Her.meneutics: Would Jesus Walk Away from a Mortgage?

back to Christianity Today

RSS Feed | Help

email to a friend

twitter updates

Follow Her.meneutics on Twitter

What Is Her.meneutics?

The Christianity Today women's blog provides news and analysis from the perspective of evangelical women. We cover news stories and books related to international justice and evangelism, pregnancy and sexual ethics, marriage, parenting, and celibacy, pop culture, health and body image, raising girls, and women in the church and parachurch.

Her.meneutics is edited by associate editor Katelyn Beaty and online editor Sarah Pulliam Bailey.

interests

books and media

church life

justice and politics

relationships and family

sexuality and health

spirituality

theology

women of note

writers

More ...

Free Newsletters

books we're reading

blogs we're watching

« Bachmann, Palin, and the Trouble with 'Evangelical Feminism' | Main | Obama Visit Challenges 'African Woman' Stereotype »

July 11, 2011

Would Jesus Walk Away from a Mortgage?

Reflections from an underwater home owner.

Michelle Van Loon

My husband and I have joked that our 2006 purchase of a townhome in a blue-collar suburb of Chicago must have been the single transaction that popped the housing price bubble in America. Within weeks after we signed the papers, the housing market began a historic slide that hasn’t yet hit bottom.

We paid $193,000 for our property. Today, it is worth $101,000 – if we could find a buyer for it. We are now so underwater on our mortgage, I see coral reefs every time I write a mortgage check. If housing prices stopped declining today and prices began to appreciate 5 percent a year, it would take more than 13 years for the price of our house to climb back to the price we paid for it. Those calculations are far rosier than the cold reality that at middle age, we probably won’t live long enough to see the prices return to the numbers we paid in the good old bubble days of 2006.

Eighty percent of the homes on the market in our town are foreclosures. We find ourselves wondering if we could simply walk away from this bad investment. If only it were as easy as dumping a bum stock and writing off the loss.

More and more people have decided that it is. Earlier this year, CBS’s 60 Minutes highlighted the growing trend toward strategic default. Last year, nearly 11 million Americans were underwater on their mortgages. That’s a whole lot of potential walkaways.

We’ve already refinanced once, a nightmare that took nearly a year. Even so, we couldn’t rent the place for what our costs are each month. We are grateful that we’ve been able to write that mortgage check each month, which puts us in a better position than many in this economy. But we are aware that a couple of corporate bottom-line decisions could change our financial status overnight.

A strategic default will wreck our carefully cultivated high credit score for at least seven years, but those in the strategic default camp insist that the financial benefits usually outweigh the negatives. It isn’t hard to embrace the logic. Freedom from the obligation of home ownership would allow us to rent a property at a far more reasonable monthly outlay than our current mortgage permits. We don’t want to sink our money into another house. Not after our current experience. We can’t afford it anyway.

I’ve heard a few in the strategic default camp who have cited Jesus’ parable of the ten minas as their rationale for walking away from a bad investment. But the context of the passage has far more to do with kingdom faithfulness and courage than it does with a 30-year fixed FHA mortgage.

And there’s the dilemma. As much as we fantasize about doing a midnight move, we can’t escape the fact that there are moral components and spiritual ramifications to the question of strategic default.

Secular and Christian sources alike insist that strategic default is not merely a financial decision. Though a mortgage document focuses on the financial obligations to which lender and borrower agree, some mortgages also include a moral clause, stating that a borrower has a responsibility to repay the lender. To be honest, there’s a part of me that chafes at this legal language, because both the government and the financial industry have not been particularly ethical when it comes to their end of the agreement. However, Scripture unblinkingly buttresses the notion of fulfilling our vow to pay our mortgage in spite of the sleazy lender who signed the documents with us.

We never had a deep sense of calling to this community. We prayerfully purchased our townhouse using the accepted financial logic of the time: “We’ve relocated, and we need to find a home with enough space to launch our young adult kids. This is what we can afford in this crazy housing market. We’ll stay a few years, then move on.” Reminder to self: Our plans are not God’s plans.

But the lack of “calling” does not exempt us from a sense of responsibility for those living beside us. All of our remaining neighbors are impacted equally by the “Bank Sale” signs and foreclosure notices that are as plentiful as dandelions in this neighborhood. Though we live in a community that seems to be built of closed garage doors and silent streets, we have attempted, however unsuccessfully at times, to build relationships here. We have prayed for our neighbors during our five years at this address. We may discover an escape clause of some kind in our mortgage documents, but is there a loophole in Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves? Since we know the answer to the latter question is no, then what does loving our neighbors look like in relation to our home ownership dilemma?

