If someone you know committed a crime...

[CoilyFields]

Would you turn them in? Do you feel its your "christian" duty to turn in lawbreakers?

I was watching the news this morning about a hit and run. I wondered how I would feel and what I would do if the driver turned out to be someone I knew. Especially someone close to me like a parent or spouse? Would I call the police and turn them in? Would I just encourage them to turn themselves in?

What would you do?

If you felt spiritually obligated to turn them in...could you really do it?

Does the crime matter? (unintentional vs. intentional, manslaughter vs. theft etc.)

Any scriptures to contribute?

 

[LucieLoo12]

The bible says we should not be partakers in any man sins...and I feel like if I knew you did something illegal and did not say anything, I would be partaking in it. I would give the person a chance to turn themselves in, but if they didnt..I would...

Would you turn them in? Do you feel its your "christian" duty to turn in lawbreakers?

I was watching the news this morning about a hit and run. I wondered how I would feel and what I would do if the driver turned out to be someone I knew. Especially someone close to me like a parent or spouse? Would I call the police and turn them in? Would I just encourage them to turn themselves in?

What would you do?

If you felt spiritually obligated to turn them in...could you really do it?

Does the crime matter? (unintentional vs. intentional, manslaughter vs. theft etc.)

Any scriptures to contribute?

 

[CoilyFields]

Alicialynn86 do you remember what scripture that is?

It's interesting, considering our society can have a very "not my business so I don't care" attitude.

Would this also apply to things that you saw out in public or at your job/school? Like if you saw a student cheating would you tell the professor? If your coworker took home a ream of paper would you tell the supervisor? If you were shopping in a store and saw someone put something in their bag would you tell the manager? These are just more "minor" examples of the same question...is it your duty to speak up.

Thanks for answering. I can say for myself that I have never really thought about it but I know I have not spoken up if it was a "victimless" crime (not that Ive witnessed many crimes lol). But this morning made me ask weather Im neglecting my duty (or rather if it is my duty and if so would I do it).

 

[Shimmie]

There's a Ministry in Maryland which allows those 'on the run' to come to them for support and it encourages them to turn themselves in. From what I understand, it has been a sucessful Ministry. Many have surrendered their hearts to the Lord.

I can't say anything about their sentences, as I don't have that information. However, this is what I would do in a situation if someone I knew committed a crime. I'd support them and walk beside them through the process of turning themselves in and the outcome of it. I'd be in prayer during and after the entire process. Only God knows the judgement which should be rendered.

 

[LucieLoo12]

1st Timothy 5:22
22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. (NIV)

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. (KJV)


Answers are in red

@Alicialynn86 do you remember what scripture that is?

It's interesting, considering our society can have a very "not my business so I don't care" attitude.

Would this also apply to things that you saw out in public or at your job/school? Like if you saw a student cheating would you tell the professor? If your coworker took home a ream of paper would you tell the supervisor? If you were shopping in a store and saw someone put something in their bag would you tell the manager? These are just more "minor" examples of the same question...is it your duty to speak up.

(now I am speaking on how I would feel I would react, but at the end of the day it would be how the spirit would led me. The spirit of God may tell me to be merciful. Merciful shall receive Mercy. It may lead to tell on them. I dont know this until it happens.


Sometimes people are delievered from things when they get exposed on it. Not all but some. Now I do not go around looking to "tattle" on people. lol. Even though there is no sin greater than the other, I would have to evaluate the situation to see how can it be handled. Now the co worker thing, that person is not putting anyone in any kind of dangerous harm. Yes, stealing is wrong. But would I go and tell about some paper? I dont believe so. Now if I see this person stealing money from the job or the co workers yes, I would. You may have a woman shoplifting bread and milk to feed her kids because she cant afford, is it stealing? yes, its wrong, but I dont believe she should go to jail and become a felon for it. Now the co-worker stealing paper from work to make flyers for her sorority party, she dont deserve termination but she does deserved to be reprimanded....hard to say when I would tell, it just depends on the situation. In my original post, I said yes, because I seen the word "murder" . And in that case, yes mam. But like I said, I would give the person an oppurtunity to come clean themselves. But to know you took another human beings life and I sit back and say nothing, . I couldnt sleep at night, knowing a murder is running around and could possibly hurt more people, and I say nothing..

I wouldnt say its my duty to speak up, I'm not the Christian Police, , but its out of my integrity and character. Also my love for people. People feel like "you mean, you shouldnt have said anything".But the bible says open rebuke is better than secret love. Some people wont stop until they get caught. But this is a case by case....

Thanks for answering. I can say for myself that I have never really thought about it but I know I have not spoken up if it was a "victimless" crime (not that Ive witnessed many crimes lol). But this morning made me ask weather Im neglecting my duty (or rather if it is my duty and if so would I do it).

 

[CoilyFields]

^^^ LOL @ Christian police...

I do agree that it would usually be a case by case situation if it were a "minor" crime. But I like to think that if it was something as big as murder that I would turn the person in if they did not confess. I say "like to think" because it would be hard to turn in my husband or mother, especially if it were an accident...

I would definately need the wisdom and power of the Holy Ghost to get through that.

 

[CoilyFields]

There's a Ministry in Maryland which allows those 'on the run' to come to them for support and it encourages them to turn themselves in. From what I understand, it has been a sucessful Ministry. Many have surrendered their hearts to the Lord.

I can't say anything about their sentences, as I don't have that information. However, this is what I would do in a situation if someone I knew committed a crime. I'd support them and walk beside them through the process of turning themselves in and the outcome of it. I'd be in prayer during and after the entire process. Only God knows the judgement which should be rendered.

Shimmie,
if they refused to turn themselves in would you then report them?

I think that Maryland Ministry sounds awesome! I wonder if it's catholic...because I know Priests are bound to keep confessions secret but others aren't and how they deal with it. Do you remember what its called? website?

 

[Shimmie]

Shimmie,
if they refused to turn themselves in would you then report them?

I think that Maryland Ministry sounds awesome! I wonder if it's catholic...because I know Priests are bound to keep confessions secret but others aren't and how they deal with it. Do you remember what its called? website?

That's a good question, Coily... I don't know what I'd do about someone who refused to turn themselves in. I truly do not know, especially if I'm extremely close to them.

One thing for sure, I'd be in serious prayer and that's not just a cliche', I'd be praying for the will of God to prevail.

The one thing I'd be praying is for God to convict their hearts so strongly that they'd have no peace until they surrendered and did the right thing...

I'm not sure if the Ministry is Catholic or not. The name is something similar to House of Refuge ... when I looked it up on the web, it wasn't the same one.

This Ministry helps those who are afraid to turn themselves in. They support the 'offender' throughout the entire process. I was so impressed with this concept because I'd never heard of anything like it. It blew me away.

The exact name will come to me, I'm drawing a 'blank' right now. I won't be surprised if the name is no where near 'Refuge'... I'm thinking too hard.