This paper examines ownership of land, restoration of houses, interest free loan and emancipation of slaves in Chapter 25 of Leviticus focused on modern meaning of Christian social welfare shown in Jubilee year of the Old Testament.
Important meaning of Jubilee year shown in chapter 25 of Leviticus is based on political, economical and social aspects rather than religious one. This is humanitarian, includes meaning of guarantee of human fundamental rights and economic emancipation, and can be understood as part of the fulfillment of Christian social welfare which is represented by human dignity, quality of life and income redistribution.
Christian social welfare, through its fundamental spirit of loving one"s neighbor, service and devotion, means a systematic effort and value system to regain the lost image of God by alleviating quantitatively and qualitatively material, physical and mental sufferings
of people living in poor plight, and by improving the quality of their life and their difficulty of daily life, and by practicing biblical justice.
Modern meanings of Christian social welfare through Jubilee law are as follows.
First, Jubilee law is humanitarian law to realize an egalitarian society.
It is associated with the ideas of Christian social welfare which enable all people who have the basic right to persue their happiness to enjoy a life worthy of human beings. Especially, it is related to the right to work and to pursue happiness in accordance with the Article 31~34 of the Constitution.
Second, Jubilee law can be summarized as a matter of social justice.
An interpretation of social welfare in modern sense is not to discriminate based on sex, religion and social class against poor neighbors in need who live in a blind spot of our society such as migrant workers, North Korean migrants, women"s shelter, elderly people living alone, children head of household, homeless, etc.
The fulfillment of the words saying “in as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me(Matthew 25:40)" is the first step for practice of Christian social welfare as well as current ethical reaction. Based on this examination, it can be concluded that modern meaning of Christian social welfare of Jubilee year is a life of serving and sharing to expect a complete recovery of Christian social welfare and this life is just the way to realize the realm of God on this land.