Was Jesus Capitalist or Communist? Acts 2:44-45, Leviticus 25

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The answer is neither. Economics is all over the Bible, but modern labels have so much historical and cultural meaning that it is dishonest to label anyone in scripture as capitalist or socialist or communist. Instead, we must talk about commerce and the common good. The Bible has a lot to say about fair measures and honest business dealings. It condemns cheating and repression unequivocally. But it also has many passages about social structure and how things must be shared. The ancient practice of gleaning, the Jubilee year, charity to the poor, the tithe, selling goods and sharing are all biblical. When people use the bible to uphold unbridled capitalism, it is a perversion of the gospel. When people use the bible for centralized control and distribution is a perversion of fairness and equity. There has always been a balance. I discuss the bad uses of Marxist and capitalist labels. I discuss how the efficiency of modern economics is what drives goodness for all when applied fairly. I discuss the difference between usury and exploitation and modern interest and credit as prime example of how the Bible shouldn't be taken literally and that the underlying faithfulness, compassion, and fairness need to be highlighted instead. 

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