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THE LAWS OF GOD - #8

The Eighth Commandment and Related Scriptures

God has set forth HIS Laws in the Holy Scriptures for ALL Mankind to know--and obey (Proverbs 14:34 and Isaiah 60:12)!

8. THOU (you) SHALL NOT STEAL (rob--thieve)!

(Exodus 20:15 - Deuteronomy 5:19)...
The pagans of the wicked world are filled with the lust of greed and think nothing of robbing, stealing, or cheating to get what they want. (How they got something is not important--that they DO have possession of it is all that counts in their book!) But, God's People are not to be that way (for theivery is of the Devil--John 10:10). And we are to respect the rights and priviliges given by God to certain people to hold securely the possessions, property, and rights that they do by God's Law.

Unfortunately, theivery is a major crime industry and there are many popular forms of stealing, which we will deal with below.

.A COMMON PUNISHMENTS FOR GENERAL STEALING:

the general principle of the Law here is restitution--restoring as much as possible what the victim lost by the theft (Exodus 22:5-6). For, it is a firm Principle of Our Realm that CRIME SHOULD NOT PAY!

..1 DAYLIGHT ROBBERY:
If the thief is caught, stealing or vandalizing, during daylight hours, then the thief is simply to make full restitution of the item in question to the victim (Exodus 22:3)--plus Court Costs, below.

..2 LYING-DECEPTION:
If the theft be as the result of lying or some deception (false-advertizing), then the thief is to restore to the victim PLUS a fifth part more, as compensation for the hassles (Leviticus 6:1-5).

..3 MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD:
If the thief be caught with the victim's animals (means or tools of livelihood), then the thief is to restore to the victim double the value of what was taken (Exodus 22:4). However, if those animals (tools) be dead or destroyed, or sold to another, then the thief shall pay the vicitim 4 and 5 fold for what was taken (Exodus 22:1; Luke 19:8).

..4 SURVIVAL MEANS:
If the thief be caught with the victim's daily food or required medicines (or money for daily living expenses), then the thief shall restore the victim 7 fold (Proverbs 6:30-31).

..5 CURSE:
If the theft of a means of livelihood or survival means not be found or caught (or not proven conclusively), then we shall all gather together to pray God's Curse down upon the thief (whoever he may be), that he not go unpunished! (Exodus 22:11; Deuteronomy 27:24).

..6 WEAPONRY:
If the thief used a deadly weapon in the robbery, then treat not just as robbery but as a double crime--see LAW-6.A.2.o ARMED ROBBERY under Murder.

..7 COURT FINES:
In addition to making restitution to the victim for the theft, the thief is also to make a payment of an equal amount to the Courts as compensation for the damages to the community and society as a whole that his thievery caused--thus in essence paying double for stolen items (Exodus 22:7-9).

..8 FAILURE TO PAY:
If the thief should not pay as required or be unable to pay (and time payments should be allowed--so long as they are met), then he may choose to be sold for his theft (for limited indenture to work off his debt) or he may be imprisoned (Exodus 22:3; Matthew 18:25, 30). Moreover, if the thief fails to make good his proper restitution to the victim, then he is also to be excluded from Fellowship with the Congregation (I Corinthians 6:9-10).

..9 NIGHT-TIME THIEVERY:
If the thief should be caught or interrupted in stealing or vandalizing in the dark, then the thief may pay with his life on the spot--for in the night, who knows what he was truly up to or if he was armed or not (Exodus 22:2; John 10:10).

.B GENERAL PROVISIONS AGAINST STEALING:

some specific forms of stealing are directly banned by the Holy Scriptures:

..1 WEIGHTS & MEASURES:
No stealing from consumers by inaccurate or improper standards of measure, packaging, or display (Leviticus 19:35-36; Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Amos 8:5).

..2 ANIMALS, BEASTS-OF-BURDEN, WILDLIFE:
No stealing from the rights of animals to proper care and humane treatment (Genesis 1:28, 9:2-3; Deuteronomy 22:10, 25:4; Proverbs 12:10)--for the Holy Scirptures do support animal rights (1 Corinthians 9:9), even the rights of wildlife!

..3 FUTURE GENERATIONS - CONSERVATION:
No stealing from the rights or property of future generations--thus, conservation and preservation of what God has given us so that our descendants may be blessed thereby as well (Genesis 2:15, 9:1-2; Deuteronomy 20:19-20, 22:6-7; Proverbs 13:22)--see also Inheritance, below.

