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Posted on 10/25/2011 7:52:48 AM PDT by Lexluthor69
Exodus 20:17 “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbor’s.”
No. I am not about to turn my collar around and climb back into my pulpit. If this piece turns out to be a sermon, then – so be it.
The Bible verse above is, in fact, the Tenth Commandment. Those of the Judeo-Christian faith understand covetousness to mean: reprehensible acquisitiveness, excessively and culpably desirous of the possessions of another, or — just plain envious of the possessions of another.
I can think of no better example of human beings trampling on the Tenth Commandment than the current asinine display of covetousness by those protesting Wall Street and America’s financial institutions.
The motley, rag-tag, battalions of socialism are openly LUSTING after the wealth of others, wealth they have not earned – but — through some warped feeling of their own inferiority, expressed by their inability to compete in the marketplace of capitalism, they feel entitled to the wealth of others. It is wealth to which they have no right.
The founding Fathers of America saw this coming and spoke out against it.
Samuel Adams stated: “The utopian schemes of leveling [redistribution of wealth], and a community of goods, are as visionary and impracticable as those that vest all property in the Crown. [These ideas] are arbitrary, despotic, and, in our government, unconstitutional.”
Later, James Madison, author of the Constitution, wrote, “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.”
(Excerpt) Read more at silentmajority09.com ...
Amen! Brother.
Envy is One of the Worst of the seven deadly sins.
Luke 12:15 (KJV)
“And he [Jesus] said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
I know Mormons are not always welcome here at FR, but one of our leaders has said, “covetousness is one of the great afflictions of these latter days. It creates greed and resentment. Often it leads to bondage, heartbreak, and crushing, grinding debt.”
Another has said, “Someone has called this the ‘me’ generation—a selfish time when everyone seems to be asking, what’s in it for me? The worldly aspiration of our day is to get something for nothing. The ancient evil of greed shows its face in the assertion of entitlement: I am entitled to this or that because of who I am—a son or a daughter, a citizen, a victim, or a member of some other group. Entitlement is generally selfish. It demands much, and it gives little or nothing. Its very concept causes us to seek to elevate ourselves above those around us.”
2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
There is only one sin, but envy (a symptom) is pretty close to that root.
American citizens might measure the ideas being discussed today, as outlined in the following piece which can help us to evaluate proposed "solutions" to the current problems.
"1. Does this legislation or idea increase, or decrease, individual freedom and creativity?
"2. Does this legislation or idea increase, or decrease, the power of some citizens over other citizens?
"3. Does this legislation or idea recognize that the persons who will exercise the power are themselves imperfect human beings?
"4. Does this legislation or idea recognize that government is incapable of creating wealth?
"5. Does this legislation or idea authorize taking from some what belongs to them, and giving it to others to whom it does not belong?
If 'thou shalt not steal' is a valid commandment, can we assume that it is meant to apply only to individuals and not to government (which is made up of individuals), even if those persons in power pass laws which sanction such redistribution of the wealth of others?'
"6. Does this legislation or idea encourage, or discourage, the very highest level of morality and responsibility from the individual?
. . .when government makes actions 'legal' by some citizens at the expense of other citizens, the result may be behavior which would not be considered possible by individuals acting alone.
"7. Does this legislation or idea propose that the 'government' do something which the individual cannot do without committing a crime?"**
**7 principles drawn from James R. Evans book, "America's Choice," and reprinted in a Stedman Corporation (Asheboro, NC) booklet entitled "I'm Only One, What Can I Do?"
I sent this EXACT POINT to Rush in an email one day. All of the Liberal’s basis and Marxism/Socialism is in direct disobedience/conflict/opposition with this one Commandment.
All of class warfare is a blatant example of the evil it brings.
For any candidate or Republican to NOT scream this loud and clear is simply avoiding the issue so as to avoid conflict.
ping for l8r
However it is the one that most often leads to the breaking of six, seven, eight and nine but even when it doesn't it is still a killer sin.
It is also misunderstood. To covet is not to want something it is to want to take something that belongs to another so as to deny it to them.
Example: Your neighbor has a new boat. You would like to have a boat.
1.) You work extra hours to earn enough to buy yourself a boat. It may not always be wise but it is not coveting.
2.) You spread rumors that your neighbor is dealing drugs to make the money for the boat. You are stealing his reputation and destroying his pleasure in what he has. That is part what coveting does, it led you into lying and stealing.
3.) You don't actually do anything but you hate that your neighbor has that boat. You nurse that bitter hate. Outward you have done nothing. Inward you have destroyed your own joy and peace. Nice job there buck-o!
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