Is it Christian to shop your friend to the authorities?

[anotherlife]

He got caught only because he to.d his friend who shopped him for money. I thought the Bible warned against self righteousness.

You guys sound like horrible Christians all of you. You for not getting it. We have these programs where you can “shop” someone who’s abusing the system.

I will give you this. The guy who shopped him might do the same thing if he were in the other guys shoes. True.

Aren’t there stories where parents have called the police on their own kids?

I would probably need to refer to the Biblical judgement clause that reserves it to God. That is fundamental to Christianity. If you shop your friend then you have made a judgement about your friend so you broke the foundation, and therefore you will be judged too as per the belief.

If you are afraid that your friend or child hurts you or your stuff then you would call the police but that is self defense so very difference. Even government investigators are not allowed to do fishing for crooks, by law, by the way.

I’m very judgemental of Christians and even I don’t consider shopping this guy a sin. And you do know welfare abuse infuriates a lot of good people.

I don’t feel bad for the guy who got shopped. Everyone cheating should hear this story.

But he was his friend. He could have told him to stop first. That would have been Cristian. Interestingly, true Christian belief would prohibit you from reporting, unless you are in danger from it. Also, government run programs, welfare or other, don't qualify for a good deed as per Christianity, because they are enforced by power instead of given by a community's good will. Not really godly.

I disagree. We started welfare to help ww2 widows and orphans and I’m sure they argued it was the Christian thing to do.

Oh, and you just proved my point. You Christians don’t even view welfare as the christianly thing to do. You just said it yourself. People like you don’t even like seeing people buying food with foodstamps let alone “shopping” them? You just answered your own question why he shopped him. He hates welfare

I agree, but Christianity teaches not to react just because you don't like something. Welfare is indeed not Christian, because it is forced. The problem is that he didn't warn him first, he assumed that he was a criminal, which is a judgement, even if it happened to be correct. That way he will be judged too, so he broke the Christian fundamentals, in this logic.

 

[anotherlife]

Is it Christian to shop your friend to the authorities?

These two Christian guys went to the same church. One of them was selling/buying food stamps during the week and mentioned it to his pal. Then his pal reported him to the authorities and now he will go to jail probably.

Was it Christian of his pal to report him to the authorities? They were friends and went to the same church. What would you have done if he told you that he was dealing food stamps?

Was it Christian of his pal to report him to the authorities?

Is it ethically/morally wrong for private individuals to trade in food stamps? AFAIK, and by my ethical compass, yes, it is for doing so is not consistent with the spirit underpinning the existence of public assistance programs like the food stamp one. I believe too that by the laws in place regarding food stamps it is also illegal, though I haven't checked to confirm whether it is.

They were friends and went to the same church.

Party A's status as a friend of Party B does not obtain for Party A imprimatur to whatever the hell s/he wants. Moreover, Party B becomes complicit in Party A's wanton deeds if Party B does not report those that are unlawful. Such complicity thereby becomes a stain on Party B's character.

What would you have done if he told you that he was dealing food stamps?

• Divest myself of the friendship -- Clearly my judgment in admitting the person to the "club" called "my friends" was errant. By engaging in trade of food stamps, rather than the appropriate use of food stamps, that person never truly belonged in that "club."
• Report the act -- My tax dollars help pay for food stamps, and I don't mind that they do. I mind very much that some specific individual known to me is abusing my and others largesse in being willing to provide them with assistance in their hour of need. If the individual needs items/services other than what "food stamps" will buy, fine, but then that person, just as they solicited the food stamp resource, needs to solicit resources for those other things. Quite simply, there is a right way and a wrong way to obtain all sorts of public assistance and that person is going about it the wrong way.

his pal reported him to the authorities and now he will go to jail probably.

I don't know how probable it is that the offender will go to jail. I suspect there is an assortment of actions the administrators of the food stamp program may pursue, and incarceration is among them, but it need not be the actual outcome any given person experiences. (Trafficking in food stamps valued below $100 is not a felony offense.)

But if you tell on him to the police, then the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever, especially if he goes to jail for it. The fact that you Un friended him for his crime exactly, and that you got paid money for reporting him, will make him think that you are a part of his life forever, in hate. Do you expect a break from such an ex friend?

Sapor ebbs quickly once food is swallowed.
-- Xelor, variation on a line in Jules Verne, Paris in the Twentieth Century​

if you tell on him to the police, then the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever, especially if he goes to jail for it.

In whose mind? Surely not mine. In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

The fact that you ...got paid money for reporting him

WTH? Where did I get paid for reporting him?

Do you expect a break from such an ex friend?

I won't posit notions about or expectations of what in fact transpires in the minds of folks who are of poor enough character to abuse a food stamp program. That "former friend" doesn't exist in the world to meet my expectations, but to exist in the world as friends, we each must live up to the other's expectations. Much as I may rue and miss the nature and benefits of a former friendship, the prospect of missing such is insufficient for me to compromise myself, my character as I desire it to be, for such things.