..4 FOREIGNERS:
No stealing from the rights or property of immigrants or visitors to Our Realm--rather than taking advantage of them, we are to help them understand and adapt to the Ways of Our World (Exodus 12:49, 22:21, 23:9; Leviticus 18:26, 19:10, 33-34, 23:22; Numbers 15:15-16; Deuteronomy 10:18-19, 24:19-22, 27:19, 31:12; Matthew 25:34-46). See also, Law 1.C GOLDEN RULE.

..5 POOR AND NEEDY:
No stealing from the rights or property of the Poor and Needy of Our Realm--for such is the work of the Devil and the game of his followers (John 10:10). Consequently, we must be sure that Our Poor are adaquately fed (Leviticus 23:22; Deuteronomy 23:24-25). And have sufficient raiment (clothing and shelter) to be able to endure (Deuteronomy 24:12-13, 17; Matthew 25:31-46). See also, Law 1.C GOLDEN RULE.

..6 HANDICAPPED:
No stealing from the rights and property of the infirmed and disabled--nor taking undo advantage of them in their weakened condition (Leviticus 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:18). Nor of the mentally ill (Matthew 17:14-18). See also, Law 1.C GOLDEN RULE.

..7 ELDERLY:
No stealing from the rights and property of the Aged or Ancients of the Community--and RESPECT of the Elderly shall be vigorously enforced by Our Courts, that none may dare to take advantage of them (Leviticus 19:32; Job 32:6; Proverbs 23:22; I Timothy 5:1-2). See also, Law 1.C GOLDEN RULE.

(Medicines and pain-killers for elderly and infirmed--Proverbs 31:6-7.)

..8 FRAUD:
No stealing through commercial misrepresentation or deliberate deception as a business practice--nor in the establishing of contracts or covenants (Exodus 23:7; Psalms 144:11; John 8:44; Revelations 21:27, 22:15). See also LAW 9.C.3 FRAUD under False Witness.

..9 EXTORTION:
No stealing through the use of force, violence, or the serious threat of violence or injury to obtain goods or services from those who are otherwise unwilling to give them (Psalms 10:9-10, 89:22; Luke 3:13; I Corinthians 6:10).

If assualt or battery was actually used, treat as a double crime--see LAW-6.C.2.m BATTERY AND AGRIVATED ASSAULT under Murder.

If a weapon was invloved, count also as armed robbery--see LAW-6.C.2.o ARMED ROBERRY under Murder.

If a death threat was given, treat as also attempted murder--see LAW-6.C.2.n DEATH THREAT under Murder.

..10 BLACKMAIL:
No stealing through the refraining of telling or not disclosing of personal secrets, embarassing moments, or information of an immoral or criminal nature to obtain goods and services from those who would otherwise not be willing to give them (Genesis 3:10; Exodus 2:14). Moreover, if either involving a crime that the victim had committed or a crime that the perpetrator wanted committed, treat also as Gangsterism--see LAW-10.C.1 GANGSTERISM under High Crimes with conspiracy.

..11 ARMED ROBBERY:
No stealing with the use of a weapon, whether threatening life or limb--see LAW-6.C.2.o ARMED ROBBERY under Murder.

..12 KIDNAPPING-ABDUCTION:
No stealing of persons or individuals, whether taking them places without their consent or holding them confined without their permission--see LAW-6.C.2.l KIDNAPPING under Murder.

..13 RACIAL DISCRIMINATION--HATE CRIMES:
No stealing of property (goods or services) nor rights from individuals or groups solely because of their ethnic group, national origin, or race--and especially NO such takings from God's People or the support of anti-Semitism! (Esther 3:9-13, 7:9-10; Acts 17:26) See also, Law 1.F AND 1.G RELIGIOUS TOLERTION and RACIAL TOLERATION!

.C SPECIFIC PROVISIONS AGAINST STEALING:

Certain kinds of theft have there own specific provisions in the Holy Scriptures. You may access these via the following links.

..1 LIABILITY
..2 CONTRACTS
..3 LABOR RELATIONS
..4 CREDIT
..5 INHERITANCE

..6 REAL ESTATE
..7 SLAVERY
..8 MONOPOLY

.D HOLY PROVISIONS AGAINST STEALING (Sacrilege)

The Holy Scriptures have many Provisions for not stealing from God. Use the link below to access them:

To get HOLY PROVISIONS - Sacrilege (Click Here)!



MORE INFO ON GOD'S LAWS!

Now, whatever you do, don't stop here. There is more to learn, and to grow into the Spiritual Realm--and become a good Citizen of Our World!

To get the next article in this series on the 9th Commandment, with its prohibition of False Witnessing, lying and other deceptions--as well as the Foundations of DUE PROCESS OF LAW, use the link below:

To get 9th COMMANDMENT Article (Click Here--on caps)!


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Filed: 7-15-98 . . . Updated 12-26-00