A new take on "Thou shalt not steal".
"If I take anything that I do not need for my own immediate use and keep it, I thieve it from somebody else. It is the fundamental law of Nature, without exception, that Nature produces enough for our wants from day to day; and if only everybody took enough for himself and nothing more there would be no pauperism in this world, there would be no man dying of starvation. I am no Socialist, and I do not want to dispossess those who have got possessions; but I do say that personally those of us who want to see light out of darkness have to follow this rule. I do not want to dispossess anybody; I should then be departing from the rule of Non-Violence. If somebody else possesses more than I do, let him. But so far as my own life has to be regulated I dare not possess anything which I do not [need]." -Mahatma Gandhi
I've lately been reading a book by an Anglican priest who was a friend of Gandhi, about this rather remarkable thinker of our time. While I can't say that I agree with all of Gandhi's philosophies, especially concerning that there are many paths towards salvation, I believe that he has much to say worthy of consideration. This passage in particular stood out to me. As I considered it, Christ's teaching about the spirit of the Law came to mind. Christ says that if you hate your brother without cause, then you have murdered him already, or that if you look at someone and lust, then already you have committed adultery with them. In other words, one doesn't have to physically do the deed to be guilty of it in God's eyes.
When the rich young ruler came to Christ and asked him how to become perfect, Christ told him to follow the law, which the ruler claimed to have done from his youth. Christ then instructs him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. The young man went away sad, for he had much. By the letter of the law, he was no thief, for he had not stolen that which belonged to someone else. But perhaps by being unwilling to give, he was a far worse thief than if he'd actually taken something. For while a thief can steal something they legitimately need, such as food or clothing (not that it's right), he was unwilling to give when he had much.
Christ summarized the Law thus: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. When one who has anything is unwilling to give to one who has nothing, then they are blatantly ignoring that commandment. You don't let someone you love go hungry or be cold. When you love someone, you want them to be full and warm and safe, even at the cost of your own luxury. When you love someone, you don't rob them of your charity.
I confess that I myself, am one such terrible thief. Let us meditate upon the law, and open ourselves up to the spirit of it, rather than just the letter. Perhaps thereby we'll see less people hungry, and more set upon the path to salvation. Amen.
Vincent Christian.
I've lately been reading a book by an Anglican priest who was a friend of Gandhi, about this rather remarkable thinker of our time. While I can't say that I agree with all of Gandhi's philosophies, especially concerning that there are many paths towards salvation, I believe that he has much to say worthy of consideration. This passage in particular stood out to me. As I considered it, Christ's teaching about the spirit of the Law came to mind. Christ says that if you hate your brother without cause, then you have murdered him already, or that if you look at someone and lust, then already you have committed adultery with them. In other words, one doesn't have to physically do the deed to be guilty of it in God's eyes.
When the rich young ruler came to Christ and asked him how to become perfect, Christ told him to follow the law, which the ruler claimed to have done from his youth. Christ then instructs him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. The young man went away sad, for he had much. By the letter of the law, he was no thief, for he had not stolen that which belonged to someone else. But perhaps by being unwilling to give, he was a far worse thief than if he'd actually taken something. For while a thief can steal something they legitimately need, such as food or clothing (not that it's right), he was unwilling to give when he had much.
Christ summarized the Law thus: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. When one who has anything is unwilling to give to one who has nothing, then they are blatantly ignoring that commandment. You don't let someone you love go hungry or be cold. When you love someone, you want them to be full and warm and safe, even at the cost of your own luxury. When you love someone, you don't rob them of your charity.
I confess that I myself, am one such terrible thief. Let us meditate upon the law, and open ourselves up to the spirit of it, rather than just the letter. Perhaps thereby we'll see less people hungry, and more set upon the path to salvation. Amen.
Vincent Christian.
posted by Vincent Christian | 10:22 AM
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