Inconvenient Scriptures

Jubilee is a biblical idea. It’s the 50 year radical redistribution/restoration. It’s the time when debts are cancelled, land is returned to owners, indentured servants are set free, foreigners are welcomed, and more. You can find the full details in Leviticus 25.

Funny how I never hear those who argue for literal interpretation of Scripture point to this passage as one we should follow. I can actually get on board with following the year of Jubilee. But I rarely hear anyone argue for it. Apparently we’re too busy using Scripture as a weapon to point out other people’s sins that we aren’t guilty of.

The year of Jubilee would have a huge economic impact in quite literal and practical terms. The average American carries over $90,000 in debt. Imagine if all that debt was wiped away. Imagine the impact that would have.

I can also imagine how those who make money off of our debt would respond. Maybe in the same way that the people of Nazareth responded to Jesus’ first sermon in Luke 4 when Jesus preached the Jubilee — they tried to throw him off a cliff.

Implementing would be a radical freeing of people from debt. It would be a transfer of wealth the likes we have never seen before. It would probably make the argument for returning of lands to native tribes that were taken from them. It would probably also make the arguments around compensation to families who’s relatives were forced into enslavement.