Biblical Economics - Part 2

At this point, it would really be more accurate to switch the title of the blog to Old Testament Economics. However, since I started the first part with the title “Biblical Economics,” and sine the Old Testament is part of the Bible, I'll still keep the old title. But, now you know what to expect from this second part. The points that I am about to describe/consider may actually reach farther than just economics, so perhaps the second part of the title is now suspect too? Also, I'm not really going to describe a complete economy/society, I just want to point out some of the differences that I have noticed between the society/economy that we have in present-day America, and what was prescribed in the Bible. I am also not going to attempt to make any arguments for how such an economy could be enacted in present-day America (either partially or fully), though I do feel that there is room for such arguments to be made (but that goes beyond the scope of this blog). Anyway, here are some things that I have noticed:

Permanent Property Rights

Lev. 25:13-16

In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to their own property. If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not take advantage of each other. You are to buy from your own people on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. And they are to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops. When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price, because what is really being sold to you is the number of crops.

Perhaps this helps explain the tenth commandment “Do not covet your neighbor's house or his wife.” Why? Because each is considered equally permanent. Can you imagine America with no homeless citizens? For further consideration, I would also like to add:

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. - Attributed to Thomas Jefferson

...Ron Paul for President! Down with the Fed! Well... probably not Ron Paul anymore at this point, he was 72 the last time he ran, and he can't keep running every four years (Oh, snap!). Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now.

Anti-Usury Laws

Lev. 25:35-37

If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit.

Deut. 23:19

Do not charge a fellow Israelite interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest.

What would our economy look like if U.S. Citizens could not charge each other interest? One need only consider how integral a part of our economy interest rates are to see how far off base we are with this one.

Gleaning Laws

Lev. 19:9-10

When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.

Deut. 23:24-25

If you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want, but do not put any in your basket. If you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pick kernels with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to their standing grain.

Deut. 24:19-22

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.

If someone in modern day America attempted to glean, what would we call them? A thief and trespasser. In Colorado, they could probably even be shot without question (Make My Day Law). Now, I do see some good reasons for the laws that we have now, but I just wanted to point out how they differ from the Bible in this case.

I don't know the exact “addresses” of the passages, but specific examples of gleaning would be Ruth, and Jesus and his Disciples (which also brings in New Testament support). Another point worth noting is that even aliens and foreigners are allowed this privilege (they are actually allowed many privileges).

Respect for Rest

Lev. 23:3

There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the LORD.

What would the American economy be like if not allowed to operate 24/7? Perhaps the standstill wouldn't be as bad as it would first appear. Only a few decades ago most places had “Blue Laws” which did not allow most businesses to operate on Sundays. Some are even on the books to this day (In Colorado, cars still cannot be sold on Sundays).

Tithes

Deut. 14:22-28

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.

At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

I tend to think of tithes as taxes. Our taxes now are obviously much more than 10%. But even if you take tithes in the common/traditional sense as something given to the church, this doesn't quite match contemporary American thinking – using your tithes to buy wine and “strong drink” (another translation, which one I don't remember)? Who would've thought! Notice again that the aliens and foreigners are provided for.

Bankruptcy Law

Deut. 15:1-4
At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the LORD’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you. However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you,

You can't beat this as far as bankruptcy laws go! However, you might think that this law would lend itself to easy abuse by the borrowers. But, I think it is up to the lender's discretion to decide whether or not the borrower actually NEEDS a loan. You think your neighbor is likely to give you a loan for a big-screen TV under these conditions? I say, think again!

Freedom and Liberty for All?

Deut. 23:15-16
If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master. Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not oppress them.

Respect for Military Families

Deut. 24:5
If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.

I have heard so many sad stories of military couples who have only a few days to marry before the soldier is deployed again, often for over a year! Although ultimately, everyone is responsible for their own actions, I can't help but think that a law like this would prevent at least a few instances of unfaithfulness and divorce.

So, these are just a few things that have stood out to me. I must also say that there are many things in the Old Testament laws that I find confusing, distasteful, and even contradictory – but I find things about our current system to be confusing, distasteful, and contradictory! Is it any wonder that I would feel some of the same negative emotions towards the laws of another place and time?