I've been scammed, now what?

[VW]

as long as we have our hands on the problem, we should not expect god to do anything about it. if we seek a solution in the world system, then we can only look to the world system for an answer. our god is looking for those who will let him be god in all things in their life. it is when we let him act, trust him to do as he pleases with our lives and our possessions and all of our family and every acquaintance, that we can see his hand in our lives. but if we are handling the problem, he leaves it in our hands.

god does not bless an action that we take without his leading, just because we ask him to. this is presumption, of the worst sort. we are saying to him that we know best, and we just want him to back up our decision. if we say we trust him, why don't we trust him to act for us?

 

[QuestionTime]

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Luke 6:27-31

Hmm... I know what you are saying, and I know the descriptions that John Wesley gave of the Moravian Christians. The Moravian Christians were spat upon and pushed around and thought to be wimps. But when the ship hit a storm all the English were screaming in terror, but the Germans calmly sang on, unafraid of death. Then John Wesley went and told the English passengers / sailors just exactly who was the courageous ones and who was the weaklings.

Anyway, the point is that the Moravian Christians didn't strike back. It's so hard to decide what is right and wrong in this case. I think it's for every man to decide, just like whether we ought to pick up guns to defend freedom's cause. (How many Protestants fought and died in the Civil War?)

Quest

 

[QuestionTime]

What about child molestation or trafficing? Shall we give them away to our enemy as well? See that is the problem with using text with no reference. I don't agree with how you are using this in this case either.

I was going to make a statement, but I don't think there is any use. I just put the clear words of Christ didn't even add anything to it and it still gets critiisized. The subject was not on child molestation or trafficing anyway....People have a way of bringing up the worst case sinario's to try to make their point.

Come on now, breaking the law is breaking the law. You are trying to draw the line based on your opinion of bad and really bad. That's not how things work.

When the Bible is saying not to take a believer to court, it's about things not related to breaking the Law. Perhaps they have a dispute over land boundaries, or perhaps over wages related to work done. That's petty issues that Christians ought to resolve among themselves.

Why let the evil doer get away free and place the burden on the good Christian? All you are doing is making WomanLovesTX out to be the sinner and this man gets to continue his crimes. That's bogus. This man has just as much obligation to obey these scriptures as WomanLovesTX does. If he doesn't want to obey them why should she be under the same obligation?

Anyway, WomanLovesTX is going to have to make this decision for herself and trust God with the outcome either way. I don't think it really matters what option she chooses so long as she can forgive the man; as Shanaynay mentioned in her excellent post. The correct choice is whatever her conscience tells her to do, as she is obviously astoundingly sincere about doing the right thing.

This reminds me of a scripture:

Jeremiah 17:10 (King James Version)
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Quest

 

[QuestionTime]

as long as we have our hands on the problem, we should not expect god to do anything about it. if we seek a solution in the world system, then we can only look to the world system for an answer. our god is looking for those who will let him be god in all things in their life. it is when we let him act, trust him to do as he pleases with our lives and our possessions and all of our family and every acquaintance, that we can see his hand in our lives. but if we are handling the problem, he leaves it in our hands.

god does not bless an action that we take without his leading, just because we ask him to. this is presumption, of the worst sort. we are saying to him that we know best, and we just want him to back up our decision. if we say we trust him, why don't we trust him to act for us?

Leave it to VW to give us the "FAITH" answer!

You could be right VW. It's so tough to know what is right and wrong in this situation, just like whether or not we should fight for freedom with guns.

I can see the Moravian behavior in your answer VW. I suppose they had such great faith that they weren't concerned with getting any justice, so deeply trusting God in their hearts that He is the one to bring vengeance. I tell you, it takes great faith to choose this option.

Maybe you are right VW. But who has such faith? Not I... yet.

Quest

 

[VW]

Leave it to VW to give us the "FAITH" answer!

You could be right VW. It's so tough to know what is right and wrong in this situation, just like whether or not we should fight for freedom with guns.

I can see the Moravian behavior in your answer VW. I suppose they had such great faith that they weren't concerned with getting any justice, so deeply trusting God in their hearts that He is the one to bring vengeance. I tell you, it takes great faith to choose this option.

Maybe you are right VW. But who has such faith? Not I... yet.

Quest

i believe that faith is also a gift from god, through the holy spirit.

and, faith works by love.

even faith as a grain of mustard seed. god is in charge, unless we think we are, and then he, if we are his, works to disabuse us of our delusions.

when the man cursed david, and threw rocks at him, his mighty men wanted to kill this one they called a dog, but david would not let them, saying, how did they know that god did not send him to curse him? and david was on the top of the world right then, right? he was fleeing his son, who had raped david's daughter, and killed one of david's sons, and had rebelled against david and proclaimed himself king so that david and all of his house was fleeing.

what is right is to trust in god.

