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Christ Church is part of the Diocese of St Albans Christ Church is part of the Church of England Living to Love God

 

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How to prosper with a clear conscience Do not steal

Mental images
- caricature of thief / idol worshipper
- word changing = reality changing
- separates us from the reality

“Stealing is to wrongfully take anything that does not belong to you”
We are clever at this

Ways to Steal

Direct theft
STORY: living in Bristol – 3 thefts
Other theft: in office, phone calls, internet
All do it = ok = deceiving ourselves
STORY: Los Angeles riots 1992, reporter asked crowd outside music store – “Gospel tapes, because I love Jesus”

Fraud
Theft and lying – false accounts, misleading adverts, fake documents
OT – Deut 19:14 – boundary stones
OT – Amos 8:4-6 – dishonest weights
OT concerned about exploiting poor, widow, orphan
Clean – no dirty hands, no damaged people/property
But cheat taxman, sub standard service, rich v poor concern

Exploitation
STORY: Trade Justice Campaign issue
OT – Lev 19:13 – pay promptly
OT – Exod 22:25-27 – merciful treatment needed
OT – Isa 10:1-2 – unfair legal system cheats justice
OT – Amos 5:10-11 – high taxes/high rents (cp. Deng’s rent)
We can – buy carefully, support companies, offer fair wages, etc.

Subtle stealing
Robbing people of time (cp. love spelt T I M E)
Environmental damage – rob children’s inheritance
God – cheat in time, gifts and money

Stealing wrong

Stealing is offence against God
Ps 24:1 – everything belongs to God – accountability
Matt 25:14-30 – parable of talents – accountability
Ps 51: 4 – David’s sin – against God and God alone

Stealing betrays our relationship to God
STORY: lottery – gain what is not ours
Shows no trust in God to provide
Shows no Christian family likeness

Stealing is bad for us
- bad for community (cp. 1954=75,443 reported burglaries, 2005 = over 1,000,000)
- creates vicious circle of stealing, lies, greed

Our Response

Reflection
- attitude to possessions

Repentance

Restitution
STORY: conviction of J John, huge bins filled

Realignment
- grateful for what we have
- live for God daily
- use wisely what we have
- give generously (EPH 4:28 If you a thief. stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need. NLT)


Closing Prayer
Bread of Tomorrow (ed. Janet Morley), p. 174, para 7