We cannot steal signs!

A while back, our church had a couple of the “Vote For Amendment One” signs stolen from our grounds. After some quick searches online, I discovered that there were/are several churches in North Carolina who had their signs stolen or vandalized.

Soon after, I saw a story in the local paper about a lady who was charged with stealing signs. She had stolen 3 of the “Vote Against Amendment One” signs.

She has claimed 2 different reasons: First that it was the will of God to take the signs (which we’ll see in a minute is inaccurate). Second, that it was a great idea that her daughter had.

She then exercises her right to voice her opinion by writing a letter to the editor defending her actions. She even compared herself to Daniel or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the Bible. However, she was not ready for others to exercise their right to voice on opposing opinion in the comments section of that letter to the editor. In fact, she went to the newspaper complaining that they allowed such comments to be posted.

Here’s the long and short of this matter. The Bible says that stealing is wrong (I do believe it’s in stone somewhere – oh, yeah, in the 10 commandments). Secondly, she cannot compare her situation with that of Daniel or his 3 friends. They chose to worship and serve God only (which is what the Bible says) rather than obey man’s laws to worship someone else. I do not see any law in the Bible that says that stealing is okay in certain situations.

Also, let’s not forget what 1 Peter 2:20 tells us: For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. If we are doing something that is wrong (like stealing) and we get in trouble for it (like this woman), it is not for our credit, or in other words we cannot throw the “Christian persecution card.”

Both sides have stolen signs, but neither is right in doing it. Plus I don’t know of anyone who has changed their mind or their position due to signs being stolen or vandalized.