Written by a CE Guest Contributor

Theft happens in our culture for many different reasons. As Christians, we have to understand it is not a cookie cutter answer on how to handle it. We have to be led by God and work through the individual situation and reference the Word of God for wisdom.

During this time of year - the Christmas season, people scurry everywhere buying last minute gifts and unfortunately, they let their guard down.  Criminals often use people being inattentive to their advantage to then commit crimes.

How should a Christian respond to a thief?

We know God’s intolerance for it in the Old Testament.

Let’s read Exodus 22:7 - “If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double.”

For many people trying to get their life right - this is the perfect response for them to get free. It models repentance.

The Word of God then in the New Testament tells us not to demand back what has been stolen and to turn the other cheek.  Remember this scripture in Matthew 5:38-40 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.”

We are also commanded to pray for our enemies.  Now that is a REALLY hard one. How do we think about doing that?

Was this scripture really intended for us in modern America?

MY MOTHER’S EXAMPLE

What happens when you have a neighbor, whom according to Jesus you are supposed to love “as you love yourself” - but yet that person acts with nothing but hostility towards you and your family?  

My mom’s answer was simply to pray.  

When I was a child, we had a neighbor that I am describing above, which would drive by slowly, flipping the bird at us on a daily basis. It was horrible.

The situation progressed to a place where my brother and I, who were only 12 and 16 at the time, were sued in a frivolous lawsuit by this neighbor with all sorts of made-up allegations.

What did my mother do?

She prayed.

The witness of my mother praying for her enemies has left a legacy in my life that cannot be ignored.

THE LUNCHROOM THIEF

Now on to a present-day situation……

A lunchroom thief began stealing food from others at my company. A hidden camera was installed, and the thief was caught… only to find out it was not someone who fortuitously saw something delicious in someone else’s lunchbox and decided to take it.  No, this person was merely hungry.  

The person who had taken the food was the contracted janitorial employee. 

Our corporate policy is to terminate anyone stealing on the premises.  Now, I was a Christian caught between the need to be obedient towards my employer and also sympathetic to this person experiencing a food insecurity. What was the answer?

I reached out to my peers on LinkedIn, thinking surely, they’d have the right answer. Their answer: theft is theft, the thief needs to be terminated. 

I found myself asking, is the easy answer to merely follow corporate policy? After all, people know me as someone who is a hard-nosed “rules are rules” kind of guy.  

How could I not follow through with the termination?

I prayed. 

Surprisingly - I was moved by compassion to take my concern up the chain of command to someone who could approve a deviation from corporate policy.  I knew I’d have one chance and one chance only as I risked spending political and relationship capital and maybe my boss losing respect for me.  I found myself asking, is it worth it?

I was devising a plan… to reward the thief, thinking, if I am going to fail, I am going to fail big.  Not only did I seek to deviate from corporate policy, but I went to the CEO, letting him know that I wanted to give the thief a $100 gift card to a local grocery store as a blessing and offer them forgiveness.

My CEO knows I take my Christian faith very seriously. He takes jabs at me for being a Christian from time to time. He tells others he was once a Baptist deacon but now he is a reformed atheist. 

I scheduled 15 minutes with my CEO, letting him know that I needed to share a plan with him to remedy this theft within the organization.  

My palms were sweaty, a bit nervous, as I shared the plan.  I wanted to not only forgive our contracted janitorial worker, but I also wanted us to provide assistance. My plan: Not only to give the gift card as a one-time gift and to also share information regarding a variety of food pantries and churches that could assist if food insecurities arise in the future.

Anticipating criticism, I was pleasantly surprised, as my CEO said, “Absolutely! This was the right thing to do in this circumstance.”  He went a step further to share my plan of action with others in senior management, all of whom respected me for letting my soft side show. It was a response I was not expecting and frankly surprised by.

Approval granted. Wow!

I reserved the board room and requested that the janitorial worker meet with me. Speaking through an interpreter who speaks Spanish, I let her know she’d been caught on camera stealing.  She cried, stating she was sorry and that she’d never do it again. Then I presented her with mercy - the gift card and information about the food pantries.  She said she could not accept the gift card, because she was not worthy of it.

We could feel God’s presence in the room.

Eyes teared up.

I explained to her that none of us are worthy and that we all have sinned, that Jesus Christ has forgiven us, and as He has forgiven me, I have forgiven her. 

Tearfully, she accepted the card, and speaking through the interpreter, thanked me and promised again, never to steal again.

HOW DO WE HANDLE A THIEF?

We are led by the Spirit and ask God for the mind of Christ.

Just as the lunchroom thief received her reward, have you received your reward from Jesus Christ this Christmas Season?

It is there waiting for you. It just takes a humble heart.

All you have to do is believe in Him and accept the free gift. Let Him take your life of theft and turn it into a life of abundance.

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