These past few months I've begun to understand economics and politics, two things I never thought I'd grasp. They always seemed so mentally far fetched from where I was at, that I left them up to my 'smart' friends who studied International Communications and Business. Though my classes this year have challenged me to ask the big questions (like was killing Osama justice?) I kept to subjects like Psychology of Peace and Conflict In South East Asia. When I chose Rethinking Poverty, I had no idea I'd understand 'austerity measures' and 'neoliberalism' so in depth, let alone be applying them to my own thinking.
Today I'm in lock down, preparing for my lecture on Tuesday. Speaking about Justice and the Church, it is only appropriate to apply Biblical principles and Jesus' teachings. The more I learn, and the more I'm understanding the world, the greater appreciation I have for GOD's way of life. He really did know what He was doing didn't He?
Shane Claiborne puts it so well when he says that if Jesus campaigned for president, His slogan would've been JUBLIEE! He was all about it. GOD economy is way better than America's (not hard right now). The Sabbath were put in place so the Hebrew's wouldn't develop an exploitative economy. No one got too rich or too poor. Those in need gleaned the fields for leftovers and the widows and orphans were taken care of. But the best part was the year of Jubilee. Every 7 years the Jewish people would take a year off working the land. Food was free and any debt incurred was erased! Now that's the kind of society I'd like to live in!
Can you imagine if every 7 years debts were erased and we shared food. For those 7 years we were working, there would be a sense of reward and rest waiting at the end. What's more, it would be apart of our culture to make sure those starving got something to fill their bellies! The best part is that every 50 years (7 times 7) they had the Jubilee of Jubilee, where GOD restructured the community, reminding the Jews that all property and land belonged to Him and to never return to slavery. This dismantled the social economic inequality of the community. I'm sure America and Greece would welcome some Jubilee love at the moment as well! Trillion is a lot of zero's to add to any number!
Solutions begin with asking questions. Revolutions begin with recognising a problem.
He knew what He was doing when He made the world and gave us the Law. Jesus replaced the law with Grace. It became personal. Our own personal economic system of Jubilee.
This is why I buy fair trade. Why I believe in dismantling capitalist systems that enslave children. Why I believe war is inhumane. We were created for equality.
Today I'm in lock down, preparing for my lecture on Tuesday. Speaking about Justice and the Church, it is only appropriate to apply Biblical principles and Jesus' teachings. The more I learn, and the more I'm understanding the world, the greater appreciation I have for GOD's way of life. He really did know what He was doing didn't He?
Shane Claiborne puts it so well when he says that if Jesus campaigned for president, His slogan would've been JUBLIEE! He was all about it. GOD economy is way better than America's (not hard right now). The Sabbath were put in place so the Hebrew's wouldn't develop an exploitative economy. No one got too rich or too poor. Those in need gleaned the fields for leftovers and the widows and orphans were taken care of. But the best part was the year of Jubilee. Every 7 years the Jewish people would take a year off working the land. Food was free and any debt incurred was erased! Now that's the kind of society I'd like to live in!
Can you imagine if every 7 years debts were erased and we shared food. For those 7 years we were working, there would be a sense of reward and rest waiting at the end. What's more, it would be apart of our culture to make sure those starving got something to fill their bellies! The best part is that every 50 years (7 times 7) they had the Jubilee of Jubilee, where GOD restructured the community, reminding the Jews that all property and land belonged to Him and to never return to slavery. This dismantled the social economic inequality of the community. I'm sure America and Greece would welcome some Jubilee love at the moment as well! Trillion is a lot of zero's to add to any number!
Solutions begin with asking questions. Revolutions begin with recognising a problem.
He knew what He was doing when He made the world and gave us the Law. Jesus replaced the law with Grace. It became personal. Our own personal economic system of Jubilee.
This is why I buy fair trade. Why I believe in dismantling capitalist systems that enslave children. Why I believe war is inhumane. We were created for equality.
