Imagine a stranger stole something from you. Then the police caught them. Would you ask the police to drop the charges? Imagine the property stolen was a replica of the 10 Commandments that was sitting in your front yard. And the thieves told you they were “sorry” after being caught. I’m not going to say I’d handle this the same way, but I must say it was very nice of the Bennett’s to do so.
The story below occurred in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Ten Commandments returned; no charges filed
Two young men who took a concrete replica of the Ten Commandments from a yard won’t be prosecuted because owner Sharon Bennett “turned the other cheek,” police said.
Bennett noticed a concrete marker inscribed with the Ten Commandments missing Wednesday from beneath her flagpole at her Shoreham Drive yard.
Detective Wayne Lawson received a tip late Thursday, located the suspects at an apartment complex and notified Bennett early Friday, said Detective Maj. Jim Gage. Arrangements were made to return the Ten Commandments.
“The victim turned the other cheek and did not want to prosecute,” Gage said.
Bennett said when Lawson called her, she did not want to press charges but wanted to meet the young men. She and her husband, David, talked with them early Friday at the police department.
She didn’t know the young men, although one man told her he attended Siegel High School with her son, Joshua Daniel Bennett, who is now in boot camp with the U.S. Army Reserve.
“They said they had stolen the Ten Commandments as a prank,” Bennett told The Daily News Journal. “They said they were very sorry. They did not know it would upset me as much as it did.”
The Bennetts said they told the young men how the theft affected them.
“We shared with them about the incorrectness. It’s not moral to do this. They saw the error of their ways, and they were very sorry.”
They each wrote a personal apology that she believed was sincere.
“We prayed with them,” Bennett said. “I gave each one of them a Gideon’s New Testament.”
They returned the Ten Commandments to her yard in the Hamptons subdivision off Memorial Boulevard. She hugged and forgave them, offering to help them in the future if they needed assistance.
“I just hope this was a wake-up call for them to change their ways,” Bennett said, adding it gave she and her husband a chance to share their faith. “I hope many blessings come from it. I wanted to express human grace to them.”
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Wonderfully amazing.
Hopefully they will go on to do something better with their lives. They were offered mercy even before the Bennett’s spoke to them.
Given this, if it was my replica of the 10 Commandments, I’d go speak with the guys, share the Gospel with them, then say you reap what you sow boys and ask the cops to take them back to their cell 
. Hey, that’s better than what I would have done before reading this.
Yes I know what Jesus said and of course Jesus is always right.
Matthew 5:38-42 (New King James Version)
38) “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
39) But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40) If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41) And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42) Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
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But Jesus also mentioned this when dealing with the enemy (demons) and he did not allow them to hang around.
Luke 11:20-23 (New King James Version)
20) But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
21) When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.
22) But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.
23) He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
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And as I mentioned once before Jesus asked his disciples to arm themselves with swords when faced with danger.
And let’s not forget how Jesus did not allow the temple to be abused by money changers.
Matthew 21:12 (New King James Version)
12) Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
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I’ve heard a lot of views on when and if Christians can respond to an enemy with force and/or prosecution. Here’s my take. I think the response must be based on the circumstance and temperament of the enemy at the time. For example, if the enemy backs down or you know the enemy will back down when you show mercy, then it’s best to show mercy. If you know the enemy will consume you in the face of mercy, then it’s time to protect yourself with whatever you find necessary. With prosecution I think it depends on the violator. In the case above, the thieves repented and were open to proper instruction. So the Bennetts did the good thing by offering a 2nd chance to the violators.
In cases where we can get someone working as the enemy to back down, it leaves them open to ministry. Because they have shown that they are receptive to our display of mercy.
