We as a Christian culture do not take lying and stealing seriously in the body. We think of it with no more shame than eating too many cookies. We protect the offender with flattery rather than rebuking them with instruction and shame.
There is more than just criminal activity here. Many of God’s principles have been broken by this one single act. When we steal from others we are deceitful. When we steal we are dishonoring our parents, husband and children, they are the ones most harmed by our thievery.
When we steal we are taking what does not belong to us therefore bringing hardship on those we steal from and bringing shame to Christ when we bare his name.
When we steal and go before the judge claiming that it is our parents fault or our upbringing that festers in our deepest recesses, with bitterness and anger we are lying. We are lying when we say we can’t help ourselves, what we mean is that we want people to feel sorry for us, so that our shame is diminished and even eliminated.
When we steal we are teaching our children wickedness and how to excuse their sinful behavior and how to lie to get out of trouble.
When we steal we mismanage our funds in terms of the fines and jail time we pay after being caught. We also spend other peoples money through tax dollars that are used to house and feed us while we are in jail.
We inconvenience our friends when they have to agonize over going to court with us and coming back later after our sentence is up. We may even break up a marriage or friendship when those who love us feel we can no longer be trusted.
We are terrible examples to the judge and other workers in the courthouse who know that we are Christians. Our witness is damaged and it is so far reaching that those in the courtroom who have seen the carnage will go and disparage Christ to all their unsaved friends and even persecute other believers because of our actions. Very often our names are printed in the newspaper for the entire community to see, further damaging the reputation of Christ and His followers.
When we steal we cause division within the church between the flatterers and those who are concerned about holiness and confession and brokenness in the soul of the offender.
In short when we steal we damage the name of Christ and His followers in our homes, in our communities, in the courtroom while teaching young people and small children to lie, deceive and harm others for their own desires. And lastly, when we excuse our sin by blaming others, we are dishonoring God and breaking all ten commandments.