There are no easy answers. We’re searching for a lawyer and a financial adviser to help us parse our situation. However, even before we schedule a meeting, we need to ensure we have some clarity before God about our definitions. Have we been wrong about viewing our home as an investment? One thing I do know for sure: This underwater “investment” has been both laboratory and classroom, run by the One who calls himself our shelter, designed to school us in the costly basics of obedience.

Comments

Michelle,

I know your pain! For reasons other than the mortgage crisis (namely, a seriously declining city neighborhood) my husband and I have been unable to sell the house we lived in and still own in another state for the TWELVE years since we moved away. By the grace of God and the occasional decent tenant, we have been able to make those mortgage payments each month on a second home we never intended to own.

I remember a Christian friend asking me recently upon my lamenting this continuing burden, "Have you ever considered just defaulting?"

"Um, no...."

God bless you.

(Not to be smug....I have my own issues!)But perhaps this article asks the wrong question....

Would Jesus have committed to a one-fifth-of-a-million dollar mortgage and its interest over a 30 year period, even IF He were planning to sojourn on earth for that long? And even IF it were to appreciate in value over that period of time, would that have been the best use of "kingdom resources" entrusted to Him?

Just sayin'

In 1988 my family moved to Omaha Ne and purchased a house for 152K. Within 6 months of that purchase one large Corporation closed its doors and moved to Texas putting about 1000 houses up for sale on an already bloated market. About that same time another corporation reduced its work force and through attrition was able to move most of its employees to other locations putting another 5 to 600 houses on the market. Immediately our house was worth less than we paid for it. It took 8 to 10 years for the market to recover. We sold the house 12 years later and broke even after realtor fees and the cost of improvements.
The culture was different at that time; it was never a consideration that we would default on our loan or ask for government assistance. we looked at both good and bad decision and circumstances as our bed to lay in.

Bob Wigden... just sayin'... a 30 year mortgage fixed rate mortgage will produce an asset of worth; writing a monthly rent check over that same time will not. That asset is a Kingdom resource. And as monthly rent is many times as large as or greater than a mortgage payment, indeed one is blessed to be able to invest in property. To All: Praise God that even though property values are less than many mortgages, there are strategies to lessen the burdon over time. These include refinancing for better rates and terms, paying down the principle at an accelerated rate (reducing the overall loan and interest at a very rapid clip... check it out... it is indeed worth adding even a few extra dollars a month esp early in the loan). God Bless!

A strategic default is a decision that should be made in the context of the mortgage/deed of trust and the concomitant note terms, the laws of the state your property is in, and your personal circumstances (like having a job move out of the area or finances). Aside from fraud (like rigged appraisals or borrower's inflated income claims) or duress in the note application or contract formation, you should follow (only) the terms of the contract.

Lenders write the contract terms. Lenders require and quote interest rates that reflect the risks of doing business under a particular state's governing law, the borrower's qualifications, and the nature of the collateral. Lenders hire the appraisers, and sometimes even influence the appraisals. Lenders have millions of real estate transactions and thousands of real estate professionals to protect their interests. The borrower only buys a house once in a blue moon, typically. So who is the party in a real estate transaction with the power and knowledge? Not the borrower. There is no equal playing field here for both parties to the contract. Respect your lender, if he is honest, but don't pity him.

While one should not follow the Mortgage Bankers Association's example and strategically default just because you find a better deal down the street, you should not sacrifice your family's future either just to hold onto a property. Property is just a possession. Your family is not a possession, and its well-being should not be sacrificed to protect a possession. Wasn't there a story about a king named Midas that kind of inferred this moral standard?

Sometimes I cannot help thinking that some people's insistence on inferring a moral obligation, above and beyond the contract terms, is based less on preserving some unknown neighbor's equity, than it is based on preserving their own equity and ego.

This is a silly article because Jesus would not be in this position in the first place. Being omniscient, he would be aware that the market was about to crash.

Michelle, you are right. This is not just a financial dilemma; it is also a moral one. Don't know if this will help or not, but the scripture that popped into my mind as I read your post was Psalm 15:4 ... "who keeps his oath even when it hurts." The "who" in this case is one who may dwell in the Lord's sanctuary. Keeping an oath even when it hurts is one item in a list; verse 5 wraps up by saying "He who does these things will never be shaken."

