happens when a leader fails to rise up and courageously show a better way forward. History records Neville Chamberlain as an appeaser. History records Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a peacemaker. Will Christians serve as appeasers or peacemakers?

A Golden Moment

This is a golden moment for the next true peacemaker to rise up and show authentic leadership to heal ugly division and widespread strife in our nation. The Nobel Prize awaits one with the moral courage to speak truth to important issues, promoting non-violence and genuine reforms that uphold the common good of all people. We need another leader who operates in the mode of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who led from a deep sense of calling.

Dr. King’s true Christian values were key to his world-changing success. He did not disparage his enemies. He did not retaliate against the violent. He did not seek to win a debate, but rather sought to win hearts. He called for a better future instead of punishment for the injustices of the past. He was a builder, not a destroyer. He honored this country by envisioning a brighter future. His faith gave him courage in the face of danger and constant criticism. Like his predecessor, William Wilberforce, Dr. King was not an appeaser. Neither of these men was willing to throw in the towel short of achieving their desired outcome. They knew the real battle was not against flesh and blood, not against people or government or systems, but against the evil that causes bigotry, hatred, and prejudice. Make no mistake; Dr. King was imperfect. But he demonstrated the ultimate love for his people and the cause of civil rights by laying down his life for the benefits that he himself would never enjoy.

Doing Our Part

Until God lifts that national leader or organization to the forefront, let’s do our part in the trenches. We must avoid both appeasement and escalating conflict. We need a strategy to bring about peace and reform.

The real work is not at the policy level; it is not at the statue or symbolic level or at the Twitter level. It is not virtue signaling or joining in trendy outrage. The real work is between neighbors.

The movement we need is at the grassroots level. Each of us can carry the torch forward while we pray and wait. Here are some actions that I think can make a profound difference, now.

Promote peace, understanding, reconciliation and justice in your spheres of influence. Speak truth in love. Stop sharing the hit pieces, the endless video clips of bad behavior. Ignoring stupidity removes oxygen from their fire. Stop trying to make a point with your social media posts; rather, seek to make a difference in real relationships. Don’t participate in the “cancel culture” to try and ruin another person’s life for their mistakes or simply for disagreeing with you. Quit thinking your political party is the answer. You have more influence in your neighborhood than someone with a political title.

As Mother Teresa said, “Never worry about numbers. Help one at a time, and always start with those nearest you.” She won a Nobel Prize for caring for those the world had discarded.

Dr. King’s dream involved two goals: civil rights and economic justice. His life was taken before the he could advance the full purpose of his calling. It is time for the peacemakers to carry this torch and continue his efforts to close the wealth gap in a way that promotes dignity and freedom.

The world may not notice, but God promises this: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God,” (Matt. 5:9). That is a far greater reward than the Nobel Prize. Love is a supernatural power. Let’s rely upon the power of love and advocate the ways of the Prince of Peace as we each do our part.

This article was originally published on Patheos, July 20, 2020.

America’s tragic history of injustice towards minority groups has created a wealth gap that needs to be addressed and specific efforts need to be made to close it. Not through redistribution programs, but by following a Biblical plan that does not depend on government intervention, but rather, personal initiative. God created a system, which if followed, will bring personal blessing and create a just system for all. This program can be taught in our churches to ensure God’s people are empowered for financial progress.

God did not intend for all to be equal when it comes to wealth distribution. If that were His plan, He would not have had to add the 10th commandment to warn us against coveting what our neighbor has that we do not have. Greed is wanting more of what I already have. Coveting is wanting what someone else has. God commanded us not to covet or to be greedy.

If equality was His goal, the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 would not speak of God distributing differing amounts of talents. In every field of human endeavor, there is a disparity between abilities and outcomes. Although God did not plan for economic equality, He does require us to seek to operate within a system of economic justice. This means everyone, Jew and Gentile alike, should be equally free to achieve the rewards of their efforts.

Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Implementing God’s Economic Cycle

There is an economic cycle that we should follow to create financial health
and growth that God designed for our good. Let me lay it out step by step:

• Work – We work; God provides. If we are able to work but prefer not to, we will suffer. Work creates our source of income and financial foundation to build upon. Proverbs 14:23 –All hard work leads to profit, but mere talk leads to poverty. (NIV)
• Give – To honor the Lord for what He provides, we give first. We are created to be givers. This is our highest priority and should be done with joy and not under obligation. Proverbs 3:9 – Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops… (NIV)
• Save – After we give, we save a portion of all of our income. Repeat after me, “give first, save second.” God said that the tiny ant grows wise because they know how to save without a commander or overseer forcing them to do it. Proverbs 6:6 – Go to the ant you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise. (NIV)
• Spend – Our net spendable income is what we have leftover after we have done our giving and saving. Spending should never come first in our priorities. This is the money we use to pay taxes, eliminate debt, and support our lifestyles. Proverbs 21:20 – The wise man saves for the future but the foolish
  man spends whatever he gets. (TLB)
• Invest – This is money that is placed at risk to enable you to receive a return on your earnings. It is also money that grows to enable you to start a business, own shares in companies that create jobs, and build capacity to plan for the future. Ecclesiastes 11: 2 – Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. (NIV)

Work, Give, Save, Spend, Invest

If you practice these financial habits, in that order, your personal economy will always be in good shape. But something else happens in this cycle that cannot be missed. You are helping other people grow and improve their economy too! Follow along with me through that list again.

When you work, you contribute to the well-being of a customer who receives the product or service you produce, and the owner of the company grows its bottom line because of your efforts. This creates more jobs and more opportunities.

When you give, you expand God’s kingdom and help those who cannot work and therefore need our charitable help. You eliminate inequalities and show compassion to the least of these.

When you save, you create financial stability, so you are able to buy a home, avoid debt, and build a sustainable future for you and/or your family. You demonstrate wisdom and the essential fruit of the Spirit, self-control.

When you spend, you support the companies that provide the goods and services you need so they can continue to operate. Consumer spending puts money back into the economy, so it benefits other businesses and their employees.

When you invest, you risk money to try new things, produce innovative solutions, and find new ways to improve lives. Even a failed investment produces useful knowledge of what did not work. Investing ensures the entire economic cycle continues to spin and grow more opportunities for others.

The more individual cycles that are spinning in a nation, the better the health of that national economy. The fewer of these cycles spinning, the poorer the nation. Now you know why free societies seek to obtain very low levels of unemployment. Without jobs, the entire cycle breaks down.

Looking back at the cycle again, if any of these steps breaks down, pain will result in your personal life as well as in your community and nation. In other words, we each need to have a strong personal economy so that others can benefit and be blessed with jobs from our economic activity.

When we each follow God’s cycle, it creates economic growth and blessing for others. This closes the wealth gap, breaks dependency, and brings a just system for all. I hope you will learn more about this plan, implement it in your life and take it to others in your family, church, or business.

This article was originally published on Beliefnet, June, 2020.

My heart aches. I lament the cruel treatment of black people, the senseless loss of life. I have shed tears in private. I am disturbed by my only recent real sensitivity to the obvious pent up hurt and hopelessness in the black community. They are tired, frustrated, and longing for lasting change. So am I.

Unfortunately, none of this is new. Injustice, outrage, peaceful protests, rioting, and more dialogue are a repetitive cycle. One thing I am sure of: It will not change through clever slogans or hashtags or virtue signaling or hoping the government will fix it.

We desperately need a better way forward. I am committed to doing my part to participate in that better way. While there are multiple solutions needed, I am focused on a way that takes up the original, courageous cry for economic justice that rang out from Dr. King’s heart when he challenged the racial economic status quo of the pre-Civil Rights Movement.

