Are some people lazy or just hard up?

The late Leslie Newbigin argued quite persuasively that the more we lose contact with our biblical roots the less freedom we will enjoy. George Carey echoed these sentiments when he argued in The Times: "It is my firm view that our society owes more to our Christian heritage than it realises and to overlook this inheritance of faith will lead to the watering down of the very values of tolerance, openness, inclusion and democracy that we claim are central to all we stand for."

Given the findings of two recently published surveys we could make a good case for linking a decline in religious adherence with the rise of a more critical and uncaring society too.

Dr Michael Banner highlighted this in a recent Thought for Day on BBC Radio 4. "People are increasingly turning to so-called pay day loans to tide them over at the end of the month," he said.

Such borrowers regularly face interest rates of several hundred per cent or in some cases a staggering four thousand per cent.

Of course it is the poor who make most use of these loans and on the same day the latest National Centre for Social Research’s on social attitudes found that more of us are blaming poverty on laziness.

The BBC’s Home Editor commented that Britons were becoming increasingly judgemental. Supposing this is true we might wonder why it is so and we may speculate that in a harsh economic climate we all become somewhat harsher.

At the same time the Social Attitudes Report painted a stark picture of ever-declining faith and religious affiliation. Half of those surveyed said they had no religion whatsoever (an increase of 19% since 1983) and the number of those willing to identify themselves as Christians has also dropped from 50% to 48% over the past three years.

All societies have struggled with what were once known as ‘The Poor Laws’. It is never easy framing legislation that will ensure the lazy and the dissolute do not take advantage while the so-called ‘deserving poor’ are given the assistance they need. The apostle Paul knew just how easily some, even Christians can be tempted to stop working. We see that in the letter he wrote to the church in Thessalonica, a church that was over- excited by the prospect of the imminent return of Christ.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'

These are not harsh words, and they are certainly not judgmental. Work is an economic necessity and a personal need. We will not flourish either as a society or as individuals if we refuse to use our God-given abilities to work.

In the same way the apostle urged the Christians living in Rome to live ‘debt-free lives’.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another

In other words God expects His people to pay bills, even their taxes, on time and that will clearly mean budgeting accordingly.

But, and it is a very important but, we must never forget the needs of those who have been driven, or have even recklessly fallen into debt and poverty. For when we do that we forget that we have an obligation to love others. Put simply we owe it to them.

According to leading UK charity Stewardship, “for 66% of those who experience debt the debt trigger is an unforeseen change in personal or work circumstances: the loss of a job, bonus or overtime; the birth of a child, divorce or, as here, the loss of a partner or spouse.The issue is not just one of unmanageable The issue is not just one of unmanageable debt but of our exposure to debt should our situation change.”

Stewarship righly underscores God’s concern for the poor and the needy. It also seeks to highlight the liberating power of transformational giving. It is for this reason the current period of economic hardship could be seen as a God-given moment of opportunity for the UK church.

Crippling debt can destroy lives, it can even cause some to take their own lives but it can also open doors for the gospel. The gospel sets us free from sin, but it also sets us free from worry and a consumer-mindset because it introduces us to a God who knows our every need and promises to take care of us if we seek to live His way. For when we make His Kingdom and His righteousness our priority in life we can rely on Him for food, clothing and fulfillment.

The gospel of Jesus is a liberating message – is it any wonder then that the apostle Paul utilised a financial metaphor when he talked about his obligation (or his debt) to tell everyone about Jesus (Romans 1:14).

Reflecting on this comment, the late John Stott wrote “There are, in fact, two possible ways of getting into debt. The first is to borrow money from someone; the second is to be given money for someone by a third party…. It is in this second sense that Paul is in debt. He has not borrowed anything from the Romans which he must repay. But Jesus Christ has entrusted him with the gospel for them.”

If this is true then every Christian in the UK should realise the extent of their debt and this should prompt us to share our faith rather than throw stones.