For Christians- Do you think it's OK for a church to invest money in things like REIT investments?

Question

I found out recently that my church has been making investments of significant proportions in things like this, and I don't know what to think of it.

Answer 1

A REIT is a Real Estate Investment Trust, meaning they use real estate as an investment vehicle. I don't know why Christians should be against investing in real estate...

Answer 2

Well, if they are going to use the stock markets to invest the money they should not go beyond index funds such as the total stock market index fund. Even that's a risk but will pay off in the long run. Real Estate is way too shaky especially in today's market.

Answer 3

Well, you have to put it in perspective....

A church, traditionally, takes donations for the sustenance of its keepers (priests and nuns and so on) and for helping the community with that money or helping others (charity).

Now, if a church, which now has realized that it has vast amounts of non-taxed donations, is looking to make a profit out of people's kindness, then yes, I think this is wrong on many levels--UNLESS THE CHURCH IS GIVING BACK THE PROFITS TO THE PEOPLE AND DECLARING TAXES FAIRLY.

EVEN STILL, the Church, in my opinion, should stick to its traditional role as a spiritual entity, not an investment banker. If people want to invest money, they should go speak with a money market manager, not a pastor.

In short, yes, I think this is somewhat exploitative of people's kindness and willingness to donate their hard earned money. After all, isn't living a life of modest means a dictate of Christianity to its priests? Why would a priest want to augment the money of his church? To what purpose? (you should find out)

I think you should make sure that this issue is addressed to your community who donate their hard earned money. In my opinion, this seems exploitative and WRONG. A church is a church, not a bank.  

Answer 4

Boy times sure have changed from the first church, whose members sold all their belongings and had everything in common. The idea of a church investing in real estate is kind of unsettling to me personally. The church is a body of believers, not a business. The Word of God is free, and needs to stay that way. While I understand that buildings need maintenance and come with all kinds of bills that need paying, I tend to lean more towards the members taking care of those needs. When a church gets into investments, it tends to make people greedy, and act in a manner unbecoming to a Christian. I look at some of the past church leaders who got into hot water because of money. The Word of God is pretty explicit in regards to how things should be handled in the church. The pastor is to be cared for by the membership, and the membership is to care for each other. I can't see any Scripture that supports a church investing in real estate, unless you regard heaven as real estate. Matthew 6:19-21 says, "Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon earth, where moth and rust corrupts, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break through or steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." While a church investing in real estate isn't immoral or evil in itself, care must be taken to keep the focus on the purpose of doing such a thing, and not allow it to take over and become a matter of pride or greed. Seek your answers from The Book. It's where God gives us the majority of His wisdom. <*)))><

Answer 5

If it would be wrong for Christians... wouldn't it be wrong for everyone else (logic being... God feels it's wrong.... we're all God's children).

What could possibly be wrong with a REIT?????   Does God have a problem with Malls, Real Estate, Condos etc???????

Are you so special as a "Christian" that the rest of God's children can do wrong (because it wouldn't help the non-Christians anyway)???????

I suspect that a loving God would have a problem with this thinking!

So next time you can ask the general question......... I see no reason to limit a moral question to Christians...................