It is not the words or the actions you should trust, rather the pattern.
-- Shannon L. Alder​

Note:

While I have in this post responded to distinct parts of the passage immediately below, be aware that due to the interrelationship among the ideas, my separate remarks in this post must also be taken both as discrete and in total. Too, the outline structure of this post, as always, is important to one's aptly understanding my remarks.
​

Interesting that you believe that when you make an enemy out of your friend, you think you can protect yourself by ignoring him. Plus there is the problem of self righteousness which the Bible warns against.

This yet another instance in this conversation of your having somehow managed to get into your mind things I neither said nor implied. Others being:

you got paid money for reporting him

Where did you get the notion that I got paid money for reporting him?

That wasn't in the OP and I didn't introduce it, either directly or obliquely via the content to which I linked.

the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever

Given the timeline of events given in your OP:

1. Person A and I live our pre-friendship lives.
2. I and Person A become friends.
3. I discover Person A unlawfully trafficking in food stamps.
4. I report the offense and divest myself of the friendship on account of the discovery.

The only thing that will forever be true is that there was a period of time during which Person A and I were friends. That is very different from our lives being "welded together as one forever."​

I don't know whether you're being willfully equivocal or believe your inferences and "out of left field" assertions/premises were indeed among the parameters of the scenario or among the remarks I shared.

you think you can protect yourself by ignoring him.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
-- James 1:2​

Excuse me?

• What did I write that insinuates in your mind that thoughts of self-protection are what I think I achieve by ignoring him?
  • And where did this notion of "ignoring him" come from? That's something you conjured, not something I explicitly or implicitly implied. What I wrote was quite clear:
    

    [I would] divest myself of the friendship

    In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

    Much as I may rue and miss the nature and benefits of a former friendship, the prospect of missing such is insufficient for me to compromise myself, my character as I desire it to be, for such things.

• From what do you imagine I'm protecting myself?

The course of action I told you I'd take is merely what I'd do because I don't care to be party to the behavior the former friend finds acceptable. Self-protection has nothing to do with it. Being true to myself has everything to do with it.

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
-- Matthew 7:6
​

there is the problem of self righteousness which the Bible warns against.

Look, you asked how I'd handle a given matter, and I gave you a direct answer to your question and I explained why I would report the offence.

Party A's status as a friend of Party B does not obtain for Party A imprimatur to whatever the hell s/he wants. Moreover, Party B becomes complicit in Party A's wanton deeds if Party B does not report those that are unlawful. Such complicity thereby becomes a stain on Party B's character.

Nowhere in the course of doing so did I intimate that pridefully would I "shout from the highest mountain" (figuratively or literally) the fact that I did so; moreover, you'll recall I wrote of what observers would see with regard to the nature of the person's and my interactions/friendships, not what I'd to them say about it.

In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

Even those strong in their character or convictions can become weak if they allow a steady flow of lies and corruption to permeate their lives.

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
-- 1 Corinthians 15:33​

How does this all explain, why this supposedly Christian friend neglected to explain to his friend that it is wrong what he is doing before shopping him to the authorities. This problem turns this into a betrayal, so a sin, and it goes against God's wish directly. As per God's wish, friends are supposed to be each other's keepers. The guy who shopped his friend to the authorities has committed the same sin as Kain committed against Abel. The mind would have been steadfast if he had explained the problem to his friend in detail before shopping him to the authorities, but he didn't so he just did Satan's work. It is a mistake that that telling friend thought that he was God.

 

[usmbguest5318]

Is it Christian to shop your friend to the authorities?

These two Christian guys went to the same church. One of them was selling/buying food stamps during the week and mentioned it to his pal. Then his pal reported him to the authorities and now he will go to jail probably.

Was it Christian of his pal to report him to the authorities? They were friends and went to the same church. What would you have done if he told you that he was dealing food stamps?

Was it Christian of his pal to report him to the authorities?

Is it ethically/morally wrong for private individuals to trade in food stamps? AFAIK, and by my ethical compass, yes, it is for doing so is not consistent with the spirit underpinning the existence of public assistance programs like the food stamp one. I believe too that by the laws in place regarding food stamps it is also illegal, though I haven't checked to confirm whether it is.

They were friends and went to the same church.

Party A's status as a friend of Party B does not obtain for Party A imprimatur to whatever the hell s/he wants. Moreover, Party B becomes complicit in Party A's wanton deeds if Party B does not report those that are unlawful. Such complicity thereby becomes a stain on Party B's character.

What would you have done if he told you that he was dealing food stamps?

