Bold Christian Living

Some time ago I sent a version of the following letter to a few selected trusted brothers in the Lord. I was dealing with questions regarding whether or not insurance is scriptural. I sensed the need for their input, to either prod me along the path these questions were leading in, or to caution me--holding me back from rash assertions and actions I would later come to question. As one might expect, I received a wide diversity of counsel, all of it appreciated. Steve Gregg, one of these godly friends asked for permission to publish my letter as an article in his Home Aid Letters Magazine. With some slight modification I permitted this.

I want to make it clear that at this writing I am still unresolved on many of the questions the letter poses. Yet because I think such issues need to be raised, prayed over, studied, and discussed among God's people, I'm happy to risk making the letter available for public scrutiny. I welcome any feedback, whether rebuke, caution, encouragement, questions, or whatever. May we all humbly bring every issue of our lives to the feet of our Master, willing to delight in whatever He leads.

I am wrestling with an issue you may be able to provide some insight on. The issue is insurance. I have pondered the question before, but never this seriously. I currently carry moderate (some would say minimal) amounts of life insurance, health insurance, car insurance, AAA towing insurance, and probably a couple of other forms of insurance that don't come to mind.

Last week, though, a couple of verses we read in our family devotions jumped out at me with insights I had never considered. Let me give you a sense of my struggle. I am not sure what I am hoping you can help with, whether to support my current direction, or to caution or even rebuke me, supporting my past conclusions. I would very much appreciate, if you feel you can take the time, for you to ponder the following with me, and give me whatever feedback the Lord leads you to give.

Over the years I have heard folks discuss the question of insurance from both pro and con perspectives. Those favoring insurance have sometimes even been so forceful as to insist that it is irresponsible, and possibly even sinful, to not carry insurance. They (and I) have focused on the principle of stewardship, and how when God has entrusted wealth, family, and other responsibilities to us, we must protect it faithfully. Given my own pastoral emphasis on sheltering (particularly children), the angle of protection is a persuasive concern. Key verses supporting this perspective are Proverbs 23:3 and 27:12 which both say, "A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished." The argument is that it is foolish to leave one's family vulnerable when a predictable risk is being faced.

There are undoubtedly other verses you might be able to point out to me in support of carrying insurance. At the moment, though, my attention seems to be drawn toward the arguments opposed to this.

Insurance is clearly a source of security. Is it wrong for Christians to ever seek some degree of security in something other than the Lord Himself? Our families provide security. Our businesses or jobs provide a degree of security. Our fellowship relationships in the church provide some security.

Yet various passages encourage us to put our confidence in the Lord rather than earthly things. For example Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God." Repeatedly the challenge of scripture is to trust in the Lord (Ps. 2:12; 4:5; 5:11; 7:1; 9:10; 11:1; 16:1; 17:7; 18:30; 25:2, 20...). But does trusting in the Lord require not trusting in man? Psalm 118:8-9 says, "It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes." Trusting in the Lord is "better" than trusting in men, but is it displeasing to God to ever trust in men?

Perhaps the motivation is the key. We are not to "worry." But that brings us back to the question of insurance. What motivates purchasing insurance, but worry. A favorite passage of many of us is Matthew 6:33, where Jesus says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." I am to seek God's dominion, or kingship, over everything. This is a glorious, visionary mandate all sincere Christians strive to implement. But I argue, "I am to seek God's kingdom 'first,' but that doesn't mean I never seek anything else second."

The very next verse (Matt. 6:34) as Jesus continued, says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Apparently this expanding on the previous verse indicates the way I am to seek first God's kingdom--by not worrying about tomorrow. This sounds quite like my motivation for insurance to me.

In Psalms 37 we are told three times to "not fret" (verses 1, 7, & 8). Instead we are to trust and wait on the Lord (verses 3, 5, & 8). Does this mean, though, that we are not to faithfully do whatever we can to cooperate with the Lord's provision? The humorous fictional story we've all heard comes to mind of the flood victim who, in waiting for divine deliverance, turned down several offers of help as he sat stranded on His rooftop. After eventually drowning he asked the Lord why he didn't rescue him and the Lord responded, "I sent help several times but you rejected it." Is it possible that God's provision in time of trouble would come in the form of insurance?

Insurance is referred to as "sharing the risk." We pool our resources with minimal individual sacrifice, so we can corporately make certain no individual is overwhelmed by some unexpected calamity. Is there anything wrong with this? Paul told us (Galatians 6:2), "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." With insurance are we not simply corporately bearing one another's burdens?