The 2020 Economic Status Quo – 52 Years After Dr. King’s Dream

• Net Worth – The median net worth of non-retired black Americans is estimated to be $17,150 vs. $170,000 for non-retired white Americans. This is a 10 to 1 disparity measured in dollars.
• Access to Loans – Studies have repeatedly shown that black individuals are more likely than white individuals to face discrimination in the workplace or in having loan applications approved, making it harder to get ahead.
• Income – Median weekly pay for black men is only 75% of the $1,096 that white men earn, according to the latest Labor Department data.
• Predatory Lending – Studies show that minority populations were subjected to predatory loans more so than white populations. Lenders issued high-cost loans to 58% of low-
  income black communities and to 37% of low-income Latino communities, as compared to only 28% of low-income white communities.
• When the level of income is taken into account, 54% of high-income black people and 49% of high-income Latino people were issued high-cost loans, compared to only 16% of high-income white people. Thus, even high-income black and Latino people were issued more high-cost loans than low-income white people.
• Even when credit risk is controlled, black individuals were 3.9 times more likely than their white counterparts to receive subprime loans, while Latino individuals were 2.6 times more likely. In fact, when regulatory authority, credit risk, and other variables (which lenders use to determine issuance) are controlled, race is still found to play a major role.
• Access to Job Opportunities – Even among black and white workers with similar resumes, studies have found black workers are far less likely to get called for an interview if a hiring manager can tell the applicant is black.
• Home Ownership – Only 44% of black households own their homes compared with nearly 74% of white households. The black homeownership rate has changed little from the late 1960s, while white populations have made steady gains over time.
• Financial Downturns – Black workers are less able to weather such a storm because on average, they have fewer earners in their families, lower incomes, and lower liquid wealth than white workers.
• The jobs that have been affected the most during the COVID-19 pandemic — like leisure and hospitality — are in industries that have a disproportionate share of black workers.
• Black Americans are underrepresented among those receiving unemployment insurance, a disparity that some economists have said is due to the difficulty that those who work in more informal or sporadic work capacities face.
• Higher Foreclosures – Researchers at Princeton have found, for example, that “the greater the degree of Hispanic and especially black segregation a metropolitan area exhibits, the higher the number and rate of foreclosures it experiences.” That same study found that these disparities are due in large part to the disproportionate chance that minority borrowers will receive subprime loans.

A Time for Positive Change

Many know that Dr. King’s goal at the time of his death was the Poor People’s Campaign. On March 16, 1968 in Los Angeles, less than three weeks before his assassination, King explained:

It’s time now for something positive to take place. This is why we’re going to have a campaign in Washington; this is why we’re going with poor people. I don’t know what we’ll be able to do in Washington, frankly. I know we have to do something. I know we have to take the inchoate (early-stage/just beginning) rage of the ghetto and transform it into something constructive and creative… that is what we’re trying to do… so that for at least sixty days, nobody in this country can overlook the fact that there are poor people around. And we solicit your support as we go to Washington, not to beg, but to demand jobs or income now.

March for Economic Justice Behind the Scenes

I too can say, it is time for something positive to take place. I have personally begun a long march for economic justice for the poor in America, but behind the scenes. I do not want to do something that makes me feel better about the problem. I want all of us, God’s good Samaritans, to do something that makes a meaningful difference to those who are hurting. Here are a few practical steps you can take now that are on my personal list of action items.

• Analyze your workforce, leadership, and board diversity. Make meaningful changes.
• Consider donating a gift to support an under-resourced, black-led, inner-city church where the gospel is preached. We need to help the peacemakers and the caregivers doing good work.
• Volunteer to use your knowledge in business and finance to train churches, communities or ministry leaders Biblical financial principles and best practices on topics like how to get a better job, get a raise, increase your income, get a lower interest rate, pay off debt, start a business, and many more.
• Open your network. Use your influence to help someone in need to find a better job, get abetter mortgage, work out of a predatory loan, or get started in business. This may be an area where your generosity has an immediate impact.

There is a dangerous side of anger and frustration that has given birth to lawlessness in some pockets of the United States. Many of the ideologies and demands I am reading about will make the economic disparities worse for the poor. Where crime and violence are high, livelihoods are also destroyed. Where peace is present, economies grow.

