Do I report a fraud

[Guest Butero]

It's not a different question at all. Why should you report one crime but another?

Not all crimes are of the same gravity.   Hence penalties are very different between different gravities of crime.

Obviously murder is a much more seriously grave offense than stealing.

Murder deprives one of their life.

You are not comparing apples to apples here.

 

Is not welfare fraud taking food and or shelter away from someone who really deserves it? It a homeless person dies because they couldn't get services because someone you know is getting benefits who shouldn't? Welfare fraud is a serious crime. And I'm not talking about reporting someone who you "think" is doing it, but someone that you "know" is. People call out "tattle-tale" or "rat" or "snitch." Well, is that what you would call the people who help the police catch a thief or a murderer or gang banger who just committed a crime in your neighborhood? Sound familiar? How many lives are destroyed because of this attitude? How many crimes go unsolved? It works fine until it happens to you, than you want people to cooperate. S.N.I.T.C.H. stands for "share news if that can help."

How many people are killed because of an aggressive driver?  Do you report all of them to the police?  No homeless person in America is starving to death because of a welfare cheat.  Give me one news story that ever showed such a thing occurred, ever in America since the war on poverty began.  I am not a police officer.  I don't care how many crimes go unsolved because I didn't involve myself in something that is none of my business.  There was a lady that banged into an old car I had and damaged it.  The woman was high on drugs when she did it.  The car was messed up already, and I didn't report her.  I had compassion on her and did nothing.  I have no regrets about that, yet a crime went unpunished.  Big deal!  That took place probably about 15 years ago.  There was an old lady on her way to church that rear ended me at a traffic light.  I didn't report that either.  I had compassion on her and let her go.  I let a thief off the hook, and I know who he was.  I don't feel the need to do police work.  I am not paid for that. 

[Guest Butero]

When looking at the commandments ...are all equal? Or are we told that if you break one you have broken all of them. If you know of fraud....especially by those who call themselves "Christian" does it take the tint of sin off them? Or does it set them to a higher standard because of whose name they bear? If you know and say nothing you are no less guilty than they are morally and spiritually...it damages your witness of "Christian"

I hope you and Logan are prepared to start reporting all the crimes taking place on the highway.  I suggest you get a pen and paper and have it with you when you go out, and report everyone that drives above the speed limit, and doesn't wear a seat belt where required.  I also hope you report yourselves when you happen to break such a law, and your friends and family.  After all, you can't show favoritism.  If I know someone else committed a crime, and I say nothing, I am not just as guilty as they are in the sight of God.  I challenge you to prove in scripture that is the case.  There are only a couple of instances I know of in the law of Moses where a person was required to turn someone in for something they witnessed.  Even God doesn't require it for all offenses, but only the most serious. 

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.  Proverbs 18:8, Proverbs 26:22

A talebearer revealeth secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.  Proverbs 11:13

He that  goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets, therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.  Proverbs 20:19

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.  Proverbs 26:20

Before I read what the Bible says about being a talebearer, I might have agreed we should turn everyone in that does something wrong, but God showed me through his Word a long time ago it is not a wise thing to do in most instances, so I won't do it, and my advise to others is not to do it. 

 

By the way, I gave scripture to explain why I don't believe in reporting people like the one in the OP.  To those who disagree with me, where is yours? 

[Flames of Liberty]

It's not a different question at all. Why should you report one crime but another?

I can answer that.  Because a person that committed a murder is a violent criminal that would be a danger to repeat their crime and harm someone else.  I would not report something like was mentioned in the OP because I don't believe that person does pose any threat to me or anyone else.  It is a different type of crime.  That is like asking why we don't punish everyone that commits a crime the same?  After all, they are all crimes.  Why not execute a person who is caught speeding since we do it with murderers.  I wouldn't report someone who admitted to me they ran a red light, though that is illegal.  I drive a truck, and I witness people committing crimes on the highway all the time, but I don't write down their license plate and report them.  Do you report everyone speeding Logan?  If not, why not?  They are criminals. 

 If someone you know breaks into your house when nobody is home and steals from you, would you report that?  After all they are no threat to you since nobody is home.

