Just lend the money to a Jew … Medieval European finances were basically built on this premise.
Christians could charge usury with Jews and Jews could charge usury to Christians because neither group could charge their own people according to the Bible.
So you are Christian and you want to charge usury to your fellow Christian brother Bob? Give the money to your Jewish friend Larry and charge a fee. Larry then gives the money to Christian Bob and charges the same fee. Jewish Larry charges a slightly higher fee to make it worth their while.
Bob pays Larry, Larry pays you, none of you broke God’s laws and sky guy is happy and gets your place in heaven ready for you.
Must be based on the very last on this list, which says:
You may charge a foreigner interest, but you may not charge your brother interest, that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
Of course, the others on the list are more definite and contradictory, but this one exists! You can’t get mad at me God, it’s in your book!
Easy
Just lend the money to a Jew … Medieval European finances were basically built on this premise.
Christians could charge usury with Jews and Jews could charge usury to Christians because neither group could charge their own people according to the Bible.
So you are Christian and you want to charge usury to your fellow Christian brother Bob? Give the money to your Jewish friend Larry and charge a fee. Larry then gives the money to Christian Bob and charges the same fee. Jewish Larry charges a slightly higher fee to make it worth their while.
Bob pays Larry, Larry pays you, none of you broke God’s laws and sky guy is happy and gets your place in heaven ready for you.
And this is how God made middle men.
Also … believers in fairy tale religions convincing themselves that they could out smart the all knowing, all capable God they believed in.
Must be based on the very last on this list, which says:
Of course, the others on the list are more definite and contradictory, but this one exists! You can’t get mad at me God, it’s in your book!