To the editor:

Before you do your end-of-the-year-giving, consider this: The financial meltdown we are presently experiencing is largely due to the over use of debt, whether it is personal, corporate or government.

However, churches should be exempt from this problem because Scripture clearly discourages the use of debt. When one considers giving to a church or organization, the debt level directly corresponds with how much ends up in the hands of the needy. If they have big buildings, big salaries and big debt, for every dollar you give, less of it ends up in the hands of orphans and widows.

When a church you may be attending pushes you hard for more contributions, subjects you to endless sermons about giving, has the audacity to turn around and tell you you should be out of debt, all this because their donations are down this year, then look into their debt level and if they have made poor judgments, ask yourself a question. Why should I give them a bailout when the book they preach out of encourages otherwise?

Fortunately, not all churches are like this.

I now attend a church that refuses to be dominated by debt and is blessed due to the generous outreach that they are willing to do for various needy causes in our area.

Churches should not be participating in the financial crisis. They should be an example of what it looks like to do it right.

Brad Pranger

Oakville