Cooperation with Evil?

[Mythos]

Hi all, I should first mention that I struggle with scrupulosity, so this may be a silly question.

My father is very handy and does a lot of home improvement things (replacing toilets, siding, etc.) around our house and our uncle’s house. Technically, the city we live in requires him to get a permit for a lot of the stuff he does, but as far as I can tell, he never does this. Sometimes he asks me to help him with these repairs.

So, is this wrong for me to do? Would I be cooperating with evil, since he’s working without the required permit? Or should I just not worry about it? Any help would be great. Thanks!

 

[Cristiano]

I do not know where you live in Texas but I think that some of those requirements are just plain weird and unjust. For example in order to install a water heater in my house I had to modify the tap for the garden hose in the backyard, the change is not mandated if I do not change the water heater.
In regard to your direct question you would be cooperating with evil if you were helping him avoiding the safety code requirements for the specific work that you do, usually application for a permit is a different thing and it is limited only to the homeowner thus it does not apply to you.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Thanks for a good laugh!

 

[onceablasphemer]

The law is the law. Are you sure the repairs required a permit? It could cause some issues if they ever try to sell the house. What your dad is doing is wrong by not getting the proper permits. We are to respect all authority as being allowed by God. There are ways to change the permit process if it seems unfair but ignoring them is not a way. Have you told your dad about your feelings?

 

[Allegra]

Based on what you said, I think you are not cooperating with evil. (If dodging a fee on installing a toilet on your own property can be called an evil.) Basically, it’s your dad’s job to do that and not yours. You’re just helping your dad install a toilet. Now, if you were doing this for profit, that would be another story but since it’s his house, he’s the one who gets to bear the responsibility for having or not having a permit.

 

[Timothysis]

The law is the law. Are you sure the repairs required a permit? It could cause some issues if they ever try to sell the house. What your dad is doing is wrong by not getting the proper permits. We are to respect all authority as being allowed by God. There are ways to change the permit process if it seems unfair but ignoring them is not a way. Have you told your dad about your feelings?

Give me a break. You’re going to tell someone that their father is “wrong” because he changes a toilet in his house or does plumbing work? We don’t belong to the government; the government belongs to us.