Credit Cards and the Modern Day Church – Part II

In Part I of this article, we explored the struggle between relevance and identity in the modern day church in the context of post-modernist ecclesiology and credit card contributions and offerings. Part II of this commentary presents a few arguments in favour of credit cards and their application in the modern day church from the standpoint of relevancy.

In Rhema’s quest for economic and technological relevance, we strive to present our congregation with leading-edge contribution options. Meaning that we are cognizant of the speed and pace at which the world around us is moving, and we endeavor to keep up with it- if not ahead of it. In this regard, credit cards are just one of the options that we strive to present our members with. Here are a few things to consider in looking at the place and use of credit cards in the modern day church.

The Medium of Exchange Argument

The church operates in a bigger national and global economy, with certain economic realities;

In any economy or economic transaction, you need a medium of exchange;

Historically, money has been that medium of exchange; however, we are quickly becoming a cashless society;

Credit and debit cards, pre-authorized payments, online, telephone and internet banking has become the order of the day- the new media of exchange.

The Stewardship Argument

The stewardship argument focuses on the human element of this equation and asks the critical question am I a good steward of life- and by extension, the affairs of life? This is a question that every believer must ask himself/herself. Stewardship is about management. In other words how well do I manage my life? Do I know my strengths, my weaknesses, my resources, and am I in control of these elements?

If you accept that credit cards are a medium of exchange, then if follows that there is nothing inherently wrong with the medium. Like cash, it merely facilitates an economic transaction. Remember, money is not inherently bad. In fact, according to King Solomon, money is a defense, and it provides an answer for all things (Ecclesiastes 7:12; 10:19). However, when anything becomes perverted, its moral condition changes. Perversion normally comes about by the addition of the human element. St. Paul argues that it is not money that is the root of all evil; rather, it is the (perverted) love of money which is really the root of all evil (I Timothy 6:10).

In today’s society, credit and debit cards have replaced cash and cheques as the primary media of exchange. Not only are these cards convenient, but they also nullify the need to walk around with huge amounts of cash, which can be a security risk. Credit cards are also a tremendous management tool in that they provide coordination, amalgamation and one- stop payment management. In the fast-paced world in which we live, where people have very little time, or patience to deal with multiple bills, credit cards provide a very good method of bill management.

It is also noteworthy that credit cards are often used to accumulate points and air miles toward other (future) purchases.

The Credit versus Debt Argument

Although debt and credit are linked, they are not synonymous terms or concepts. Most people confuse the two. It is therefore important to distinguish between the two. Credit is confidence in a purchaser's ability and intention to pay, displayed by entrusting the buyer with goods or services without the need for immediate payment. In other words, payment is deferred. The key words in this definition are “abilities” and “intention.” “Ability” in the context of this discussion is important because it is an objective assessment or measure of a person’s financial capacity or limit. In the world of public policy for example, this is not a foreign concept, as many policies turn on this issue. For example, our taxation system in Canada is built on this very principle. Canada has what is called a progressive taxation system. This means that those that earn higher incomes pay more taxes, because the policy makers have determined that they have a greater ability or capacity to do so.

Debt on the other hand, is credit that has gone bad, or the abuse of credit. It is credit that is out of control with an element of penalty attached.