A few years ago, I bought stolen items from a friend’s friend. It was a mystery box containing a few items from a convention. I don’t know which convention. My friend’s friend wanted to sell me the mystery box with the items for 10 dollars, which I agreed to. Right after I bought the items from my friend’s friend, my friend told me the items in the box were stolen. It didn’t seem to bug me at first and I badly wanted the items. Last year, I found out that buying stolen items was a crime, and I felt guilty about it. I asked God for forgiveness and said I would never buy stolen items again. Since last year, I’ve been stressed, anxious, and worried because I don’t know if I will be left behind from the rapture after asking God for forgiveness and then keeping the items. Does God want me to make an effort to find the rightful owner of the items or give the items to someone in need? I don’t know who it belongs to and I threw some of the items away or donated them to Goodwill. I’ve been going crazy making sure all the items are gone because God is coming back soon.\u00a0 I feel that I have run out of time. I feel like I wasted time and didn’t know buying stolen items is a crime.<\/p>\n
Please help me give me some feedback. Thanks.<\/p>\n\t
Buying stolen goods is helping the thief succeed in his crime, so therefore, it is just as wrong as the thievery itself. However, I don’t know whether the items were actually stolen. Companies that attend conventions typically give away free items to advertise their business. People who attend such conferences often leave with a number of free items. All you have is your friend’s statement that the items were stolen. I don’t know if he told you the truth or not. It is just one person’s claim.<\/p>\n
But, if we must assume the items truly were stolen, then there should have been a police report regarding the thief. If there is no report then there is no way to trace back the original owners. The best you can do is give away what you received to a charity, which you mentioned that you have already done.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: A few years ago, I bought stolen items from a friend’s friend. It was a mystery box containing a few items from a convention. I don’t know which convention. My friend’s friend wanted to sell me the mystery box with the items for 10 dollars, which I agreed to. Right after I bought the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[50,526],"class_list":["post-47492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-repentance","tag-stealing"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":45531,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-stole-for-many-years-but-now-i-have-given-up-my-sin-what-do-i-do-with-the-stolen-goods\/","url_meta":{"origin":47492,"position":0},"title":"I stole for many years, but now I have given up my sin. What do I do with the stolen goods?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good Morning, I was a big sinner in the past. I've asked God for forgiveness. I would like to be pure, holy, and ready for when He comes. But I still feel guilty about all the things I've stolen. There was a time in my life when I stole\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":44561,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/im-afraid-my-past-stealing-will-come-back-to-haunt-me\/","url_meta":{"origin":47492,"position":1},"title":"I’m afraid my past stealing will come back to haunt me","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, Please, I am 15 years old, in school and I have stolen. I took someone's card details and bought some items for myself. I went to the person and told him, but I only told him about three items and paid him back while there were four items.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":46764,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-dont-gamble-so-what-should-i-do-with-gifts-of-lottery-tickets\/","url_meta":{"origin":47492,"position":2},"title":"I don’t gamble, so what should I do with gifts of lottery tickets?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My fianc\u00e9e was given lottery tickets at work. We share the same stance on the principles of gambling. My family also likes to give lottery tickets for Christmas. This is my first Christmas being a member of the Lord's church. How would you suggest Christians handle gifts like that?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33289,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-can-my-sins-be-forgiven-without-receiving-salvation\/","url_meta":{"origin":47492,"position":3},"title":"How can my sins be forgiven without receiving salvation?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day, Acts 2:38 says after obeying the gospel our sins will be forgiven and we will receive salvation (gift of Holy Spirit). Please expound on how my sins can be forgiven without receiving salvation. \u00a0 Thanks. Answer: \"Peter said to them, 'Repent, and each of you be baptized\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5289,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-ok-to-turn-another-christian-into-the-police-for-stealing-from-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":47492,"position":4},"title":"Is it OK to turn another Christian into the police for stealing from you?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 4, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is it right for an elder to detain a sister in a police station because she collected the elder's ID card and two mobile phones? Answer: Christians are required by God to stop stealing (Ephesians 4:28) and not make a practice of it. Our interactions regarding Christians and what\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":67258,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-repent-of-stealing-from-my-neighbors\/","url_meta":{"origin":47492,"position":5},"title":"How do I repent of stealing from my neighbors?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I have sinned for many years. I recently gave my life to Christ. I repented to the Lord of all my sins. I am devoting the rest of my existence to serving the Lord Jesus Christ. 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