Larceny in the Heart

by Rousas John Rushdoony

Why are the most successful and advanced members of society often deemed to be the criminals? In a word -- Envy. The envious man finds superiority in others intolerable, and he wishes to level and equalize all things. Many sociologists and social scientists turn this hatred and resentment into “virtue” under the guise of “social science” by calling it a demand for fraternity and equality. In this concise volume, Rushdoony uncovers the larceny in the heart of man and its class warfare and a conflict society in which the rise of hostility and envy are seen as steps towards social progress, when in fact they lead to disaster. The political solutions posited lead to an inflationary economy and an overbearing state. This book is a must-read to gain a biblical understanding of the underlying tenets of this codified coveting and the only certain long-term cure.

Genres: Economics, Theology, Christianity

168 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2003

About the author

Rousas John Rushdoony was a Calvinist philosopher, historian, and theologian and is widely credited as the father of both Christian Reconstructionism and the modern homeschool movement. His prolific writings have exerted considerable influence on the Christian right.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love nothing more than to have a box of 10,000 copies of this to hand out to every church in my local area. So many Christians and people in general are ignorant of the Bibles position on wealth, money, and debt.

Rushdoony was against statism more than just about anything. He uses that word in his writings like I use and. He discusses what is going on in our government with their inablility to protect our currency from inflation, which robs us of our wealth.

In typical Rushdoony fashion he will look at the depravity of man, and how it links to these problems. He will put forth ideas that may give you pause to the sanity of this man because there are very few Christians who wrote like Rushdoony, but you will be better off for it.

We must educate ourselves, especially with what we face today. This is an excellent primer, and from here on into, Mises, Hayek, Rothbard, and Hazlitt. Get it , read it!

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good intro to biblical economics. Envy drives the economics of Satan. It is the direct cause of why we have issues like inflation and insurmountable amounts of debt. The larceny that Rushdoony mentions in the title is an apt description for those in our government and elsewhere who trod over the poor, tax without regard, and pocket money at the direct expense of others. That larceny has ensconced their hearts. Rushdoony makes the case that economics is, at its root, a theological issue. Sproul and his son would make a similar argument years later. I'm not yet convinced that is the case despite the popularity for that view now. So when I say this is a book about Biblical economics, I mean that the truths of scripture inform every area of our lives, but some topics are not borne out of, or drawn from, specific scriptural texts. For instance, there is a biblical way to train your dog (you don't beat it or electrocute it, you are patient and not lazy about it, etc.), but it is not a theological issue, at least not systematically speaking. I think I am more concerned that we are turning everything into a theological issue and it lessens the power and truth of those things that truly are theological issues. But that's just me being nitpicky.

[Jordan Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of essays on economics from a Biblical perspective. It is not written as a cohesive whole, but common themes come through as one progresses through the chapters. Lots of insights in here, and a couple ideas that made me stop and say, "Wow. I had never thought about it that way."

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK. A lot of the essays feel short and sketchy. The Politics of Guilty and Pity feels much more meaty, and the Foundations of Social Order has a lot more heavy-duty historical and theological thinking. There is some good stuff here, however.

[Chris Concannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 stars. Wouldn't expect anything else from a Rush book. It's one thing to read an economics book. Its another to study the philosophy behind economics. Rushdoony did an amazing job covering the biblical worldview of economics and how it is superior to all others.