As a teacher of Biblical financial principles around the world, I also know the prosperity gospel is an example of false hope and a cruel hoax that only enriches the peddler of that heresy.

To resolve the issues on my list of the status quo, we must share knowledge, wisdom, power, and love. Please, join me in this behind the scenes march. We must march and march and march until we can see economic justice for all.

This article was originally published on Patheos, June 22, 2020.

The late Rob Moll (1977-2019), a writer and former editor at Christianity Today, was a friend of mine. Our friendship began when his life impacted my life in a very unexpected way, via an article he wrote in August 2008 for the Wall Street Journal, “Want More Growth in China? Have Faith.”

While I typically scan the Wall Street Journal for business and economic news on a frequent basis, I had never looked for or expected to find an article that would directly impact my life as a Christian. In his article, Rob interviews a Chinese economist whose Americanized name is Dr. Peter Zhao. As a rising star in the Communist Party and an avowed atheist, Dr. Zhao was commissioned to do an academic study to determine the reason why America has the largest and most powerful economy in the history of the world. Obviously, the answer to that question held keen interest to the architects of the Chinese economy as they looked to finally eclipse their rival and become the number one economy on the planet.

The answer Dr. Zhao returned to China with was not the answer they were looking for. He reported that the secret to America’s phenomenal economic engine was the Christian Church. He carefully documented some of the elements of the faith that are missing in Chinese culture such as a tireless work ethic, honesty, suppression of corruption, a motivation for excellence, generosity and the “spirit of creativity” which comes from worshipping a Creator. He very perceptively noted that things were invented or created in America but only made in China; to reverse that, the Chinese would need to worship a Creator. He reported that there are rice shops on every corner in China, but America appears to have a church on every corner that feeds the mind and soul.

Their response to Dr. Zhao’s report was not warm. They explained that China wanted to have a “market economy” but without the Church. In other words they were asking, “how can we copy the system but not adopt the beliefs that make the system possible?” Dr. Zhao persisted in his research and wrote a paper investigating market economies without the Church and market economies with the Church. His paper confirmed that the Church has been the key driver behind the largest economies in the modern world and are essential for long-term sustainability to avoid the silent killers of growth like greed, corruption, lack of trust and limited innovation. It became one of the most widely-read economic articles in China and catapulted Dr. Zhao into the forefront of contrarian thinkers in their society. But the story does not end there. 

1.435 Billion to One

The research and remarkable journey of Dr. Zhao captivated my own heart. I agreed with his findings and was gripped by his honesty and courage. I began to pray for him and learn all that I could, hoping that he would survive his bold reporting of the profoundly simple truth that it is God’s truth that guides and shapes our economic progress.

The rest of the story could only have been written by God Himself. This sincere atheist who explored the data with an open mind and heart was so touched by what he saw in America and what he learned about the elements of the Christian faith that he bought a Bible and began to read it. It was not long after his research was published that he professed his personal belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. By the time he was interviewed by Rob Moll, he was a devout Believer.

Two years after reading the Wall Street Journal article, I attended a conference in Orlando, Florida and was seated in a bland ballroom without windows packed with people who had a common interest in improving Christian generosity. I noticed that the table of ten next to me were all Chinese men who were listening on headphones as a female translated from English to Mandarin. At the first break, I introduced myself and asked the translator if she knew or had ever heard of Dr. Peter Zhao. She seemed puzzled, so I explained who he was and how I read of his remarkable story. I told her how I tried to learn all that I could about him, hoping and praying for his survival and success but that I had no idea what had happened to him since the article I read.

She finally connected the dots and realized who I was so enthusiastically talking about since she did not know him as “Peter.”

“Oh yes, I know Dr. Zhao. I am his personal secretary,” she said with a humble smile as she paused.

“Really?!” I exclaimed. “Oh, my…Please tell him that I so admire his work, his courage, his boldness, his message…” I could not stop blabbering. “Is he okay?” I asked. “How has he done since becoming a Christian? I would love to know everything I can about him… He is one of my heroes! Can you tell him for me?” I finally stopped for a second to let her reply.

