Without a doubt I know that I have the smartest, wisest and even the “bestest” readers in all the world of Blogdom. And I have always valued the remarks and comments that are left here or that arrive to me in email (even the ones I disagree with). With that thought in mind I pose a question that was asked of me.
We know that God said, “Thou Shalt Not Steal” (Exodus 20:15). And we know that means that we are not to take things that do not belong to us. But, can we steal without taking anything? The question that was asked of me was by a friend who knew that a person was stealing from the store they both work at. This friends knowing wasn’t mere suspicion, but it was something that had been witness on several occasions. Where does our responsibility as Christians start in stop when we are witnesses to someone walking out with another’s goods?
Do we have a responsibility to look after another’s property when they aren’t around? Do we speak to the person who is doing the stealing? Are we our brother’s keeper? We as Christians know that stealing is wrong. When we witness it in the work place what are we to do?
I await your responses!
Until Next time May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You: All Y'all!
Bobby
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohon@embarqmail.com
25 June 2007
A Question I Pose
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
No one wants to be known as a "rat", but as a Christian we most likely do owe it to the individual and the one they are stealing from to confront them about it. Especially if it is where we work, our family, church, etc. Why shouldn't we confront the theif and ask them about it? Of course there may be times when it is not safe to confront the theif and we must just inform the owner of the stolen goods and/or the police. I think sometimes we feel like or say we don't want to get involved, but chances are we would still spread the gossip of the act even if we didn't confront the individual or "rat" them out to the authorities.
Good question. I say that we put the responsibility on the thief first. Tell him/her to admit and apologize and stop to whomever they are stealing from. If they don't do all or part of these things, their employer or the authorities need to be contacted... in my opinion anyway.
Isn't this precisely the sort of situation in which one should "first confront him, and if he will not listen..."?
Perhaps the best way of handling the situation depends on specifics (the relationship, for instance), but "look the other way and pretend you don't notice anything" isn't anywhere in my Bible.
Post a Comment