What does the Bible say about a church being in debt?
Philippians 4:19 was written to the believer but is also applicable to the church. Paul proclaimed, “my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” God will supply His church will all of its needs, but as a Zondervan article said, “this isn't a promise for a material blessing.
Be cautious about bringing a church into debt.
Proverbs 22:26-27 says, “Don't be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans. If you have nothing with which to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you.”
Most agree that total debt service should not exceed 30-33% of annual contribution income. In a rapidly growing congregation, or in special circ*mstances, it might be more. A standard of debt not exceeding $4,000 per communicant member or $5,000 per person average worship attendance has sometimes been used.
How the church should handle its money. Those who lead in spiritual matters should also lead in financial matters (Acts 4:35,37; Acts 11:29,30; 1 Timothy 3:3,8). Money should be handled in such a way that is defensible against any accusation (2 Corinthians 8:21). Money stewards should be trustworthy people.
For example, in 2018, 92 percent of megachurches had debt compared with only 11 percent of very small churches.
In a non-profit organization, such as a church, the board is the bearer of this fiduciary responsibility and therefore should properly oversee all operations, including finances, to protect the members of the church.
The finance committee as a whole is tasked with generating and maintaining church funds to support the organization. They are responsible for maintaining and auditing the church's financial records, and they must make decisions that will directly affect the church's finances.
Most churches make it a priority to get out of debt using capital campaigns, devoting extra offerings to principal payments or special fundraising emphases. Many of our churches take out a loan with a 20-year term, but the vast majority pay it back within five to seven years. That's good stewardship.
The pastor may have some involvement or authority in the church finances. However, for the protection of his reputation and the church's resources, there should always be good segregation of duties.
The verse about tithing one-tenth of your income is found in Leviticus 27:30: “'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” The 10% requirement specifically comes from the Hebrew translation of tithe, “עשר” or “ten”.
Who keeps church money?
Budget Management
The treasurer monitors the budget, ensuring that the church is raising enough money and isn't overspending in alignment with the church's goals. They also need to produce monthly, quarterly, and annual budget reports and coordinate the creation of the budget each year.
Paul—along with the rest of the Bible—simultaneously affirms that ministers deserve pay and yet that ministers ought to serve free of charge. Consider when Jesus sends out the disciples to proclaim the gospel. He tells them first, “You received without paying; give without pay” (Matt. 10:8).
While the Bible does not explicitly call debt a sin, it's not necessarily a fan either. Congregations considering taking on church debt need to apply wisdom to their decision-making. A congregation can be handcuffed by debt. But being debt-free isn't necessarily unquestionably good for a church.
The Presbyterian Church had the sharpest decline, losing over 40% of its congregation and 15.4% of its churches between 2000 and 2015. Infant baptism has also decreased; nationwide, Catholic baptisms declined by nearly 34%, and ELCA baptisms by over 40%.
God instructed Old Testament believers to give a tithe, or a tenth because this ten percent represented the first, most important portion of all they had. The New Testament does not suggest a certain percentage for giving, but simply says for each to give "in keeping with his income."
There is no such thing as a “contract” for forgiveness either written or verbal. (When such a contract exists the IRS would recognize the entire contracted amount to be income in the year of the contract.) Churches who wish to give their pastor's a loan are free to do so.
Funds raised in individual parishes account for almost all of this money and the majority of it remains in the parish which raises it, meaning that the resources available to parishes still vary enormously according to the level of donations they can raise.
The book of Proverbs is full of much wisdom concerning money and its uses, but one proverb that is helpful for church leaders crafting a budget is Proverbs 22:7 (ESV) which says, “The rich rules over the poor, but the borrower is the slave of the lender.” This proverb is a good reminder to budget within your means.
The biblical pattern shows without question that the pastor should be involved in the oversight of the church's finances, however, Scripture also prescribes the attitude and actions of the pastor to avoid disqualification of influence and trust.
1 Peter 5:2 refers to the church as "the flock of God." Jesus is called the head of the church (Eph 5:23) and the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). The church belongs to Christ. She is His unique possession. This alone should remind the pastor that he does not bear authority in the church.
What does the Bible say about paying church?
2 Corinthians 9:6: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:7: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Ps 37:21 - The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. The Bible is clear that when something is borrowed is should be paid back. Someone refusing to repay reveals a wicked heart and not the generous and giving heart God wants us to have.
God loves a cheerful giver and someone who wants to give back to the Lord because of everything he has done for them. If a member of your church isn't sure how much to give, the Bible tells us that God asks for 10% as a tithe for all he has given us.
The finances of the church are governed by a combination of church leaders, such as pastors or clergy, and dedicated financial committees or boards responsible for overseeing financial matters and ensuring responsible stewardship of resources.
Hebrews 13:17 [MEV]: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. Let them do this with joy and not complaining, for that would not be profitable to you.”