Michelle,

Thank you for your candor and courage in writing this post.

God-willing, I will be publishing a similar one soon.

We are in the midst of fighting BofA for our home. While I spare this comment the details, I've thought about what would happen if we just walked away from our situation--a plight that started two years ago when I lost my job. But then I realized exactly what you wrote about here.

Bottom line, we owe this debt to our lendor(s). Regardless of how we got into this mess--partially bad choices, partially a lousy economy--the debt is ours to pay. We've seen our stellar FICO score go into the toilet. I see this partly God's wake-up call to get off our smugness and pride in a number. This whole situation has brought us closer to God which is usually the result He is looking for in our trials.

No matter what happens, He is on the throne and nothing happens without His approval. For the first time I think I'm finally getting a whole new appreciate of the Book of Job.

Again, thanks for the post. God-willing, I'll be referencing it in the next few weeks.

Michelle,
I admire your transparency. After completely renovating our home of 16 years, I find myself in a similar, albeit not as dramatic, situation. We've sunk over $150,000 into repairing and renovating our 100 year old farm house. It was never an investment per se, but a desire to make a nest for a growing family. We are now forced to move due to a job relocation. The house is now on the market for $70K more than the 1995 price. It's been on the market for a year.

In answer to the question posted in the comments, "would Jesus have committed 1/5 of a million and its interest over a 30 year period." My answer is yes, He would, if He wanted to reach the people in that area of the country. Property values vary dramatically. To say that Jesus wouldn't ever endorse committing to that level of debt is to say that Christians cannot live in Silicon Valley or Manhattan (where 1/5 of a million wouldn't buy a garden shed.)

A house is just a possession. Family does come first. A credit rating is just a measurement of reputation. But, you and I are not people who readily break a promise. I don't think there is a *right* answer to this problem. This isn't a black and white issue. God frequently held biblical heroes to a "sliding scale" Jacob was loved (even though he frequently cheated in financial issues.) In Peter's epistles, Lot was called a "righteous man" despite his behavior toward his daughters. David was punished for mourning the death of his son. I don't understand the ways of God. But, I do know that our righteousness comes not from what we do, say or think. It is truly only all from Him.

So, what should you do with your house? I don't know. But, I do know that whatever you do, it will not impact God's view of you. He will still see you and treat you as His spotless beloved.

All the best,

Michelle, I join those thanking you for your candor. And I so appreciate when Christians are willing to share their tough situations, raise difficult questions, and admit they are not quite sure of the answers. I have no wisdom to offer but plenty of gratitude for your honesty, for God's grace that pours down on you in love and acceptance, no matter what you do.

Those who say Jesus would never have taken out a mortgage...good grief, folks. It's impossible to say in any precise way what Jesus would do in 21st-century America. Would he drive a minivan, a Prius, or ride a bike? Would he shop at Whole Foods, the corner minimart, or grow all his own food? Would he live in urban public housing or a McMansion in Westchester County or Silicon Valley? I have no idea. I do know that he would encourage and accept people, like Michelle, who are striving to make conscientious and faithful choices in complex, unpredictable circumstances. That pretty much describes all of us, no matter our homeowner status, don't you think?

Matthew 5:36-37
36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.

You said "yes" to paying your mortgage to your lender.

"Would Jesus Walk Away from a Mortgage?" - Author

Jesus Christ would not have made a covenant with usurers in the first place!

Let us not forget whom Christ drove out from the temple: The Moneylenders

If America were truly a Christian nation,a nation that practiced God's Law,and only His Law,our nation would not be in the mess to begin with.

Charlemagne forbid usury in Europe upon pain of death.
For 1,000 years after,until the time of Napoleon,Christendom was largely free of this scourge.

What America needs is a history lesson,and a whole lot more obiedience.

If my people,which are called by my name,shall humble themselves,and pray, and seek my face,and turn from their wicked ways;then will I hear from heaven,and will forgive their sin,and will heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

This is a silly article because Jesus would not be in this position in the first place. Being omniscient, he would be aware that the market was about to crash.

Maybe Jesus would pay the price just to be that person's neighbor.

It might be helpful to think separately about the loan and your house. When you took out the mortgage you borrowed money and agreed to pay it back over time. If you are able to make the payments and do not need to move, then there is actually no reason not to just keep paying the mortgage.

