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NASB | Deuteronomy 7:2 and when the LORD your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Deuteronomy 7:2 and when the LORD your God gives them over to you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall not make a covenant (treaty) with them nor show mercy and compassion to them. |
Subject: How do we respond to war as Christians? |
Bible Note: Support for Tim (and Radioman); Tim made an important distinction - Jesus taught people how to live and act toward one another. I can't recall anything he said about how states should behave toward one another. Jesus taught us that we ought not hate bin Laden and Al Qaeda or seek to kill them out of hatred or revenge. It could certainly be a matter of individual conscience, however, whether one ought to serve in the military and perhaps kill them as an act of war: "For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience." (Romans 13:3-5) The terrorists are evil-doers. It doesn't look to me as though the one who uses the sword in the ruler's name to punish them is committing a sin. Peace and grace, Indiana Jones, formerly "Steve" (too many Steves around here) |