5 myths about the Jubilee — a good analysis of how the concept of the Jubilee is often misused to justify government redistribution of wealth. I pasted the text for the first one. Click the link for the rest.
Myth 1: Jubilee means a forgiveness of debt.
It is clear in the Old Testament text and to many commentators that in Leviticus 25, Jubilee does not involve forgiveness of debt, at least in the way we normally use the term. There is no debt forgiven because it has already been paid. Let me explain. If Israelite family members have a debt they can ask the person farming their land for a lump sum payment priced according to the number of years before the Jubilee. The price would be determined by the projected amount of crops to be yielded prior to the Jubilee. To put it in modern terms, if you had a debt of $250,000, there are five years prior to the Jubilee, and each crop is worth $50,000, then the “buyer” would give you $250,000 for the rights to farm the land, and at the time of Jubilee you would receive your land back because the debt had been paid off.
So the “buyer” does not really own the land but leases it. The debt is paid off by the land (crops). We don’t know exactly how the price was determined for each year of crops, given the uncertainty due to bad weather or other factors that could lead to a poor or lost crop. Perhaps the price took into account that some years would be more profitable than others.
At the time of Jubilee you would of course rejoice that your debt had been paid and your land returned to your full use, but you would not thank the leaser for “forgiving” your debt. The Jubilee declaration might be analogous to a “mortgage burning party.” You would celebrate with friends that this significant debt was paid. The debt is not “forgiven” or “cancelled” because it is paid.
Numerous commentators endorse this understanding. For instance, Derek Tidball says, “Purchasing the land was like purchasing a lease.” [1] And R. K. Harrison says, “Only the produce of the land could thus properly be bought or sold.” [2]
Myth 2: Jubilee involves a redistribution of wealth (land).
Myth 3: Jubilee shows the relative nature of private property.
Myth 4: Jubilee leads to income equality.
Myth 5: Jubilee is a universally applicable principle.
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‘Two and a Half Men’ actor calls his show ‘filth’ — I’ve never watched the show but from what I’ve heard it was child abuse to subject this kid to the material he was given.
Nineteen-year-old Angus T. Jones has been on the show, which used to feature bad-boy actor Charlie Sheen and remains heavy with sexual innuendo, since he was 10 but says he doesn’t want to be on it anymore.
“Please stop watching it,” Jones said. “Please stop filling your head with filth.” . . . .
In the video posted by Forerunner Chronicles in Seale, Ala., Jones describes a search for a spiritual home. He says the type of entertainment he’s involved in adversely affects the brain and “there’s no playing around when it comes to eternity.”
“You cannot be a true God-fearing person and be on a television show like that,” he said. “I know I can’t. I’m not OK with what I’m learning, what the Bible says, and being on that television show.”
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New study from China links abortion to breast cancer — yet another study shows the connection. At least some of these cancers are preventable! Please pass this along the next time someone asks you do buy something pink or to donate to breast cancer research, or especially if they claim that Planned Parenthood helps reduce breast cancer. Planned Parenthood causes more breast cancer than it detects.
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Mystery: Virginia gun violence falls as gun sales soar — Once again we see the impact that more guns = less crime. But keep repeating it, because the mainstream media sure won’t tell people.
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When photo ops meet red tape — Sadly and predictably, Obama’s “touching” photo ops with Hurricane Sandy victims were nothing but empty promises. Too bad so many voters said it influenced them to vote for Obama. I’d like to think that these victims will see the wisdom of conservatism now and be a little less naive, but the salt-water effect of Liberalism usually leaves the victims craving more.
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I am not making this up: Slate says white turkey is racist— Of course preferring white meat is racist! That’s why Americans prefer hamburgers over pork chops (“the other white meat”) at a ratio of about 1,000 to 1 . . . oh, wait, that goes the other direction . . .
If we preferred dark meat they’d claim we were racist cannibals.
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Your tax dollars at work: Middle School Children Taught Homosexual Foreplay — and this is before that state passed a “same-sex marriage” law.
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California is to states as Detroit is to cities, and they are now the poverty leaders. But just try those Liberal policies a few more decades and things will totally turn around.
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Obamacare will pay for abortions for people making up to $92,000. Got that? So if you are the parent of several kids and you make $46,000 you get to pay for abortions of the childless people making double what you do.
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Lesbian complains about Muslim barber to Human Rights Commission — You’ll have to suppress the schadenfreude when reading about this Liberal Sacred Cow vs. Liberal Sacred Cow battle. It is a perfect example of what happens when the government increases discrimination by granting special rights to certain ethnic or sexual perversion groups. In this case you should bet on the Muslims because the Left fears their violence and can rationalize it as religious tolerance, even while being wildly and hypocritically intolerant of Christians.
It is similar to the hypothetical dilemma where you ask Liberals whether they’d approve of aborting gays in the womb. In my experience they usually love abortion more than gays.
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Great points by Crowder about Stupid Stick (marijuana)
- Marijuana is more harmful than alcohol, not less.
- Legalizing pot increases use. It does not decrease it.
- There is almost no one in prison for convictions of marijuana use alone.
- Marijuana makes you much more likely to suffer from psychosis.
- The biggest reason for the increase in use among young people is the propaganda that it’s harmless.
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And now for some great news — the saving grace of God in Saudi Arabia. Never forget that God is sovereign and that while we should be salt and light in a sinful world, He will ultimately overcome and He still changes lives every day all around the world, even in — and especially in — the most unlikely places. But note how God used the radically different behavior of the Christians to help convince the man to read the Bible.
Eternity Matters 