You know, I hate keys.
What I really hate are not the keys themselves, but the need to have them and the need to often carry them. And sometimes, in some situations actually using them.
Can you imagine a world in which you never have to worry about anyone stealing anything from you, your family, your business, etc.? A world where no one tries to cheat you?
A world where you don't need keys?
That is how the world should be. And we will see that in God's kingdom.
We could see that now if people would obey the eighth commandment. Which, from the Book of Exodus, states:
15 “You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15, NKJV throughout unless otherwise noted)
Despite knowing of this command, the Anglo-American nations are being damaged by a lot of stealing.
The world is not the type of place it should be.
Here is a link to a related sermon: 8th Commandment: Do Not Steal or Cheat, Instead Produce and Give.
We are seeing rising rates of theft in parts of the world.
Notice the following about Australia:
Rising Supermarket Thefts: A Symptom Of Deeper Moral Decline
August 28, 2023
Stealing deprives the right to property that does not belong to the thief.
It’s a pretty easy concept. In a civil society, people don’t steal from each other.
This begs the question of how civilised Australia is given the alarming and chilling statistics from our major supermarkets showing theft or "stock loss" is exploding.
Both of Australia’s major grocery retailers have detailed the big hit they are taking from those in the community who believe they have a right to steal products.
Woolworths and Coles, along with other smaller businesses, are suffering at the hands of shoplifters. They all report that the thefts have diminished their potential profits.
The reasons for this increase in theft are, as it is with most things, multi-faceted.
Cost of living, reluctance to prosecute, and self-service booths enhancing temptation are some of the factors that spring to mind along with lower staffing levels.
Coles reported a 20 percent increase in “stock loss.” Disturbingly, Coles pointed to organised crime, especially in the non-food areas of their retailing empire.
To combat the trend of thieving, retailers are installing more CCTV circuitry and scanning mechanisms. Others are requiring people exiting self-serve areas to display their receipts for a quick appraisal.
Virtues Are the Greatest Crime Stopper
In all the discussions about the increased stealing and countermeasures to combat the epidemic, very little has been mentioned about the moral well-being of Australian society.
There can be no doubt that the increase in shoplifting is a symptom of a much deeper malaise that resides in the souls of the population.
Where there is no sense of a transcendental aspect to life, hedonism, and “me first” prevail—to the detriment of fellow citizens.
Stock theft from supermarkets is a crime. It deprives the owners of their property. It also results in higher prices for fellow Australians and businesses try to claim back the losses.
A well-honed conscience would find such behaviour disturbing and rightly so.
The failure to teach and promote the virtues of honesty among other virtues, seeps through into everyday behaviour in societal interactions.
Hedonistic materialism dulls the senses to what might be right or wrong informed by an authority greater than immediate gratification. The determinant of a person’s moral conduct is rooted in their belief system.
The threat of being caught and punished is a deterrent. But if that threat is not present at a particular time the deterrence loses its impact and behaviour is not modified.
However, having an ingrained belief system guiding ethical and social behaviour including respect for private property will constantly guide behaviour irrespective of a CCTV presence or the checking of receipts.
While stealing has always been with us in society, the prevalence of it may be an expression of our education system and society generally discounting the importance of religious education and guidance for our young in particular.
Without their constant teaching, moral values become less sustainable. Those broad societal ethics will not be preserved unless they are continually taught.
The Melbourne Declaration stressed the importance of the spiritual development of young Australians in ensuring the nation’s ongoing prosperity and social cohesion.
Society ignores these matters at its peril.
Our supermarket bosses might reflect and consider allocating shareholders’ monies (for that is what it is) to wholesome causes promoting societal virtues rather than woke and divisive causes like “The Voice.” It will keep the costs of doing business down and returns to shareholders up while avoiding consumer boycotts. https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/rising-supermarket-thefts-symptom-deeper-moral-decline
Here is two reports about the UK:
August 2023
The number of pickpocket thefts on the London Underground has more than doubled since 2021 with the city’s Central line being the worst hit of the entire system.
New data from the British Transport Police shows that pickpockets throughout the Underground reached a record high of 7899 in 2022. And on the Central line alone, there were more than 1200 such incidents last year. The Northern line ranked second, with more than 1100 thefts, according to British Transport Police.
These figures, which come as London ramps up tourism campaigns, are higher than pre-pandemic levels of train-related theft. Some 50% of these incidents are committed on trains, while about 23% take place on train station platforms and 7% at station entrances and exits.
It’s also worth noting that Fridays are the most common day for offences to occur and oddly enough, thefts are least likely on Thursdays. https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/132808854/heading-to-london-mind-the-gap-and-mind-your-wallet-as-pickpocket-thefts-on-underground-soar
29 August 2023
Police must investigate every theft and follow all reasonable leads to catch offenders, the home secretary has said.
Suella Braverman said it was "completely unacceptable" that criminals are often "effectively free to break certain laws".
She wants officers to use evidence from smart doorbells and dashcams to solve more lower-level crimes.
But the Police Federation of England and Wales said forces are already "stretched beyond human limits".
There are also concerns the approach may take resources away from high-harm crimes such as rape and sexual assault.
And Labour branded it a "staggering admission of 13 years of Tory failure on policing and crime".
Data shows that, in the year to March, just 4.4% of all theft offences resulted in someone being charged.
She said she had come across "far too many complaints" from people who had things stolen and "calling up the police only to be given a crime reference number for insurance purposes".
Home Office figures show that, of all theft cases closed in the year to March 2023, the proportion closed because no suspect had been identified was 73.7%, the highest rate for any category of crime.
In the same year, only 3.9% of residential burglaries resulted in someone being charged. The equivalent figure for vehicle theft was 1.8%, while for thefts from the person it was just 0.9%. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66636347
The Bible warns:
11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)
Here is a report out of Canada:
TORONTO, Feb. 6, 2024 /CNW/ - Équité Association has released its 2023 Auto Theft Trend Report, which illustrates the continuation of the national auto theft crisis, following a historically high year in 2022. The full report can be found here.
In Canada, a vehicle is now stolen every 5 minutes.
Between 2021-2023 auto theft trends increased sharply in Ontario (up 48.2%), Quebec (up 57.9%), Atlantic Canada (up 34%), and in Western Canada (up 5.5%).
"These trends show that the national auto theft crisis is continuing," says Terri O'Brien, President and CEO of Équité Association. "Canadians are feeling vulnerable and the majority of us are especially concerned about personal safety and the safety of our communities. Criminals are becoming more brazen and are increasingly resorting to violence as witnessed by the significant increase in carjackings and owner-interrupted thefts."
