Comments on: Record Profits, Income Inequality, Global Poverty, and a New Jubilee? – An Interview with Eric LeCompte

By: Widge Widge

Widge Widge — Tue, 20 May 2014 14:44:00 +0000

What is wrong with “cherry picking”verses which show we love our neighbours as Jesus did. The Jubilee is a great thing. Why choose old Testament laws condemning homosexuality but not choosing those which support the poor and marginalized?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 05 May 2014 18:57:00 +0000

Haha, way to not bite. You have shown consistency, at the very least.

By: Frank2918

Frank2918 — Mon, 05 May 2014 18:18:00 +0000

Ask someone who is defending that position.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 05 May 2014 18:09:00 +0000

Here’s the inconsistency i see with that “closed system” assertion. If a system that was designed to alieviate suffering due to financial disparity is no longer valid in the modern times, despite the NT’s clear direction to do so, then why does our country continually support just war theory using OT references to god’s direction of the isrealites in war, despite the NT’s very clear condemnation of returning violence with violence?

By: Frank2918

Frank2918 — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:55:00 +0000

Some people accuse others of picking and choosing while they pick and choose.

What I meant was that the jubilee was a closed system among the Israelite’s. There are plenty of NT commands to care for the poor without having to bring in the jubilee.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 05 May 2014 16:59:00 +0000

Problematic in what way? The jubilee was for the isrealites (not sure “by” applies; divenly proclaimed was it not?) yes, as was the purity code. But when the NT proclaimed a fulfilment of the law, and that it is not what you consume that keeps you pure, but rather what you produce, how did that change the intent of the jubilee? As far as i can tell, the jubillee was intended to, as the article states, keep such a wild disparity between rich and poor from happening. The negative results of which should be plainly visible to us now. Nothing in the NT claims that the egalitarian spirit of the jubilee should be a relic of the past. Prosperity theology coincides with the rise of capitalism, and in fact is correlated (see Durkheim; protestant work ethic). With a reasonable understanding of scripture and history, as well as an honest assesment of one’s values, something like jubilee USA becomes beautiful

By: otrotierra

otrotierra — Mon, 05 May 2014 16:14:00 +0000

Thank you, Jamie, for a thoughtful contribution to the ongoing conversation. Another excellent commentary at RedLetterChristians.

By: Frank2918

Frank2918 — Mon, 05 May 2014 15:06:00 +0000

We certainly should do what we can to help the poor but using the jubilee as a reason is problematic at best. The jubilee was for the Israelites by the Israelites.

Also I guess as long as you like certain OT laws and commands they are still binding right?