“No, I will not tell him those things,” she replied.

I interrupted, “Why, has something happened to him!?”

“No, no, he is fine,” she said. “Why don’t you tell him yourself? He is sitting right here at the table.”

Cold chills covered my body as I looked at the men sitting within three feet of my table. She spoke in Mandarin and asked Dr. Zhao to come over and meet me. I could barely hold back my tears. I had never been to China in my life. I had prayed for only one of the 1,435,000,000+ Chinese people and here was that one – standing in front of me – one of my heroes, who barely reached to the height of my chest but who was one of the most powerful leaders I had ever met. God seated us next to each other in a crowded conference room in America where we had the freedom to openly share with each and begin an enduring friendship that would take us around the world teaching and training together on the power of God’s principles to transform personal and national economies.

A Ripple Effect

This is my story, shared with you to set up my point: Churches that teach God’s Word have an incalculable but profoundly positive impact on individuals and thus a nation’s economy.

Two things that provide a snapshot of the health and future of a nation: the number of healthy Bible believing churches and the number of entrepreneurs that are free to pursue their dream. Dr. Zhao was right; China needs God. But not just China; every pastor needs to understand they are creating “good economic actors” with the values, the character and creative spirit that builds a personal economy, and in turn contributes to the collective economic health of a nation.

I have traveled to much of the world sharing this simple message. I have had the honor of teaching many times inside of China with my beloved friend Dr. Zhao. Neither of us plan to stop.

May what Rob Moll did for me in 2008 continue to ripple into more who are willing to risk it all for God’s cause. We need more like Dr. Peter Zhao.

This article was originally posted on Patheos, May 26, 2020.

“Cash is King!” is a popular financial phrase used to describe the strength of adequate cash flow or cash reserves particularly during a crisis or downturn. It sounds good to the ears, is memorable and easy to believe, but it is not true. I happen to own a 100 Trillion-dollar bill. That is a one with fourteen zeros behind it, i.e. $100,000,000,000,000. It is the largest denomination of currency printed in modern times, possibly in history. It was printed in Zimbabwe and retired in 2008 after it was no longer capable of purchasing a roll of toilet paper.

In Venezuela, the minimum wage has been increased 50 times in the past 20 years. In May 2020, the average citizen receives a total of $800,000 bolivars per month, making them millionaires on paper. Because of inflation, it is the equivalent of $4-5 US dollars per month.

You get the point. Don’t believe financial advice just because it sounds good at face value or because it is popular in the culture.

Proverbs 16:16 takes aim at the philosophy of “mo’ cash = mo’ brains.” It says, How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. You see, wisdom is better than money does not roll off the tongue so easily. Yet, it has proven time and again to be true.

Cash, no matter the amount, is meaningless without wisdom. Is it good to save money? Of course. Is it good to view it as a king with god-like power? No. Will it save you from peril? Not without wisdom.

The phrase, A fool and his money are soon parted probably had its origins in Proverbs 21:20 which says, The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down. Seek wisdom. The money will follow.

My Short List of Bad Financial Advice

“Use your home equity like a bank account!”

 In a very recent conversation with an acquaintance, he explained to me that he was using his home equity like his bank account to get through the crisis. I asked him to explain. He continued, Well, I have paid down the mortgage on my house to about 50% remaining, so with that equity I use a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) to be able to get cash whenever I need it. It works perfectly! Not really. A HELOC is not accessing cash whenever you need it. It is taking out an expensive loan and putting your house up for collateral every time you need it. The Bible says that a better way is to learn to save like an ant. They have tiny little bodies, with tiny little brains, but when they show up at a picnic they do not feast on the crumbs on the spot. Rather, they take them home without eating them and store them for a future date when times are lean. Proverbs 6:6 says that if we will do the same, we will become wise.