• Divest myself of the friendship -- Clearly my judgment in admitting the person to the "club" called "my friends" was errant. By engaging in trade of food stamps, rather than the appropriate use of food stamps, that person never truly belonged in that "club."
• Report the act -- My tax dollars help pay for food stamps, and I don't mind that they do. I mind very much that some specific individual known to me is abusing my and others largesse in being willing to provide them with assistance in their hour of need. If the individual needs items/services other than what "food stamps" will buy, fine, but then that person, just as they solicited the food stamp resource, needs to solicit resources for those other things. Quite simply, there is a right way and a wrong way to obtain all sorts of public assistance and that person is going about it the wrong way.

his pal reported him to the authorities and now he will go to jail probably.

I don't know how probable it is that the offender will go to jail. I suspect there is an assortment of actions the administrators of the food stamp program may pursue, and incarceration is among them, but it need not be the actual outcome any given person experiences. (Trafficking in food stamps valued below $100 is not a felony offense.)

But if you tell on him to the police, then the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever, especially if he goes to jail for it. The fact that you Un friended him for his crime exactly, and that you got paid money for reporting him, will make him think that you are a part of his life forever, in hate. Do you expect a break from such an ex friend?

Sapor ebbs quickly once food is swallowed.
-- Xelor, variation on a line in Jules Verne, Paris in the Twentieth Century​

if you tell on him to the police, then the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever, especially if he goes to jail for it.

In whose mind? Surely not mine. In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

The fact that you ...got paid money for reporting him

WTH? Where did I get paid for reporting him?

Do you expect a break from such an ex friend?

I won't posit notions about or expectations of what in fact transpires in the minds of folks who are of poor enough character to abuse a food stamp program. That "former friend" doesn't exist in the world to meet my expectations, but to exist in the world as friends, we each must live up to the other's expectations. Much as I may rue and miss the nature and benefits of a former friendship, the prospect of missing such is insufficient for me to compromise myself, my character as I desire it to be, for such things.

It is not the words or the actions you should trust, rather the pattern.
-- Shannon L. Alder​

Note:

While I have in this post responded to distinct parts of the passage immediately below, be aware that due to the interrelationship among the ideas, my separate remarks in this post must also be taken both as discrete and in total. Too, the outline structure of this post, as always, is important to one's aptly understanding my remarks.
​

Interesting that you believe that when you make an enemy out of your friend, you think you can protect yourself by ignoring him. Plus there is the problem of self righteousness which the Bible warns against.

This yet another instance in this conversation of your having somehow managed to get into your mind things I neither said nor implied. Others being:

you got paid money for reporting him

Where did you get the notion that I got paid money for reporting him?

That wasn't in the OP and I didn't introduce it, either directly or obliquely via the content to which I linked.

the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever

Given the timeline of events given in your OP:

1. Person A and I live our pre-friendship lives.
2. I and Person A become friends.
3. I discover Person A unlawfully trafficking in food stamps.
4. I report the offense and divest myself of the friendship on account of the discovery.

The only thing that will forever be true is that there was a period of time during which Person A and I were friends. That is very different from our lives being "welded together as one forever."​

I don't know whether you're being willfully equivocal or believe your inferences and "out of left field" assertions/premises were indeed among the parameters of the scenario or among the remarks I shared.

you think you can protect yourself by ignoring him.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
-- James 1:2​

Excuse me?

• What did I write that insinuates in your mind that thoughts of self-protection are what I think I achieve by ignoring him?
  • And where did this notion of "ignoring him" come from? That's something you conjured, not something I explicitly or implicitly implied. What I wrote was quite clear:
    

    [I would] divest myself of the friendship

    In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

    Much as I may rue and miss the nature and benefits of a former friendship, the prospect of missing such is insufficient for me to compromise myself, my character as I desire it to be, for such things.

• From what do you imagine I'm protecting myself?

The course of action I told you I'd take is merely what I'd do because I don't care to be party to the behavior the former friend finds acceptable. Self-protection has nothing to do with it. Being true to myself has everything to do with it.

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
-- Matthew 7:6
​

there is the problem of self righteousness which the Bible warns against.

Look, you asked how I'd handle a given matter, and I gave you a direct answer to your question and I explained why I would report the offence.

Party A's status as a friend of Party B does not obtain for Party A imprimatur to whatever the hell s/he wants. Moreover, Party B becomes complicit in Party A's wanton deeds if Party B does not report those that are unlawful. Such complicity thereby becomes a stain on Party B's character.

Nowhere in the course of doing so did I intimate that pridefully would I "shout from the highest mountain" (figuratively or literally) the fact that I did so; moreover, you'll recall I wrote of what observers would see with regard to the nature of the person's and my interactions/friendships, not what I'd to them say about it.

In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

Even those strong in their character or convictions can become weak if they allow a steady flow of lies and corruption to permeate their lives.

