Christ First Forum

Minister tells his flock to go steal
Date: 12/22/2009 9:01:10 AM

Matt Friedeman, InTheFight.com

This is crazy. Yet unfortunately I'm not too surprised. The morality of the world has been creeping into the church and the problem has been exacerbated in the last fifty years. The interesting thing about this situation is that an Anglican priest is promoting morality that even the world deems immoral.

Poor people who are desperate for cash have been advised to go forth and shoplift from major stores - by an Anglican priest.

The Rev Tim Jones said in his Sunday sermon that stealing from successful shops was preferable to burglary, robbery or prostitution.

He told parishioners it would not break the eighth commandment 'thou shalt not steal' because it 'is permissible for those who are in desperate situations to take food that they might not starve'.

'My advice, as a Christian priest, is to shoplift,' he told his stunned congregation at St Lawrence and St Hilda in York.

'I do not offer such advice because I think that stealing is a good thing, or because I think it is harmless, for it is neither.'

Wait, stealing doesn't go against the teachings of the bible? I'd like to see Jones support that idea with scripture. If this Anglican priest admittedly knows that stealing isn't a good thing, then why is he suggesting to his congregation that it's okay to shoplift?

But wait, there's more. Jones even tells you who to steal from. Make sure you take from big companies.

'I would ask that they do not steal from small family businesses, but from large national businesses, knowing that the costs are ultimately passed on to the rest of us in the form of higher prices.'

It makes me wonder if a large part of the church will slowly merge morally with the world. If Christians aren't Salt and Light, then they aren't carrying out the words of Christ. And this teaching from Jones certainly isn't inspired by the bible.

http://action.afa.net/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?id=2147490441

this world is getting crazier by the day. apostasy abounds....I am ready for the rapture....Lord please come soon !

By any chance is this Church called the Robin Hood of Sherwood forest hahahah. This is some kind of Robin Hood religion.

I used to shop lift at stores myself in my teens and my early 20s. It is a wrong both by law of man and of God. I stopped in the year of 1994 last at target store a Camera. I usually got clothes. I stopped back then in fear of getting put in Jail. I had to learn about God later in my life.
This Anglican Robin hood is full of Lies. It is wrong to steal period. I have been homeless also. Want to get off the street. Don’t steal do it the honest way.

It is so sad, then again it strengthens my faith, because I know we are getting so ever closer to the Glorious Day!
Even so, come Jesus come!!

Ok a little biblical perspective in support of this preacher. How many remember the Book of Ruth? If not take a moment and read it again. Its short so it won't take long.
Did you read it or are you just going to keep reading and hope I make my point in a way that you won't have to? Can you feel my mischievious grin? Anyways, in the Book of Ruth, Ruth goes and gleans from the edges of the fields of Boaz. If you recall the reason Ruth could do this was because of a command from the Lord way back in Leviticus. Specifically Leviticus 23:22 " 'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.' "

Now I am sure many of you have never seen a farm after harvet or just never paid it much attention if you have. Let me tell you, farmes take it all. They leave nothing unharvested. Take careful note of the last 6 words of that passage. I am the LORD your God.' " That is a flat out command. Its not a suggestion. Now if farmers take it all where do the poor and the alien in the land get food. The stores don't give it away. Shelters only have so much and not everyone can get to one in time. Now I do not advocate stealing. If your are hungry and there is no way to get food from resources dedicated to helping the poor, thereis a law in effect in most states. It says that any food consumed IN the store is not stolen. To shoplift is to take for personal gain. To eat is to survive.

This is mans way of keeping God's law in regards to leaving food for the poor. That is precisely why that law exists. Stores already add a standard mark up for loss whether it be from true theft, in store consumption or expiration. Its built in to the prices we all pay. Now if you have the means to pay for your food then this law does not morally pertain to you. Then you cross the line from eating to live and stealing. However if you are so poor that you can not possibly pay for your food these laws, coupled with God's Law are there to protect your life. Don't abuse it.

Pastor Rogue,

Yes, I'm very aware of this welfare God set up in the OT for the poor...

It's nothing like the welfare we have today...

Scripture says: For even when we were with you, we commanded you this; If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat...

If we were practicing this command, the poor today would have more self respect in themselves, and wouldn't expect ENTITLEMENTS from others...

The owners of the fields would not feel resentments of the poor receiving God's welfare...

Satan has 'overturn' most of God's commands today through the workings of people....

That's the main reason why America is falling apart....

I wrote this for myself a few years back,and I wanted to share:

God’s Welfare

I think about what is happening to us during this political reign of Obama.

The constant 'borrowing',and having the desire 'to take from one group of Americans to give to another.'

Taking 'health care' from one group of paying Americans to give a majority of those who will not work or pay taxes.

I mention 'majority',and not a 'whole' as to not upset anyone.

Thinking 'medical care' is a 'right',and not a 'privilege.'

In Ex. 20:17, God said:
You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall no covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbors.

I would describe what is happening in America today is exactly 'coveting our neighbors.'

God gave us a beautiful, working model for welfare; but yet, man seems to be coveting to extremes.

Minister tells his flock to go steal

Sure! Why not! God was only kidding when He COMMANDED thou shalt not steal!

And Jesus was just "speaking rhetorically" in 1 Corinthians when He said:

9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.


This clown is a minister alright...a minister of death! Lord SAVE US!!