Auto theft in Canada continues to be viewed as a low-risk/high-reward opportunity for criminals, regardless if the vehicles are for export or domestic resale. Illegal profit margins are very high and the risk of prosecution is considerably low. However, there has been a concerted effort recently to change that landscape. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/equite-association-s-2023-auto-theft-trend-report-shows-a-continuation-of-canada-s-auto-theft-crisis-817064422.html#:~:text=In%20Canada%2C%20a%20vehicle%20is,Western%20Canada%20(up%205.5%25).
In the USA in 2023, about a million cars were stolen.
Now here is something from thievery in New Zealand:
August 24, 2023
Police are warning that “opportunity thieves” are following courier drivers after a beauty business owner had $3000 of stock stolen from her doorstep shortly after delivery.
Pāpāmoa-based founder of Peachy Lip Co Niki Creasy says she is also out $2000 in freight costs and $2500 for security measures she took after the theft and may face further losses.
She says she believes the thief may have been following the delivery van, while the courier company says none of its franchisees have reported this happening. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/papamoa-porch-pirates-police-warn-of-thieves-following-couriers-after-5k-delivery-stolen/HVEU7E2VOFE6RKN72UCO4SDO4M/
As the British-descended societies more and more despise the word of God, they are having increased problems with stealing.
And the USA?
Retail theft is up bigtime across the United States – but not necessarily in the places you might think.
According to a new report from the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ), Los Angeles and Dallas saw the largest increases in retail theft during the first half of both 2022 and 2023.
Retail theft in Los Angeles was up 109 percent during these timeframes while Dallas saw a whopping 73 percent increase in shoplifting. ...
Across America as a whole, the median value of goods stolen during these time periods increased between 2019 and 2021, likely due to inflation. In 2019, the average shoplifting incident resulted in a loss of $75, while in 2021 it reached $100.
"Looking at 90 percent of incidents and excluding those in the top 10% in terms of value, the value of stolen goods in shoplifting incidents in 2021 was $756 or less, a $184 increase from 2019," CCJ reports.
As for more serious shoplifting incidents that count as felonies, these nearly doubled from the onset of the "pandemic" through now from eight percent to 16 percent.
More than 95 percent of shoplifting incidents in 2019, 2020 and 2021 across America involved one or two people, while 0.1 percent, or one out of every 1,000 incidents, involved more than six people. https://www.naturalnews.com/2023-11-17-dallas-la-largest-increases-shoplifting-collapse.html
Massive Teen Hordes Swarm Two California Malls - Beatings, Gunfire, Stabbing Ensue
August 30. 2023
Leisurely shoppers at two different California malls suddenly found themselves amid disturbing frenzies of teenage antisocial behavior on Sunday afternoon. At each of the malls, the mayhem carried on for hours, with a series of brawls and other disturbances culminating in gunfire and a stabbing as overwhelmed security guards and local police summoned reinforcements from nearby jurisdictions.
First, we take you to the "Del Amo Fashion Center" in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance. According to the police and the Los Angeles Times, a staggering one thousand juveniles descended on the mall and proceeded to savage each other. ...
A shot was fired in Torrance but didn't hit anyone. The same happened on Sunday at the East Bay Mall in Emeryville, a city wedged between Oakland and Berkeley. There, the trouble started around 4:30 pm with a pack of 50 teens creating an unspecified disturbance at one of the businesses at the mall. ...
East Oakland Youth Development Center CEO Selena Wilson told ABC7. "I think kids were gathering to get a lot of energy out and I think there is a lot of pent up rage, anger, frustration and anxiety that kind of creates this powder keg that is easy to ignite."
Wilson attributes the antisocial behavior to a variety of factors. Allow ZeroHedge to list her factors in order, from credible to preposterous. They are: forced isolation during the Covid lockdowns (absolutely); a housing crisis (um...maybe?); political divisions (LOL...among these teens?); and climate change (ROFLCOPTER).
Conspicuously absent from Wilson's list: fatherless households and lax policing. She says parents and caregivers need "additional resources" to manage the burgeoning "mental and social health crisis." Upon learning that many of the hoodlums in the Emeryville riot were from its student population, the Oakland Unified School District messaged parents, urging them to talk to their kids about how to peacefully resolve conflicts.
Informed people are increasingly wary of venturing into public venues where teens are likely to convene. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/watch-hordes-teens-swarm-california-malls-shooting-and-stabbing-ensue
New York Loses $12 Million Per Day Due to Shoplifting
November 28, 2023
Theft in NY has increased by 64% over the past four years.
Recent data suggests that New York as a whole lost $4.4 billion in 2022 due to organized retail theft. This is not limited to NYC. Places like Syracuse reported a 55% rise in shoplifting over the past two years. “That number is likely higher because businesses often don’t report it — but they do continue to express concerns,” Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile said. One pharmacy in Syracuse lost a quarter-million alone due to theft. Store owners have been seriously assaulted or killed. Yet, Hochul believes there should be harsher penalties for the unvaccinated than for criminals.
So thieves are stealing over $12 million daily from New York retailers. https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/international-news/politics/ny-loses-billions-due-to-shoplifting/
New York (64%) and Los Angeles (61%) had the largest increases in reported shoplifting among the study cities from mid-year 2019 to mid-year 2023. ... Comparing the most recent trends, from the first halves of 2022 and 2023, Los Angeles (109%) and Dallas (73%) experienced the largest increases among the study cities; ... The proportion of reported shoplifting incidents that involved an assault or other crime rose 9% from 2019 to 2021 but constitutes a small share (less than 2%) of overall shoplifting events. https://counciloncj.org/shoplifting-trends-what-you-need-to-know/
February 7, 2024
Los Angeles County leads the nation in the number of homeless, and the city of Los Angeles is No. 1 in organized smash and grab robberies. Crime has become substantially worse on average in the last three years under Mr. Gascón, including vehicle thefts, homicides, and armed robberies. Homicides hit a 15-year high in 2022. Burglaries were so prevalent that year that the police issued an “Area Safety Bulletin” about “violent street robberies.” The bulletin warned of a rash of robberies whereby residents were targeted based upon their cars as well as expensive watches, jewelry, and purses. ... If we have not personally experienced crime, we know someone who has. For me, it is a friend recently robbed at gunpoint at a 7-11 in West L.A. They took his wallet and watch while slashing his arm with a knife.
Retail stores on Santa Monica’s famous “Promenade” have closed due to shoplifting and smash and grabs. L.A. gangs have turned from selling drugs to organized theft of homes, stores and trains. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/la-times-tells-angelenos-theyre-wrong-about-crime-everything-fine
The Bible warns:
2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; (Exodus 23:2)
Shoplifting is up in certain USA cities:
Why might that be?