 

[QuestionTime]

i believe that faith is also a gift from god, through the holy spirit.

and, faith works by love.

even faith as a grain of mustard seed. god is in charge, unless we think we are, and then he, if we are his, works to disabuse us of our delusions.

when the man cursed david, and threw rocks at him, his mighty men wanted to kill this one they called a dog, but david would not let them, saying, how did they know that god did not send him to curse him? and david was on the top of the world right then, right? he was fleeing his son, who had raped david's daughter, and killed one of david's sons, and had rebelled against david and proclaimed himself king so that david and all of his house was fleeing.

what is right is to trust in god.

You are blowing me away here VW. Perhaps you are right. So difficult, this decision is.

Quest

 

[MahogonySnail]

Woman said the man is not a christian so I don't see the problem here in this case. God takes vengeance and He often does this through the authorities He has put in place such as the law.

 

[VW]

Woman said the man is not a christian so I don't see the problem here in this case. God takes vengeance and He often does this through the authorities He has put in place such as the law.

make a report, then leave it in god's hands?

i won't tell anyone what to do, just what those who are our examples in the faith have done.

what a person does is between them and god alone, and no one else.

 

[oopsies]

make a report, then leave it in god's hands?

i won't tell anyone what to do, just what those who are our examples in the faith have done.

what a person does is between them and god alone, and no one else.

Yes, she could do that - report it to the police then leave it be. But that does take a leap of faith and a pretty difficult one at that. $5,000 may not sound like a lot but it's everything she had and God does not do things our way. She may never get that much money again even though He provides for her.

 

[MahogonySnail]

I would say don't be a pansy just contact the authorities, in the time it takes to ponder and pray about it you could have your money back. I don't think anyone needs to front up to a court just let the cops deal with it, if you have evidence, they can prosecute. It's criminal.

 

[VW]

Yes, she could do that - report it to the police then leave it be. But that does take a leap of faith and a pretty difficult one at that. $5,000 may not sound like a lot but it's everything she had and God does not do things our way. She may never get that much money again even though He provides for her.

that is a lot of money, much more than i would like to loose, but is it my money?

 

[MahogonySnail]

God doesn't want you to lose His money either, I would think.

 

[that_one_guy]

the last place i rented at took 400 bucks of my refundable deposit because they said it was for cleaning fee's even though i only lived there for a little over a month and was at work 3/4 of the time, i could've fought for it back, but it's just money ya know, yahwey knows my needs, that's how i look at it anyhow

 

[VW]

God doesn't want you to lose His money either, I would think.

well, all of the money belongs to god, don't you think?

 

[MahogonySnail]

well yeah but either way, losing God's money, is somehow a little worse than losing your own. Get it back for God.

 

[VW]

well yeah but either way, losing God's money, is somehow a little worse than losing your own. Get it back for God.

how can you loose god's money? it don't matter whose hand its in, does it?

really, its a matter of possession. do i own anything, or does god own me?

blessings,
vic

 

[MahogonySnail]

I think whether it is God's money or not depends upon whose hand holds it. Because money is just paper and worthless to God just as paper but in the hands of a godly person it can be used for God. Since it's not in the hands of a godly person you should take it back for God and back to the rightful possessor. Yeah if God gave me something and someone else stole it I would want it back because it's God's and is my job to look after it. Letting someone else steal someone elses money you are entrusted to is irresponsible IMO.

 

[VW]

I think whether it is God's money or not depends upon whose hand holds it. Because money is just paper and worthless to God just as paper but in the hands of a godly person it can be used for God. Since it's not in the hands of a godly person you should take it back for God and back to the rightful possessor. Yeah if God gave me something and someone else stole it I would want it back because it's God's and is my job to look after it. Letting someone else steal someone elses money you are entrusted to is irresponsible IMO.

if he takes your coat, give him your shirt, and if he causes you to go one mile carrying his things, go two, and if he strikes you on the left cheek, turn to him the right.

all money belongs to god, and he can distribute it as he sees fit.

how do we know that god did not send this man to take the money?

 

[MahogonySnail]

Take the coat by legal/lawful means:

Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

I don't believe it allows theft and I don't believe God sends a thief to take your money, that would be the devil who steals.

 

[VW]

Take the coat by legal/lawful means:

Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

I don't believe it allows theft and I don't believe God sends a thief to take your money, that would be the devil who steals.

okay, that is what you believe. and so you believe that the intent of jesus teaching in matt chapter 5 is to not give your cloak if it is not legal?

interesting.

i don't buy it.