Many in the modern church dismiss usury as an non-issue that is only spoken about for theological exercise. They think it is merely a concern of the Old Testament Law. However, usury is something that affects the whole world today. That the costs of living increase, many are paying of debts for years and that poverty is rising in the poorer nations is either directly or indirectly a result of the usurious banking system of the modern world.
Usury is something that is very much alive today, if not even more so. The Christian should be assessing everything through Biblical lens, as opposed to earthly lens. So the question that arises is what does the Bible say about usury? That is the question the Christian should ask, not what does the government think or what do the banks think. To ask what the banks think about usury is to ask a redundant question which answer would be obvious.
The New Testament does not speak explicitly about usury. However, neither does it speak explicitly about gambling. However, the prophets of the Old Testament describe what usury is, that is, God describes what usury is for the Bible is the Word of God: Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him (Ezekiel 18:13). Usury is described as an abomination! This is how God sees usury.
God is always the same and He never changes. The prohibition on usury is not one concerning sacrifices for sins which are no longer needed for Jesus Christ has made the full sacrifice (Hebrews 9:28). Thus, that we now live under the New Covenant is not a grounds for arguing against the applicability of the Moral Law of God regarding usury.
The real issue is whether taking usury is against the Moral Law of God, not whether it is an Old Testament Law or not. Usury is that which involves being covetous. Usury cannot be separated from covetousness, which is a violation of the 10th Commandment.
Thus, usury is a sin, as it was in the past, and will forever be a sin. It is covetousness.
Usury is something that is very much alive today, if not even more so. The Christian should be assessing everything through Biblical lens, as opposed to earthly lens. So the question that arises is what does the Bible say about usury? That is the question the Christian should ask, not what does the government think or what do the banks think. To ask what the banks think about usury is to ask a redundant question which answer would be obvious.
The New Testament does not speak explicitly about usury. However, neither does it speak explicitly about gambling. However, the prophets of the Old Testament describe what usury is, that is, God describes what usury is for the Bible is the Word of God: Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him (Ezekiel 18:13). Usury is described as an abomination! This is how God sees usury.
God is always the same and He never changes. The prohibition on usury is not one concerning sacrifices for sins which are no longer needed for Jesus Christ has made the full sacrifice (Hebrews 9:28). Thus, that we now live under the New Covenant is not a grounds for arguing against the applicability of the Moral Law of God regarding usury.
The real issue is whether taking usury is against the Moral Law of God, not whether it is an Old Testament Law or not. Usury is that which involves being covetous. Usury cannot be separated from covetousness, which is a violation of the 10th Commandment.
Thus, usury is a sin, as it was in the past, and will forever be a sin. It is covetousness.
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