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
-- 1 Corinthians 15:33​

How does this all explain, why this supposedly Christian friend neglected to explain to his friend that it is wrong what he is doing before shopping him to the authorities. This problem turns this into a betrayal, so a sin, and it goes against God's wish directly. As per God's wish, friends are supposed to be each other's keepers. The guy who shopped his friend to the authorities has committed the same sin as Kain committed against Abel. The mind would have been steadfast if he had explained the problem to his friend in detail before shopping him to the authorities, but he didn't so he just did Satan's work. It is a mistake that that telling friend thought that he was God.

How does this all explain, why this supposedly Christian friend neglected to explain to his friend that it is wrong what he is doing before shopping him to the authorities.

It does not attempt to explain why one adult didn't explain to his adult friend that trafficking in food stamps is wrong or illegal.

before shopping him to the authorities

The guy who shopped his friend to the authorities

This is now the second and third times you've used language that tacitly injects this notion of there being financial gain that accrues to the person who reports the malefactor. I twice have explicitly asked you from where that notion comes and you've twice declined to answer.

Let me be notably clearer: directly address the "got paid" question I earlier asked, or ceases and desist with the allusions to the reporting friend receiving some tangible profit as a result of reporting the other individual.
​

This so-called conversation is boring me now because over the course of it I've asked you several questions, not one of which you've directly answered. In contrast, I've answered each of your questions, including the one in the OP that gave rise to this conversation. So either provide direct answers my questions of you, or stop replying to my posts. I don't really care which tack you choose.

friends are supposed to be each other's keepers....same sin as Kain committed against Abel

When did the friend become the reporting individual's, in this case, my, sibling? That was not among the constraints you specified when asking the question I answered from your OP.

(Be careful answering asserting a figurative rather than literal interpretation of "brother's keeper" because one cannot be principled, coherent, consistent and adopt variously, as it suits one's rhetorical ends, a literal and figurative interpretation of Bible passages. You try that with me and the conversation ends because I won't put up with such foolishness.)

 

[sealybobo]

You guys sound like horrible Christians all of you. You for not getting it. We have these programs where you can “shop” someone who’s abusing the system.

I will give you this. The guy who shopped him might do the same thing if he were in the other guys shoes. True.

Aren’t there stories where parents have called the police on their own kids?

I would probably need to refer to the Biblical judgement clause that reserves it to God. That is fundamental to Christianity. If you shop your friend then you have made a judgement about your friend so you broke the foundation, and therefore you will be judged too as per the belief.

If you are afraid that your friend or child hurts you or your stuff then you would call the police but that is self defense so very difference. Even government investigators are not allowed to do fishing for crooks, by law, by the way.

I’m very judgemental of Christians and even I don’t consider shopping this guy a sin. And you do know welfare abuse infuriates a lot of good people.

I don’t feel bad for the guy who got shopped. Everyone cheating should hear this story.

But he was his friend. He could have told him to stop first. That would have been Cristian. Interestingly, true Christian belief would prohibit you from reporting, unless you are in danger from it. Also, government run programs, welfare or other, don't qualify for a good deed as per Christianity, because they are enforced by power instead of given by a community's good will. Not really godly.

I disagree. We started welfare to help ww2 widows and orphans and I’m sure they argued it was the Christian thing to do.

Oh, and you just proved my point. You Christians don’t even view welfare as the christianly thing to do. You just said it yourself. People like you don’t even like seeing people buying food with foodstamps let alone “shopping” them? You just answered your own question why he shopped him. He hates welfare

I agree, but Christianity teaches not to react just because you don't like something. Welfare is indeed not Christian, because it is forced. The problem is that he didn't warn him first, he assumed that he was a criminal, which is a judgement, even if it happened to be correct. That way he will be judged too, so he broke the Christian fundamentals, in this logic.

He knew he is a criminal because he was committing a crime.

And will it keep him out of heaven? No? So no biggy. Consider that none of the suffering here matters because when you die you go to heaven. So the criminal got his earthly punishment. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time. Now he should know better. This might cost him $10,000 or more if you add up not getting jobs because you have a criminal record

 

[fncceo]

ERIC GARNER was assassinated by choke hold police ***** for selling cigarettes

No, he died resisting lawful arrest.

 

[sealybobo]

Is it Christian to shop your friend to the authorities?

These two Christian guys went to the same church. One of them was selling/buying food stamps during the week and mentioned it to his pal. Then his pal reported him to the authorities and now he will go to jail probably.

Was it Christian of his pal to report him to the authorities? They were friends and went to the same church. What would you have done if he told you that he was dealing food stamps?

Was it Christian of his pal to report him to the authorities?

Is it ethically/morally wrong for private individuals to trade in food stamps? AFAIK, and by my ethical compass, yes, it is for doing so is not consistent with the spirit underpinning the existence of public assistance programs like the food stamp one. I believe too that by the laws in place regarding food stamps it is also illegal, though I haven't checked to confirm whether it is.