When I was employed as a teacher in the government schools, I frequently had to discipline unruly students. I noticed that if I tried to reprimand or even reason with a young man in the presence of his friends, he put up a tough front, but if I would get him alone, he would frequently soften and respond to my words. These young men were operating on the principle of street gangs. Gang members can be very personable when you deal with them alone. In groups their personalities change. Alone, they are fearful, even cowardly. When with the gang they have a source of confidence that produces carelessness, rudeness, even
arrogant viciousness.

In the account of the tower of Babel and God's confusing the languages in Genesis 11:1-9 we find strength through human unity (verse 1): "Now the whole earth had one language and one speech." The motivation for building the tower was apparently to protect against any threat to this corporate security (verse 4): "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."

This rebellious buffering themselves against God's potential (individual) intervention by pooling individual efforts for a corporate security was displeasing to God and He confused their language so they would "not understand one another's speech." Then "the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city."

It almost sounds as though cities themselves are the problem. Living in cities (especially walled cities as in Biblical days) provided a form of human security. Proverbs 3:29 admonishes, "Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety's sake." Here it seems the security of living in proximity to others is a security that is referenced positively.

Yet Solomon warned against pooling our strength with the ungodly in Proverbs 1:10-19. It is as though he were addressing the temptation to join a modern urban gang.

One of the verses I had never thought of in this context that struck me last week was Proverbs 11:21. Solomon says, "Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered." What we want is security, or deliverance. The scriptures contrast the deliverance the righteous receive with the punishment the wicked who "join forces" receive. Does this imply it is wicked to join forces? The logic doesn't compel such a conclusion, but the comparison is curious.

What particularly struck me the other day was the principle of surety. Is insurance surety? Proverbs 11:15 says, "He who is surety for a stranger will suffer, But one who hates being surety is secure." Human logic tells us having others pool their resources with us provides greater security, but this verse seems to indicate the opposite.

Nowhere that I am aware does the scripture forbid surety. It simply makes it clear (repeatedly) that it is unwise. What is surety? The transliterated Hebrew word translated here is "'arab" (Strong's H6148). It is "a primitive root meaning to braid, i.e. intermix." It has such diverse usages as Nehemiah 5:3, "We have mortgaged our lands and vineyards and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine;" Psalm 106:35, "But they mingled with the Gentiles And learned their works;" and Proverbs 24:21 "Do not associate with those given to change." A dominant usage, though, is the economic bond of "surety" (as in Gen. 43:9; 44:32; Ps. 119:122; Prov. 6:1; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 22:26; 27:13). This was apparently a guarantee on behalf of another, that his commitment or obligation will be fulfilled.

The question I am having to ask myself is, Is Insurance Surety? Perhaps we can be more precise in our questions. Am I surety for someone else by purchasing insurance? Am I surety for the insurance company? for others insured by the company? No, I am not obligating myself for the future. I have paid my premium and that is a past action obligating them, not
me, for the future.

If I purchase insurance is someone else (the insurance company) surety for me? Yes, but this is neither forbidden, nor addressed directly. There doesn't seem to be anything written against someone being surety for me, just against me being surety for others.

Am I helping someone else (the insurance company) be surety for others when I purchase insurance? Clearly yes! Is this displeasing to God? This seems a distinct possibility.

I have not yet reached a conclusion on this matter, although it is apparent which direction I am leaning at the moment. I am rather certain that I should not judge a brother who has thought and prayed about the matter seriously and concludes it is wise and right for him to carry insurance. But on the basis of the above questions (worry, trust, pooling resources, and especially surety) I suspect the Lord will be leading me to abandon all insurance, and likely at least raise the question for others to consider.

If you see a blind-spot, or legalism, or logical flaw, or anything that I should consider, please share it with me. I don't want to get flaky and go off half-cocked. Yet I don't want to disobey God by cowardice when He might be asking me to take a frightening step, and even challenge others on an unpopular issue. Most of all, pray for me.

	1. Written by John on 17-09-2008 12:08 - Guest
	If God healed as he did during the birth of the church we wouldn't need insurance or even doctors but I can't say that God has ever meraculously healed as a result of my prayers however I still pray for healings. My wife had a heart procedure that cost $32,000, all we had to pay was the deductible. I was so thankful that we had insurance. So many prople prayed for her to be healed but the doctors had to do it. I thanked God for allowing the doctors to have the skill and knowledge to perform the procedure. If God would provide healings without doctors I would cancel my insurance, but it seems as though He doesn't work that way anymore. [JPL's response: My understanding is that God does not obey us, and never has. Both today, and in the scriptures, there are some who have been healed when God's people prayed for them, and others who were not. God is not obligated to fulfil our desires. Yet He does often show His love and power by healing people's sicknessses according to His purposes.] Report