James 1:27 — Pure religion is to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world

FideO

Network | Finance.

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Psalm 37 — The righteous are always generous and lend freely. Proverbs 19 — He who lends to the poor lends to the Lord. Deuteronomy 15 — You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. Matthew 25 — To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, each according to his ability. Psalm 15 — Who does not put out his money at interest. He who does these things shall never be moved. Exodus 22 — Do not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. Leviticus 25 — Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. Matthew 25 — Cast that unprofitable servant into outer darkness. Psalm 37 — The righteous are always generous and lend freely. Proverbs 19 — He who lends to the poor lends to the Lord. Deuteronomy 15 — You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. Matthew 25 — To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, each according to his ability. Psalm 15 — Who does not put out his money at interest. He who does these things shall never be moved. Exodus 22 — Do not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. Leviticus 25 — Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. Matthew 25 — Cast that unprofitable servant into outer darkness.
Credit

Credit

Credit; an entrusting of resource from one party to another.

The nature of the problem of credit goes back to the Garden of Eden.

God gives Adam charge of resources. We define this as the initial credit to mankind beyond life.

The Initial Credit
"Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." God blessed them and charged them with dominion over creation. This is the first entrusting of resource. — Genesis 1
Credit: The Problem Aptly

Credit:
The Problem Aptly

Simply, there are two kinds of borrowers:

Good ones and bad ones.

What makes a bad one? Well, he loses the investment by means of foolishness; he proves his lack of ability. (Matthew 25)

Now, a bad one is not always a malicious one, but a malicious one is always a bad one.

What makes a good one? He makes more with what is given and gives an increase. He also is of significant ability. (Matthew 25)

The Good Borrower
Makes more with what is given. Returns an increase. Demonstrates significant ability. Proves himself a worthy steward.
The Bad Borrower
Loses the investment through foolishness. Proves his lack of ability. A malicious one is always a bad one — though a bad one is not always malicious.
Usury: The Problem Historically and Currently

Usury:
The Problem Historically and Currently

Historically, the problem with the Law of God and Borrowers is Usury.

"If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest." — Exodus 22:25

This is not a prohibition on lending money or resources.

Nor is this a prohibition on interest; for if it was we have a problem with God wanting Adam to be fruitful and multiply which would bear an increase.

The Distinction
The prohibition is not on lending. The prohibition is not on interest. The prohibition is specifically on charging a stated rate to one who is needy. This is what Scripture identifies as usury.
Usury: The Problem Historically and Currently

Usury:
The Problem Historically and Currently

Historically, the problem with the Law of God and Borrowers is Usury. This has been defined in the past as:

Definition 1
Charging any interest — this disagrees with God.
Definition 2
Charging interest egregiously — this is subjective.
Definition 3
Interest but not unjust interest — this is subjective.
Definition 4
Interest only charged to those not of your race — this is subjective.
What is the way to avoid Usury in all instances?
Well, there's a better way…
Proposition
Interest is Voluntary.

The position of the Sons of God.

Proposition

Proposition

We believe this is the position of the Sons of God.

We want to create a decentralized network of Christians linked by faith in Christ and building the Kingdom of God in this way.

Each one, a man under his own vine and fig tree, each man a brick in the City of God shining with all his brothers for all to praise his Father in Heaven.

We believe there are two types of brothers, technically three: Able, Needy, None.

Able
A borrower who has proved his stewardship through the fruit of his actions.
Needy
A borrower in genuine need; to be helped with credit sufficient to restore his ability.
None
A bad actor who has proved himself unworthy by malice aforethought. Banishment from membership follows.
Proposition

Proposition:
Our Definitions

We need to do some explaining about our definitions for our framework. With three definitions of a borrower, we have a problem…

1. Credit
An entrusting of resource from one party to another.
2. Interest
More credit than what is given.
3. Usury
A stated rate of return on credit to a needy brother.
4. Usurer
A giver of stated rate of return on credit to a needy brother.
5. Borrower
A receiver of credit.
6. Borrower
Needy brother.
7. Borrower
Able brother.
8. Lender
A giver of credit.
The Problem with Three Definitions
It can be unknown if someone is a needy brother based on their actions at the time credit is extended. This is the core tension that must be resolved without committing usury.
Proposition

Proposition

That's right, there is a problem.

It can be unknown if someone is a needy brother based on their actions.

So, what do we do? Well, we wait, as our Father does, to see what fruit they bear.

