Credit Card Debt and Sin

  • Thread starter Thread starter doniker
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

doniker

Guest
I am unemployed and over $50,000 in debt with credit card bills. I would pay if I could and hopefully someday I can.
My fear is that I am committing a sin that I can’t correct and that if I die in debt I will go to Hell.

I attend mass daily and pray about this all the time but it really weighs heavy on my soul.

I know God will always provide me with what I need and not give me more that I can handle but the stress of these debts are overwhelming at times.
 
Last edited:
While God hates debt, it’s not a sin. When you get a job, you’ll be able to clear up these debts or will bankrupt out of them. You should only send a creditor money if when you have some money they agree to accept payment as paid or settled in full and only if you receive this in writing.
 
Last edited:
It’s not a sin. If you deliberately incurred foolish debt knowing you would be unable to manage it, that might rise to a sin, but not just having large debts.

That being said, you may want to look into declaring bankruptcy and take some of the pressure off yourself.
 
Go to confession, confess your sin and you are forgiven, and try to stay out of more debt.
 
No sin here. Going to confession is a good idea but it is not necessary for the debt.
 
Last edited:
The original poster semems like they spent more than they should have. It’s up to the original poster to decide what the gravity of the sin is, if there is culpability or not, but looking at his or her post she seems contrite for overspending.
 
“Overspending” is too broad a charge.

Did he incur the debt because he was supporting his family through his unemployment? Paying necessary bills? Repairing his home, etc?

If he incurred the debt with frivolous purchases, like vacations he knew he could not afford, then it might rise to the level of sin, but not merely because he was incurring debt.
 
It wouldn’t surprise me if you get a lot of replies. It also wouldn’t surprise me if a lot of people were in your position.

On the actual debt … if you spent it on things that are worthwhile, remember the good that the necessary debt did. Was it a hospital bill that saved your life? Then remember that life is a gift. Plus, now that you are living you can solve this financial problem another day. Was the bill an education that made you more employable? Then remember that your mind is a gift – and God gives everyone some talent to develop. Your education will glorify God, improve yourself, and help your community. And so on.

But if it was a debt for frivolous things that didn’t last, such as fine living, vacation, etc. … well, live and learn. Jesus is very much willing to help us “go and sin no more.” While He may not always rescue us from the consequences of our choices, remember that our Lord was “tempted in all ways as we are, yet without sin.” I doubt they had credit cards back then, but they had money sins for sure. He resisted, and He will help you resist them too.

Regarding the emotions … are you sure it’s fear, rather than humiliation? (Not saying it can’t be both.) Fear makes it sound as if you’ve been exposed to “Prosperity Gospel” (prosperity theology) – and that group DOES consider it sin to be in distress. They believe you can tell someone’s Saved Status by looking at them. The comforters of Job seemed to have that problem. If memory serves, God wasn’t too happy about their attitudes toward Job’s suffering.

I’m not qualified to determine if your worry could be Scrupulosity. There is real help for that.

Otherwise, your worries also found a bit like the Ferengi in Star Trek. (In their religion, they really do go to a bad place if they die in debt. Fortunately there’s lots of money in their world. And in ours, too.)

I’m sure many blessed souls died in debt, and while distressing, it wasn’t the determining factor in either their life or their afterlife.

Debt is a real word. But with our God, it is not the last word.

So … two practical observations. One, if you can afford it, you might pick up a life insurance policy that would cover your debt if necessary. With that fallback position covered, you might feel a lot calmer.

And Two, pick up a copy of Dale Carnegie’s How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. (If you can’t afford it, get thee to the library.) It’s not as famous as his other books but it’s a lot better IMO. He gives very practical advice for problem-solving and it will lift a huge load off your shoulders to have a strategy.
 
Last edited:
Being in debt, in and of itself, is not a sin.

I looked at some of your older posts, and it seems you might be suffering from scrupulosity. Have you ever spoken to a Priest about this? Has a Priest ever mentioned anything like this to you while in Confession?
 