They were friends and went to the same church.

Party A's status as a friend of Party B does not obtain for Party A imprimatur to whatever the hell s/he wants. Moreover, Party B becomes complicit in Party A's wanton deeds if Party B does not report those that are unlawful. Such complicity thereby becomes a stain on Party B's character.

What would you have done if he told you that he was dealing food stamps?

• Divest myself of the friendship -- Clearly my judgment in admitting the person to the "club" called "my friends" was errant. By engaging in trade of food stamps, rather than the appropriate use of food stamps, that person never truly belonged in that "club."
• Report the act -- My tax dollars help pay for food stamps, and I don't mind that they do. I mind very much that some specific individual known to me is abusing my and others largesse in being willing to provide them with assistance in their hour of need. If the individual needs items/services other than what "food stamps" will buy, fine, but then that person, just as they solicited the food stamp resource, needs to solicit resources for those other things. Quite simply, there is a right way and a wrong way to obtain all sorts of public assistance and that person is going about it the wrong way.

his pal reported him to the authorities and now he will go to jail probably.

I don't know how probable it is that the offender will go to jail. I suspect there is an assortment of actions the administrators of the food stamp program may pursue, and incarceration is among them, but it need not be the actual outcome any given person experiences. (Trafficking in food stamps valued below $100 is not a felony offense.)

But if you tell on him to the police, then the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever, especially if he goes to jail for it. The fact that you Un friended him for his crime exactly, and that you got paid money for reporting him, will make him think that you are a part of his life forever, in hate. Do you expect a break from such an ex friend?

Sapor ebbs quickly once food is swallowed.
-- Xelor, variation on a line in Jules Verne, Paris in the Twentieth Century​

if you tell on him to the police, then the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever, especially if he goes to jail for it.

In whose mind? Surely not mine. In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

The fact that you ...got paid money for reporting him

WTH? Where did I get paid for reporting him?

Do you expect a break from such an ex friend?

I won't posit notions about or expectations of what in fact transpires in the minds of folks who are of poor enough character to abuse a food stamp program. That "former friend" doesn't exist in the world to meet my expectations, but to exist in the world as friends, we each must live up to the other's expectations. Much as I may rue and miss the nature and benefits of a former friendship, the prospect of missing such is insufficient for me to compromise myself, my character as I desire it to be, for such things.

It is not the words or the actions you should trust, rather the pattern.
-- Shannon L. Alder​

Note:

While I have in this post responded to distinct parts of the passage immediately below, be aware that due to the interrelationship among the ideas, my separate remarks in this post must also be taken both as discrete and in total. Too, the outline structure of this post, as always, is important to one's aptly understanding my remarks.
​

Interesting that you believe that when you make an enemy out of your friend, you think you can protect yourself by ignoring him. Plus there is the problem of self righteousness which the Bible warns against.

This yet another instance in this conversation of your having somehow managed to get into your mind things I neither said nor implied. Others being:

you got paid money for reporting him

Where did you get the notion that I got paid money for reporting him?

That wasn't in the OP and I didn't introduce it, either directly or obliquely via the content to which I linked.

the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever

Given the timeline of events given in your OP:

1. Person A and I live our pre-friendship lives.
2. I and Person A become friends.
3. I discover Person A unlawfully trafficking in food stamps.
4. I report the offense and divest myself of the friendship on account of the discovery.

The only thing that will forever be true is that there was a period of time during which Person A and I were friends. That is very different from our lives being "welded together as one forever."​

I don't know whether you're being willfully equivocal or believe your inferences and "out of left field" assertions/premises were indeed among the parameters of the scenario or among the remarks I shared.

you think you can protect yourself by ignoring him.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
-- James 1:2​

Excuse me?

• What did I write that insinuates in your mind that thoughts of self-protection are what I think I achieve by ignoring him?
  • And where did this notion of "ignoring him" come from? That's something you conjured, not something I explicitly or implicitly implied. What I wrote was quite clear:
    

    [I would] divest myself of the friendship

    In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

    Much as I may rue and miss the nature and benefits of a former friendship, the prospect of missing such is insufficient for me to compromise myself, my character as I desire it to be, for such things.

• From what do you imagine I'm protecting myself?

The course of action I told you I'd take is merely what I'd do because I don't care to be party to the behavior the former friend finds acceptable. Self-protection has nothing to do with it. Being true to myself has everything to do with it.

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
-- Matthew 7:6
​

there is the problem of self righteousness which the Bible warns against.

Look, you asked how I'd handle a given matter, and I gave you a direct answer to your question and I explained why I would report the offence.

Party A's status as a friend of Party B does not obtain for Party A imprimatur to whatever the hell s/he wants. Moreover, Party B becomes complicit in Party A's wanton deeds if Party B does not report those that are unlawful. Such complicity thereby becomes a stain on Party B's character.

