Thou Shalt Not Steal

This episode argues that while Christians profess belief in the commandment “Thou shalt not steal,” they frequently violate it through coercion, deception, or unfair expectations rather than overt robbery. Examples include a church pressuring a pastor’s wife to serve as a free organist to cut costs, and Christian schools underpaying teachers while claiming it is “sacrifice for the Lord’s work” practices the author labels as theft, since they force others to bear burdens for someone else’s benefit. No “good cause,” he insists, can justify taking what rightfully belongs to another. Citing Scripture and the Westminster Larger Catechism, he argues that Christian institutions are obligated to uphold justice, fairness, and a commitment to preserving the well-being of others. When churches and schools themselves engage in theft, they contribute to the moral decay of society. True exaltation of a nation or any community comes only through righteousness: faith and obedience to God’s law.