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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Should Christians practice nonresistance | Lev 26:6 | EdB | 15849 | ||
Angie the death penalty is not murder, the death penalty is an execution. Taking of one’s life is not always murder and sometimes it is required. Notice no Apostle or Bible martyr ever used as argument in their defense about a forth coming execution as violating the commandment thou shall not kill. In fact Paul told us to be in submission to our government. Death occurs in executions and war and these were not being referenced in the commandment not to kill. Many places in the Bible clearly prescribes execution for unsuitable behavior, and when executed quickly and publicly it is a proven deterrent to crime. Consider also there were many executions during the time of Christ, no where is it recorded that Jesus preached against this. In fact the implication was the treatment and punishment of criminals was understood and accepted. Also consider no where does the Bible tell soldiers to lay down their weapons, in fact when a soldier asks how he should conduct himself he was told to treat people fairly Luke 3:13. |
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2 | Should Christians practice nonresistance | Lev 26:6 | Sir Pent | 15933 | ||
I must agree with Angie, I find it inconsistent to support the taking of human life for one reason (capital punishment), and oppose it for another (abortion). I also agree with Brian G. when he says, "When we begin accepting the destruction of life from one perspective, then it becomes easier to end life from other perspectives. The different acceptable reasons for destroying life begin to feed upon each other." Killing is desensitizing. In fact, a large part of military training is dedicated to that purpose. On the other hand, EdB makes the point there is no record of the martyred Christians using the argument that the death penalty is morally wrong to defend themselves. I would submit that none would be expected anyway. It is not logical that a person would use a defense, which is irrelevant to the authority over them. If the authorities were not Christians, then they would have no reason to care about what the Christian thing to do was. EdB also makes the point that there are many places where the "Bible clearly prescribes execution". I would submit that these are in the OT and that there has been a fundamental change since then (see "Death penalty in OT is good" post). There have also been people posting on both sides of whether the death penalty is an effective deterrant. That is to be expected, because there are experts on both sides of that as well. In fact, since that has not been conclusively shown either way, I don't think that it is a reasonable basis for deciding either direction. I understand where EdB and many others are comming from on this issue, but I believe that no matter how "right" our motivation is, it is still "wrong" to kill another human being whom God has created. |
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3 | Should Christians practice nonresistance | Lev 26:6 | EdB | 16027 | ||
Sir Pent I have hesitated answering your statement in light of the events of yesterday 9/11/01. It is with a heavy heart I even venture near it, and I only do so because I think this topic may be more relevant as we see event unfold in the days ahead. Think about what you said. ”I find it inconsistent to support the taking of human life for one reason (capital punishment), and oppose it for another (abortion).” What your saying here is God is inconsistent and you don’t agree. It was God that gave value to human life “thou shall not kill” not you or I or our feelings. It was also God that said if one is found guilty of certain crimes he was to be executed. Again God did not consult anyone else’s feelings on the matter, god didn’t need to He is God. When we take God’s law and interpret or apply it different than God prescribed it, then we are saying, “God, you don’t know what your talking about and we are going to run things”. Then you said, “I also agree with Brian G. when he says, "When we begin accepting the destruction of life from one perspective, then it becomes easier to end life from other perspectives. The different acceptable reasons for destroying life begin to feed upon each other." Killing is desensitizing.” Again you have us establishing perspective, and our sensitivities. It was God’s perspective not ours to forbid murder. It was because of God and His perspective that we view human life the way we do. It was also God’s perspective that said if a person refuses to live within these boundaries he (the criminal) then must forfeit his life. You think your flesh had sensitivities about killing someone? You were born with a sin nature, the same as Cain, you could kill in a minute if it hadn’t been for the sensitivities you developed from God’s law. Then your bold enough to say it goes against my sensitivities to execute someone found in violation of God’s law. Excuse me! Your whole argument is based on human feelings, perspectives and sensitivities. My friend that is humanism, and exactly the kind that is invading the church today. Let God be the standard. Let God be our perspective, let God mold our sensitivities. You said all the execution laws are in the Old Testament, your right and so are all the thou shall not kill, steal and lie. Again the law carries two aspects: Sin, rebellion against it, which is rebellion against God and carries spiritual penalties and societal, which is crime against society, which carries physical punishment. Jesus did not come to change the law but to fulfill it. He did not eliminate it. Jesus came to reconcile us to God when we sin, to restore us spiritually. However His death did not effect the law as far as it’s hold on society and the physical aspects of life. No where is there any teaching of the elimination of execution for crimes that prescribed such. Lastly to put execution in the same class as abortion is an insult to every child that was murdered for convenience and profit. Abortion is the taking of the life by murder of an innocent unborn child. Execution is the is forfeiture of life by someone that we refused to live by God’s standards. |
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4 | Should Christians practice nonresistance | Lev 26:6 | EdB | 16042 | ||
Typo the last sentence of my response to this thread should read. 'Execution is the forfeiture of life by someone that has refused to live by God’s standards.' SORRY about that! |
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