CC--8th Commandment: What does the 8th Commandment require of the community?

· Image of God in people means respect their private property
· But Image of God in others also means to give to them when in need.
· And the Image of God in us OF a generous God means to give.
· But there are robust institutions meant to provide for everyone’s needs by God.
· Family, which means we don’t play economically as individuals but as a team with less individual risk.
· Government, which prevents and remedies injustice, fraud, and theft.
· And Church, which is a safety net for cases which slip through the cracks between family provision and governmental protection.
· And when these institutions aren’t functioning properly, the COMMUNAL Image of God is broken, and it makes it that much harder for individuals to play their part of not stealing.
· Does that justify theft? No. But it does remind us that the prohibition against stealing is part of a much larger picture of communal obligations and institutions.
· God intends to meet our needs, but the State, the Church, and the Family are each vital components of how He intends to do this.