By Jim Coggins

What should Christians be doing about the current economic crisis? CC.com consulted a number of economic and socio-political leaders for faith-based perspectives on the subject. Third and last in a series.

See Part 1 | Part 2.

1. Get out of debt

One of the key things Christians should do in the current economic crisis is to "get out of debt," says Lorne Jackson, president of the Canadian National Christian Foundation (CNCF). Government efforts to stimulate the economy by making it easier to borrow are only going to make things worse in the long run since that is "what got us into the problem in the first place," he argues, noting that the combined government, business and individual debt in the US is $32 trillion, several times the amount of money in circulation. The average American's credit card debt is $8,000, and "the majority of people have more liabilities than assets."

People should "never borrow to buy coal," that is, to buy things that will burn up or deteriorate and be forgotten, says Jackson. Yet much of the current debt is "consumer debt," debt incurred to buy things that people hope will make them happy but never do. The only acceptable reasons to go into debt, he says, are to buy a house or to expand a business or to buy a car, but only if it is necessary to get to work -- something that will make people better off in the long run.

2. Teach

Another key thing churches should be doing is teaching, says Jackson: "The Bible talks more about money and possessions than any other subject." Yet Jackson was in three churches recently where the people in the pews were worried about losing their jobs and investments, yet nothing was said from the pulpit -- which, says Jackson, is one reason people think the church is irrelevant.

Many pastors lack experience and expertise in financial matters or are afraid of looking like they are just trying to raise money, says Jackson. If that is the case, they should call in financial advisors such as those affiliated with the CNCF to do the teaching.

Christians need teaching on the subject because they buy the same cars and live the same lifestyle as non-Christians, but "every financial decision is a spiritual decision," says Jackson. If God owns everything, before every financial decision, people need to be taught to ask, "Is this going to help me draw closer to the Lord and enable me to give more and bless people?"

"Churches should impress on their members that their economic lives are one of the most important ways we tell people how we serve God," says Elwil Beukes, professor of economics at King's University College in Edmonton.

There is nothing wrong with being rich and successful, since Abraham was rich and blessed, he says, but "our actions as consumers, workers, businesspeople and civil servants should contribute to an economy that serves life." In the Bible, God repeatedly tells people to "serve Me in the way you eat, drink, care for your fields and flocks and care for each other."

It is important for churches to "talk about a variety of spiritual issues," says Carsten Hennings, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto. One of them is self-worth -- "what makes me valuable if I lose my job."

It is important for the church to "stand in the gap and supply people's psychological and physical needs," says Paul Rowe, associate professor of political and international studies at Trinity Western University in Langley, BC. "In previous recessions, it is the church stepping in that has made the difference for a lot of people."

But while the church has often taken on more of a social role during tough economic times, and certain church institutions have expanded, Rowe says it is also important for churches to ensure that they do not lose their fundamental moral and spiritual role either.

Teaching on economic issues may require significant changes, suggested Joe Gunn, executive director of Citizens for Public Justice. "Churches have been part of the problem. Our church parking lots look like a Wal-Mart parking lot two hours later."

Rowe says there is "a strong materialistic strand in American Christianity," and the "prosperity gospel" has helped fuel the over-consumption that created the economic crisis.

3. Practise the sabbath

Paul Williams, an associate professor of marketplace theology and leadership at Regent College in Vancouver, centres his advice around three biblical concepts: sabbath, jubilee and hospitality.

The concept of the sabbath has two parts, he says. The first is to establish a boundary, exercise self-control, cease striving and say enough is enough. This speaks directly to the compulsion to over-consume which has driven our long-term economic troubles, and is a call "to live within our means."

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The other part is "celebrating the abundant life God wants us to enjoy," says Williams. "In God's presence, enough is abundance. Bread and cheese and a glass of wine with friends is abundance. A simple life with contentment is rich." This, says Williams, is what God reminds us of in the eucharist, which unfortunately "we have spiritualized to such an extent that it is divorced from real life."

4. Practise jubilee

The biblical concept of jubilee, says Williams, is about deliverance, freeing people from mistakes of the past and giving them a new start. Practically, this might mean the church paying off debts for people who are unable to pay them on their own. This would have to be done "with wisdom and care," he adds, so it does not encourage people to incur more debt.

There is a longstanding "church tradition against debt," notes Williams. We need to help those in need and "if we have no spare money for that (because we are in debt), we need to confess and repent, for Scripture tells us over and over not to be indebted in that way."

5. Practise hospitality

Another key thing for Christians to do, says Williams, is to practise hospitality. This means being generous to the poor, to the newly jobless, the newly homeless. It also means changing "the way we live together and care for each other."

"We need to recover the communal corporate expression of the church," he adds. "A lot of church life is still very individualistic. We are very reluctant to genuinely sacrifice some of our independence and autonomy for the sake of the community."

Hennings says he is concerned that "funding for relief and development work will tighten up." When "institutional funding" for charities -- money from governments and businesses -- is declining, it will be important for Christians and churches to increase their giving, he adds.

Churches should be helping people, says Jackson, but "one of the areas where the church has gotten off track is that we have been spending way too much money inside the walls of the church." Often churches have left the work of evangelism, caring for the poor and protecting unborn babies to parachurch organizations.

6. Spend prudently

Christians and churches should be prudent and not go into debt, says John Boersema, a business professor at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario. But if they have the money, now would be a good time to spend it because everyone "cutting back now is going to exacerbate the problem."

In fact, he adds, Christians may be freer to spend now than other people. "If your identity is tied to wealth, you are more likely to panic than if you say God will take care of me."

Christians can contribute by bringing a different perspective and "not panicking as much as those with a bigger investment in the system," says Hennings. The church needs to "make the broader values -- prudence, thrift, communal care -- part of the conversation."

7. Pray

Several of the experts, on all sides of the economic questions, say the church should be praying. There are no simple solutions, says Boersema, so one of the most important things Christians need to do is to pray.

8. Preach the gospel

Some good may come out of the economic crisis if it leads people to pay more attention to God and the Bible, says Jackson. "It is much easier to enter the Kingdom poor than rich."

We are at "one of the periodic turning points in history that force us to reconsider deeply what we are doing," adds Beukes. The economic crisis "could lead to a resurgence of Christian faith," but the focus should be on "living right in this world, in the way we deal with the poor and the environment."

The recession is "an opportunity for churches to engage people" in conversations about ultimate values, says Hennings, and Christians "need to be ready for that conversation. What can we offer in terms of hope and meaning?"

"God works in mysterious ways," adds Boersema. "We hope people will look to God (in hard economic times), but I can't say we have statistics to say they do."

The recession is "an opportunity for the church to impact society," Williams said, "but we have to live it out, to embody it before we can talk about it. The surrounding culture doesn't know what to do and is desperate to see something authentic. When people look at the church, they should see a foretaste of heaven in the way we live together as a community."

December 18/2008