New Yorkers may find the following of interest:
February 2, 2024
CNN law enforcement analyst John Miller discusses a new criminal trend where gangs of migrants steal in states like New York where they can avoid prosecution for petty crime and then flee to states like Florida "to spend the money." ...
So what the detectives are telling me is, they have crews here that operate in New York, do all their stealing, then go to Florida to spend the money and come back. I’m like, 'Why don’t they just stay and steal in Florida?' They said, 'Because there you go to jail.'" https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2024/02/02/cnns_john_miller_to_avoid_prosecution_migrant_criminal_gangs_steal_in_new_york_spend_in_florida.html#:~:text=CNN%20law%20enforcement%20analyst%20John,%22to%20spend%20the%20money.%22
The above also brought the following scripture to mind:
11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (Eccesliastes 8:11)
Various US states--like California and parts of New York--have decided against strongly prosecuting thieves, hence in many places we are seeing more and more of them.
That said, notice that Jesus strongly condemned thieves:
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
We are not to steal. Notice that Jesus came to be the opposite of thieves--He came to give--and He gave all He could for us.
When someone cons or cheats someone, that too is stealing.
The Bible teaches:
13 You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. (Leviticus 19:13)
Notice also:
22 Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court. (Proverbs 22:22, NLT)
The above seems to imply not cheating someone because you think you can get away with it. In the legal system of some countries, sadly they work often can against the poor.
Related to cheating, the old WCG published the following:
So today you expect to be cheated. That's why you try to be careful of peddlers, con men, "bargains," and "sales prices" in your shopping choices. That's why you try to protect yourself wherever possible by checking labels, sizes, and manufacturers' guarantees.
But in spite of all your precautions — you're still being cheated, stolen from, and possibly robbed and assaulted from time to time.
After a while, it's only natural that social callousness are built to keep us comparatively unruffled in our societies of the double standard — imperturbable as we paw through our collection of licenses, identification, keys and insurance cards we must carry.
You probably should EXPECT to be cheated — in our world. ...And why do they cheat?
Businesses Expect to Be Cheated!
They cheat because they fully expect to be cheated! Every manager of every supermarket knows he can discount a fair percentage of his year's profits as shoplifting, pilferage, accidental or wanton destruction of perishables, damaged cans and bottles, stolen or "borrowed" shopping carts, or a chance of a once-in-a-while robbery!
While the checker smiles as he rings up the totals, he's also wondering if you have any goods concealed in your clothing. When he asks for your credit number for that particular store before accepting your personal check, or demands a driver's license for identification — he's doing so because he has ended up holding a considerable number of bad checks — written by those who also live on the philosophy it's fair to cheat. *Armstrong GT. BUT IS THIS WORLD SICK! Plain Truth, December 1968)
Misrepresentation in advertising, etc. is also cheating. Then there are all kinds of scams on the internet these days where people pretend or assert various thiings in order to cheat people of their money.
Merchants who use dishonest scales are also stealing. The BIble says:
Your scales and weights must be accurate. Your containers for measuring dry materials or liquids must be accurate. (Leviticus 19:36, NLT)
1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight. (Proverbs 11:1)
11 Shall I count pure those with the wicked scales, And with the bag of deceitful weights? (Micah 6:11)
There is also massive academic cheating:
Research into cheating at the college and university began in 1990 by Dr. Donald McCabe, one of the founders of ICAI. This research continues today, spearheaded by ICAI and its members.
McCabe’s original research and subsequent follow-up studies show that more than 60 percent of university students freely admit to cheating in some form. ...
Cheating in High School
McCabe also conducted surveys of over 70,000 high school students at over 24 high schools in the United States. This work demonstrated that 64 percent of students admitted to cheating on a test, 58 percent admitted to plagiarism and 95 percent said they participated in some form of cheating, whether it was on a test, plagiarism or copying homework. accessed 02/07/24 https://academicintegrity.org/resources/facts-and-statistics
Academic cheating means that people who become leaders often have a history of cheating. This also suggests that they may not be academically qualified to lead or hold their positions. This is terrible for society.
And then there are also those who "cheat" on their spouses and rob their marriages. This is also a horrid form of stealing. According to the American Psychological Association, infidelity in the United States is responsible for 20% to 40% of divorces.
The Bible warns that false religious leaders steal God's words:
29“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? 30“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who steal My words every one from his neighbor. 31Behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’ (Jeremiah 23:29-31)
Yes, this has been going on for a very long time.
Although the Protestant ReformernMartin Luther stated that he looked upon the Bible "as if God Himself spoke therein" he also stated,
My word is the word of Christ; my mouth is the mouth of Christ" (O'Hare PF. The Facts About Luther, 1916--1987 reprint ed., pp. 203-204).
[Specifically, what Martin Luther wrote in German was ""Ich bin sehr gewiss, dass mein Wort nitt mein, sondern Christus Wort sei, so muss mein Mund auch des sein, des Wort er redet" (Luther, 682) - also translated as "I am confident that it is not my word, but Christ's word, so my mouth is His who utters the words"(God's words - the violence of representation. Universitatea din Bucuresti, 2002. http://www.unibuc.ro/eBooks/filologie/meanings/1.htm, September 25, 2003).]
The Bible condemns those words of Martin Luther. His word was not the word of Christ. We have called Martin Luther and his followers out on this and other false doctrines they claim are from teh word of God.
The Apostle Peter wrote:
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (2 Peter 2:1-3)
Because of the hypocrisy of false religious leaders, including many of them promoting military war fare, they have caused the way of truth to be stolen and blashphemed by many Gentiles.
Isaiah wrote to:
1 Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)
We have books and articles calling false relgious leaders out, such as follows:
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences. These sermons also cover materials not in the book. As far as some changes affecting Protestantism, watch the video Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware! [Português: Esperança do salvação: Como a igreja do deus difere da maioria de protestantes]. Notice also the video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video sermon of related interest is: Will the Interfaith Movement lead to World War III? and three video sermonette are also available: Pope Francis signs ‘one world religion’ document! and The Chrislam Cross and the Interfaith Movement and Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
Freemasonry and the Destruction of Rome? What is Freemasonry? What about ties to the Illuminati? Could Freemasons be involved in the fulfillment of prophecy? Here is a link to a related sermon: Freemasonry, Armageddon, and Rome.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are? Here is a link to a related sermon: Eastern Orthodox 40+ Similar Beliefs to the CCOG.
