Is robbery a sin?

Let's say a very rich and selfish man, deprives his servant of food, & if the servant robs a loaf of bread, has he committed a sin.
As per the law of any land, he has committed a crime, but what has the Bible or teachings of Jesus to say?

Survival of the fittest.

well, according to the bible yeah.
but if its between starving or living, what would 'god' rather you do?
thats why you shouldn't interpret everything so strictly.

its not a sin...if it happened under different surcome stances then yes...but if anything the rich dude committed a sin cause he deprived the poor man of food...so no not a sin

You know, it's a really good question. Actually, it's one I understand very well, because before my husband and I met, he actually had a boss who refused to pay him. He lived on the property, and was well away from civilization. He had no transportation without money, so one night he snuck into the house of his boss and stole two cans of beans. He was caught red handed and now has a burglary charge on his record.

Not good. Anyway, in my view it is a sin, but a lesser sin than that of letting your servant starve. Jesus emphasized treating your servants well, even releasing them. It does say in the ten commandments that you should not steal.

Rock and a hard place I'd say. But if you ask forgiveness for the crime, pay your penalties and lean on God rather than on yourself, understanding that you are a sinner, it will not stop you from going to heaven.

Hope I helped.

It would depend on your beliefs. If you follow the bible to the letter, it would still be a sin, although since christ forgives, yadda yadda.

I don't believe in organized religion, or the bible.(I do believe in god) And my belief is that if it's for survival, and you only take what you need to survive, and nothing more, and there were no other options,than no sin or crime is committed.(wow, that's the longest run on sentence I've ever written.)

Commandment: thou shalt not steal

Mat 19:17 Jesus said to him, 'Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. If you want to have eternal life, you must obey his commandments.'
Mat 19:18 'Which ones?' the man asked. Jesus answered, 'Do not murder. Be faithful in marriage. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others.
Mat 19:19 Respect your father and mother. And love others as much as you love yourself.'
Seems stealing is a sin. . . . But in the case of starvation I'm believe God would show grace.

It is a sin to steal no matter what the reason.

I do believe, however, that there are some sins that are less a sin than others, but it is still a sin...

Sure, it's stealing - Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.

what about this example.

You're literally minutes away from death from starvation: You have no money to buy food, no objects to barter for food, can't even crawl another step to dig for worms or something that could sustain you.

Someone accidentally drops a piece of bread within you're reach, they are mean and arrogant and don't care about you, and do not give you permission to eat the bread.

You have a minute of opportunity before they realize they dropped it and turn around to pick it back up.

Is it a sin to eat it, thus saving your life, or should you just lay there and die?

Again this is why I believe it's not always a sin, depending on your beliefs.

No one here, can say 100% what is, or is not a sin as though it were a fact for everyone else. My point is, it is what you BELIEVE to be a sin.

If you believe in the bible, then in your opinion, stealing is always a sin, but if you do not believe in the bible or the 10 commandments, then how could it be a sin in this instance to you?

I'm not getting in an arguement over religion, all I'm saying to the people saying 'yes it is a sin,100%' can't you agree that it depends on what you believe in personally?

Ignore those who say it is a sin. They're not giving you the whole story. Read Luke 16:19-25, and tell me then whether the Bible deals more harshly with the rich person who neglects the poor, or the poor man who steals to survive. Also, consider these verses:

Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.
Deut. 26:12. When you have finished paying the complete tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and the widow, that they may eat in your towns, and be satisfied.

Lev. 19:19ff. Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.

Prov. 31:8ff. [Commandment to kings.] Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.

Is. 58:66ff. Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Jer. 22:3. Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Luke 12:33. 'Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys.'

Luke 3:11. And [John the Baptist] would answer and say to them, 'Let the man with two tunics share with him who has none, and let him who has food do likewise.'

Mt. 5:42. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

As stated above, 'Thou shalt not steal'. Very true. In the case of servants being not given food, Scripture is very clear that masters are to not withhold a servants due in what ever form that may be, either money to buy or food to eat. The motive of the heart is then revealed. If the servant has another means to acquire food and doesn't utilize it and then takes the food then yes it's stealing and yes it's a sin.

If you use common sense rather than dictates from ancient books, there's no dillema. All but the most callous of people would say it's ok for the poor man to steal the bread.

Apparently, we 'sinful' humans are more caring than the 'all loving god'.

