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confidence in the integrity of this Work, I'm sure you can. I have
mentioned before, we do maintain a special and separate adequate
cash reserve, as a GUARANTEE of our ability to repay such loans, if
and when necessary.
At this point let me explain something that has not been clear
to a few. Once in a while someone will say: "It's WRONG to borrow
money. Doesn't the Bible teach us we must owe no man anything?"
No! The Bible does not teach that!
The one verse that has-caused some to suppose the Bible teaches
against borrowing is Romans 13:8. As translated in the King James
English, it reads: "Owe no man anything, but to love one another:
for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."
Actually, it should be translated, from the Greek language in
which Paul originally wrote it: "You do not owe your individual
fellowmen anything, but love." At least that would make the MEANING
clear.
The Bible commentaries are not always correct in their
understanding, but the Adam Clarke Commentary is correct on this
verse. I quote it:
"In the preceding verses," (read them in your own Bible), "the
apostle has been showing the duty, reverence, and obedience, which
all Christians, from the highest to the lowest, owe to the civil
magistrate; whether he be emperor, king, proconsul, or other state
officer; here [verse 8] he shows them their duty to each other: but
this is widely different from that which they owe to the civil
government: to the first [government] they owe subjection,
reverence, obedience, and tribute [taxes]; to the latter
[individual fellowman] they OWE nothing but mutual love, and those
offices which necessarily spring from it. Therefore, the apostle
says, Owe no man; as if he had said: Ye owe to your fellow brethren
nothing but mutual love, and this is what the Law of God requires,
and in this the Law is fulfilled. Ye are not bound in obedience to
them as to the civil magistrate."
I think that makes it clear. The passage in the Bible is
explaining what the law requires. Man's law -- man's government --
requires that we owe taxes, obedience to laws and ordinances, etc.
But to fellowman, GOD'S Law requires we owe him LOVE -- that is
all. IT IS NOT SPEAKING OF MONEY DEBTS!
It is NOT wrong to borrow money -- or to loan it!
WHY Special Property Fund
Although it would not be wrong to use regular tithe-and-
offering income for new building construction, I have always felt
that MOST, if not all, of the funds for new property purchase and
for new construction ought to come from special, extra, separate
offerings -- over and above tithes and regular offerings -- given
specially for this purpose.
That is why I have set up such a special fund, for those who
are willing, to send in an extra and SPECIAL offering -- over and
above tithes and regular offerings, marked specially for this
Property and Building Fund. I do feel we ought to do our very best
to keep up this fund as well as God makes possible, according to
the ability of each.
We desperately need the new Administration Building. It is now
our most pressing need. Our new classroom buildings -- the Science