No Stealing

The Seventh Commandment.

Thou shalt not steal.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not take our neighbor's money or property, nor get them by false ware or dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and business [that his means are preserved and his condition is improved].
(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

In times past, I served at a Juvenile Correctional Facility in various capacities. I enjoyed it very much. Although many tried to justify their actions; the youth knew why they were there. They had been confronted in a court of law and found guilty. Being able to recognize and acknowledge that one has sinned is a good first step in making necessary changes to one's life so that one can live a fuller life and that God might be glorified. As a pastor, part of my call is to visit those who are in prison. I have had the rare occasion where someone who is incarcerated pre-trial actually confesses their sins and asks for forgiveness. It is always a relief when this happens and I am able to reassure them that although they will have to answer for their crimes in this world; God forgives them their sins and through the blood of Jesus they have been reconciled to our Father in heaven.

For those who deny their guilt, it is much more difficult. I remember speaking with one woman who swore that she had never stolen anything. She was quite adamant (and loud), in spite of the fact, that she had already been convicted of credit card fraud and had spent time in prison for it, that she had never stolen anything from anybody. She could not relate stealing to using someone else's identity to obtain credit cards and then use them for her own profit. Frankly, this conversation was pretty frustrating. It is beyond me how someone can steal something, get caught, be found guilty, go to prison and still deny that they have ever stolen anything. Of course, this person did not claim to be a Christian. But, she does claim to be a "good" person because according to her she has never stolen (paper) money. Semantics! It reminds me of something my grandchildren would often do when they were young. I would make the mistake of asking them who they were talking to when they were on their cell phones. Their response was usually "no one." Of course, they weren't talking to anyone. They were texting or messaging. I had to change the question to: "With whom are you communicating?" That seemed to cover most everything they might be doing on their phones. Semantics!

Semantics won't make a thief less a thief. Either you have stolen from someone or not. It's best to be "Not!" It is also best not to be compounding the sin by lying about it. Confess and live in a way that brings peace and harmony to life with your neighbors. As Christians, we are not only commanded to not take our neighbor's property or money; we are to do all that we can to help our neighbor keep his or her property and even improve it. Whenever we do anything unjustly that would cause our neighbor to lose the use or the possession of his property we are stealing from them whether we end up with physical possession of the property or not. All the semantics in the world will not justify our sins. Only the blood of Jesus justifies.

May God help us to help and support our neighbors.

God's Peace - Pr. J