Nowhere in the course of doing so did I intimate that pridefully would I "shout from the highest mountain" (figuratively or literally) the fact that I did so; moreover, you'll recall I wrote of what observers would see with regard to the nature of the person's and my interactions/friendships, not what I'd to them say about it.

In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

Even those strong in their character or convictions can become weak if they allow a steady flow of lies and corruption to permeate their lives.

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
-- 1 Corinthians 15:33​

How does this all explain, why this supposedly Christian friend neglected to explain to his friend that it is wrong what he is doing before shopping him to the authorities. This problem turns this into a betrayal, so a sin, and it goes against God's wish directly. As per God's wish, friends are supposed to be each other's keepers. The guy who shopped his friend to the authorities has committed the same sin as Kain committed against Abel. The mind would have been steadfast if he had explained the problem to his friend in detail before shopping him to the authorities, but he didn't so he just did Satan's work. It is a mistake that that telling friend thought that he was God.

The guy wouldn’t have stopped. I have a friend like this he just go behind your back. I can’t help wish more people would get shopped. So you’re saying the entire program is un Christian? People who sell their foodstamps need to hit rock bottom. They are hurting all of us

 

[anotherlife]

Is it ethically/morally wrong for private individuals to trade in food stamps? AFAIK, and by my ethical compass, yes, it is for doing so is not consistent with the spirit underpinning the existence of public assistance programs like the food stamp one. I believe too that by the laws in place regarding food stamps it is also illegal, though I haven't checked to confirm whether it is.

Party A's status as a friend of Party B does not obtain for Party A imprimatur to whatever the hell s/he wants. Moreover, Party B becomes complicit in Party A's wanton deeds if Party B does not report those that are unlawful. Such complicity thereby becomes a stain on Party B's character.

• Divest myself of the friendship -- Clearly my judgment in admitting the person to the "club" called "my friends" was errant. By engaging in trade of food stamps, rather than the appropriate use of food stamps, that person never truly belonged in that "club."
• Report the act -- My tax dollars help pay for food stamps, and I don't mind that they do. I mind very much that some specific individual known to me is abusing my and others largesse in being willing to provide them with assistance in their hour of need. If the individual needs items/services other than what "food stamps" will buy, fine, but then that person, just as they solicited the food stamp resource, needs to solicit resources for those other things. Quite simply, there is a right way and a wrong way to obtain all sorts of public assistance and that person is going about it the wrong way.

I don't know how probable it is that the offender will go to jail. I suspect there is an assortment of actions the administrators of the food stamp program may pursue, and incarceration is among them, but it need not be the actual outcome any given person experiences. (Trafficking in food stamps valued below $100 is not a felony offense.)

But if you tell on him to the police, then the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever, especially if he goes to jail for it. The fact that you Un friended him for his crime exactly, and that you got paid money for reporting him, will make him think that you are a part of his life forever, in hate. Do you expect a break from such an ex friend?

Sapor ebbs quickly once food is swallowed.
-- Xelor, variation on a line in Jules Verne, Paris in the Twentieth Century​

if you tell on him to the police, then the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever, especially if he goes to jail for it.

In whose mind? Surely not mine. In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

The fact that you ...got paid money for reporting him

WTH? Where did I get paid for reporting him?

Do you expect a break from such an ex friend?

I won't posit notions about or expectations of what in fact transpires in the minds of folks who are of poor enough character to abuse a food stamp program. That "former friend" doesn't exist in the world to meet my expectations, but to exist in the world as friends, we each must live up to the other's expectations. Much as I may rue and miss the nature and benefits of a former friendship, the prospect of missing such is insufficient for me to compromise myself, my character as I desire it to be, for such things.

It is not the words or the actions you should trust, rather the pattern.
-- Shannon L. Alder​

Note:

While I have in this post responded to distinct parts of the passage immediately below, be aware that due to the interrelationship among the ideas, my separate remarks in this post must also be taken both as discrete and in total. Too, the outline structure of this post, as always, is important to one's aptly understanding my remarks.
​

Interesting that you believe that when you make an enemy out of your friend, you think you can protect yourself by ignoring him. Plus there is the problem of self righteousness which the Bible warns against.

This yet another instance in this conversation of your having somehow managed to get into your mind things I neither said nor implied. Others being:

you got paid money for reporting him

Where did you get the notion that I got paid money for reporting him?

That wasn't in the OP and I didn't introduce it, either directly or obliquely via the content to which I linked.

the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever

Given the timeline of events given in your OP:

1. Person A and I live our pre-friendship lives.
2. I and Person A become friends.
3. I discover Person A unlawfully trafficking in food stamps.
4. I report the offense and divest myself of the friendship on account of the discovery.

