"SDA Guidelines on Abortion" Parody
by Doug Yowell
SDA Guidelines on Stealing:1) Private property is a magnificant gift of God.God's ideal for human beings affirms private stewardship and requires respect for those things accumulated.However, decisions about private property must be made in the context of a fallen world.Stealing is never an action of little moral consequence. Thus,private property must not be thoughtlessly taken. Stealing should be performed only for the most serious reasons.
2) Stealing is one of the tragic delemmas of human fallenness. The church should offer gracious support to those who personally face the decision concerning a theft. Attitudes of condemnation are inappropriate in those who have accepted the gospel. Christians are commissioned to become a loving,caring community of faith that assists those in crisis as alternatives are considered.
3) In practical,tangible ways the church as a supportive community should express it's commitment to the value of privately owned property.these ways should include:(a)strengthening family relationships,(b)educating every person concerning Christian principles of property management,(c)emphasizing responsibility of all for family budgeting,(d)calling all to be responsible for the consequences of spending behaviors that are inconsistent with Christian pronciples,(e)creating a safe climate for ongoing discussion of the moral questions associated with stealing,(f)offering support and assistance to those who chose not to steal in order to feed their famililies,and (g)encouraging and assisting both parents to participate responsibly in insuring the financial and dietary needs of their children.The church also should commit itself to assist in alleviating the unfortunate social,economic, and psychological factors that may lead to stealing and to care for those suffering the consequences of individual decisions on this issue.
4)The church does not serve as conscience for individuals;however,it should provide moral guidance. Stealing for reasons of economic stability,product selection,or personal gain is not condoned by the church. People, at times,however, may face exceptional circumstances that present moral dilemmas, such as significant health threats to the lives of the family providers,excessive tax liabilities,employer fraud,loss of financial investments,rejection of unemployment or disability benefits,future budgetary capability carefully diagnosed by a certified accountant,loss of total assets from actions of other's criminal behavior.The final decision whether or not to steal should be made by the individual family provider after appropriate consultation.
5)Christians acknowledge as first and foremost their accountability to God. They seek balance between the exercise of indivual liberty and their accountability to the faith community and the larger society and it's laws. They make their choices according to Scripture and the laws of God rather than the norms of society. Therefore, any attempts to coerce people to steal or not to steal should be rejected as infringements of personal freedom.
6)Church institutions should be provided with guidelines for developing their own institutional policies in harmony with this statement. Persons having a religious or ethical objection to stealing should not be required to participate in the process or encouragement of stealing.
7) Church members should be encouraged to participate in the ongoing consideration of their moral responsibilities with regard to stealing in the light of Scripture.
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