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.
No wonder we would rather just push this passage out of sight.
Leviticus 25 isn’t the only inconvenient passage of Scripture though.
“Romans 13! Romans 13!” This is the passage of Scripture where Paul says “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities”. A couple of years ago this passage was used with abandon by some prominent Christian pastors and public figures and public officials to argue why we needed to get on board with an immigration policy that separated families at the border.
But a funny thing happened. We now have mask and vaccination mandates and the same people who were shouting “Romans 13!” are very silent about Romans 13, often arguing that such mandates are restrictions on religious freedom. What happened? Romans 13 became an inconvenient passage of Scripture.
Inconvenient Scriptures don’t provide the ammunition a person needs to twist God into just another weapon to be used against enemies.
Scripture isn’t a weapon to be used for your own benefit and agenda and conveniently set aside when it doesn’t work for your argument.
About The Author
I’’m curious to know your opinion on the following:
As we follow the teachings of Christ, are we ever able to conclude anything?
Of course we can. But is concluding something the most important thing?
My personal opinion is that leading a Christ like life is definitive. I believe having an open mind is crucial to understanding other perspectives, but in the words of the country singer Aaron Tippin, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything”. Conclusions need to be drawn from all biblical evidence, in order to live Christ like. If we cannot apply what we’ve learned from the questions we’ve asked & had answered, why ask anymore questions?
If that’s what you need, then great. Here’s what I know, questions are wonderful because they lead us to expand our minds and hearts, to search, to explore. Questions lead to more and better questions. Faith isn’t about the answers. Because if we can get all sorts of answers, then why do we need faith? Faith and certainty don’t actually match up, they are opposed to each other. Certainty gives us what we humans like and desire – which is a sense of control. Faith and doubt go together actually. Both drive us to Christ not in a way that it’s about the certainty of rules. But in the way of who he is. Discipleship is about listening and following Christ. I follow because I don’t know how else to live. I certainly am not perfect in my following though. For me faith isn’t about knowing the right answers. It’s about relationship with Christ and that comes out in a variety of ways – spiritual practice being one, worship, etc. But it is also about seeing the image of God in others – neighbors and enemies alike. It is about Shalom – completeness and wholeness. It’s about stewardship.
Did you know that in Jewish tradition, that they start with a question, go to Scripture first and that leads to more questions and conversation. It’s not about the answers. There are a multitude of interpretations from Jewish past on the Scriptures. The Talmud and the Mishnah are great examples of this of the different schools of thought on various Scriptures and Jewish laws. Jesus, being a Jewish rabbi, would have also practiced this way. It wasn’t about the answers. It’s about the conversation, being in relationship, and more. The questions assist us. The answers shouldn’t end a conversation, but be a beginning. Because the further we dive in, the more questions should be raised.
I don’t know if that all makes sense or not. But that’s ok.
I see – well I respectfully disagree to some extent. The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit transcend all time, the way I understand it. That means that they already know how this entire experiment in humanity plays out. He gives us laws, we disobey & He punishes us. He gives us His only Son to die for our sins & then many won’t repent or even acknowledge Him & His teachings, then He punishes us. We follow His Word & help those in need & love Him with our whole heart, we inherit the Kingdom of Heaven – it seems simple, but I’m a simple guy. I don’t believe that anything new can come out of what is written. All the directions are there for us – all we have to do is read them. A different perspective or understanding may occur over time, especially after reading the Bible more than once, but the message never changes. For me, certainty has nothing to do with control in this case – control is an illusion.
Christ tells us:
Matthew 5| NLT
Teaching about the Law
17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have
come. I did not come to abolish the law
of Moses or the writings of the
prophets. No, I came to accomplish their
purpose. 18 | tell you the truth, until
heaven and earth disappear, not even
the smallest detail of God’s law will
disappear until its purpose is achieved.
19 So if you ignore the least
commandment and teach others to do
the same, you will be called the least in
the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone
who obeys God’s laws and teaches
them will be called great in the Kingdom
of Heaven.
20 “But I warn you-unless your
righteousness is better than the
righteousness of the teachers of
religious law and the Pharisees, you will
never enter the Kinguom of Heaven!
I interpret these verses literally. I have faith that Christ said these words & that his teachings are certainties, which then hopefully lead me to a Christ like life. I am certainly not perfect in everything I do either, but I’m trying harder now, than I ever have before. I feel like not reaching definitive conclusions about His teachings are too dangerous, especially to a new believer. One small twist in a Gospel message can send a person so far off course, that they may never repent of a sin because they may not even be aware they are sinning. This is a funny analogy, but I think of it like the TV show, “Who wants to be a Millionaire”. A moderator asks a question & contestant can answer, phone a friend, ask the audience, etc. Once the contestant reaches a certain monetary level (we reach an understanding of what to do or not to do based on teachings), the contestant doesn’t lose that amount (the believer starts walking a Christ like life & builds upon what has been learned) and progresses toward the goal of winning a million dollars (entering the Kingdom of Heaven).
Of course harder & better pointed questions will come, but the Word of God never changes – He doesn’t contradict Himself.
Jason, Thanks for the response. We’re at two different places in faith, and that’s ok. My main focus is not on definitiveness. I’ve seen too many theologians get stuck on how much they know to the point that they are willing to condemn anyone who disagrees with them. I’m not claiming that is you, BTW. A book that might help give insight into where I am would be “Faith after Doubt” by Brian McClaren. Faith for me has truth for sure. And it goes beyond what I can possibly know. My hermeneutics are complicated when it comes to Scripture. I’m often seeking out the grace. Humans are pretty good at the punishment side of the ledger. Maybe once of the other key differences in understanding between us has to do with destination/conclusion versus process. My focus is not on the destination or the conclusions. They will take care of themselves. As you have said, God knows how it all goes. My focus is on the process, the living out of faith. It’s seeing the unfolding of the Kingdom of God here in our midst.
Another thing that might be helpful with this is an understanding of the theological lens that we both come from. While I’m not sure about this, but I suspect that you probably come from a more Evangelical or Fundamentalist lens. I come from a Lutheran lens, with a background in Catholicism. Those are important differences and they cloud our ways of looking at these issues.
Thanks for the book reference, I’ll check it out. Most of my life has been spent in the Lutheran church. At first it was ELCA, but we exchanged it a few years ago for the values of the NALC. I’ll be honest, when this conversion happened I wasn’t as vested in my walk with Christ as I am now. With my recently renewed faith, I started digging deeper & deeper into scripture. I also started comparing the different branches of Lutheran & found glaring differences. So some of my questions & challenges come from those differences. I also felt nudged from the Lord to ask – I don’t know how else to explain that.
Thanks for sharing that. And yes, there are significant differences in theology among the different Lutheran denominations. I spent a year in Finland and studied the church there. While there I learned that there are even more significant differences in Lutheranism there than here due to the revival movements. It ranges far and wide to the point that anywhere else I feel confident that these differences would be different denominations, but they weren’t there. It was quite interesting.
I’m glad you reached out. I think conversation is really important and helpful, especially across different sets of beliefs. I think it helps everyone to see the humanity of others, see our own blindnesses, and more. I appreciate you sharing your perspective with me here. I’m glad you were nudged to ask. Blessings.