The only thing that will forever be true is that there was a period of time during which Person A and I were friends. That is very different from our lives being "welded together as one forever."​

I don't know whether you're being willfully equivocal or believe your inferences and "out of left field" assertions/premises were indeed among the parameters of the scenario or among the remarks I shared.

you think you can protect yourself by ignoring him.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
-- James 1:2​

Excuse me?

• What did I write that insinuates in your mind that thoughts of self-protection are what I think I achieve by ignoring him?
  • And where did this notion of "ignoring him" come from? That's something you conjured, not something I explicitly or implicitly implied. What I wrote was quite clear:
    

    [I would] divest myself of the friendship

    In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

    Much as I may rue and miss the nature and benefits of a former friendship, the prospect of missing such is insufficient for me to compromise myself, my character as I desire it to be, for such things.

• From what do you imagine I'm protecting myself?

The course of action I told you I'd take is merely what I'd do because I don't care to be party to the behavior the former friend finds acceptable. Self-protection has nothing to do with it. Being true to myself has everything to do with it.

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
-- Matthew 7:6
​

there is the problem of self righteousness which the Bible warns against.

Look, you asked how I'd handle a given matter, and I gave you a direct answer to your question and I explained why I would report the offence.

Party A's status as a friend of Party B does not obtain for Party A imprimatur to whatever the hell s/he wants. Moreover, Party B becomes complicit in Party A's wanton deeds if Party B does not report those that are unlawful. Such complicity thereby becomes a stain on Party B's character.

Nowhere in the course of doing so did I intimate that pridefully would I "shout from the highest mountain" (figuratively or literally) the fact that I did so; moreover, you'll recall I wrote of what observers would see with regard to the nature of the person's and my interactions/friendships, not what I'd to them say about it.

In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

Even those strong in their character or convictions can become weak if they allow a steady flow of lies and corruption to permeate their lives.

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
-- 1 Corinthians 15:33​

How does this all explain, why this supposedly Christian friend neglected to explain to his friend that it is wrong what he is doing before shopping him to the authorities. This problem turns this into a betrayal, so a sin, and it goes against God's wish directly. As per God's wish, friends are supposed to be each other's keepers. The guy who shopped his friend to the authorities has committed the same sin as Kain committed against Abel. The mind would have been steadfast if he had explained the problem to his friend in detail before shopping him to the authorities, but he didn't so he just did Satan's work. It is a mistake that that telling friend thought that he was God.

The guy wouldn’t have stopped. I have a friend like this he just go behind your back. I can’t help wish more people would get shopped. So you’re saying the entire program is un Christian? People who sell their foodstamps need to hit rock bottom. They are hurting all of us

But we don't feel hurt when our tax dollars are embezzled in the billions between government officials and big insider corporations. For example Huly Burton or Blackwater, and so on. We feel righteous only because this loser doesn't have money for more lawyers that grass in our front lawn.

Also, if the guy doesn't stop after you discussed with him in great detail, and maybe more than once, then it is on him. But not discussing it with him is like not giving him the opportunity, I think. Of course, this counts only because of the friendship environment. Between strangers, this wouldn't matter.

 

[sealybobo]

But if you tell on him to the police, then the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever, especially if he goes to jail for it. The fact that you Un friended him for his crime exactly, and that you got paid money for reporting him, will make him think that you are a part of his life forever, in hate. Do you expect a break from such an ex friend?

Sapor ebbs quickly once food is swallowed.
-- Xelor, variation on a line in Jules Verne, Paris in the Twentieth Century​

if you tell on him to the police, then the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever, especially if he goes to jail for it.

In whose mind? Surely not mine. In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

The fact that you ...got paid money for reporting him

WTH? Where did I get paid for reporting him?

Do you expect a break from such an ex friend?

I won't posit notions about or expectations of what in fact transpires in the minds of folks who are of poor enough character to abuse a food stamp program. That "former friend" doesn't exist in the world to meet my expectations, but to exist in the world as friends, we each must live up to the other's expectations. Much as I may rue and miss the nature and benefits of a former friendship, the prospect of missing such is insufficient for me to compromise myself, my character as I desire it to be, for such things.

It is not the words or the actions you should trust, rather the pattern.
-- Shannon L. Alder​

Note:

While I have in this post responded to distinct parts of the passage immediately below, be aware that due to the interrelationship among the ideas, my separate remarks in this post must also be taken both as discrete and in total. Too, the outline structure of this post, as always, is important to one's aptly understanding my remarks.
​

Interesting that you believe that when you make an enemy out of your friend, you think you can protect yourself by ignoring him. Plus there is the problem of self righteousness which the Bible warns against.

This yet another instance in this conversation of your having somehow managed to get into your mind things I neither said nor implied. Others being:

you got paid money for reporting him

Where did you get the notion that I got paid money for reporting him?