If you think of your home as an investment that "should" appreciate spectacularly, then naturally you are disappointed at the moment. But if you can think of it as simply the house you live in, then you may be able to find contentment in the idea that there is no crisis now, and the situation, which is to say the value of the house, may recover by the time you need to sell. You say, "If only it were as easy as dumping a bum stock..." but remember, a stock is supposed to provide income and should be dumped if it does not. Your house is supposed to provide you a place to live. Is it still doing that ? OK

I believe someone else has suggested that you might increase your peace of mind by paying off the mortgage faster, which is a good idea if you can afford it.

I am not in that situation, but as I understand it banks loan money on a house according to what "they say" the house is worth. If they said the house is worth 200,000 but in reality it is only worth 100000. Why should I take the loss on their estimate? Who is morally responsible, the one who lied about what my house was worth or me who happened to believe them?

Brian, a house is "worth" what the market will pay, and due to economic conditions, that will change over time. Just because a house is now "worth" less than what it was when it was purchased does not mean anyone "lied." Or are all the people who bought real estate for less money and sold them for more "liars" as well?

jane, way to justify the lie that is the american dream.

i don't think the argument is whether or not to default, the argument is, why do we feel the need to buy? if anything, the heart of the matter is that security cannot be found within four walls.

birds have nests, foxes have dens, but the hope of the whole world rests on the shoulders of a homeless man.

Maybe so, Lawrence, but He wouldn't have taken out a loan.

No one is forced to sign a mortgage agreement, it's a choice. Once it is signed it's your word. Its clear in the Word that keeping your word is significant. If we claim to be followers of Christ and don't keep our word, we say Christ is a liar like us.
We are living in a secular world, not in a physical kingdom of God like Israel. The kingdom is in the hearts of Christians. So to blame lenders for charging interest that we willing agree to pay is a wrong approach. To go into debt is not necessarily a sin, but the Word indicates it is not a good thing, get out as quickly as you can. "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender". If you agree to pay it then pay what you owe.
"Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed".
Even if you default, still pay it back however long it takes, regardless of what the 'laws of the land' allows you. Put your trust in God not in your circumstances.

Pray and live by faith not sight. It's not easy for sure, but following Christ is guaranteed not to be. "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it'".

As a Christian Loan Originator (Former Christian School Teacher) it is great to hear a home owner's desire to be Christlike and repay their obligation as well as try to share God with their neighbors. I wish that everyone's home values were still going up but unfortunately that hasn't been the case for many reasons. We would all be keeping the money if values went up so now that the values have dropped why would we not still pay our debts. God in all His wisdom knew this would be the case. All we can do is be the people God calls us to be and repaying our debts and spreading His Word are two things we are called to do. Thank you for your frank article and the trials you have been through.

Indeed, you said "yes" to a mortgage.

But that mortgage included the collateral of the home, which is supposed to go to the lender if the homeowner can't or won't pay the mortgage.

It is not the same, to me, as a simple loan. I loan you $10; you decide you can't pay me back and walk away; I am out $10. You have robbed me, essentially.

However, in the case of a mortgage the lender gets the collateral (the house). Which they may have had a part in overstating the value of! Or not.

So there are mitigating factors, there, and I don't know that I am convinced that walking away is a sin in this case. As long as the bank gets the collateral (the property).

"Would Jesus Walk Away from a Mortgage?" Nope, He wouldn't have to. Matt. 17:24 "Jesus said to him...go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money;take that and give it to them for Me and you.” As long as there are fish in the sea, Jesus could meet His mortgage payment.

Maybe so, Lawrence, but He wouldn't have taken out a loan.

Alison, you're right. He has issues with moneychangers.

If you "prayerfully purchased" your home then it must have been the right one. The house is still functional no matter the worth and no matter the price as long as you can afford it. You have an opportunity to be "a light to the world" to your neighbors who have decided, for whatever reasons, to stick it out. By skipping out and breaking your legal agreement, the lender takes a hit and will have less money to lend to other homebuyers, hurting other families. Of course it is a painful circumstance and the temptation to bolt during the nighttime is great (how many good things happen at night in the Bible?). The church needs to seriously re-consider its habit of plugging Jesus into modern day problems and using Scripture to determine a course of action that benefits its members. Jesus came to change us, to help us cope with life's difficulties and, through the Holy Ghost, to help us lead others through the eye of the needle.
If the secular world, dominated by Satan, was easy to live righteously in, then there would be little need for the freedom of spirit we have in Christ. I hope you stay in prayer as the Lord helps you sort through your difficulties.