Similarities and Differences Between the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to represent the original Christian faith. Do you know much about them? Both groups have some interesting similarities, but many major differences. Would you like Christian answers for Jehovah's Witnesses to give information on how to deal with Jehovah's Witnesses? A related sermon is also available: Jehovah's Witnesses: Right and Wrong Teachings?
Messianic Judaism Beliefs Differ from the Continuing Church of God Both groups keep the seventh-day Sabbath, but have important differences in doctrines and practices. Here is a link to a related sermon: Messianic Judaism beliefs.
SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The genuine Church of God is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White. Did Ellen White make prophetic errors? Did Ellen White make false prophecies? Here is a version in the Spanish language: SDA/COG Diferencias: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666. Here are two sermons in the English language: Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG? and CCOG and SDA differences and similarities. Here is a link to an article in the Spanish language: Diferencias: SDA/CCOG: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666.
Seventh Day Baptists are Protestant, not Church of God This article explains reasons why Baptists, include seventh day ones (SDBs) do not have the historical and doctrinal ties to the original church that many have claimed. Here are two related sermons in the English language: Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG? and Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History.
Teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and the Continuing Church of God The genuine Church of God is not related to the Mormons and this article explains some differences and a couple of similarities. Also, might certain LDS prophecies apply to Mitt Romney? A sermon of related interest is available: Mormon vs. Church of God Teachings.
Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities? A video of related interest is titled: Islam: Any Christian Concerns or Similarities? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Naciones Musulmanas en la profecía Bíblica.
Don't you be one who tries to steal the Lord's words and misuse them.
Notice a last days prophecy:
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-6)
Notice the following causes:
10 As it is written:
"There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one."
13 "Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit";
"The poison of asps is under their lips";
14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known."
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:10-18)12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel:
"Because you despise this word,
And trust in oppression and perversity,
And rely on them,
13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you
Like a breach ready to fall,
A bulge in a high wall,
Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant. (Isaiah 30:12-13)
Yes, the lack of fear of God and despising His word are the causes for what has been happening.
Notice also the following:
September 12, 2023
As the whole world adjusts to the post-pandemic world, retailers face difficulties amid shrinking inventories due to the prevalence of crime and violence, including theft, shoplifting, and other fraudulent activities. ...
The said business challenges in more populous or urban areas are also the reason why two Atlanta-based Walmart locations (Howell Mill Road and Vine City) closed. However, recently Walmart announced plans to reopen one of the branches but this time, with major upgrades and distinctive features. While the Howell Mill Road branch is to remain permanently closed, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the former Vine City Supercenter will reopen with a pharmacy, grocery store, and police station.
Theft has gotten so bad in the area that the retail giant resorted to this measure. The said store is set to open in May of 2024, following a nearly year-long closure after the shoplifters reportedly set the building on fire to distract from their thieving. When it reopens, the store will be a Neighborhood Market, which is typically one-fifth the size of a Supercenter." After talking with the Merchants Association on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Clark University and other people in the neighborhood, folks were saying they want to see more police presence, Dickens said.
Having a police substation in a Walmart branch is a first, but officials believe an increased police presence will help to prevent in-store crime to make shoppers feel safer. The substation will also feature a place for police to charge their phones and body cameras, as well as have meetings and file documents. Dickens added that he hopes the police station will help Walmart leadership feel confident that inventory shrinkage won't be as pervasive of an issue and hopefully prevent them from leaving, as was the case in Chicago. ...
Halfway through 2023, 22 Walmart stores had closed as of June. Four of those stores were in Chicago alone (eight were in Illinois). "These stores lose tens of millions of dollars a year, and their annual losses nearly doubled in just the last five years," Walmart wrote in a press release following the Chicago closures, adding, "We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the city...It was hoped that these investments would help improve our stores' performance. Unfortunately, these efforts have not materially improved the fundamental business challenges our stores are facing." ...
Reports declare that shoplifting reached alarming levels and other large retailers, including Target, Macy's, and Best Buy are now making good on threats to shutter outlets if petty crime does not decrease.
Walmart lost a whopping $3 billion annually to theft and shoplifting incidents while Target, a retailer known for selling a variety of food, household goods, clothing, and electronics, has also announced it is closing four stores in three cities in the coming months after it lost $400 million in profits last November also due to organized gangs of pilferers. Meanwhile, discount retailer Dollar Tree said during its August earnings call, that it would be taking a "very defensive approach" to theft by increasing the number of products locked behind shelves and even discontinuing certain items at stores that are repeatedly stolen.
In 2021, America's top retailers lost a combined $94.5 billion to shrink, a term used to describe theft and other types of inventory loss. And organized retail crime incidents soared by 26.5 percent in the same year, according to the 2022 National Retail Security Survey. https://www.naturalnews.com/2023-09-12-walmart-to-reopen-with-a-police-substation.html
Personally, I feel safer in stores without police stations or armed guards--but thieves and their supporters are costing the rest of their community money, etc.
Here is somethting that the old Worldwide Church of God published:
How deeply do you understand the meaning of the Eighth Commandment?
It is a classic tale of American folklore: Abraham Lincoln, then a struggling store clerk 10 New Salem, Ill., walked more than 2 miles one night to return 6 1/4 cents to a lady he'd accidentally overcharged. Interesting that this anecdote adorns the reputation of "Honest Abe" Lincoln, perhaps the most beloved of America's presidents. To this day the name "Abraham Lincoln" is synonymous with character and integrity.
Integrity — the word implies soundness, honesty, wholeness, the deep inner commitment to lasting values that inspired the same Lincoln to spend 14 difficult years paying off debts until he was totally clear. Character truly does bring rewards, ultimately. Yet you and I live in a corrupt society that sneers at the old credo: "Honesty is the best policy"! But honesty still is the best policy.
A precious statute In this day and age of government scandals, corporate corruption, legal loopholes, payola and blurred lines of morality, we desperately need to recapture the spirit and intent of a law originally seared into sheer stone by the flaming finger of God Himself. This precept, thundered from the crags of Mt. Sinai by a booming voice that literally shook the sinews of the people who heard it, is a terse statement that, if applied, would overnight transform the rotten bedrock of our society. It is expressed in the simple but sublime words, "You shall not steal" (Ex. 20:15). ...
It is not just the self-styled benefactors, the politicians who hold high office and fatten themselves at public expense, who incur God's righteous wrath, though they bear their full share of responsibility in His eyes.
No, not just them. God is concerned, too, about the shoplifters, the padders of expense accounts, the specialized accountants leeching corporations, the pilferers of vending machines that in malfunctioning spew out unpaid-for items.