'Deut. 26:12. When you have finished paying the complete tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and the widow, that they may eat in your towns, and be satisfied. '

mjax1979, this sound like communist talk to me.. Was JC a socialist?

lol jimahl, it would seem so!

It just amazes me though. When you count the number of times the Bible encourages people to help the poor and needy, and compare it with the number of times it discusses homosexuality, it really makes you wonder how Christians got their priorities so mixed up. I'm not defending the Bible as the ultimate source of wisdom, but even Christians distort their own holy book.

That is not A SIN!!! Absolutely NOT!!!

God is not an ogre... He is a very kind and loving entity that is full of mercy and good will, toward his human family.

The whole bible is written so that we will be good one to another. God does not want us to live our lives in sin, neither does he want us to go hungry.

The bible says that the letter of the law, killeth... but, the spirit giveth life.

That means that he gave us the law to show us how he wanted us to live, and then, he gave the spirit to enable us to do so.

Nothing in his word tells me that he would punish a man for trying to feed himself. However, I believe that if that man would pray... that God would provide for him.

In 1 Samuel, 21, David and his men were hungry... and nothing was available for them to eat, except the holy bread, that was consecrated or set apart for holy purposes, not as common bread for food, however, they were allowed to eat it, because they were hungry, and there was nothing else available. God would have mercy, rather than sacrifice. Always.

I think in some countries, a mans hand is cut off, if he is caught stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family.

Thank God... for mercy and forgiveness, rather than the strict letter of the law.

And for a country that has merciful laws, such as ours, that would not do that.

When the woman was caught in adultry, Jesus said to her, I do not condemn you, Go and sin no more. She was guilty, but, he set her free. This is mercy in action. Out of that mercy, God expects obedience to his will. He does not delight in punishing anyone. He much prefers to offer grace and mercy, so that we in turn, will choose to serve him, willingly.

There was a time, about 4 years ago, where I had no food, barely had a roof over my head,

I would regularly go 3 - 4 days without eating because I just couldn't get food. I prayed every night for food, and it never would come.

(every 4 days or so my mom would bring me some food, she was also puur and could barely afford to feed herself)

There were a few times I thought I was going to die(I wieghed 115 pounds at 5'6')

If god did anything, he let me live, but never brought me food.

'God is not an ogre... He is a very kind and loving entity that is full of mercy and good will, toward his human family. '

But if you just can't bring yourself to believe in him while you are alive due to the complete lack of evidence, you will spend eternity in hell. Real kind and loving entity you have there...

tizubythefizo ... I am very sorry that you went thru this experience, but, I am glad that you survived.

I do not know why God did not respond to you.

Some questions we may not have answers to until we actually meet him, face to face.

I hope that maybe you will seek him further, as a life lived unto him, is very rewarding.

jimahl - here are some more thoughts on this subject:

Is there a Judgement outside of Heaven & Hell?

What does Gods word say about Judgement?

Romans 2: 5-16
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are
treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgement of God, who will render to each one, according to his deeds, eternal
life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and
immortality:but to those who are self -seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness-indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul
of man who does evil, or the Jew first and also of the Greek, but, glory honor
and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the
Greek. For there is no partiality with God.For as many as have sinned without
the law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law, will
be judged by the law,( for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God,
but the doers of the law will be justified: for when Gentiles, who do not have the
law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are
a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts
accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets
of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
3:5-6
But if our unrighteousness demonstartes the righteousness of God,
what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? Certainly not !! For then,
how will God judge the world?

Postscript from - (Spirit Filled Bible)

Paul stresses that both Jews and Gentiles are accountable to God for
judgement. They differ from each other in that Jews possess the law, while
Gentiles do not, even though by natrue they do some of the things that are
stipulated in the law. God has given all people a moral instinct (conscience )
though repeated sin or cultural acceptance may distort their understanding.
(Or sear their conscience) The point is that people will be judged according
to the revelation they have. The standard of judgement for Jews will be the
written law, the standard for pagans will be the unwritten law of conscience
and nature. The underlying reason for the increasing corruption of societies
is that they have no fear of God, that is, thinking they will not have to answer
to God, for their immorality. 3:19 That every mouth may be stopped. At the
Day of Judgement, no one will be able to say that God has been unfair in
his judgement. The Jews had God's written laws in scripture, and the Gentiles
has God's moral standards in their hearts and consciences, enough at least
to cause them to seek Him further.