The eighth commandment is straightforward: thou shalt not steal. Theft or stealing is taking another man's property by coercion, fraud, or without his consent. Harming or destroying its value is also theft. Thus, graffiti is a form of theft. The victims don't need to know about the theft for it to be a sin. And it doesn't matter if the object of the theft is large or small. Some thefts are not so obvious. There are "respectable" thefts – the not-so-obvious sins. The ones we do not see or hear about or conveniently overlook. Such thefts as cheating on a school test, not paying off credit cards, habitually showing up late for appointments, not reporting tips on income tax forms, failing to scan all items in a self-checkout line, not paying late fees, and plenty more. Question: Is there any situation when it is permissible to steal? Roman Catholics use Proverbs 6:30-31 to allow stealing when one is facing dire circumstances, like extreme hunger. As fellow sinners, we understand what it means to be in dire straits and can relate to the temptation to steal. Even though he is not despised, he is still breaking the law. How do we know? Because the text commands that if he is caught, the thief must make restitution. What must we do to things to fight against this sin? One, remember that God is the owner of all things and that when we steal, we ultimately steal from Him. Second, God commands us to work. We are to labor with our hands that which is good in order to give, as Ephesians 4 instructs us.
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Kurt Snow serves as a ruling elder at Covenant Reformed Church of Sacramento (RCUS). He served as a member of the Board of Governors of City Seminary of Sacramento from 2000 to 2020.
