Bad things i did before i was a christian

  • Thread starter Thread starter CupOfMilk
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

CupOfMilk

Guest
I am a new christian and before i was a christian i stole things from around the neighbeior hood and someone even came to me crying asking if i stole the things and i lied to them and said no. but when i became a christian i gave them back with out talking to the people i stole the things from but now i am being told that i need to say sorry to all of them to make things all right. Is this true? becuase i thought that i was done with all the stuff in the past but it just keeps coming up Please help!
 
It is not necessary for you to expose yourself to possible legal prosecution. If you have restored the items you have done restitution. An apology is always good and spiritually beneficial but it is not always practical. I would say that you would definitely need to apologize if the victim knew for certain that you had commited the theft. This would help to mend the damage between you.

Perhaps helping your victims out in some way would be a way of silently apologizing.

Most importantly, you must have total repentance before God. As Catholics we follow the biblical practice of confession and penance. I can show you the scriptures suppporting this if you need it.
 
You can show them if you like they didn’t know i stole it so its morally ok not to tell them?
 
I cannot think of a good reason either. There is no spiritual or social benefit that will be served in your case. In fact, negative effects will come from this. You will hurt your victims a second time by breaking this news to them.
 
I agree with the advice from Pax. You are required to return the property you stole, but you’re not required to apologize, although it would be good to do this in some situations. If the victim doesn’t know you stole, however, then I would not recommend alerting them by apologizing. You are never required to “turn yourself in” for a crime, but you are required to make restitution. It sounds as if you already did that by returning the stolen property.
 
Your sins are remitted in Baptism. Be at peace.

…Unless you ever sin mortally. In which case you would need the Sacrament of Penance.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top