Comments on: What Does the Bible Teach About Insurance?

By: The Debt Darling

The Debt Darling — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:27:53 +0000

I searched google for a Biblical view on paying insurance premiums. However, after reading the posts and all the comments (which are all very good arguments), I am confused. LOL I think this topic deserves more in depth study. It’s interesting that the term usury. I never considered this to be the case, but I guess the insurance companies are essentially taking your money and choosing who and what to disperse the funds to. I mean, there are people that actually pay insurance premiums for a very long time and then when something does happen, have been denied any coverage. What of those people? The reality of the situation is that if everyone got sick, the insurance company would not survive. Not really sure what side to take or which option is best. Perhaps, it should be best to decide this on a case by case scenario?

By: Al

Al — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:21:53 +0000

Laying by in store, either in one’s own pantry* or in the church pantry is not buying insurance from a worldly insurance company. Obeying God’s command to support one’s family and church by going into the liquor, pornography, prostitution, recreational drugs, etc., is not honoring God. We are not to do evil that good may come from it, despite that since God is in ultimate control, evil often has good effects.
*”Pantry” is food, clothing, anything laid by in store. Christians are to hold all in common. This does not necessarily Hutterite-style but that if my brother, willing to work, is in need, my pantry is open to him.

By: Al

Al — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:15:12 +0000

Your action in separating from the corrupt, worldly insurance industry is commendable. However, if you are not associated with a church that takes care of its own who are in need, you are striking out on your own. I would venture that most professing Christians would consider you as neglectful of your family unless you are too poor to afford insurance premiums. Be prepared for this attitude rather than for others to respond favorably – just read the above posts.
Today, we are not accustomed to building up a reserve ourselves or by the church. We do not keep a reserve. Banks (usurers and extortioners*) keep the money on account for individuals and most churches.

*Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this:’God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners,† unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. (WEB KJV ASV WBS RSV)

1 Corinthians 5:10 yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners,† or with idolaters; for then you would have to leave the world. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners,† will inherit the Kingdom of God. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)
† 1. (n.) The practice of wresting anything by force, by threats, or by any undue exercise of power; undue exaction; overcharge. — Noah Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language

By: Al

Al — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:00:34 +0000

Calling protective measures “insurance” muddies the water. Wearing shoes to protect my feet from sharp rocks, clothes to protect me from sunburn, cold, rain, abrasion (and jail!), building a house for privacy, protection from the lements, security from criminals, is not insurance in any sense comparable to pooling one’s money with infidels under the supervision of infidels.
“Infidels” are not necessarily bad people. It simply means that they are not Christians (on Jesus’ terms, not on men’s). It means “not faithful (to Jesus Christ).” This is what a Christian means by it.
To a Mohammedan, an “infidel” is one who does not believe in Mohammed as God’s prophet.

By: Al

Al — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:50:22 +0000

Comparing the Mosaic system of the church establishing and building up a reserve to commercial insurance is disingenuous.
In the Mosaic system there was no separation of church and state.
Also, “everyone” did not have income. Note the use of the word “produce” rather than “earnings,” “salaries,” “wages,” “compensation for labor.” “Produce” is the increase that comes from crops, flocks, herds, not what one earns from his labor. The common worker was not required to contribute to the reserve fund. The owner of the sheep paid the tithe (a 10% income tax) on the wool, meat, lambs he sold, and other produce of his flock. The hired shepherd paid nothing of his wages.
Commercial insurance, on the other hand, invests the reserve fund in various enterprises that one might not want to support. The major enterprise is moneylending at usury (“interest”), which is forbidden throughout the scriptures. This would take in savings accounts, corporate and government bonds, certificates of deposit, and the like. Other reserves are invested in various businesses, which if one does not know better should be assumed to be war, abortion, pornography, lewd movies, violent entertainments, etc., etc.
Dave Ramsey advises not to be concerned with what one’s money is invested in, as virtuous mutual funds as a class show poor returns, or lose money. He was relating specifically to mutual funds, but the principle applies as well to insurance. Should a Christian be investing in Playboy or Hustler, abortion clinics and equipment manufacturers, bomb industries, or other immoral or worldly enterprises? If you do not know what your insurance company or mutual fund invests in, you should assume the worst because it likely is the case.
Compelled insurance, like automobile liaility insurance, may be regarded as a tax. For example, strict Mennonites purchase the minimum coverage mandated by law but decline uninsured/underinsured motorists’ insurance, insurance on their vehicles (collision and comprehensive), medical coverage, towing, and anything else that may be declined.
In my opinion a morally superior system would be for the state to establish a liability fund and add the appropriate amount to each vehicle’s registration taxes, according to the liability characteristics of the vehicle and the regular drivers’ accident and moving violation records. If one desired to obtain insurance above the state’s minimum they would be free to do so.
Some localities mandate liability insurance and property coverage on improved property (homeowner’s and landlord’s). If one does not obtain the minimum coverage mandated by law, the jurisdiction places insurance and adds the premiums to the property taxes.