In the Old Testament usury (interest on a loan) was prohibited between Jews. The New Testament is somewhat silent on it. The one thing you do not want is for interest compilation to continue, get some help from a respectable institution that can 1. Put everything on hold until you get a job, thereby stopping the compilation of the interest 2. Take a very small portion of monies owed until you find a job…Doing this stops the increasing amount of interest that is compiling while you do nothing, so do something soon. There are debt assistance companies that are “reputable” and have AAA ratings from the BBB that are there to assist with just this type of problem and in many cases they will work with the debtors to actually reduce the principle amount owed and cease with the interest rates. 50,000 today can add up to 75,000 fast if you do nothing though. God Bless you and move on it quickly. God Speed
 
Another good book is 7 Steps to Becoming Finacially Free:A Catholic Guide to Managing Your Money by Phil Lenahan. Pray for me and I will pray for you, we have debt issues as well. God Bless!
 
Being in debt, in and of itself, is not a sin. It’s what you did, if anything, to bring the debt on yourself that may or may not be a sin.

If you were buying things that weren’t necessities or “living above your means”, then you might have committed a sin of materialism, gluttony, pride (if you were trying to keep up with the neighbors’ purchases).

If, on the other hand, you had an unexpected job loss, a large unexpected bill for medical treatment or car repair, or an investment that went really bad, and you had to cover the bills for basic necessities by using a credit card, then the debt might be bad luck, poor judgment, or some of each, but perhaps not a sin.

Assuming that you’re not spending any more now than is absolutely necessary, I think it would be more productive for you to seek help from a reputable credit counselor than beat yourself up over a possible “sin”. Focus on just taking care of the situation and on learning strategies not to end up in the situation again.
 
Last edited:
Thank you all for your support.

I did do a bankruptcy in 2001 and then was working and managing things well for many years. I was an active alcoholic from 1989 to October 24, 2016. Starting around 2010 or so my debts started piling up.

I have been sober since 10/24/2016 and I haven’t worked much since; I lost my job while I was detoxing/early recovery and I have been living off my credit cards, extra student loan money (I earned a Bookkeeping Certification) and money from odd jobs.

I never waste money - I live a simple life. I go to confession once a month but still worry that all my debts are an unforgivable sin.
 
doniker said:
I go to confession once a month but still worry that all my debts are an unforgivable sin.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you should talk to your Confessor about possible issues with scrupulosity. It is a very unhealthy state of mind.
 
Give every thought to how to help others and work will come. What sorts of cash jobs are you able to do?
 
I am open to any type of work. I am 55 - bad age to be looking for work.
 
Are there any job lead/ job placement programs in your area for people in recovery? It sounds like you have a good history of prior work experience, you just need a place to get a consistent paycheck. I would suggest looking into any resources that could perhaps place you in a job, including asking at your parish if they have any resources to suggest.
 
You’re not alone, @doniker. My husband’s 59 1/2 and looking for work. He was let go from his job of 12 years after downsizing last year.

Also, have you looked into Debtors Anonymous? It may be able to help you.

In my case, I wish husbands & wives would work as a team to reduce their debt, instead of each blaming the other.

Placing you in the enclosed garden of the most sacred heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Please pray for me.
 
Bookkeeping, you say? 😍

Is there an Accountemps office anywhere near you? They’re hiring. Lots of temp agencies end up finding permanent jobs for their workers.
 
Last edited:
doniker said:
I did do a bankruptcy in 2001 and then was working and managing things well for many years. I was an active alcoholic from 1989 to October 24, 2016. Starting around 2010 or so my debts started piling up.

I have been sober since 10/24/2016 and I haven’t worked much since; I lost my job while I was detoxing/early recovery and I have been living off my credit cards, extra student loan money (I earned a Bookkeeping Certification) and money from odd jobs.

I never waste money - I live a simple life. I go to confession once a month but still worry that all my debts are an unforgivable sin.
Click to expand...
You were not in full control of yourself when you were drinking, so if the spending was any sin at all, it certainly wasn’t “unforgivable.” If you are doing the best you can to work and earn money to pay them, that’s all you can do. But you really should try to get off the credit cards, that’s only making it worse. (and yes, I know that’s easier for me to say than for you to do.)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top