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THOUGHT OF THE WEEK - 18 Dec 2011  Debt is a massive problem, for individuals and nations alike, driven as it is, by a consumer mindset that has lost contact with God, and fuelled by a culture that cries, “Why wait?” It’s an especially pressing problem at Christmas when so many feel pressurised into buying gifts they readily admit they can’t afford. I’ve discovered recently for example, that the average British family spends between £530 and £682 on gifts each year, with the result that some four million go into debt just to pay for Christmas! A poll conducted by R3, which represents "professionals working with financially troubled individuals and businesses", found that 60% of 2,000 people surveyed were worried about debt, and 45% struggled to make their money last until payday. The latter figure rises to 62% for the 24-44 age group.R3 said the poll revealed money worries at the highest level it had ever recorded and that one in six were "zombie debtors" (that is they are only able to pay the interest on their loans). Hence the growing attraction for so-called pay day loans, even though borrowers can face interest rates of several hundred per cent, or in some cases a staggering four thousand per cent. And as we would expect, it is the poor who seem to make most use of these loans. Interestingly, the latest National Centre for Social Research’s on social attitudes has also discovered that that more of us are blaming poverty on laziness. As a result the BBC’s Home Editor has suggested that we becoming increasingly judgemental while another commentator has argued that the current harsh economic seems to be making us harsher too. I would want to suggest that it is no coincidence that this same report also paints a sad picture of ever-declining faith and religious affiliation. Half of those surveyed said they had no religion whatsoever (an increase of 19% since 1983) and the number of those willing to identify themselves as Christians has also dropped from 50% to 48% over the past three years. I am sure these findings are linked: Christian societies will be caring societies. The Bible has so much to say about these pressing issues. It condemns idleness because it operates on the premise that we were created for work, and that idleness will have a negative impact both on individuals and on society as a whole. Work is both an economic necessity and a personal need. We will not flourish if we refuse, or are frustrated in our need to work. In the same way it encourages us to do all we can to live ‘debt-free lives’. “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another” In other words God is delighted (and we’ll sleep more easily) when we pay our bills, even our taxes, on time. And that will clearly mean budgeting accordingly. Debt can prove terribly destructive – it can even cause some to take their lives. Thankfully there are those (including agencies such as ‘Christians Against Poverty’) who are willing to offer practical help to those who want to claw their way back out of their horrifying black holes, for that is what it means to “love your neighbour as yourself”. But even though the Bible sets high standards it never lets anyone wallow in a sense of self-indulgent self-righteousness. We may never have to face up to the problem of paying a massive credit card debt but before we give ourselves a pat on the back we would do well to remember that Jesus tells us that debt is a helpful way of understanding sin. Most of us are familiar with these words from the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”, but it would be far more accurate and perhaps more helpful to pray, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”. For if we prayed like this Christmas would remind us that God sent his Son into the world to settle debts too, debts we could never pay. If that doesn’t prevent us becoming judgemental and prompt us to become a more caring society I guess nothing ever will Pastor Rob James
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