“There is Good Debt and Bad Debt…”

Modern finances gurus have worked hard to convince us that there is a good way and a bad way to use credit. I will agree but only to this slight modification…. there is bad debt and less bad debt. Less bad debt enables you to purchase an asset or make an investment with the potential to support the repayment of that loan. Bad debt is used for buying liabilities, things that do not appreciate in value and will not help you pay back the loan. Credit card debt is bad debt. Student loans are less bad debt. Both are debt which means you are paying for someone else to supply you the money you need. I have even heard some try to convince others that it is good to borrow for a car purchase even if you have the money to repay the loan. Uh… What??

Proverbs 22:7 says, Just as the rich rule over the poor, so the borrower is a slave to the lender. I truly believe that Christ wants us free from every form of slavery and bondage, including being in debt to MasterCard or your car payment or your student loan. So, repeat after me: there is no such thing as good slavery. If you have to borrow money, remember three simple rules: borrow as little as possible, for as short of a term as possible and pay it off as quickly as possible.

“My Credit Card is My Savings Account.”

Card issuers divide the world into two groups: “transactors” are those who use their cards for purchases and pay off the balances each month; I/we use one credit card and am definitely a transactor. I avoid interest or fees or late payments, but accumulate a lot of bonus miles. The other are called “revolvers.” This group carry balances on their cards, paying interest charges month to month. To pure transactors, the balances on their cards aren’t really debts at all, since any purchases will be paid off before interest charges are applied.

One person I was helping called my radio program once and wanted to shout, I am debt free. I told her that was a different radio program, but I asked her to tell me how she got debt free. She explained that she had been able to transfer her credit card debts to a single card that charged no interest for one full year. I said, You are not debt free. She said, well it feels like it because my credit cards are what I use for my savings account.

37% of U.S. households are “revolvers.” They endlessly pay revolving credit card debt from month to month. For this group, they consider it a victory to pay down their spending limits below the maximum so they have some breathing room to put any emergencies on the card should the need arise.

This is definitely bad debt, unwise and flying blindly into a mountain. We all need a real emergency savings account. Here is what that looks like. Put $1,000 cash (minimum) into a safe at home, a bank account or in a sock under the mattress. This is money you only spend in a real emergency, so you don’t have to use debt. If you use it, pay it back so you are your own personal banker. As you are able, increase this amount to 3-6 months of your living expenses.

For full disclosure, at one time in my life, I believed or at least practiced all of this bad advice listed above; every…single…one of them. And it was painful, which turned out to be a good teacher. I did not know good financial advice from bad financial advice until my life was changed in a Bible study produced by Crown on God’s financial principles.

I hope you will learn more about those life changing principles at crown.org. I would be happy to see you experience the freedom that I have had since learning how the Lord wanted me to manage money.

This article was originally published on Beliefnet, May 2020.

On Monday, I learned that thousands of pastors and ministry leaders around the United States were on Zoom calls (the new normal for millions of Americans), conference calls, and webinars learning about the government’s new Payroll Protection Program for churches, ministries, and the not-for-profit sector.

As a ministry leader, we received a direct offer to participate that came following a contact from our bank. We are faced with a similar decision as many of you. Here is the summary report from our CFO:

I received a phone call this afternoon from (omitted), Sr. VP for Commercial Banking. (He) wanted to be sure that Crown is aware of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Loan Program for which it qualifies. The written guidelines from the SBA are expected to be released either later today or tomorrow. (He) will send me a copy of the guidelines once he receives them. Some timesensitive
information:

• The loan window will open for applications this coming Friday, April 3rd and will close in June.
• Demand is expected to be very high.
• Once the $350 billion in allotted funds are gone, no additional funds can be allocated under this SBA program.
• Expectations are for them to “sell out” quickly.
• The maximum loan would be 250% of Crown’s average monthly payroll costs based on February 15th headcount levels and adjusted for employees earning over $100K/year.
• Interest rate would be .5% APR for a 2-year rate.
• Some, but probably not all, of the loan could be forgiven if there is not a reduction in the number of employees or a reduction greater than 25% in wages paid to employees or payrolls are restored afterwards.

