I recently celebrated my 50th birthday, which prompted some reflections on Jubilee. Is God’s command to observe a year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25 part of the Levitical law we are meant to practice today? What does it look like for God’s people to recognize this invitation to celebrate the Jubilee on this side of the life of Christ and Pentecost? Even though we no longer live in a theocracy or under an active land covenant, is there still something we can learn from the concept of Jubilee?

I believe God’s intent in the economic laws and guidance found in the Books of the Law was to establish practices that restrained economic injustice and prevented generational poverty among his people. In Deuteronomy 23:19, God prohibits charging interest to a fellow Israelite. Leviticus 6 gives specific instructions on restitution payments by the offender totalling 120% after theft or deceit. Proverbs 20:23 states, “The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.” In the prophetic books, God repeatedly chastises his people for using unjust scales (Amos 8:5; Micah 6:11). Jubilee is part of this broader vision of economic justice.

It is very apparent that God wants to protect people from exploitation and the suffering that happens when an individual or an entire family gets on the wrong end of a bad financial deal. God’s mercy, demonstrated in Jubilee, implores us to reset the system and give equitable opportunities to people for a fresh start. Jubilee seeks the shalom of righteous and just relationships: with God, with other humans, and with creation.

I don’t particularly care to debate economic policies for nation-states. What does concern me deeply is how we, as Christians within the Church, choose to live out our financial practices. It is my conviction that our money ethics should embody the spirit of God’s commands in the Old Testament. How do we pursue shalom through our financial decisions? Can we cultivate an imagination for Jubilee within our church communities—one that overflows into the wider world?

As believers, we are not bound by the conventions of the world’s systems. We do not have to maximize profit according to prevailing market rates. We are not limited by minimum wage standards, nor are we required to settle for the bare minimums set by labor laws for parental leave. Our generosity does not need to stop at the maximum tax-deductible donation allowed by the IRS.

In our own church, recognizing the urgent need for dignified, safe, and affordable housing, we chose to purchase and rehabilitate homes in a disinvested neighborhood. We charge rent on a sliding scale based on residents’ income. Rather than extracting market rates, we are helping people grow their financial capacity and freeing them from the crushing burden of housing costs that once threatened their ability to survive. Similarly, another Christian-founded organization in our city, Black Leaders Detroit, has created a 0% interest loan program for entrepreneurs of African descent, enabling them to build businesses without the weight of predatory interest.

How might you, and your church, dream about using your finances to bring Jubilee and shalom to your community?