Even more minutely, God scans the hearts of those who return undercharged items to supermarkets, as well as those who, instead, salve their consciences with weak-kneed excuses. Nothing escapes the exacting inspection of those eyes that are "like a flame of fire" (Rev. 2:18). Do we grasp it? Perhaps no other commandment tests, probes and sifts our inner character as does this one, with its simple but penetrating words, "You shall not steal"!
This great Eighth Commandment of God's sacred law reflects our sense of responsibility toward others. It exposes whether we grasp the motivating purpose and thrust, the trigger mechanism, of the entire law of God, the give principle (Acts 20:35). ...
Far from stealing or even mooching, God's people are supposed to share their surplus generously with others. This implies financial and career success. Integrity. A Christian is commanded to be a good, solid, steady employee (Eph. 6:5-7).
Yet how often nowadays in this "laidback" society do people sponge off friends or relatives for weeks on end? And "borrowing" — whether record albums, books, lawn mowers, household devices or money — even this falls under the jurisdiction of the Eighth Commandment. "The borrower," God tells us in Proverbs 22:7, "is servant to the lender." The chronically unemployed layabout who sits around waiting to "get his head together" instead of actively pounding the pavement calling on businesses or lining up corporations' numbers from the phone book dramatizes the basic deterioration in character that would have appalled some hardworking people of earlier times. Such people lack integrity. The Eighth Commandment means nothing to them (Rom. 3:18).
Even God Himself would be hard-pressed to shake them from their lethargy (Matt. 5:13). Some self-made men (who worship their creators assiduously) enjoy lambasting such people. Yet the w hi te-collar middle-class achievers are among the biggest crooks of all! Studies show that more than 90 percent of average Americans will admit privately that they are guilty of at least one crime calling for at least a one-year jail term! Compromising one's conscience is easy in a big-business, depersonalized, faceless society like ours.
"Shoplifters justify themselves by complaining about store overpricing (and vice versa); tax-evaders complain about the government misusing 'their money'; hotel patrons assume that the towel, silverware and Gideon Bible are part of the hotel bill (even though the Bible they take says, 'Thou shalt not steal'; they're just 'borrowing' it).
Insurance claims are invariably padded (since 'it's coming to me'); inside stock tips are 'fringe benefits'; and a corporate price conspiracy is 'good business.' There is a euphemism for every crime" (Crime Can Be Stopped — Here's How!, pp. 14-15). ...
Far-reaching principles
Get the picture? If we aren't careful we can succumb to this seductive society with its easy, self-justifying ways and end up violating the Eighth Commandment many times a day. Far from getting, grabbing, taking, extorting and embezzling — even in the face of genuine distress — God's people must produce, work, adapt, adjust, use resourcefulness in order to stand before the world as useful members of society.
Notice II Thessalonians 3:7-8: "For we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat any one's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you." Now that's integrity!
The Eighth Commandment, indeed, civilizes society. It establishes the principle of respect for private property. No wonder God reacted in righteous fury to the seamy spectacle of King Ahab of ancient Israel, who ruptured all codes of dece.ncy and common sense by grabbing land through coldblooded murder from a careful, responsible citizen named Naboth. Read God's blistering condemnation in I Kings 21:20-24!
By contrast, God blessed the generous, statesmanlike attitude of Abraham, a man untainted by materialistic greed, when Abraham offered his nephew Lot the choicest real estate as a peacemaking pact (Gen. 13:1-12). In the end, as always, godly principles prevailed and steady, faithful Abraham ended up bailing out his somewhat materialistic nephew. This should help us grasp another telling point about the Eighth Commandment: It reacts and relates to all the other of God's Ten Commandments.
Stealing usually begins as covetousness, a violation of the Tenth Commandment (Ex. 20:17). Greed causes us to perpetrate physically or mentally violent actions to grab what isn't legally ours (Jas. 4:1); this shatters the principle of the Sixth Commandment (Ex. 20:13). We will easily lie to others, if not to ourselves, in covering up our real intents and motives, thus breaking the Ninth Commandment (verse 16). Selfishly embezzling to attempt to satisfy what is, at its roots, a spiritual hunger is nothing more than spiritual adultery (verse 14) against God, our true sustainer. Following Satan's get way dishonors our spiritual Father in heaven, thus breaking the Fifth Commandment (verse 12), and elevates the self above the true God, thus violating the First and Second Commandments (Ex. 20:3-6). We wouldn't seriously entertain the thought of stealing at all if we deeply respected God's power and office, as the Third Commandment teaches (verse 7).
How far-reaching indeed are the piercing principles behind these simple-sounding statements of Scripture! God says people even steal from Him, not only by withholding His tithes and offerings (Mal. 3:8), but also by denying Him the praise and worship due Him (I Chron. 16:29). Unthankfulness is stealing. Without an attitude of reverence toward God, we can resent ceasing particularly lucrative work before Friday sunset and so steal holy time from our Creator (Ex. 20:8-11). We should be generous with the Sabbath, giving it a wide berth (lsa. 58:13). Anything else is stealing.
Two courses of action
Yes, there is far, far more to the Eighth Commandment than first meets the eye. It is a fearsome, searching spotlight that probes into the nooks and crannies of our deepest motives. The student tempted to cheat on an exam faces the consequences of trying to evade the penalties of the Eighth Commandment. What to do? Cheat, and pass to a grade or position he's unqualified for and run the risk of failing hopelessly (that is, if he isn't caught first!), or take the tough way out. Risk failing, face the music and try harder next time. The first way seems easy. It might be — "for a season," that is (Heb. 11:25, Authorized Version).
The second way is the very essence of character — facing mistakes, confessing them, doing better next time (I John 1:8-9). Besides, circumstances may work out better than anticipated. Transfers, moves, cancellations, human error, sickness — all may conspire to help him anyway. Remember: The blessings of obedience are as sure as the penalties for violation. The housewife finding her bank balance. in error on the credit side is also confronted by the sifting dynamics of the Eighth Commandment. "Why square it with the bank?" a voice inside urges. "They don't do you any favors!" Yet she is contemplating the erosion of some preciously built inner character, the only reason for her sojourn on this earth (Eccl. 12:13). Why should a computer's error rob her of a literally irreplaceable commodity — deep, crystal-clear character? See how it works?
Be vigilant
Thankfully, most of God's people do a valiant job resisting the carnal enticements to trample over God's great Eighth Commandment. Otherwise He would never bless our increase in the service of His Work. Many of God's people already reflect the give way and are coworkers in an enterprise dedicated to giving. We should never relax our vigilance. We shouldn't let this insidious society sap our commitment to the deep, inner principles behind the laws of God.
