Yes, many Christians and Christian organizations offer interest-free loans, often motivated by biblical principles to assist those in need, such as the ABBA Fund for adoption. While historic prohibitions against "usury" (charging any interest) have evolved, many believers still advocate for interest-free lending within the community to support the poor, as described in Exodus 22:25.
Deuteronomy 23:19 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Do not charge interest on the loans you make to a fellow Israelite, whether you loan money, or food, or anything else.
Christian religious prohibitions on usury are predicated upon the belief that charging interest on a loan is a sin.
Yes, you can get a 0% interest loan, commonly found as promotional offers for cars, furniture, or credit cards, but they usually have strict terms like a high credit score requirement and a limited time period, with high retroactive interest or fees if you miss payments or don't pay in full by the deadline. True 0% APR loans are different from "deferred interest" offers where all accrued interest is charged if the balance isn't cleared by the end of the promo. Always read the fine print for details on fees, timelines, and what happens if you're late.
You will not find a Bible verse that declares, ``thou shalt not go into debt.'' It is permitted and therefore, it is not necessarily sinful to get a loan. Not only does Scripture permit it, there are many principles, practices and requirements that God gives to govern the practice of both borrowing and lending.
In Luke 6:34-35a, Jesus tells a crowd of people, “And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.”
For the most part, Christians have concluded that interest is not inherently prohibited in modern societies, but that lending practices— including interest rates and collateral—must not take advantage of vulnerable people or make people destitute.
The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in church suggests 80% of ministry results come from 20% of people or efforts, often meaning a small group does most of the work, leading to burnout but also highlighting high-impact activities like discipleship or core volunteers. While a truism about activity distribution, it's also a warning that churches must actively develop the broader congregation and identify vital, high-return tasks to avoid relying too heavily on a few, creating strategies to involve more people in ministry and focus on essential gospel activities.
It doesn't say that it's a sin to borrow
While the Bible offers many warnings about the dangers of debt, it never says that you are out of God's will or violating one of God's commandments when you borrow. We can debate the wisdom of incurring debt under certain circumstances, but it's never a black-and-white issue.
God makes it abundantly clear in the Bible how he feels about debt: “Don't withhold repayment of your debts” (Proverbs 3:27 TLB). Romans 13:8 says, “Let no debt remain outstanding” (NIV). God declares the same wisdom that most of us have intuitively: Debt is not a good thing.
Proverbs 19:17 means that showing kindness and generosity to the poor is like lending to God, and He promises to reward that act, not necessarily with money, but with blessings, strength, peace, and spiritual fulfillment, recognizing these actions as serving Him. It emphasizes that helping the needy reflects God's own compassion, making generosity an act of worship with eternal value, and that God faithfully repays those who care for the vulnerable.
Proverbs 22:7 says, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” If you owe someone money, they'll control your life until you pay it back.
A set of Islamic principles—based on the goal of providing economic justice for all—prohibits Muslims from paying or receiving interest during financial transactions. Some Jewish and Christian groups face a similar prohibition.
Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest nor give him your food for profit.” Psalm 15:5 – “Who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Any loan given by Islamic banks must be interest-free. This is because in Islam, usury (charging interest) is seen as fundamentally unjust and unfair.
It may be easier to secure a loan for a new car than it is for a used car, and new car loans often come with lower interest rates. Used cars can be a good fit if you're on a budget and they generally cost less to insure; however, interest rates for used car loans are often higher than for new car loans.
Those with a 640 or higher credit score are likely to find a number of options for a $10,000 personal loan; those with higher scores may have more options as well as more favorable terms.
There's no single #1 worst sin; it depends on the religious or moral framework, but pride is often called the root of all evil (Christianity/Islam), while the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (unforgivable sin) is considered the gravest in the Bible. Other severe sins include child abuse (Catholicism) and sins that "cry to Heaven" (like shedding innocent blood or oppressing the poor).
Proverbs 11:24 teaches a paradox about wealth: generosity leads to increase, while stinginess leads to poverty, even though it seems counterintuitive. It says a person who scatters or gives freely becomes richer, while someone who withholds more than is right (hoards) ends up in want or poverty. The core message is that true financial security and prosperity come from a generous spirit, not from selfishly holding onto resources.
In Romans 13:8, the apostle Paul challenges us to “owe no one anything, except to love.” This isn't just about money—it's about the freedom that comes when we live with integrity, responsibility, and trust in God's provision. Debt can weigh us down—not just financially, but emotionally and spiritually.