Repaying my stealing, but scared to admit it.

[StormInside]

Before becoming Christian and even sometimes after (as my faith has wavered a lot) I committed a lot of theft. Some of it was committed by ordering things on ebay, claiming that they hadn't arrived and then getting a refund. I have been convicted of this sin by the Holy spirit, and have contacted the people, told them that I have received the items, and offered repayment. However, I haven't outright admitted to them that I lied about it. I worded my emails in such a way that I let them know that the item has been received, but without saying when, so it kind of sounds like they were lost in the post and I've only just received them. Do I need to outright tell them that I lied about it and had received the items all along?

Part of me hopes that just repayment is enough, since we can't earn salvation anyway but have it through grace. So maybe me trying to right my wrongs will be seen by god as wrongfully trying to earn salvation. But then part of me thinks that it's not righteous to be less than totally honest, and I should admit what I did fully, explain that I'm now born again and trying to right my wrongs. what do you think?

 

[solid_core]

I think that if you repay what you have stolen its enough.

You do not have to make some kind of moral confession to commercial companies. It always depends on a situation and I think that in this specific one the point is financial damage, not some kind of interpersonal trust and confession.

If you would like to add some witness that you are a Christian and thats the reason you want to make things right, for example to convince some workers there to come to Christ too, it may have some added value. But its on you. Use your own wisdom to decide what is suitable to which situation, there is no "official" rule for it.

 

[redleghunter]

Before becoming Christian and even sometimes after (as my faith has wavered a lot) I committed a lot of theft. Some of it was committed by ordering things on ebay, claiming that they hadn't arrived and then getting a refund. I have been convicted of this sin by the Holy spirit, and have contacted the people, told them that I have received the items, and offered repayment. However, I haven't outright admitted to them that I lied about it. I worded my emails in such a way that I let them know that the item has been received, but without saying when, so it kind of sounds like they were lost in the post and I've only just received them. Do I need to outright tell them that I lied about it and had received the items all along?

Part of me hopes that just repayment is enough, since we can't earn salvation anyway but have it through grace. So maybe me trying to right my wrongs will be seen by god as wrongfully trying to earn salvation. But then part of me thinks that it's not righteous to be less than totally honest, and I should admit what I did fully, explain that I'm now born again and trying to right my wrongs. what do you think?

Make restitution as you have mentioned. The fact you tell them the items indeed arrived and previously you lied about it, I think they can do “the math.”

 

[StormInside]

If you would like to add some witness that you are a Christian and thats the reason you want to make things right, for example to convince some workers there to come to Christ too, it may have some added value.

This is actually what I was thinking that I ought to do, but I'm scared in case they report me to the police or ebay or just think I'm awful.

 

[StormInside]

Make restitution as you have mentioned. The fact you tell them the items indeed arrived and previously you lied about it, I think they can do “the math.”

I didn't tell them that I lied about it though, I made it sound like I received them late.

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[StormInside]

Admitting your mistakes while repaying the money would show real class, in my opinion. It would serve as an opportunity to provide a testimony of how finding Jesus changed you for the better. The response won't be universally good but it's God you're trying to impress, not man.

However, if you fear the police, then try to be subtle about it and never rip off people ever again. Learn from your past mistakes and use honesty in future.

I fee this is what I ought to do but I don't know if I've got the courage.

 

[The_wanderer 40]

I fee this is what I ought to do but I don't know if I've got the courage.

Pray for the courage to be truthful about what happened. Whenever I’m concerned about not having something I feel I should have or having something I should not have, I pray. God gives us the strength and wisdom. When we are weak then we are strong.

 

[StormInside]

The two people I emailed replied. One accepted the money, the other said they can't accept money outside of ebay and seemed uninterested in getting it back. should I say that I'll buy another item from them and they don't have to send it?

 

[LoricaLady]

Before becoming Christian and even sometimes after (as my faith has wavered a lot) I committed a lot of theft. Some of it was committed by ordering things on ebay, claiming that they hadn't arrived and then getting a refund. I have been convicted of this sin by the Holy spirit, and have contacted the people, told them that I have received the items, and offered repayment. However, I haven't outright admitted to them that I lied about it. I worded my emails in such a way that I let them know that the item has been received, but without saying when, so it kind of sounds like they were lost in the post and I've only just received them. Do I need to outright tell them that I lied about it and had received the items all along?

Part of me hopes that just repayment is enough, since we can't earn salvation anyway but have it through grace. So maybe me trying to right my wrongs will be seen by god as wrongfully trying to earn salvation. But then part of me thinks that it's not righteous to be less than totally honest, and I should admit what I did fully, explain that I'm now born again and trying to right my wrongs. what do you think?

I would not say anything about how you lied as you might get into legal trouble. The main thing is that you did make payment in the end. I would instead write a really good review for a product that "hadn't arrived."