They harmed me already when they broke into my house, and I have no assurance they won't do it again.  By the way, I already did have someone break into my house and rob me, and I chose not to report it.  I got an alarm system installed so it wasn't repeated.  Still, that was my choice.  Also, how would they know nobody was home?  They could come into my house or my neighbor's home to rob them, find they are home, and then it could turn violent.  Those people are a direct threat to me.  They are a threat to my property, my pets, my wife and myself, so I would likely report them.  I will report some crimes, as I already stated.  I would report it if my neighbor was abusing his children, but I won't report a neighbor I know won't wear his seatbelt when he drives.  And by the way, how about you?  Do you report every person you see violating a traffic law?  If not, you are inconsistent.  I am openly telling you I make a distinction between different kinds of laws.  I don't see them all as equal.  If they were all equal, the punishment for all crimes would be equal. 

 I do not report seatbelt violations as I am against seatbelt laws except for children so I actually approve of someone who chooses not to wear their seatbelt.  I approve of it not because I think it is a smart thing to do, but because it should be their right to make that choice. 

By not reporting something you are giving that something your approval.   Do you approve of fraud again the government.?

I don't believe the government has the Constitutional right to establish a welfare state, so I have no reason to stand against someone who violates laws pertaining to something I find to be illegal.  If that is the basis for your defense for not reporting seat belt violations, I most certainly can use that to defend my not reporting welfare fraud.  I could add tax fraud into the mix as I oppose the income tax.  The bottom line is, you don't get to decide what should be law and shouldn't be.  The laws state you must wear a seat belt, so you have just defended breaking the law as being ok so long as you don't like the law. 

That is more than fair, as long as you condone the action I can see why you would not report it. 

[Flames of Liberty]

When looking at the commandments ...are all equal? Or are we told that if you break one you have broken all of them. If you know of fraud....especially by those who call themselves "Christian" does it take the tint of sin off them? Or does it set them to a higher standard because of whose name they bear? If you know and say nothing you are no less guilty than they are morally and spiritually...it damages your witness of "Christian"

I hope you and Logan are prepared to start reporting all the crimes taking place on the highway.  I suggest you get a pen and paper and have it with you when you go out, and report everyone that drives above the speed limit, and doesn't wear a seat belt where required.  I also hope you report yourselves when you happen to break such a law, and your friends and family.  After all, you can't show favoritism.  If I know someone else committed a crime, and I say nothing, I am not just as guilty as they are in the sight of God.  I challenge you to prove in scripture that is the case.  There are only a couple of instances I know of in the law of Moses where a person was required to turn someone in for something they witnessed.  Even God doesn't require it for all offenses, but only the most serious. 

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.  Proverbs 18:8, Proverbs 26:22

A talebearer revealeth secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.  Proverbs 11:13

He that  goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets, therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.  Proverbs 20:19

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.  Proverbs 26:20

Before I read what the Bible says about being a talebearer, I might have agreed we should turn everyone in that does something wrong, but God showed me through his Word a long time ago it is not a wise thing to do in most instances, so I won't do it, and my advise to others is not to do it. 

 

By the way, I gave scripture to explain why I don't believe in reporting people like the one in the OP.  To those who disagree with me, where is yours? 

 If I took those same verses and applied them to murder,  would you agree I had biblical support not to report a murder? 

[Flames of Liberty]

'Biblically' abortion is murder.  Have you reported the abortionists who chop up babies inside their mother's womb?

There is no need to report them as they are licensed by the government.  

[AllTheGoodNamesAreTaken]

Here is my question;

Why do believers in the grace and mercy of God, through faith in Jesus stand against one another on a matter like this ? 

Is it that we must all act as our faith allows, through the guidance of His Spirit ? 

[Flames of Liberty]

Here is my question;

Why do believers in the grace and mercy of God, through faith in Jesus stand against one another on a matter like this ? 

Is it that we must all act as our faith allows, through the guidance of His Spirit ? 

This is a discussion forum,  the purpose is for discussions.  That is what is happening. 

[AllTheGoodNamesAreTaken]

Oh. True. Sorry. 

[AllTheGoodNamesAreTaken]

Having been reminded of that;

I have not kept all of God's law or man's law. I have sinned, and I have broken laws ( speeding, and I think I sang out of key once in NC ). I didn't turn myself in. 

[Guest Butero]

'Biblically' abortion is murder.  Have you reported the abortionists who chop up babies inside their mother's womb?

There is no need to report them as they are licensed by the government.  

The government also instituted seat belt laws, but you don't feel the need to report violators.