Pastor's Blog

Introduction and Review In our last lesson, we began to take a look at some commonly misunderstood passages of Scripture as they relate to economics. We began with Acts 2:44-45 and 4:32-37 which tell us that the early believers “had all things in common.” Marxists have seized upon these passages and used them to support their socialist vision of society. To see why they are mistaken, click here . Today, we will look at some passages (again misused by socialists) that deal with the subject of lending at interest. Lending at Interest In a world in which charging interest on loans is taken for granted, it may be a surprise to learn that this was once a widely forbidden practice within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It still is in Islam, although a convenient loophole has been created to get around the prohibition. In both Judaism and Christianity, lending at interest was rarely forbidden by law, and if it was, the law was rarely enforced. It was largely considered a moral rath...

Passages Used to Justify Communism There are several passages of Scripture that are often misunderstood as it relates to economics, including some that are used to justify communism. Perhaps the passage which is used most often in this regard is Acts 2:44-45.   And all who believed were together and had all things in common . And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. Another passage, closely related to this, is Acts 4:32-37. Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.  And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles...

The Scriptural account of the events that took place in Jerusalem nearly two thousand years ago on that original Good Friday presents us with an appalling scene, the most appalling scene the world has ever witnessed or ever will . It’s no wonder that it was cloaked in darkness and no wonder that the earth trembled.   Just a week before, as Jesus made his way triumphantly into Jerusalem, and the people were rejoicing and praising God and saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” “But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples.’ But Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” [1]   In other words, if man should withhold his praise, nature itself would find a way to express its joy!   How often do we read of such things in Scripture, where creation itself reacts or is called to react to what God or men have done? Psalm 44, for ...