These things are justified as they tell themselves “the employer will never miss the extra ,time, and we need the rest. After all, we’re worth more than we’re being paid.” As a further indication, 75% of all Americans cheat on their income tax. Perhaps not a lot, but to some degree or other. What a tragedy that Satan has so brought to us what seems to be an honest evasion of our responsibili ties. Our moral integrity in America has sadly deteriorated. Recently our nation has experienced all manner of investigations concern ing what has been known as “payola.” In New York City the District Attorney, following the scandals on television, ordered his inspectors to check the gas oline pumps in the metropolitan com munity. Of approximately 500 which were accurately measured, 350 were found to be incorrect, in favor of the merchant. The same was true when the District Attorney’s men investigated the meat scales in the various butcher shops within the area. How tragic that men and women, in a nation under God should constantly be breaking the Eighth Commandment, “Thou shalt not steal.” “Thou shalt not steal,” is God’s sound pronouncement and it includes every form of cheating. May I just add this before we conclude our brief discussion Two life-long friends of Biola met together on the La Mirada Campus, Mrs. Lyman Stewart widow of Biala’s first president, and Dr. Daniel Rose, faithful Hebrew Chris tian and Director of the Jewish Department.
of the Eighth Commandment and it concerns the very insidious thought in the communist doctrine — that steal ing is to be approved if one takes from the rich and bestows it upon the poor. How heretical are the writings of those who declare that Communism is basic ally formed upon Christian ideals. The Bible teaches that man should receive his just wages for that which he has honestly worked. It nowhere commends or condones Communism. Such was attempted here in the United States back in 1603 in Jamestown. Ev eryone was given an equal share and as a result, the fact of the matter is that this foolish philosophy didn’t work because the men didn’t work. They wanted it all given to them on the proverbial silver platter. Communism is in no sense based upon Christian ideals. It is frought with atheistic phil osophies through and through. God’s commandment relative to steal ing includes the taking of a pencil or other supplies from the office, belong ing to someone else. It may be the pil fering of time. It may be the purpose ful overlooking of some responsibility. It may be an exaggerated claim in business. All of these things are sinful in the sight of God. No wonder that the personal integrity of our nation is at stake when men think so loosely of this Commandment of God. Yet, how wonderful it is to realize that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleans- eth us from all sin. God does not give His perfect law to reveal men as sinners without also providing, in His divine love and mer cy, a way of escape, for he that believ- eth on Him, Jesus Christ, God says, is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God,” Salvation comes as a result of one’s acknowledg ing himself as a sinner in God’s sight and believing in his heart that Christ died for his sins. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” 5
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