What About Jubilee . . .

1 Today we sometimes hear voices calling for the compulsory application of Jubilee principles to solve national monetary difficulties.

2 Often these are the same voices which call for rigorous enforcement of the usury statutes and a host of other inappropriate solutions to economic and monetary problems.

3 Sadly, these voices are no more correct in their advocacy of compelled Jubilee principles than they are in their understanding of usury.

4 Jubilee, a Biblical celebration which came every 50 years, was a time when debts were forgiven, lands were returned to their original owners, and fields were left fallow for a growing season, in much the same way as a Day of worship, thanksgiving, and rest.

5 However, confusion about Jubilee, and our nation’s economic solutions for such issues, must be overcome.

6 The Ten Commandments have been and continue to be the bedrock of our American secular and religious law.

7 Even atheists recognize that our law is based upon logic, reason, and common sense.

8 Nonetheless, when we examine compelled application of Jubilee principles, we see clash between compelled Jubilee and the Ten Commandments, and logic, reason and common sense.

9 Most often, a compelled application of Jubilee principles is advocated in regard to the nation’s debt.

10 But much of the debt of the government and private sector arises out of contracts which are conceived in fraud.

11 Our law says that contracts conceived in fraud are stillborn, and are therefore dead.

12 Performance under such contracts is not compelled by the law, so Jubilee principles, whether voluntarily or involuntarily applied, are not needed to solve the nation’s debt or most private-sector debt.

13 The law cannot justly work to the detriment of honest people, be they lenders or borrowers.

14 If you loaned me $100 and I refused to pay you back, claiming protection under the principles of Jubilee, I would be acting immorally.

15 I should not be “legally” sanctioned to steal from you.

16 Since our law is based upon the Ten Commandments, and theft is contrary to the Eighth Commandment, theft cannot be sanctioned through the application of Jubilee principles, or otherwise.

17 The application of God’s laws will neither protect nor advocate criminal behavior.

18 If Jubilee principles were compelled under the law, honest borrowers would face sharply higher interest rates right before the Jubilee year as lenders sought to protect themselves against losses anticipated from unpaid loans.

19 Even if insurance could be obtained to cover these losses, the increased cost of the insurance would necessarily be passed on to honest borrowers.

20 Christian principles, when part of the law, do not work hardships on honest people to benefit thieves.

21 Some lenders and borrowers might enter loan agreements for periods extending just to the Jubilee year, and then enter new agreement for new loans for the balance of the funds.

22 Bypassing the inconveniences of the Jubilee Year would work a hardship on every honest lender, and on every honest borrower as well.

23 To enact Jubilee principles into law would cause disorder in the private, peaceful affairs of law-abiding Christians everywhere.

24 God’s house is a house of order — not disorder.

25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.-