LAKE FOREST, Calif., April 8 (UPI) -- California mega-church leader Pastor Rick Warren said Sunday the biggest economic problem the United States faces is the "inability to delay gratification."
"We have overspent," Warren said on ABC's "This Week." "The biggest problem for all of our economic problems is our inability to delay gratification. I want it and I want it now. And I'm going to buy it even if I can't afford it. And not only have people done that, the government has done it."
Warren, leader of the Saddleback Church attended by 20,000 in Lake Forest, said that while "the Bible says we are to care about the poor," he doesn't believe in wealth distribution.
"The only way to get people out of poverty is J-O-B-S. Create jobs," he said. "To create wealth, not to subsidize wealth. When you subsidize people, you create the dependency. You rob them of dignity. The primary purpose of government is to keep the peace, protect the citizens, provide opportunity. And when we start getting into all kinds of other things, I think we invite greater control."
The evangelical leader said he doesn't believe Americans are not better off economically today than they were four years ago.
"I hold everybody responsible for that. I hold the people who got themselves in debt. I hold the government that got themselves in debt. I hold multiple administrations. It's not the fault of any one person. There's plenty enough blame to be passed around," he said.
