The credit score is a scam — and It’s Keeping You in Financial Bondage

Ok, so if you can’t tell from that title, this is going to be an article where I am not pulling any punches and sharing an uncommon opinion.

But stay with me because I believe this is a huge mindset change that we as Christians need to understand. So starting with the truth I wish I would have known earlier:

Your credit score is NOT a sign of financial strength.

It’s actually a scorecard for how well you’ve played the lender’s game.

We’ve been trained to chase a number that was never designed to help us win — only to keep us borrowing, paying interest, and staying “just responsible enough” to stay stuck.

And when you finally do the wise thing — pay off debt, cut up the cards, and walk away — the system punishes you for it.

Why? Because you stopped being profitable to them.

They Built a Game Where Debt Is the Goal — and You’re Supposed to Feel Like You’re Winning

And so a credit score isn’t about wealth. It’s about debt.

You get rewarded for:

Keeping credit lines open (even when they tempt you)
Making minimum payments (not getting out of debt)
Using credit regularly (so they can charge you interest)

You don’t get rewarded for:

Paying everything off
Living below your means
Avoiding debt completely

In fact, if you close your final credit card, your score might drop — and most people panic.

Not because they’re in a worse financial position… but because they were taught that the number is the truth.

Here’s how broken this is:

I remember hearing Dave Ramsey point out once that he could buy an entire apartment complex with cash, but because he doesn’t carry debt or play by the credit system, his score is technically so “bad” that he couldn’t even get approved to rent one of the units.

So how absurd is it that you can own the building outright, but not qualify to live there?

That’s how upside-down the system is.

And fear is the Glue That Keeps the System Together

You’ve probably heard the warnings:

“If you close that account, your score will drop.”
“You’ll never qualify for a mortgage without it.”
“You have to use credit to build credit.”

All of it is designed to keep you anxious and dependent. But how different does this sound…

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” –Romans 12:2

This is the pattern of the world — fear, pressure, control. But God’s system leads to peace, margin, and freedom.

The World’s System vs. God’s Way

Let’s zoom out.

The credit score is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle — a whole system the world has built around money that’s rooted in fear, pressure, and endless striving.

Here’s what the world’s system produces:

Fear-based decisions. You’re always second-guessing — “Will this hurt my score? What if I can’t qualify? Should I just open another account?” Fear drives everything.
Chronic stress. Even if you’re “doing well,” you never feel secure. There’s always a payment due, an interest rate rising, a bill waiting.
Comparison and shame. You measure your success by what other people have (even if they’re drowning in debt). If you’re not upgrading, you’re falling behind.
Dependency. You feel stuck — like you need the system. You believe you can’t buy a car, get a home, or move forward without playing their game.
Performance pressure. Your worth is tied to a number. Not how wise or faithful you are — just how good you look on paper.

And here’s the wild part: the system makes you feel like the problem. Like you’re not disciplined enough. You’re not savvy enough. You just don’t know how to “leverage” debt the right way.

But the truth is, the system isn’t broken. It’s rigged.

It was never built to lead you to peace. It was built to keep you on the hook.

God’s system is radically different.

You’re not defined by a score. You’re a steward of what He’s entrusted to you — not a pawn in someone else’s profit plan.
Money is a tool, not a trap. You manage it with intention, not anxiety.
Contentment is strength. You’re not chasing the next upgrade. You’re living in peace and purpose right where you are.
Freedom is the goal. You’re not tied to lenders. You’re available to be generous, flexible, and ready when God says move.
Wisdom and faithfulness matter most. God doesn’t reward flashy. He honors faithful.

One system profits off your bondage.

The other invites you into freedom.

God doesn’t need you to impress a bank.

He’s not concerned with whether you’ve got an 820 or a 520.

What He does care about is how you’re managing what you’ve been given.

With wisdom. With faithfulness. With eternity in mind.

You don’t need a score to be trusted. You need character and clarity.

That’s what matters. That’s what lasts.

The Illusion of Winning Is Still Losing

The whole system is designed to make you feel like you’re getting ahead… as long as you stay inside the lines.

You pay off one card? They raise your limit.

You make payments on time? They offer you more cards.

They keep the carrot just far enough ahead to keep you running.

But let’s be clear:

Freedom isn’t found in a high score.

It’s found in not needing one at all.

So, Should You Just Ignore It?

I wish the answer were a simple “yes”. But it’s not that simple.

By God’s grace, Linda and I have gotten to the place where I genuinely don’t care what my score is because we don’t need it.

We don’t have any debt and never plan on borrowing again. (This is my prayer for you by the way).

But it took us a long time to get to this point, and the fact is, we still live in a world where your credit score affects things like insurance rates, rentals, and even job applications.

So you can’t always opt out cold turkey.