It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
(visit the link for the full news article)
The married father-of-two insisted his unusual advice did not break the Bible commandment 'Thou shalt not steal' - because God's love for the poor outweighs his love for the rich.
'I would ask that they do not steal from small family businesses, but from large national businesses...
"If all the world's wealth was distributed evenly, each person would have $20,500 of assets to use-destroying the economy and causing a huge spike in sales of useless consumer items. Six months later, the world's richest 2% would again own 50% of the world's wealth and the bottom 50% would again be victims of 'inequality.'"
"...do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Originally posted by pause4thought
If people steal how can they then criticise the corporations this man is railing against? Many people with no faith have a higher moral code than this man: 'never steal'.
Originally posted by pause4thought
He is doubtless happy to grab the headlines with his radical statement. The authentic Christian message, however, is 'It is more blessed to give than receive' - and that's what he ought to be encouraging. Few if any of his congregation would find themselves unable to give more to help others less fortunate than themselves. In the long run everyone benefits from that approach.
Originally posted by pause4thought
He could've also said something about prayer, and faith in Christ, who said:
"...do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
(Gospel of Matthew 6:31-33)
But hey, it's not hip to say that any more...
Originally posted by fraterormus
Another thought I had about this, and why I don't think it was recklessness on part of the Priest for telling his congregation such is this:
Substitute the word "Steal" with "Kill".
The Bible says, quite specifically, "Thou Shalt NOT Kill", yet it also says that it is okay to kill your own child if God tells you to, or that it's okay to kill every man, woman and child if they are an enemy of your religion, or to kill when making a sacrifice to God, or to kill a witch/poisoner. Apparently the Decalogue isn't absolute when it comes to "Thou Shalt Not Kill" so it would reason that it isn't absolute about "Thou Shalt Not Steal" either.
Besides, even the Laws of Men show that there are times when it is acceptable to Kill without legal recourse against you. It is perfectly legal to kill another during War, or in Self-Defense, or when acting on behalf of the societal whole in carrying out Capital Punishment. It is almost a guaranteed acquittal if you kill your abuser, or are pregnant (temporary insanity due to hormonal imbalance). Even the Laws of Men aren't absolute on Killing, why would they be absolute on Stealing?
One is reminded of Ecclesiastes 3..."To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...". If you are destitute with no where to turn for help, and you are starving, then perhaps it is the time and season to steal.
The commandment "thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17), is better understood to mean "you shall not murder." Most modern translations of the Bible rendered it this way.
According to the Bible not all killing, the taking of a life, is murder. Murder is the unlawfully taking of human life. The command not to murder applies to human beings, not to killing animals or plant life for food. God gave animals to mankind for his use (Genesis 1:26-30; 9:1-4). But, this does not mean that humans have the right mistreat animals and the environment (Genesis 2:15; Deuteronomy 22:6-7; 25:4; Proverbs 12:10).
Under the Old Covenant God allowed the Israelites to kill other humans under very special circumstances such as punishment for certain sins, for example, murder (Exodus 21:12-14, Leviticus 24:17, 21) and adultery (Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22-24). God also allowed the Israelites to engage in warfare and even gave them instructions about waging war (Deuteronomy 20:1-20). God also recognized that humans might accidentally kill each other, and he made provisions for this (Numbers 35:9-34; Deuteronomy 19:1-13).
The primary reason God hates murder is that out of all creation, only human are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:4-6). Even before the codification of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai the murder of other human beings was wrong (Genesis 4:8-12; 4:23-24; 9:4-6; Exodus 1:16-17). While on earth, Jesus spoke out against murder (Matthew 5:21-26; Mark 10:17-19). We also see in the writings of Paul (Romans 1:18, 29-32; 13:8-10; Galatians 5:19-21), James (James 2:8-11; 4:1-3), Peter (1 Peter 4:15-16) and John (Revelation 9:20-21; 21:7-8; 22:14-15) that murder is wrong.
. . .
Well saying "people should give more" doesn't in any way mean they will. Ideally, yes, but in practice, not gonna happen.
Well, if food doesn't start falling out of the sky, stealing it and not getting caught could then be argued as an act blessed by God, since the opportunity to do so was provided.
Miss Kelly, 47, ate at free buffets, shopped at jumble sales and scavenged food discarded by grocery stores and restaurants
She picked fruit from bushes and trees and collected £117 in loose change dropped in the street - a third of her annual budget.
She even managed a free trip to France by hitchhiking through the Channel Tunnel.
She ditched her mobile phone and cycled to friends' houses if she wanted to speak to them, leaving a note if they were out.
She used the library for free internet access and developed a taste for mince pies - which she would stockpile at Christmas when they are given away at stores.
Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.
He continued: 'My advice does not contradict the Bible's eighth commandment because God's love for the poor and despised outweighs the property rights of the rich.