





Coral Ridge Ministries' Advice to the Poor, Quit Coveting wilkyjr print page Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:30:18 AM EST

I ran across Coral Ridge Ministries' recent publication on Socialism. Coral Ridge publication is the work Kennedy gave leadership to in his Florida church. The book, 10 Truths About Socialism, was listed in the catalogue of Vision Forum ministries. Vision Forum is a hotbed for home school literature. It is also home to the full quiver movement which advocates through its leader that it is God's desire that Christians have as many biological offspring as possible. Vision Forum's promotion of this favored book helps set the table for the kind of economic systems many religious right movements desire.

The late pastor James Kennedy left behind a legacy of adoration for David Barton, the disgust of separation of church and state, and ample warnings about America's leanings.I ran across Coral Ridge Ministries' recent publication on Socialism. Coral Ridge publication is the work Kennedy gave leadership to in his Florida church. The book, 10 Truths About Socialism, was listed in the catalogue of Vision Forum ministries. Vision Forum is a hotbed for home school literature. It is also home to the full quiver movement which advocates through its leader that it is God's desire that Christians have as many biological offspring as possible. Vision Forum's promotion of this favored book helps set the table for the kind of economic systems many religious right movements desire. A summary of the fear expressed in the book is found on page 137. "As socialism creeps across America's horizon, ...the words of Kitty Werthmann, 12 when Hitler took over Austria, say it best: After America, there is no place to run."

The four Coral Ridge authors who put the work together hope it will be a supplement to the video available. These authors are concerned President Obama is directing the nation toward socialism. As evidence they use the quote from the President who lamented that some CEO's make more in ten minutes than some workers make in ten months. To these writers, this means the President is a socialist. They imply that any restraint like unions, quotas, or taxes that are higher for the wealthy are anti-Christian. It is a form of trickle down prosperity that blessing the top of the pyramid will ensure that what flows down the channel to the lower classes will suffice. To reject this divine order of economics is deemed, coveting. Thus those who envy those CEO's who make hundreds of thousands more than they do just need to quit violating the Ten Commandments and get over it.

These economic self proclaimed experts blame President Bush for abandoning sound economic principles by offering bailouts. Laissez faire economics is the blessed system and any form of regulation goes against God. Hitler and Stalin are "two sides of the same coin". Pg. 21 That is, both were socialists. Exactly how these arch enemies became great companions in economic systems yet fought one another in war is subject interesting creativity. On page 24 we are told America became the wealthiest nation in the world. I am not sure if the authors have heard of Kuwait or Hong Kong? When President Obama desired to share the wealth, this revealed his socialist heart. Pg. 53

The book notes that James Kennedy despised the terms "social justice" for the Christian faith. Kennedy preached that this idea of social justice means a "more equitable distribution of wealth". Pg. 116 The book deplores Jim Wallis and his view of Christian social justice.

The authors believe the current President "Showed himself to be a socialist." The book concedes that through taxation, government regulation and bailouts, the Obama administration is turning the American vessel toward the waters of socialism. Pg. 53 The book of Acts in the New Testament carries a story of socialism practiced by the early church. These believers "had all things in common." When one couple held out part of their profits the Apostle Peter slew them. The spin the book puts on this story is interesting claiming it was the lie, not the act that condemned the couple. Pg. 55

Lenin and Communism are connected to what is called "legalized theft." Examples of this legalized theft can be found in tariffs, benefits, subsidies, progressive taxation, public education as well as minimum wages. Pg. 57 That is right readers; public education is a form of communism as well as the wealthy paying a higher rate of taxation.

An entire chapter, number 8, is devoted to explaining how socialism is designed to destroy the family unit. By conclusion we find that places like public schools and government assistance to the poor are actually a hidden attack on the family. Kennedy is quoted as proposing this view. I have noted with wonder old Christian Coalition voter guides that defined legislators who backed government assistance to poor families as anti-family. The work goes on to explain how that Obama has divided the nation by defining it as made up of the evil rich and virtuous exploited. Pg. 68

If anything, the work seems to take the opposite view of what they claim the President has. They see the wealthy as virtuous and the poor as people who need to accept their plot in life and quit complaining. These "redistributive policies", pg. 72 are alien to God's will. Real Christians, according to James Kennedy, are supposed to just trust God for His provisions. Real believers do not join unions or vote for tax increases for corporations. The writers explain what the attitude of those who have needs is. "He does not worry about his needs, for he knows that God will supply them as He has promised."

This projected market without any restraint or checks and balances must be instigated in the nation. For after all, it is the will of God. From the works I have read from the religious right movement on the economy, Kennedy seems to sum up the proposal quite adequately.





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