By: Craig

Craig — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:11:13 +0000

Nic,
Thanks for sharing your experiences.

While I see your perspective on ‘need’ it can also lead to a very dangerous outlook. Should we no longer buy more food than we need each day? Should we not buy more food than we need each meal? Need is a spiritual condition not a physical reality. I agree that those of us who have ‘everything’ struggle to find our true spiritual need.

I do believe that insurance is a way to honor God as it is a way to honor others if we have unforeseen medical expenses. In most countries, savings cannot cover the hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical expenses one can easily incur.

By: Nic

Nic — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 06:10:21 +0000

Thanks Craig for your article. Very good points and I agree mostly. I would like to add a personal account. I am a doctor and have recently cancelled my life insurance and medical aid policies. While praying about wanting more hunger for Jesus, God said to me, “You are not hungry because you are not in need of me”. Why is it so hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven? Because they do not feel need. They are self-sufficient. They do not rely on God because they do not have to (although this is a dangerous illusion as Jesus tells the Laodicean church in Revelations). I felt the Lord say to me “Saving yes, Insurance no.” Insurance is a way I believe in which we live beyond our means. We do not have the money should we need a big operation therefore just in case we should need one, we make a contract with someone agreeing to pay them an certain amount every month and in exchange they will pay for an operation if we ever need it meanwhile we could be giving that money to someone that actually needs an operation. I believe that preparing for a rainy day is being wise, but the only place I see in the new testament that tells us to store up earthly treasure is for our children: “14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.” 2 Corithians 12. But there may be other instances. I am obligated to provide (and save if possible) for my household (and if I don’t the bible actually says I am worse than an unbeliever) but that is while I am alive. If I am dead then I am dead. I have no obligations on earth. I must trust that if it is the Lord’s plan to take me then He has a plan to provide for my family. Insurance policies are not fool proof and may not even pay out for minor details.

Also a major part of the kingdom of God is physical healing. If we are to grow in this as Jesus’ church we need to stop turning to western medicine and start believing God for healing. There are parts of the body of Christ that experience an incredible percentage of healing, hardly 100%, but sometimes the majority are successful. I am a strong believer that what we see in the bible is meant for today and that the church needs to stand up and be who Christ says she is. It is a silly picture to think of Paul or one of the apostles in the early church taking out a medical policy. If we are to live radical lives for Christ, we should live radically in the arena of our finances as well.

Now for the disclaimer. I do not believe Insurance is wrong if your heart is right. I still have third party insurance on my car and my wife and kids are still on medical aid…because it is her choice and I respect and honor that and trust that her heart is right before God. I just have felt that my heart was not right and I was trusting in my insurance rather than in God, so I got rid of it. I will spend the money I am saving on insurance on my children’s future (for one). I also believe that western medicine is of some earthly value to Christians. I am a medical doctor myself. But for most of the western church, it is of more value than is good, I believe. I also agree with comments made above about how we as the church would not need insurance if we shared what we had as any had need, which some parts of the body do. Thanks again Craig for sharing your thoughts.

By: Dustin Bower

Dustin Bower — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 05:23:22 +0000

Thanks for your work on this one Craig. I do still wonder how insurance of any kind honors Jesus’ command to not have any worries for tomorrow. Especially when you consider the story about the man who had so much grain that he decided to tear down his single store house and build three so that he could store it all instead of giving away his surplus. Yes, disaster may fall on us tomorrow, but it has already come upon someone else today and I don’t see how we can save for our tomorrow when there are those who won’t have a tomorrow due in part to our self-centered (and unnecessary, if I understand Jesus correctly) worries. I am very grateful for your humility Craig. It is apparent in the way you have responded so carefully and gently to other comments shown here. I would not have been researching this subject if I thought I had anything like a clear answer, however after visiting your site, I am still uncertain. I am leaning toward the conclusion that Jesus does not condone insurance. Thank you for your time in writing this post and in reading all of our comments so considerately. Take care.

By: Al

Al — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:14:14 +0000

Craig wrote: “I would not say that paying for health insurance is yoking oneself to infidels.”

What else is it? Buying insurance obligates one to keep on paying, and to conform to the requirements of the policy. Unless you buy a fixed-term policy and pay in full, the insurance company’s collections department will be after you for the rest of the payments due for the policy.

It will be hard to convince me that insurance company personnel are not by and large “infidels.”

By: Craig

Craig — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 09:59:38 +0000

John,
From your comment it seems like those who buy insurance would be secular and self-centered. Did I understand that correctly?
What Bible verses do you think supports the idea that a Christian should not buy insurance?