(This section was written by our Senior Pastor, Keith Krell)

The Bible does not forbid debt. Romans 13:8, often cited as a prohibition, has been misunderstood. First, “owe nothing to anyone” isn’t Paul giving financial advice as if he works for Charles Schwab. He’s using a financial analogy. “Owe nothing” means that any debts incurred should be repaid. It does not mean that we cannot use credit cards or have auto loans, college loans, mortgages, or even church building loans.

The New Testament does not forbid borrowing, only the practice of charging inflated interest on loans and failing to pay debts. A strong argument can be made for the view that one is not really in debt unless liabilities exceed assets, unless one has borrowed beyond the means to repay, or one has fallen behind on payments. That is not to say that short-term loans and debts are good or bad. That’s a whole different topic. But to focus on what Paul is saying, the NIV’s translation: “Let no debt remain outstanding” avoids an overly literal application while giving the correct interpretation of Paul’s thoughts. This command does not forbid a Christian from ever incurring debt.

Theologian Douglas Moo says of this verse, “It rather demands that Christians repay any debts they do incur promptly and in accordance with the terms of the contract.” Theologian Michael Eaton adds, “Paul’s instruction is clear. Don’t borrow unless it is something vital to your present needs and you know you are in a position to repay. Get your budget below your income. If you spend more than you earn, do something about it! God will help you.”

The Old Testament law likewise permitted lending and borrowing with guidelines (Deut 15:8; 24:10–11). The issue is not debt itself, but its misuse and potential for oppression. Proverbs 22:7 (“the borrower is servant to the lender”) is often cited against debt. Debt can be a dangerous servant. But not always. Like fire or money, debt can be a dangerous servant but a useful tool if handled carefully and kept under control. If CBC keeps debt within reasonable limits and maintains freedom to serve Christ, debt does not necessarily enslave.

In fact, borrowing was a normal economic practice in biblical times. Farmers borrowed seed or livestock to secure a future harvest. In the OT, Israel repeatedly invested heavily in the tabernacle, temple, walls of Jerusalem. They sacrificed and gave, but also at times solicited resources from outside sources (e.g., Cyrus financing the second temple in Ezra 1:2–4). This shows that Israel’s “projects” didn’t come from solely from cash reserves from God’s people. They pursued other outside avenues.

Jesus’ teaching supports this principle of stewardship. His parable of the talents (Matt 25:14–30) commends shrewd use of resources to produce greater kingdom results. In Luke 14:28–30, he describes a wise builder who counts the cost before building. This is not a call to avoid building but to engage in careful financial planning before taking on obligations. If CBC prayerfully concludes that we can move forward in faith, having counted the cost and with a plan to repay, we should be free to do so.

In a similar way, a church facility loan can be understood as borrowing now to “plant” a facility that will yield long-term gospel fruit. In Luke 16:1–9, the shrewd steward is commended for wisely using available financial tools to secure a future. While the passage ultimately points to eternal priorities, the principle remains: money should be used strategically. Debt, too, may be leveraged for greater eternal impact.

Faith is also part of the picture. Hebrews 11 commends men and women who stepped out in faith, trusting God to provide. While the examples there are not specifically financial, the principle applies: at times, faith requires bold vision. Borrowing for Sow to Reap is not mere presumption but an act of faith-filled vision focused on next generation gospel expansion.

In summary, Scripture does not categorically forbid debt. Rather, it calls for wisdom, integrity, stewardship, and faith. The key is to deal with verses that seem to prohibit debt, understanding them in their context, while ensuring that any debt undertaken is repaid as soon as possible. If handled carefully and prayerfully, debt can be a tool rather than a trap—used for God’s glory and kingdom expansion.

CBC has long maintained a practice of being debt-free as we are today. Since 1982, CBC has conducted six capital campaigns - paying off bonds to members, constructing the education building extension at our previous location, the purchase of four condos, the purchase and remodel of our current property (Moving Forward in Faith), finishing what we've begun on this building (Moving Further in Faith), building the MAC, and additional classrooms. CBC incurred debt in the last four projects and paid them off quicker than the terms of the loans.

That history of faithfulness and financial discipline gives us confidence that we can once again enter into a limited, short-term bridge loan without compromising our long-term commitment to freedom from debt.

The unique nature of the Sow to Reap project makes a bridge loan both practical and strategic, unlike a “fund first” model, which could stretch construction over many years, drive up costs, and jeopardize contractor availability.

If we moved to a no-debt scenario:

• Projected cost today: $15M ($9M Kids Zone + $6M Community Space).
• If fundraising took 3 years before we could build, construction inflation would compound.
• Historical construction inflation in the Seattle area is 6–8% annually.
• Over 3 years at 6%, the $15M project could cost $17.9M+. At 8%, it could approach $18.9M+.
• This additional cost is greater than the interest expense that we will be paying on our bridge loan.
• Additional risks: contractor availability, shifting building codes, additional staffing costs, and ministry delays.

A “pay-finance-fund” approach allows us to begin and complete construction within a defined window. This means children will step into the new Kids Zone by the end of the 2025–26 school year, and our Community Spaces will be complete by the end of 2026.

Financing ensures we don’t lose momentum and that the ministry to kids and families can move forward without delay while pledges are fulfilled. In addition, with so many pre-construction services—design, architecture, and project management—being generously donated, financing allows these same experts to carry their work through to completion, rather than pausing the project and later replacing them at significant additional cost.

Equally important, this is not an open-ended debt. The bridge loan is structured to be fully covered by pledged giving over three years. We are already entering this campaign with $3.3 million in hand, and all preconstruction costs have been donated, enabling every pledged dollar to go directly to the work. In other words, this loan is not a step toward dependency on debt but a temporary tool to align the timing of construction with the timing of generosity.

Finally, we believe the wisest stewardship of God’s resources involves balancing faith with prudence. We are stepping out boldly to create spaces that will disciple the next generation and welcome our community, but we are also doing so with a plan that ensures accountability, transparency, and a clear path back to being debt-free. The financing is short-term, purpose-driven, and supported by our history of completing projects without lingering debt. In this way, we remain faithful to both the urgency of the harvest before us and the biblical call to wise stewardship.