Is it a sin to not report a crime?

[Sune]

If someone has sinned against, and repented of their crime towards someone, are we required to still report it? Say a family member stole an appliance, apologised and made what restitution they could, and repented/was forgiven. Should they still be reported, especially given how much damage to their lives a report could make? Or if in an argument someone loses their temper and hits someone, realises their mistake, apologises and is forgiven, must we still report them? I understand this would be different in the case of repeated offenses, but do you think to love justice and do mercy would allow us to forgive such an offense without further punishment?

Conversely, if you have committed a crime and have been forgiven, should we still turn ourselves in, even when our victim doesn't want us to?

 

[Sabertooth]

Say a family member stole an appliance, apologised and made what restitution they could, and repented/was forgiven. Should they still be reported, especially given how much damage to their lives a report could make?
Or if in an argument someone loses their temper and hits someone, realises their mistake, apologises and is forgiven, must we still report them?

(Just my opinion...)
If both parties are adults (or both children), property crimes can certainly be resolved that way.
For bodily crimes, I think it would depend on how long-lived the injury would be. If the hurt person can more-or-less "shake it off" (and is willing to), I think that it can be handled in the same fashion as above. Long-term & permanent injuries should be pursued criminally, unless the victim agrees that it was unintentional.

...do you think to love justice and do mercy would allow us to forgive such an offense without further punishment?

Letting somebody continue in willful, criminal behavior unchallenged is not mercy. Prison is a wake-up call that some people need.

 

[Sword of the Lord]

Paul tells us that we should settle things amongst ourselves.

 

[Sune]

Paul tells us that we should settle things amongst ourselves.

I've generally thought that to refer to civil rather than criminal matters, given that the government is God's sword against evildoers... But I don't think they always need to be included, for minor or forgiven offences (excluding things like rape and murder of course).

 

[rturner76]

Very good question........

I have to think about it more nut my first instinct is to say report any violent crime you personally witness. Other than that, if the two people worked it out, I'd let it rest. I wouldn't call the police on someone who hit someone else the night before and you found out about it because you wouldn't have seen what happened.

I wouldn't turn myself in personally, it might be selfish, but if I had hurt someone and felt I was a danger to society, I would turn myself in.

We aren't required to keep people's secrets like a Priest in confession. Still, it's best to use discretion

 

[mama2one]

.

 

[Eftsoon]

Gotta take this on a case by case basis really. If you are concerned about the biblical mandates about governments, you are under no obligation to report a crime you witness (in the UK). It comes down to moral responsiblity.

You are morally obliged to report a violent crime for instance because this protects the victim from further assault; protects previous victims; and also prevents future victims.

So-called 'victimless crimes'? Got to use your discretion there. There's no hard and fast. You have to consider which will do more harm - leaving it be or reporting.

 

[Mark Quayle]

If someone has sinned against, and repented of their crime towards someone, are we required to still report it? Say a family member stole an appliance, apologised and made what restitution they could, and repented/was forgiven. Should they still be reported, especially given how much damage to their lives a report could make? Or if in an argument someone loses their temper and hits someone, realises their mistake, apologises and is forgiven, must we still report them? I understand this would be different in the case of repeated offenses, but do you think to love justice and do mercy would allow us to forgive such an offense without further punishment?

Conversely, if you have committed a crime and have been forgiven, should we still turn ourselves in, even when our victim doesn't want us to?

Much depends on what the crime is, and whether the victim(s) wish it reported. I know of a case of rape, yet I don't think it is mine to report, at the request of the victim. Yes, it tears me apart to do nothing about it. I can only say that there is a court higher than any in this earth, and, thank God, JUSTICE WILL BE DONE.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

If a crime is resolved on a local level without the need of the secular authorities by the parties involved, there is no need to report to the police. To say they ought to report to the authorities would mean that you deny any ability to properly arbitrate a conflict between the parties themselves and this would imply that conflict resolution is properly bound only within the secular order. Families or individuals then would be unable to come to a judgement.

Rather the police should exist so that if the situation gets out of hand and is unresolved and both parties are left unsatisfied, they can then appeal to an authority separated from themselves to resolve the conflict and if necessary remove the wrong doer from society.

In order to avoid reoffending the family of the dissident should keep a careful eye on him/her so that he/she won't stray in the future. If the person is a derelict and refuses to learn from their circumstances the family can resort to calling the police, especially if they think this person might end up physically hurting someone.

 

[mindfulzen]

Obviously not, since the bible refers to a different set of laws. You have the ten commandments for starters, does the crime violate those? Otherwise it has to violate other scripture, that I am not well versed in. Do you follow Gods law? or secular laws? Perhaps you should, but it has nothing to do with your personal relationship with God, if you have one. If it does not violate his laws, you can choose your family or friend over secular laws. Do the best gor you and said person

 

[JerryinMass]

If someone has sinned against, and repented of their crime towards someone, are we required to still report it? Say a family member stole an appliance, apologised and made what restitution they could, and repented/was forgiven. Should they still be reported, especially given how much damage to their lives a report could make? Or if in an argument someone loses their temper and hits someone, realises their mistake, apologises and is forgiven, must we still report them? I understand this would be different in the case of repeated offenses, but do you think to love justice and do mercy would allow us to forgive such an offense without further punishment?

Conversely, if you have committed a crime and have been forgiven, should we still turn ourselves in, even when our victim doesn't want us to?

 

[JerryinMass]

I would say: it depends.