That wasn't in the OP and I didn't introduce it, either directly or obliquely via the content to which I linked.

the fact that he was your friend before you un friended him for this, will weld your life and his life together as one forever

Given the timeline of events given in your OP:

1. Person A and I live our pre-friendship lives.
2. I and Person A become friends.
3. I discover Person A unlawfully trafficking in food stamps.
4. I report the offense and divest myself of the friendship on account of the discovery.

The only thing that will forever be true is that there was a period of time during which Person A and I were friends. That is very different from our lives being "welded together as one forever."​

I don't know whether you're being willfully equivocal or believe your inferences and "out of left field" assertions/premises were indeed among the parameters of the scenario or among the remarks I shared.

you think you can protect yourself by ignoring him.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
-- James 1:2​

Excuse me?

• What did I write that insinuates in your mind that thoughts of self-protection are what I think I achieve by ignoring him?
  • And where did this notion of "ignoring him" come from? That's something you conjured, not something I explicitly or implicitly implied. What I wrote was quite clear:
    

    [I would] divest myself of the friendship

    In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

    Much as I may rue and miss the nature and benefits of a former friendship, the prospect of missing such is insufficient for me to compromise myself, my character as I desire it to be, for such things.

• From what do you imagine I'm protecting myself?

The course of action I told you I'd take is merely what I'd do because I don't care to be party to the behavior the former friend finds acceptable. Self-protection has nothing to do with it. Being true to myself has everything to do with it.

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
-- Matthew 7:6
​

there is the problem of self righteousness which the Bible warns against.

Look, you asked how I'd handle a given matter, and I gave you a direct answer to your question and I explained why I would report the offence.

Party A's status as a friend of Party B does not obtain for Party A imprimatur to whatever the hell s/he wants. Moreover, Party B becomes complicit in Party A's wanton deeds if Party B does not report those that are unlawful. Such complicity thereby becomes a stain on Party B's character.

Nowhere in the course of doing so did I intimate that pridefully would I "shout from the highest mountain" (figuratively or literally) the fact that I did so; moreover, you'll recall I wrote of what observers would see with regard to the nature of the person's and my interactions/friendships, not what I'd to them say about it.

In the minds of any sensible observers, there would be, from the point of my reporting him, no "weld," as you say; there'd be a "weld" that broke.

Even those strong in their character or convictions can become weak if they allow a steady flow of lies and corruption to permeate their lives.

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
-- 1 Corinthians 15:33​

How does this all explain, why this supposedly Christian friend neglected to explain to his friend that it is wrong what he is doing before shopping him to the authorities. This problem turns this into a betrayal, so a sin, and it goes against God's wish directly. As per God's wish, friends are supposed to be each other's keepers. The guy who shopped his friend to the authorities has committed the same sin as Kain committed against Abel. The mind would have been steadfast if he had explained the problem to his friend in detail before shopping him to the authorities, but he didn't so he just did Satan's work. It is a mistake that that telling friend thought that he was God.

The guy wouldn’t have stopped. I have a friend like this he just go behind your back. I can’t help wish more people would get shopped. So you’re saying the entire program is un Christian? People who sell their foodstamps need to hit rock bottom. They are hurting all of us

But we don't feel hurt when our tax dollars are embezzled in the billions between government officials and big insider corporations. For example Huly Burton or Blackwater, and so on. We feel righteous only because this loser doesn't have money for more lawyers that grass in our front lawn.

Also, if the guy doesn't stop after you discussed with him in great detail, and maybe more than once, then it is on him. But not discussing it with him is like not giving him the opportunity, I think. Of course, this counts only because of the friendship environment. Between strangers, this wouldn't matter.

That stuff bothers me too. But two wrongs don’t make a right. I’ll never defend the one scamming the system. He knew what he was doing.

And I’m a hypocrite as I’m sure if I could find a way to make money on foodstamps I would. Actually I have. This guy wanted to play poker at my game but he didn’t have money so he gave me $60 in foodstamps food and I gave him $40 cash. I should have shopped him. Lol

 

[AZGAL]

ERIC GARNER was assassinated by choke hold police ***** for selling cigarettes
Click to expand...
No, he died resisting lawful arrest. FOR CIGARETTES! THIS IS NOT A GOOD WORLD TO LIVE IN.

 

[Taz]

Is it Christian to shop your friend to the authorities?

These two Christian guys went to the same church. One of them was selling/buying food stamps during the week and mentioned it to his pal. Then his pal reported him to the authorities and now he will go to jail probably.

Was it Christian of his pal to report him to the authorities? They were friends and went to the same church. What would you have done if he told you that he was dealing food stamps?

He should have minded his own goddamn business!!!

 

[Mr Natural]

There’s nothing lower than a rat.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

ERIC GARNER was assassinated by choke hold police ***** for selling cigarettes
Click to expand...
No, he died resisting lawful arrest. FOR CIGARETTES! THIS IS NOT A GOOD WORLD TO LIVE IN.

He didn't die of a chokehold.