13 May 05 Paper or Plastic?

What on earth did we ever do before credit cards?

Yesterday while spending a few moments watching television (between my memorization of the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin translations of the Bible) Beth and I saw a commercial for a particular brand of credit cards. No, not the “priceless” series which, though they are innovative, are still somewhat bothersome.

This particular commercial depicted the various stages of life and the indispensable role credit cards played in each life stage. That’s right for every life stage they have an appropriate credit card.

Beth and I both had the same negative reaction. Their message, clearly conveyed in this commercial, is without credit cards you are unprepared to face the many stages of life. As my grandpa used to say, “hogwash!”

Don’t get me wrong, I know there are practical uses for credit cards (guitars, fly-rods and other essentials). I know there are times when using a credit card is both expedient and required.

I also know that I have relied too much on the “purchasing power” of the credit card. I know that in so doing I have not learned very well to be content with what I already had.

Take a look at these stats:

The average American household has 13 payment cards, including credit cards, debt cards and store cards.

There are 1.3 billion payment cards in circulation in the United States.

Americans made $1.1 Trillion worth of credit card purchases in 1999.

Americans carry, on average, $5,800 in credit card debt from month to month. If one were to make only the minimum payment on that debt every month, it would take 30 years to pay off - and include an additional $15,000 in interest.

On average the typical credit card purchase is 112% higher than if using cash

We don’t talk much about debt and credit card debt in church circles anymore. I wonder why that is? Oh sure we use Romans 13:8 often, but this is usually when the church leaders are talking about a new building program.

Where and how should this dialog begin?