Christians and Life Insurance

1900

The People's Forum

Do you think it is wrong, from a Christian point of view, to carry a life insurance policy? — L. B. J., Peterson, Minn.

To answer such a question depends entirely on the point of view. If a person sits down and figures on life insurance purely as a lottery game and considers that he is betting on his length of life with a life insurance company, then life insurance to him is nothing more than a Monte Carlo. If, however, he looks at it from the standpoint of mutual helpfulness, is willing to share with others the care of widows and orphans, then it becomes a Christian duty. The world has small pity for the man who, for the sake of a few dollars which may benefit him, neglects to join others for mutual protection of his wife and children when he is taken away. Many times the widow goes to an untimely grave in seeking to support her little ones, and the children are thrown upon society to live stunted lives. Or the aged father or mother, depending on the strong arm of the son or daughter, is driven to the poorhouse to be given grudging support by the state. Many excellent people we know refuse to have anything to do with life insurance, because they look upon it as a lottery. To the others, and the number is growing, life insurance is a privilege and a Christian duty.

—The Ram's Horn, March 17, 1900, p. 8.