Put me in the camp where there is no easy answer to this. A mortgage isn't a simple agreement to pay off the loan. It already includes clauses about what happens if there is a default. So your simple "let your yes be yes" involves a "yes" to thousands of words of legalese.

I don't know what the correct answer is. Let's make it more difficult. You are out of work. You can't make payments. You find a job on the other side of the country. You need the money geared towards the mortgage payment to pay rent on the other side of the country.

On the other hand, a simple "this is to my advantage so I'm walking away" seems clearly wrong.

We need to be careful about this "Jesus is our model" thing when talking about whether or not it is right to even purchase a house. Just because Jesus didn't have anywhere to lay his head doesn't mean he's calling us to be nomadic preachers. Jesus didn't wear pants either, but I doubt any one of us would say that we should then wear tunics.

Basically, I think owning a home is the 100% God-loving thing to do for many people, but not all people. Throwing stones at someone with a mortgage is making a black-and-white statement about something the Bible doesn't come close to speaking directly to. As the author states, the clearest pertinent biblical teaching is to keep your word.

@William Reed

First of all, Jesus wasn't against people trading money in the temple. It was a necessary service for people coming from foreign lands since they came to offer sacrifices. Jesus was against them ripping people off.

Secondly, that verse from 2 Chronicles does not apply. God has given the U.S.A. no such promise. Those words were from God to the Hebrew people - His chosen people. To accurately understand that verse today, it would need to be applied to God's people - the Church - not America.

Apologies... Dax Aaron wrote that, not William Reed. I looked above the comment, not below.

Jesus was against them ripping people off. - justsomeguy

And that is exactly what usury(lending at interest)is: ripping people off.
The practice is just as immoral now,as it was then!
His Truth(s),and sin,are not subject to context.
Attempting to rationalize away that Truth,or to uphold the position that God's law is no longer applicable for the good governance of mankind is tantamount to denying the sovreignty of God.

Michelle- I just wonder if your prorerty taxes went down? In the area I live my taxes do not reflect the downturn in the housing economy. According to our county our 15 year old double wide with an attached garage (2300 sg ft) on a 1 1/4 acres is worth $325,000! I live in a very rural area! There is no way I could get that if I tried to sale right now!! Do the banks and the Assessor's ever talk!!! What the Heck!!!

Christine, our property taxes did go down slightly this year. The assessed value of our house is still quite inflated in comparison to the list prices of the townhouses in our neighborhood. What the heck, indeed!

I am not sold that this is such a black and white issue... My wife and I bought a house, then two year later I lost my job and I had to move for work. Wife rent in the new town we just were not able to make payments on both. I think that a lot of people are in the same situation that we are in. I is not a fun thing and this was not something that we did with any amount of light heartedness. I think that some people often think that because we defaulted we are in sin. Maybe we are... I would hope that people would see both sides...

I note that this article specifies STRATEGIC DEFAULT. There are many "homeowners" who are defaulting not out of CHOICE, but out of a simple inability to pay because of circumstances out of their control. WWJD?

My belief is that Jesus, as was his practice, would show grace and mercy to those people. Yes, they owe a debt. But debts are forgiven in several of the parables Jesus told. Of course, those referred to the forgiveness of our sins, but I believe they may be applicable in this circumstance. Those who are simply unable to pay will experience the consequences in this world: ruined credit, inability to make large purchases for a time, whatever shame others (particularly Christians) heap upon them. It's not like they are getting away "scot free."

I think that our position, as believers, should be to strive to be like God and show nothing but LOVE for our brothers and sisters who are in this unfortunate, but not sinful, position.

If someone chooses to STRATEGICALLY DEFAULT, that may or may not be another story. In any case, our words should always be spoken in love to our brothers and sisters, something I find sadly lacking in some of the comments on this post.

Robyn's comments are right on, showing mercy and love to fellow Believers. It's not about the money. It's about the heart. It's about our choices. How we use the money God brings into our lives is a mirror of our heart condition. It might make no sense to the world for a family to continue paying on a mortgage for a house that has lost significant value, but we don't live by the world's standards. And on the flip side God's children do sometimes lose their homes. No one wants to be in that situation. I don't think anyone chooses that situation but life can change in a nano-second. What we thought was our future isn't.