That might look something like this…

The Resolution
Because identity as needy or able may be unknown at the outset, no interest is stated or charged to any borrower. Interest is returned voluntarily by those who prove themselves able — as the fruit of their stewardship. There is no usury in any case.
Usury Matrix

Usury Matrix

Every possible scenario yields the same result. In no case does usury occur within the FideO framework.

Known Status Means / Intent Made / Lost Money Ability to Repay Resulting Identity Status of Interest
AbleGoodMade MoneyHas AbilityAble BrotherValid — Voluntary freewill; No Usury
AbleGoodLost MoneyHas AbilityAble BrotherValid — Voluntary freewill; No Usury
AbleGoodLost MoneyNo AbilityNeedy BrotherVoid — Cannot repay; No Usury
AbleGoodMade MoneyNo AbilityContradictionVoid — Logical impossibility
AbleEvilMade MoneyHas AbilityNon BrotherVoid — Is as not; No Usury
AbleEvilLost MoneyHas AbilityNon BrotherVoid — Is as not; No Usury
AbleEvilLost MoneyNo AbilityNon BrotherVoid — Is as not; No Usury
AbleEvilMade MoneyNo AbilityContradictionVoid — Logical impossibility
NeedyGoodMade MoneyHas AbilityAble BrotherValid — Voluntary freewill; No Usury
NeedyGoodLost MoneyHas AbilityAble BrotherValid — Voluntary freewill; No Usury
NeedyGoodLost MoneyNo AbilityNeedy BrotherVoid — Cannot repay; No Usury
NeedyGoodMade MoneyNo AbilityContradictionVoid — Logical impossibility
NeedyEvilMade MoneyHas AbilityNon BrotherVoid — Is as not; No Usury
NeedyEvilLost MoneyHas AbilityNon BrotherVoid — Is as not; No Usury
NeedyEvilLost MoneyNo AbilityNon BrotherVoid — Is as not; No Usury
NeedyEvilMade MoneyNo AbilityContradictionVoid — Logical impossibility



Decision Tree — How Identity is Determined
Credit Extended — No Interest Stated Intent? EVIL GOOD Non-Brother Void — Is as Not; No Usury Made or Lost Money? MADE LOST Able Brother Valid — Voluntary; No Usury Has Ability to Repay? YES NO Able Brother Valid — Voluntary; No Usury Needy Brother Void — Cannot Repay; No Usury LEGEND Able Brother Needy Brother Non-Brother Decision Node
Membership Requirement

Statement of Faith

What do you believe and attest to with your life and by your actions?

“

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell, on the third day He rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

— The Apostles' Creed, as affirmed by every FideO Member
You affirm and believe that
  • 1
    the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is the only inspired, infallible, inerrant and authoritative written Word of God;
  • 2
    there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
  • 3
    in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, his virgin birth, his sinless life, his miracles, his vicarious and atoning death through his shed blood, his bodily resurrection, his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and his personal return in power and glory;
  • 4
    that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary;
  • 5
    that a person is justified by grace alone through the Lord Jesus Christ alone;
  • 6
    in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly and righteous life, bearing the fruit consistent with the life of a son of God;
  • 7
    in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost — those who are saved, unto the resurrection of life, and those who are lost, unto the resurrection of damnation; and
  • 8
    in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ and his church.
  • 9
    that I am a born again believer in Jesus Christ and a man of faith in Him.
  • 10
    if I am lying about my true belief in these aforementioned, I accept my deceitfulness as him who says that "I am safe, though I persist in going my own way" and I hereby acknowledge that if I have acted falsely in this testimony, I acknowledge fully that I am a blemish of the love feast, a false teacher, a curse on the watered land as well as the dry, a shepherd who feeds only himself, a cloud without rain, an autumn tree without fruit, uprooted and twice dead, wild wave of the sea, foamer of shame, denier of Christ, blasphemer of the Holy Spirit, and son of the accuser and I ask that Christ Jesus reserve blackest judgement for me as I have demonstrated to be a lover of deceit while knowing the truth.
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Each man a brick
in the City of God.

A decentralized network of Christians, each under his own vine and fig tree, shining together for all to praise the Father in Heaven.

Join the Directory How It Works

These are our propositions. Entity filings, regulatory approvals, and credit union partnership agreements are under development and have not been finalized. Membership applications will open when the structure is in place.

Membership will require a Statement of Faith, two member guarantors, and 24 hours of annual service toward widows, orphans, and aliens — and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27). — Read the full statement