In terms of full disclosure, the program is being rolled out through the banks who will receive an administration fee. (Anonymous) Bank does have at least two incentives to promote the SBA loans:1) they are being paid a fee to originate and manage the loan (which can later be sold on the open market), and 2) The loans can help stabilize their customer base with government guaranteed loans and lessen the economic shock that many are reeling from.

If Crown wants to participate in this program, it will probably need to act quickly. The Crown board will need to decide before Friday if we are going to request the loan through (Bank) to have the best opportunity to receive funds. While no one is sure, it will probably take at least three weeks for funds to be disbursed.”

We qualify for approximately a $250,000 loan/grant. That is very significant to us and is worthy of a measured decision. I am sure many of you are faced with a similar decision; for some, the stakes may be much, much higher.

There are pros/cons as well as Biblical examples supporting each position. I listed a few below.

Pros:
• This loan/grant would be a hedge against our downside risk for losses in FY21.
• It would help protect our cash and our staff through the storm. Nobody really knows how bad this may get. I hear both extremes about the economy and land somewhere in the middle. I am not panicked.
• We can pay it back in full if we actually use it or do not use it.

Cons:
• So far, we have chosen to never borrow money. We teach others to avoid it or only do so for short-term needs.
• I would not be able to communicate to our donors/partners that we are fully trusting God for His provision – unless we deem this His provision.
• We would be taking taxpayer money from other groups that may need it more. Many taxpayers will hate the idea of supporting God’s work.

There are a number of examples where God used the government or king to save his people. Pharaoh allotted land to the Jews in Goshen to survive the famine. Artaxerxes supported Nehemiah so he could rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. Esther and Mordecai got help from the king.

• We can’t say it is an absolute principal not to take government help and others should not take it either.
• I would need to explain to our staff if we decide to turn it down as they need to be aware of our “why”. They may feel vulnerable.
• My sense is the Church could fall into a trap of state control, but that is an unknown and more of a caution.

I like what Alan Mullaly did for Ford Motor Company in the 2008-2009 Great Financial Crisis. By making the courageous decision to turn down the bailout offer for the automotive manufacturers, he increased goodwill and brand value with their consumer base (see American Icon by Bryce G. Hoffman).

For more than 44 years since Larry Burkett started the ministry, Crown has taught God’s people to be faithful stewards and to fully trust God with their finances. We have had a number of economic storms and cash flow crises during these past four decades. In 2008-2009, our survival was at stake, but we have never borrowed money to sustain the organization. I don’t see any reason to change now.

Our bottom line is that we think we should not accept any taxpayer funds for our ministry, and that we should trust the Lord to provide. At the same time, I don’t think it is sinful for others to accept these funds if it is paid back in full.

A Few Yellow Flags to Consider
For the record, I suspect the program may not be helpful to our cause in the long run. If giving is down so quickly, it may not rebound in the two years of the loan term. What happens if the loan does not become a grant, and you cannot pay it back? We don’t know what the next quarter will bring in terms of the impact on charitable giving, let alone the next two years. This calls for extreme caution.

It is extraordinary that so many churches are supposedly running for help, deeming the situation “urgent” so early on. It makes me wonder if this program is a Golden Calf form of idolatry. It saddens me that American churches and ministries are impacted so suddenly by a drop in giving. Have pastors talked to their people first? Will they disclose it if they take the loan/grant? Are they already carrying lots of debt that will be made worse by accepting a loan? Will the church survive to pay it back? What happens
to our collective witness if many default on their repayment covenants?

Martin Luther King, Jr said “The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state.” Will we surrender that high calling?

Mark my words, there will be a time when the winds shift unfavorably towards the Christ-exalting ministries who have an outstanding debt from this program or even those who received the funds in the form of a grant. It will come through a taxpayer legal challenge or complaint, or through a political football used to punish those who approved it during the crisis. There is a possibility that it will even be used to threaten our tax-exempt charitable status in the future.

Pause. Pray. Seek counsel. Don’t join what one pastor describes as the “gold rush” because it seems so urgent right now. You will be glad you were very careful before getting entangled with Caesar.

