“You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”
By the late Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931- 2005, former Pastor Bellview Baptist Church, Memphis, T
So half the people in this country are poor and half are rich? That makes it easy!
A very very excellent quote by Dr. Rogers. If only Americans could understand the true principles of freedom! What is the American dream? Is it the freedom to do the best you can in every sphere of life? Or is it the Government dictating what everybody deserves and gets?
Jay, the epitome of freedom is allowing the individual to control their own destiny. If half the people in this country choose to work hard and and enjoy the fruits of their labors, that should be up to them. If the other half of the people choose not to make serious efforts to better their condition, that’s their choice also. The role of government is protecting the individual from other people, not from himself.
“The role of government is protecting the individual from other people, not from himself.”
Then please god protect me from people like you and pastor rogers then…
in response to Gene,
Unfortunately it becomes that much more difficult to help anyone as ignorant as you.
Pastor Rogers also said:
“I feel slavery is a much maligned institution. If we had slavery today we would not have such a welfare problem.”
His take on economics is a bit different from Jesus’ messages: “That which you do unto the least of my brethren, you do unto me,” “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” “and “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.”
I like Jesus’ take better than Pastor Rogers.
Maybe y’all are misinterpreting the good Pastor:
“You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom (”All Men Are Created Equal,” so should there be two standards? One for those with money and one for those without?). What one person receives without working for(The idle rich, who have received all the breaks), another person (hard-working middle class and poor taxpayers with no tax breaks) must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else (Nobody “takes” my taxes… I gladly pay my taxes because I believe in the freedom that a government of, for and by the people provides me). When half of the people (the rich investor class)get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them (the military, factory workers, taxpayers, government), and when the other half (the idle rich) gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for (boo- hoo, I’ll have to pay taxes), that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.” (Why is a “man of God” worried about multiplying wealth? Wouldn’t a true Christian be more concerned with caring for everyone equally?)
No, you can’t have two standards with one for those with money and one for those without. That’s exactly the point of Pastor Rogers’ words. The same fairness and justice that we demand for the poor should be applied to the rich also. If a government starts fudging on justice because some people are unfortunate, then freedom is no longer a principle, but rather whatever the government decides it is.
It worries me that people don’t seem to be able to see that if the government can get away with taking the freedoms of one person, then the government can just as easily take everyone’s. Protect the rights of the individual even if that individual happens to be rich, because those are the rights that every citizen holds dear.
And by the way, the rich pay most of the taxes in this country anyway. What we need is a broad-based tax system that taxes everyone at the same percentage rate. That way, everyone would pay what they’re able according to income and no one class would be carrying the main tax burden, which is simply not right to ask any person to do, rich or poor.
Hey Mr. Bill,
Yes, Jesus did say, “If ‘YOU’ want; will; do; etc…” The Gospel of loving and caring for our neighbor will never be fulfilled through government force. It has to come from the heart of a willing person.
When the Christians sold their land and possessions and gave to those who had need (Acts 2:40-47), it was because of the fear of God, not because of fear of the government–which regrettably has become the “god” of many in our nation.
Dr. Rogers’ words are right and prophetic.
I could take his words more seriously, if his “three flags over Jesus Christian country club mega business” didn’t hide behind the IRS exemption rules for churches. He sure wasn’t worried about taking away from all of us taxpayers so he could operate a mega business with no taxes.
“What has destroyed every previous civilization has been the tendency to the unequal distribution of wealth and power”
Henry George quote 1839. This is more true today….
We don’t need socialism but we do need change….
When the wealthy become too powerful then a government of the people and for the people disappears,
Henry George also said this:
“Capital is a result of labor, and is used by labor to assist it in further production. Labor is the active and initial force, and labor is therefore the employer of capital.”
Does that sound enough like socialism for you?
At least once “source” on the internet claims this is an Abraham Lincoln quote, but I’ve seen many, many more that attribute it to Pastor Adrian Rogers.
If you choose to “Share This”, Congratulations! You have been sucessfully manipulated to perpetuate and spread a negative stereotype. Was this wise statement made around the same time he made his statements about slavery being a maligned institution? He backed that comment up with scripture! There is not a molecule of Christianity in this statement.
come on Steve, His tax exempt status has nothing to do with taking your tax money. The very taxing entity that made the law, did not state that they would take from tax payers and give to the 501(c)3 organizations. So Pastor Rogers did not get your tax money. You allowed the ones you voted in to take more and more of your tax money and for what, more pork barrel spending.
I’d like to know if he really said that about slavery. I went to church with him in the 60’s. My parents knew him very well. I never heard any of that language from him or his son.
Jesus didn’t say to go and force your neighbor to help the poor.
Whether he said that about slavery is irrelevant to the discussion of the other quote. Judge the quote for what it says, not on his other words or thoughts.
Hear, hear!
After reading all these responses I find myself sad that our nation has come to a people that cares so little for one another.We who {have} do not wish to keep it away from others,but are frustrated by the abuse of how and to whom it is dispersed. Jesus also described how important it is to “teach a man to fish” not feed him for a day. Our gov. programs feed you, our taxes feed you, but MOST poor people are not willing to “learn to fish”. They like not having to sacrifice and work hard. They blame parents,schools/teachers that don’t care,circumstances, etc. but never their own poor decisions and concequences thereof and lack of motivation. No I don’t want to get up every morning at 6, go to work run a business,work hard only to give it to someone who simply enjoys the fruit of my labor.
I’m not surprised that the honorable and fair-minded Pastor Rogers also said: “I feel slavery is a much maligned institution. If we had slavery today we would not have such a welfare problem.” But he forgot to add that slavery was the first welfare system, not for the slaves but for the power hungry and parasitic slaveowners. Indeed, Proudhon, the French philosopher may have said it best, “Property is Theft.”
I don’t disagree that slavery was welfare among other thingd. But the phrase “Property is Theft” is a contradiction.