Accomplice in Crime

When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. — Psalm 50:18

The Psalmist is saying when you see someone stealing and agree with him, you are a partaker of his sin even though you didn’t steal yourself.

This week, Maurice Clemmons, the gunman suspected of murdering four police officers in Lakewood, WA was shot dead himself by a Seattle police officer. We owe a debt of gratitude to that police officer for saving us taxpayers a lot of money it would cost to prosecute Clemmons.

Not only was Clemmons removed as a threat to society, but six other individuals were arrested who are suspected of “rendering criminal assistance” to Clemmons. While they were not directly involved in the murders, they “consentedst with” Clemmons, making them accomplices in the crime. http://www.komonews.com/news/local/78267897.html

Likewise, when we “go along” with wrong doing, we are guilty ourselves. In the New Testament we are warned not to give “God speed” to those who teach false doctrine, “for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (1 John 10-11).

Paul lists many of the sins of our day in Romans 1:18-31. He concludes by warning the judgment of God is upon those that commit these sinful acts and on them that “have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom. 1:32). For example, when we get a sense of pleasure out of someone else commiting adultery or fornication, we are also under the judgment of God even though we were not committing the act ourselves. Remember this next time you watch a T.V. show or movie that portrays these sinful acts, lest “thou consentedst with him,” and you become a partaker with adulterers.