The Crown team makes it a priority to “practice what we preach”. During this pandemic, as we recommend to cut back your living expenses by 25% for the next 90 days, we’ve made a list for you of the ways we’re doing that ourselves. There are some natural savings that happen when you follow social distancing rules, like spending less on gas, eating out, and entertainment. Below are some additional recommendations from the Crown team for cutting expenses and increasing your savings!

Cut back on any unnecessary or luxury subscriptions
Maybe Spotify free is the way to go for now. Here’s a video with easy ways to do this. Courtney said, “My husband and I both went through the last few statements of our bank accounts looking for subscriptions that we could cancel or downgrade. I didn’t realize I was paying for a few app subscriptions! That has saved us a few extra dollars a month.” Calvin and his wife have cut their gym memberships and are working out at home. They are also saving all discretionary dollars in their budget for a few months.

Negotiate cable and internet rates
You may be able to negotiate a better rate for your cable and/or internet. Businesses are wanting to keep their clients right now, so call to check if there are any special promotions you can take advantage of. “We contacted our internet provider and found that we could save 30% on monthly payment because they could move us to a new promotion package,” Alet said. Another one of our staff members cancelled their cable TV altogether. Many streaming services are offering free promotions over the next few months, so be sure to look on Google for coupons before signing up for anything new.

Turn off the lights
Be mindful while you’re home about your energy usage. Do you have a habit of leaving the lights or ceiling fans on? Get up from your home office desk and make sure you’re not paying extra for that electricity!

Defer medical bills
If you need to, call your medical provider and set up a payment or deferment plan. Most will let you do this if you ask and work with them.

Slow down loan payments or stop paying ahead – for now
Several staff members have been paying ahead on their mortgage or student loans. For the next few months, their plan is to pay the required monthly balance as billed and use the extra to increase their savings.

Save on your phone bill
Handre called his mobile provider and moved to a less expensive package saving him each month on his family plan.

Activate the “pantry challenge”
Melinda and her family have challenged themselves to eat out of only their pantry and freezer before going out to eat. Once a week, someone grocery shops for a few fresh essentials for their meals. Other than that, they save money by depleting their stocked food and complying with social distancing rules.

Go meatless
Hannah said her family has moved to 3 meatless dinners a week. It has helped them to mix up their recipes and helped them cut back on their grocery bill!

Save on insurance
One member of the Crown staff said, “I contacted our home insurance company and asked if there were any discounts we could qualify for because of recent improvements we did to our home. A miracle happened – they lowered our yearly insurance amount by $400 and gave me $500 towards this year’s installment because we fixed the roof recently. We had already decided to give to people who were losing their jobs, and now our gifts have been doubled!”

Trusting God’s Promise
We know it’s not fun to take these steps, but we’re trusting in God’s promise that discipline now will pay off later. “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 (ESV) Here are a few other financial steps you can take to find peace and freedom.

Pay off debt
Now is a good time to work on decreasing or eliminating debt. If you need help making a plan, contact our partners Christian Credit Counselors. They’ll help you consolidate your payments so you can be debt free sooner!

Increase your savings
If you’re not in the habit of saving, now would be a good time to start. To make it easy, check out the Eli Savings App. It automates your savings for you and only saves what you’re able to afford.

Give generously
It may seem uncomfortable right now to think about giving, but it is in these times where we are able to truly show our faith and trust in the Lord. Share the resources you have with your neighbors and friends. Are you able to give more to your church when others might be holding back? Do you know someone furloughed or out of work that can use some help? Find a way to share.

Please know we’re here to help. Email us at clientservices@crown.org or call us at 1.800.722.1976.

Crown CEO Chuck Bentley Shares the 12 Secrets to True Wealth

The 12 Secrets to True Wealth addresses…

• What’s the difference between worldly and biblical wealth?
• Is it okay for Christians to be wealthy?
• How do we find hope for financial situations?
• What are the symptoms of financial bondage?
• How do we get to financial freedom?

And more!

To listen to the 12 Secrets to True Wealth, click on the 12 audio tracks below.