{"id":50380,"date":"2024-02-16T13:45:32","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T10:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=50380"},"modified":"2025-06-13T22:27:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T19:27:41","slug":"what-is-a-pledge-collateral-in-the-bible-and-should-christians-use-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2024\/02\/16\/what-is-a-pledge-collateral-in-the-bible-and-should-christians-use-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Pledge (Collateral) in the Bible\u2014and Should Christians Use It?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is a pledge, and should Christians give or take one?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In biblical terms, a pledge<\/strong> or collateral<\/strong> is something of value given as a guarantee for a loan. If the borrower fails to repay the debt, the lender may keep or claim that item to recover their loss. This concept is found in several passages of the Old Testament.<\/p>\n

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1. Biblical Foundations of Pledges<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the Old Covenant (Law of Moses)<\/strong>, God allowed pledges but placed clear moral and social boundaries, especially to protect the poor and vulnerable from oppression.<\/p>\n

Exodus 22:26-27\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cIf you ever take your neighbor\u2019s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here, God emphasizes that pledges must never be inhumane. Taking someone’s basic needs as security\u2014such as clothing or daily tools\u2014was considered unjust and contrary to God’s gracious character.<\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 24:6\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cNo man shall take the lower or the upper millstone in pledge, for he takes one\u2019s living in pledge.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In this verse, taking a grinding stone (a tool for preparing food) was equated to taking someone’s means of survival. This reflects God’s concern for preserving human dignity and livelihood.<\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 24:17-18\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cYou shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow\u2019s garment as a pledge. But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

God reminded Israel to treat others with compassion because they themselves had experienced hardship in Egypt. This principle is rooted in God\u2019s redemptive justice<\/strong>\u2014He redeems the oppressed and expects His people to do the same.<\/p>\n

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2. Can Christians Accept or Give Pledges Today?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Theologically, pledges are not condemned in Scripture\u2014but their use must reflect the New Testament principles of love, grace, and justice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n