By Robert Frank, Editor, No-Debt Living Newsletter
October 1996 – Choosing products, services and investments is no longer just an issue of money. It never was. It’s an issue of stewardship.
The good news is, Christians are finally awakening to the fact that the moral and spiritual war that rages around them is being financed and enabled (on a worldly level) by average families as they spend their money, use their resources and cast (or fail to cast) their votes.
The war, in and of itself, is not a new one. The Bible reminds us of that from Genesis to Revelation. This battle simply has taken on new dimensions and faces to fit this time in our nation’s history.
As Ephesians 6:12 notes: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s evil schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
These verses stand as a constant reminder that the ultimate battle is not against flesh and blood, it is a spiritual battle that involves rulers, authorities and powers that we cannot see – to be specific, Satan and his army. As such, we must enter into this conflict on our knees, relying upon the Lord’s guidance, protection, power, and the infallibility of His word.
The reason believers finally are noticing this war is that conditions have escalated to unprecedented levels. Today, this conflict is manifesting itself through drugs, crime, violence, adultery, pornography, divorce, perversion, appalling laws, ungodly leaders and anti-Christian teachings. Despite our Christian heritage and constitutional underpinning, those weapons now are aimed directly at the Church and its members.
Ultimately, the enemy hopes to eliminate the Church by attacking the family and by capturing the hearts, minds and souls of our children. And, he is using people in this world to accomplish his goals. (If you’re uncertain, look at the doctrine proclaimed by militant gays and humanists.)
Asleep in the light
Satan has advanced in this war for the past 20-plus years because the Church in this nation has been (as songwriter Keith Green so aptly put it) “asleep in the light,” allowing the enemy to forge his way into leadership in the community and government and to undermine even the standards of some congregations.
Now, as believers put on their armor and take their rightful place in this battle, they are realizing that their spending and investment habits are supporting the enemy and that good financial stewardship does matter.
After all, what army, engaged in a life-and-death battle, would buy its supplies from a company that outwardly was supporting its enemy’s efforts? And yet, that is just what many Christians are doing.
Think about it. Are you buying your long-distance telephone service from AT&T, which is asking its employees to support gay marriage legislation and which is a major sponsor of the Gay Games and Cultural Festival? Are you subscribing to magazines that attack the church and its people? For example: Gentleman’s Quarterly, which described Promise Keepers founder Bill McCartney as a “raving lunatic” and a “lopeyed loon.” Are you buying household products from companies like Unilever, one of the largest advertising supporters of television programs displaying violence, pornography and anti-family morals on television?
This is not a call for boycotting every company that has taken a controversial stand – some companies don’t even know there is a spiritual war going on, they simply are trying to tap every market and make the most profits possible. But this is a call for Christians to spend their money, whenever possible, with companies that are committed to supporting Biblical values and the Church (or, at the very least, with companies that are not taking anti-family, anti-Christian positions).
Telephones too
[Regarding telephone service, one company] LifeLine, offers a clear alternative. In addition to offering low-cost, competitive rates, it donates 10% of all billings to non-profit Christian ministries (which the customer chooses). Similarly, an independent brokerage company, Telephone Utilities and Analysis, (which represents several major telephone services, allows its customers to assign 5% of their qualified billings to the church or Christian ministry of their choice.
“We believe God owns 100% of our resources,” said Jack Parsons, senior vice president of marketing and sales for LifeLine. “We are founded on Biblical values and centered around the Lord Jesus Christ. We know that as Christians we should be doing the Master’s business and we should be seeking His kingdom.”
To that end, Lifeline sends millions of dollars in donations each year to more than 4,000 ministries.
Company literature states that it “seeks to help Christian organizations that are bringing people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. LifeLine also promotes Biblical family values and takes a stand against abortion, the homosexual lifestyle and sex and violence on television.”
Parsons’ challenges people to look at all their consumer habits: “Where’s your money going? What’s it going to support? What is it accomplishing? Is it working to strengthen the Kingdom of God?”
The bugle has sounded, the war is raging and the battle is one of eternal life and death. Are you still asleep in the light or have you been awakened? Are you in the battle with your armor on (Ephesians 6:10-19), or are you still watching from a neutral spot a safe distance away?
As Jesus said in Revelation 3:16, “because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of
my mouth." 
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