Selfish taking, in any way, shape or form, is the direct antithesis of the character of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Any fiddling with such dubious ventures as gambling, any incessant fixation with the vagaries of the stock market, cuts across the spirit and thrust of the Eighth Commandment. Viewed positively, the Eighth Commandment guards our relationship with others, urges us to produce and accomplish, stirs us to service and usefulness. Now we should know why God Himself descended from heaven to thunder that stark, forthright sentence, "You shall not steal"!(Earle N. A Sure Test of Integrity! - "You Shall Not Steal." Good News, March 1983)
Not only should you have integrity, it is good for you to not steal.
Being a thief is not good for you Let's look at several passages in the Book of Proverbs:
10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like [Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with [e]spoil; 14Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”—
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; 16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any ]bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners. (Proverbs 1:10-19)
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. (Proverbs 3:7-8)
24 Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.25 The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. (Proverbs 29:24-25)
The Bible not only teaches against stealing, notice the following:
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Ephesians 4:28)
Yes, you are to GIVE to others, not just avoiding stealing!
If everyone stole and no one produced, there would be nothing to eat, nothing to wear, etc. Stealing hurts society.
It may be of interest to note that the biblical penalty for stealing was to pay the stolen from 4-5 times as much as the value of what was stolen (cf. Exodus 22:1). And for stealing food, 7 times as much (Proverbs 6:31).
Among other things, this taught people that they would not get rich from stealing and needed to produce their own food.
From a societal perspective, we would almost never need locks or carry keys if people did not steal. Also, if people do not steal, they tend to realize that they need to work to produce what they and their families need.
But there are other ways to steal. Improper representations when buying or selling (false advertising) is wrong (Proverbs 20:10, 14). Not working as one should (cf. Ecclesiastes 9:10; Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:22-24), is stealing from one’s employer and/or society. Employers are also to properly pay their employees (cf. James 5:4-6). The Bible also teaches that one who is too lazy to work is covetous (Proverbs 21:25-26). Covetousness leads to stealing.
Committing adultery is stealing from one’s spouse and put’s one’s spouse at risk of disease as well as financial losses.
Not praising God as we are told to do (e.g. Psalm 22:23; 113:1; Romans 13:7) would be another form of stealing.
Those truly living as Christians are not scheming to try to figure out how much they can take from others.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:18-32)
Some people consider that taxes are ‘legalized’ stealing and should not be paid.
Whether or not they are ‘constitutional’ can be debated, but taxes are the enforced law of the land of most nations.
Jesus taught that people were to pay taxes:
14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”
But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
17 And Jesus answered and said to them, ”Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:14-17)
Thus, not paying legitimately due taxes would be stealing.
While some may argue that Jesus was talking to the Jews, the Apostle Paul also wrote that Christians should pay taxes:
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. (Romans 13:1-7)
Paul was writing to Christians. Christians should pay taxes.
Jesus said to pay taxes:
13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”
But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
And they marveled at Him. (Mark 12:13-17)
The Apostle Paul said to pay taxes:
4 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. (Romans 13:4)
Yet, tax collectors are to take no more than they are supposed to as John the Baptist stated:
12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” (Luke 3:12-13)
While governments are often greedy, and can pass laws to take more than they should, the Bible warned that would happen in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 8:10-18). Yet, we have just read in the New Testament that we are to pay our taxes and not steal that way. Now that being said, USA tax laws seem to be the most complicated in the world so there are instances that there are legitimate differnces of opinion on certain tax issues. That said, the point is that we are to pay our taxes. Which in my case are income taxes, sales taxes, import duties, propery taxes, and employment taxes.
Now, there is another thing that governments often do which essentially is legal stealing.
That is, they cheapen the money supply which cause inflation.
There are several ways this is done.
One is the cheapening of the value of coins.
In the USA, for example, its pennies used to be made out of copper and its silvery coins were made out of silver. But this changed for its silver in 1965 and its pennies later.
In terms of value, every single US quarter minted before 1965 contains 0.1808 troy ounces (6.25 grams) of physical silver weight and value. At a current price of silver at 22.12 per troy ounce, a quarter should be worth $4.00. That coin is now a dross coin which no longer has any silver in it--though it still looks a lot like the real thing. The US Mint reports:
On the outside of a quarter –the bread– is a nickel-copper mixture that is silver in color. The inside filling is copper. https://www.usmint.gov/learn/kids/coins-life/coin-composition#:~:text=The%20quarter%20and%20dime%20have,coin%20last%20a%20long%20time. accessed 02/05/24
Instead of being worth $4 or so, the value of the quarter "coins' metal is less than three and a half cents" (https://romcometals.com/the-scrap-value-of-coins-can-the-metal-exceed-the-value-of-the-currency/#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20the%20American%20quarter,three%20and%20a%20half%20cents. accessed 02/05/24)
The Bible warns against such cheapening as it is stealing.
In ancient times, the diluting of the value of coinage/currency is condemned in the Bible:
4 Take away the dross from silver (Proverbs 25:4a).
22 Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water. (Isaiah 1:22)
25 I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy. (Isaiah 1:25)
18 “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron, and lead, in the midst of a furnace; they have become dross from silver. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20 As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it; so I will gather you in My anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there and melt you. 21 Yes, I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you shall be melted in its midst. 22 As silver is melted in the midst of a furnace, so shall you be melted in its midst; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have poured out My fury on you.’” (Ezekiel 22:18-22)
Although the Bible warns against using dross and diluting the money supply, modern ‘experts’ have a different view.
And in modern times, paper money can just be printed up. This has caused massive inflation is some countries at times and is almost always a factor in what could be called general price inflation.
That too is stealing.
The old WCG out out the following:
Inflation: Disguised Theft
Inflation is nothing less than disguised theft — and we once believed that it was wrong to steal. But gradually, as the nation began to accept the foolish philosophy that there are no absolutes — no eternal truths — people began to think that under certain circumstances it is all right to steal "just a little."
On the national level, some influential "growth-happy" economists and political leaders have propounded that inflation is all right — so long as it was "just a little."
As international economic consultant S.J. Rundt so aptly puts it: "What used to be heresy to all Americans is now increasingly taken for Gospel truth by many or even most, namely that one can comfortably live with a little inflation, that annual price rises of 1%-1.5% serve a dynamic society."
Now the United States is heading into deep economic trouble both at home and abroad. National leaders are beginning to see the error of this "New Economics" philosophy.
Inflation exacts a terrible penalty, both nationally and individually. Inflation distorts the entire economy. One news magazine stated it bluntly: "Inflation is to the economy what pollution is to the environment — a corrosive force that unbalances everything."