My family was faced with foreclosure but God has done some incredible miracles. I am going to put the link on this post for anyone who would like to read what happened in our situation:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8211623/are_you_up_to_being_tested.html?cat=7

The "prayerfull considered" part is noteworthy. There are plenty of people who bought homes pre-economic downturn at the top of their price range, or higher, and agreed in writing to variable interest loans that were unreasonable to pay, all with the bloated idea that the market would keep increasing home value up, up, up. I know people who did this because they bought into the idea that you get a job, get married and must then buy a house equvilant or beyond that of their parents, and also continue to induldge in the "necessities" like cable tv, SUVs, going out to eat, etc. Some of them got burned in the housing bust when their home values depreciated at the same time the ARM increased on their loan. If you're a prayerfuly discerning person, I think MUCH of this can be avoided. You are not buying out of your range, you're not indulging in everything teenagers get to do who live under their parents roof. Yes, people lose their jobs and default on homeloans. But I believe if you're seeking God and involving HIm in your decisions, you think about each decision and potential consequences. It doesn't opt you out of all risks, but it can reduce your likelihood of catastrophe.

Thanks for the honest take. Maybe God wants you where you are for now. Maybe your reliance on him through this time will be something you'll look back on in later years and see more clearly.

@justsomeguy, the article specifically asks what Jesus would do, as our model, in this situation. And yes, I think He'd like it if most of us were nomadic preachers, investing in the eternal worth of people instead of things.

Would Jesus have committed to a one-fifth-of-a-million dollar mortgage and its interest over a 30 year period, even IF He were planning to sojourn on earth for that long?

Proverbs 22:7
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

Proverbs 22:26-27
Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.

Romans 13:8
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Matthew 6:19-20 Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal

Galatians 5:1 - It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Matthew 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

" Its clear in the Word that keeping your word is significant." John S.!

How quickly and "effectively" we decide for others, don't we? Life is a bit more complicated, at times it's simply awefull and, fortunately, our Bible addresses this stuff in full. The Book warns the wicked, but provides mercy for burdened and repented folks. This circumstance is often overlooked by all kinds of "biblical financial advisers"...

I am just one stubborn Ukrainian preacher here, so let me say that i am truly astonished by some specifics of an American religious culture. Which honors money so high that loosing them this way or another is a sin! much greater, sadly, than loosing one's virginity casually (forgive me, I am over, but are we not all adult people here?).

However, the fact is that God, our Father, DOES NOT WANT anyone of His children to continue living in ANY kind of bondage, regardless of the level of wisdom they were able to apply; when signing certain documents or giving away their words of best intentions. Unfair? Sure, it is! This entire business of our salvation is so unfair, for it is done completely at His expense that we like to call it GRACE, in one wonderful word.

The Bible explains itself perfectly, so let's take a look at the Scriptures, for the Law of the Lord is good (we know that from Ap. Paul's amazing revelations to Romans) Speaking about the situations like this one, the Law of our God gives us one particularly strong command:" “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD’S remission has been proclaimed."(Deut.15: 1-ff, NASB) That's right! The precedent of a bankruptcy law of this country is based on this particular "Judeo-Christian value"! For the Lord wants Michelle and her family to be freed and not bound by this modern type of financial slavery!
Dear Michelle, permit me to say this: you are not a "savior" of your neighborhood! but a good Christian Mother for your children, wife for your husband and Sister-in-Christ for all of us. It is evident that you did everything honestly to this point, now simply stop making your family another victim of this huge financial tread mill! There is true redemption of your situation in a Word of God! "...but if you are able also to become free, rather do that."(1 Cor. 7: 21)

Now, would Jesus walk away from the morgage? Well, his mission was different from the very beginning. Our precious Savior most certainly came to pay ALL OUR greatest debts! Be blessed!

Does Romans 8:28 mean anything to you? Are you really consulting wit Jesus on your investment? If I were you, I would consult Jesus - sincerely consult Jesus and leave the rest to him!

So did you walk away? I'm curious to what the final outcome was as I'm in a similar situation and struggling with the same questions.

I'm in the same boat as Mulinda above. I'd like to know what happened. Personally, I feel that Jesus would have listened to the Holy Word and not became a slave to the Lender.

Hermenuetics

twitter updates

What Is Her.meneutics?

interests

writers

Free Newsletters

books we're reading

blogs we're watching

Would Jesus Walk Away from a Mortgage?

Comments

recent posts

Archives

May 2012
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

Hermenuetics

twitter updates

What Is Her.meneutics?

interests

writers

Free Newsletters

books we're reading

blogs we're watching

Would Jesus Walk Away from a Mortgage?

Comments

recent posts

tags

Archives