Stolen Bible?

[HogWild]

The History Channel just said the the Bible is the most shoplifted book in the world.

Let's assume for a moment that this statement is true...

Does a stolen Bible produce fruit in the thief/reader?

Seriously, or not so seriously, just wanting to have to some with this...

[RamboPreacher]

happens at church. I have had dozens of Bibles "borrowed" at church. and as leadership, I am privy to lost and found and that kind of thing. these are Bibles that are "taken", not misplaced. and not returned.

one time I noticed someone had one of "my" old bibles in it's same leather case (that's how I recognized it). the person was a new visitor and that is also why i was weirdly drawn to it. I thought it had to be a coincidence.

after a couple weeks of his returning to the church, I approached him to ask him about his Bible. didn't mention that i thought it was mine, only that I admired it and wanted to take a look.

sure enough, it was my old one. the front page with my name was apparently cut out, but I did recognize my highlighting and underscores and recalled that I had written some minor notes in Ephesians, and sure enough - my hand writing and notes.

I mentioned to the visitor that it seemed to be well warn (he initially told me it was his "new" Bible), in reference to that, and he just said that it was new to him and that it was given to him by a friend (mentioned the name). that person had stopped attending our local church a couple months earlier - not sure why.

I just handed it back to him and commented that it is a nice Bible and that someday I might get one like it.

[HogWild]

Rambo,

Shoplifting implies one that is stolen from a place that sells the item. Let's throw out Bibles taken from churches and hotels for the purpose of a humorous and speculative discussion...

If I steal a Bible, does the Holy Spirit move on my heart as I read it? Does it then move on my heart to return and/or pay for it? Or, after reading it can I become a new creation and not have to worry about the theft?

This is fun.

[RamboPreacher]

Rambo,

Shoplifting implies one that is stolen from a place that sells the item. Let's throw out Bibles taken from churches and hotels for the purpose of a humorous and speculative discussion...

If I steal a Bible, does the Holy Spirit move on my heart as I read it? Does it then move on my heart to return and/or pay for it? Or, after reading it can I become a new creation and not have to worry about the theft?

This is fun.

the Holy Spirit is God. He can move on their hearts. there is no reason He can't or shouldn't.

as far as obedience to that conviction (as opposed to guilt/condemnation that is NOT from God), that is up to the person. perhaps God will work in them to repay. perhaps not. God Does what God does.

Especially if they are not "saved" prior to the theft. if, on the other hand, they are "saved" at the theft, then I believe that God is not only able, but will convict them. Obedience, again, is up to and between them and God (assuming they aren't otherwise "caught").

Salvation is free; it is from God's Grace, and through faith. Discipleship can cost everything. Just because one is saved by grace through faith does not mean one is ethical by faith.