And leading investment analyst, Dr. Pierre A. Rinfret, said in The Institutional Investor: "I feel passionate about inflation. I abhor it, I detest it, and I fear it. It guts the very fabric of freedom and turns topsy-turvy all the things that made this country great."
According to Mr. Rundt, if the purchasing power of money erodes by 1 percent a year, it takes 70 years for prices to double. But at 2.5 percent per year, a man starting to work at 18 sees prices double by the time he is 46.
And at the rate of 5.4 percent, at which the U.S. economy was clipping along early this year, a person who begins working at 18 will find that prices have doubled before he is 31. They will have doubled again before his 44th birthday, and redoubled at 57 when he begins to think of his retirement.
Mr. Rundt concludes by asking: "Is that not theft from what a man earns by the sweat of his brow and from savings he manages to put aside for his advanced years?"
It certainly is!
Inflation hurts everybody — but some are hurt more than others. "The impact falls most notoriously on those who have the most meager means to withstand it — the poor, the black and the aged. It cheats the thrifty, taking money from every owner of a U.S. savings bond and every depositor in a savings account" (TIME, June 20, 1969).The Deadly "Psychology of Inflation"
For those on low fixed incomes, inflation can be a personal tragedy. For those who have a means of increasing their income, inflation creates a vicious cycle that feeds on human greed and lust. It destroys moral and spiritual character.
This grasping, selfish attitude of "out-grabbing" the other fellow, getting now before prices rise still further is politely called the "psychology of inflation." It appeals to human nature. And once this attitude gets a grip on a nation, that nation is in deep trouble.
As an example of the vicious circle of inflation, the gross pay of construction industry workers in New York City jumped from $170.69 weekly in 1965 to $201.12 weekly in 1968 — an increase of $30.43 a week. But the real net gain after inflation and higher taxes? $1.36 per week!
So in this dog-eat-dog world the union worker all too often tries to get more from his employer (without necessarily producing more) and to get it faster than the government will get more from him in taxes. The producers of goods and services he needs will soon get more from him by upping their prices!
In order to keep ahead of the game, some unions are now talking of annual contracts. If they sign a two or three year contract they fear that inflation will increase so much that their workers will come out on the short end.
The longer this upward inflationary spiral continues, the more vicious it becomes.
The dilemma in coping with inflation is the psychology of inflation. Inflation psychology feeds on itself. Labor demands higher wages because it anticipates higher prices. Management raises prices and capital expenditures because it anticipates higher costs. The investing public turns to speculation.
As inflationary expectations turn to reality, inflation takes on a snowballing effect. Once inflation reaches this point, the entire nation is in danger.Four Penalties of Inflation
What happens to a nation when it becomes locked in an inflationary spiral? Answers Dr. Pierre A. Rinfret (whom we quoted earlier), "It is a country without savings to speak of. That means that everything is dedicated to the present and nothing to the future. Live today, because tomorrow it will cost more."
"If there are little or no savings," explains Dr. Rinfret, "there are no housing loans, and consequently little housing construction."
The first penalty of inflation therefore is a drop in housing construction.
The second penalty that inflation brings is the destruction of long-term lending for business purposes. The economy becomes unable to make the investments that ultimately maintain its position in the industrial world.
The third major penalty of inflation is the fostering and abetting of dishonesty. "It fosters, condones, necessitates and rewards dishonesty," says Dr. Rinfret. "Faced with inflation, people grasp for ways to avoid the deterioration in their purchasing power."
We would add that inflation produces a fourth result: It causes a nation to lose out in world trade. Here, for example, are two instances of the effect inflation is having on U.S. foreign trade: ...The longer inflation spirals upward the more drastic the medicine required to cure it.
The United States has experienced an unprecedented economic expansion — fueled largely by inflation — for 101 consecutive months.
Economic planners, proceeding from unproven "New Economics" theories have intervened at key points during this 8½-year period to keep the boom going. The economy simply has not been permitted so seek its own level, with occasional ups and downs.
The "patient" has been forced to grow FAT — but not healthy!
The nation has simply gotten accustomed to continued "growth." Americans, as a whole, have become so spoiled, that the merest hint of a business slowdown — yes, even a mild recession, which would be for the nation's good right now — causes fear and anxiety.
Despite inflation, despite growing debt, the average consumer is spending more than ever before. The reason is greed!
Consumers continue to spend because they don't want to take any back-steps in the standard of living.
At the very time Americans should be tightening their belts, halting unnecessary spending, salting away more money in savings accounts — we witness the tragic opposite.
Belt-tightening at all levels of government — national, state and local — is not in the offing, either. Not with the ever-increasing burdens of defense and welfare and social programs.
We also see a severe crisis of confidence dividing government and public. Neither seems to believe the other can do anything to stem inflation.
The government, so far, has been reluctant to take the drastic steps that may eventually be necessary to halt the spiral.
Officials are well aware of the fact that an economic slowdown means a rise in the unemployment rate — a political "hot potato." (Walter E, Hogberg G. What INFLATION is DOING to AMERICA – and to YOU! Plain Truth, August 1969)
The USA had very high inflation a decade or so since that article was published.
The USA has gotten worse in terms of its spending and according to its former President Barack Obama and iits current Chair of the Federal Reserve its deficit spending is unsustainable. Being unsustainable means that the time will come when it will stop.
And for the USA, wrong views on economics will lead to economic problems and ultimately the total crash of the dollar of the USA. Economic problems in Europe may well propel the rise of the Beast power that the Bible warns about.
But for the USA, it will get worse than that:
There is a cost for government stealing, and this will be a factor in the coming destruction of the USA.
Around 605-625 B.C. Habakkuk wrote a short book of the Bible that has a lot of implications for the time that we are now in. Notice something that God said in it:
5 “Look among the nations and watch — Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. (Habakkuk 1:5).
Many, including a COG I was once part of, claim that Habakkuk was prophesying only something for the past that has already been fulfilled. And if you only look at verse 5 of chapter 1 that looks reasonable. Yet, notice that the above is also repeated in the New Testament:
40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
41 ‘Behold, you despisers,
Marvel and perish!
For I work a work in your days,
A work which you will by no means believe,
Though one were to declare it to you.'” (Acts 13:40-41)
So, there is certainly a duality in some of what Habakkuk wrote. (More on the work for these times can be found in the articles Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word and The Final Phase of the Work.)
There was something for Habakkuk’s time and something for a later time.
Getting back to Habakkuk, here is some of the shocking things God had him write down specifically related to the end times:
2 Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:2-3)
So what did Habakkuk see in this vision that is so bad people should run/flee who read it?
Notice that the prophecy that is being discussed is specifically for the appointed time of the end. It is a prophecy for our time–and will affect the proud. What will happen is so bad “That he may run who reads it.” What is so bad? Habakkuk continues with the following:
4 “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.
5 “Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man, And he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied, He gathers to himself all nations And heaps up for himself all peoples. 6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases What is not his — how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? 7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you, Because of men’s blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it. (Habakkuk 2:4-8)
Actually, with an admitted debt of over $34 trillion dollars and plans by President Joe Biden to increase that much further, the USA has increased pledges more than any nation in the history of the planet. And on a per capita basis, the United Kingdom is one of the most indebted nations on the earth itself.
The USA is plundering--stealing from--nations around the world as it has no intention to properly pay its debt back in dollars worth what they should be.
Since the prophecy in Habakkuk 2 will be fulfilled at the time of the end (cf. “The message was true, but the appointed time was long…in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come”, Daniel 10:1,14). Daniel 8:19, 11:27,29,35 uses the same Hebrew term for “appointed time” as Habakkuk 2:3, while Daniel 10, using a different term, ties the latter days to the time in Daniel 8:19. Habakkuk 2 was not fulfilled in its entirety anciently. Also, it makes little sense that Habakkuk would be directed towards the modern nation of Israel as it does not have enemy creditors. It must be a nation or group of nations with some prominence at the appointed time of the end.
That said, nearly all of us in the USA have funds stolen from us via inflation. And yes, so do those in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the EU, etc.
But that does not make it right.
Intentional diluting of the money supply is a modern way of stealing.
The Apostle Peter wrote that Christians are "bondservants of God" (1 Peter 2:16).
A bondservant's time is owned by one's master.
And what does the Master of the universe say you are supposed to do with your time?
Notice:
8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:8-11)
The Apostle Paul wrote:
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
19. WHAT! Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, which you have within you from God, and you are not your own? 20. For you were bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, AFV)
To do that takes time.
This at minimum includes the weekly Sabbath and the annual Sabbaths known as the Holy Days.
As far as the Sabbaths go, notice the following:
2 Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
3 Do not let the son of the foreigner
Who has joined himself to the Lord
Speak, saying,
"The Lord has utterly separated me from His people";
Nor let the eunuch say,
"Here I am, a dry tree."
4 For thus says the Lord:
"To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,
And choose what pleases Me,
And hold fast My covenant,
5 Even to them I will give in My house
And within My walls a place and a name
Better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
That shall not be cut off.6 "Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants —
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant —
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." (Isaiah 56:2-7)
13 "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 58:13-14)
Notice that you are also supposed to keep the Sabbath even if your job/food has work some may want to do on it:
21 Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. (Exodus 34:21)
So, yes, even if your carnal work is very busy, God's people are to keep the Sabbath.
As far as the Holy Days go, notice the following:
22 "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. (Deuteronomy 14:22-25)
It takes time to go to the Feast of Tabernacles, do not steal time away from doing that.
Many people do not believe that they steal, yet they do not realize that the Bible teaches that not giving tithes and proper offerings is stealing.
Notice what the prophet Malachi was inspired to write:
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:8-10)
Many people will not heed God’s admonitions. Many try to rationalize why they do not need to give tithes and proper offerings. Most do NOT have the faith to tithe and trust God to bless them (for more on faith, read our free online booklet, Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen, which is available at www.cccog.org).
Jesus taught that tithing was still to be done (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42). And the Book of Hebrews shows that tithing was changed from the Levites to ministry of the church (Hebrews 7:1-2,8-12).
Yes, many reason around this, but those that do are violating the 8th commandment. It takes faith to tithe, not faith to claim it is unnecessary (cf. James 2:14-26).What About Taxes?
The Apostle Paul wrote:
5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, (1 Timothy 1:5)
If people would strive to keep the commandments and love their neighbor, that would solve crime.
Yet, we live in a society where more and more the commandments are despised--hence more crime.
Jesus warned:
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)
Increased crime, including theft, is showing that.
Furthermore, things will get worse as well as we see the soon rise of the Beast and Antichrist (see also the free online book: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast).
Some religious leaders falsely claim that the Ten Commandments were not in place before Mt. Sinai or in effect after Jesus was executed, but that is not the case.
The Bible shows the eighth commandment was in place before Mt. Sinai:
“So my righteousness will answer for me ... everyone that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen, if it is with me” (Genesis 30:33). “‘With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren identify what I have of yours and take it with you.’ For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them” (Genesis 31:32). “How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house. With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die” (Genesis 44:8-9). “He kills the poor and needy; And in the night he is like a thief” (Job 24:14).
Jesus taught and expanded the eighth commandment:
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts...thefts...These are the things which defile a man” (Matthew 15:19-20). “You shall not steal” (Mat 19:18). “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’, but you have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13). “...thefts...All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:22-23). “Do not steal” (Mark 10:19). “You know the commandments:... Do not steal” (Luke 18:20).
Yes, stealing is evil.
After Jesus was resurrected, the New Testament taught the eighth commandment:
“You shall not steal” (Romans 13:9). “nor thieves...will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:10). “I have been...in perils of robbers” (2 Corinthians 11:25-26). “Let him who stole, steal no longer” (Ephesians 4:28). “But let none of you suffer as...a thief” (1 Peter 4:15). John seems to have expanded on the theme of this commandment when he wrote, “whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him” (1 John 3:17). “And they did not repent of ...their thefts” (Revelation 9:21).
The entire Bible condemns stealing.
Theft and cheating are rampant in society.
Thievery harms people.
Not only does it harm those that lose what is theirs, it also results in higher prices for many goods.
It turns people against each other and tends to increase hate, instead of love, towards others.
Thievery also makes the economy less efficient, encourages funds to be spent on locks and other preventative measures, and is of itself unproductive.
Cheating academically harms society and its leaders.
Cheating on spouses causes heartache and societal problems.
If we steal from others, from not tithing, from not keeping the Sabbaths, etc. we are harming ourselves as well as society as a whole.
God is love. Thievery does not show love.
Be productive. Do not steal. Give.
Do not rob God and try to rationalize it.
God gives to you, give to Him and give to others.
Be faithful to your family, be faithful to others, do not cheat or steal.
Produce and give.
That will better help you develop love.
Here is a link to a related sermon: 8th Commandment: Do Not Steal or Cheat, Instead Produce and Give.
Thiel B. COGwriter (c) https://www.cogwriter.com/eighth-commandment-produce-not-steal.htm 2024 0221