Christians as Murderers?

[Jehoram]

By what measure of sanity can Christians call themselves Pro-life and yet be in total agreement with the death penalty? The death penalty allows for murder at the hands of the government, which in America is the citizenry. So everytime someone is executed, we are his/her murderers.

How is it possible to be a Christian and yet approve of such barbaric practices?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

By what measure of sanity can Christians call themselves Pro-life and yet be in total agreement with the death penalty? The death penalty allows for murder at the hands of the government, which in America is the citizenry. So everytime someone is executed, we are his/her murderers.

How is it possible to be a Christian and yet approve of such barbaric practices?

God said "Thou shalt not kill", yet He commanded His people to annihilate their enemies. How does that reconcile?

I think there is a difference between taking innocent life and someone who basically chooses their fate with their own actions.

I'm not entirely comfortable with the death penalty...BUT...I certainly wouldn't hesitate to defend my family with deadly force if necessary, and I think the death penalty is similarly...a defense of society.

[Jehoram]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

God said "Thou shalt not kill", yet He commanded His people to annihilate their enemies. How does that reconcile?

God also commanded His people not to eat pork but we do. What did Jesus say to do to those who hurt us and despitefully use us?

If we think the basis of approval is found in OT law, should we not follow the law in it's entirety?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

God also commanded His people not to eat pork but we do. What did Jesus say to do to those who hurt us and despitefully use us?

If we think the basis of approval is found in OT law, should we not follow the law in it's entirety?

I'm not trying to find the "basis of approval" in the OT law...I'm pointing out that God's commandments sometimes seem to conflict, when they really don't. Can you find an instance in the OT where God commanded one of His people to eat pork?

I don't believe that God disapproves of defending one's family. I think protecting my children is one of my top priorities as a mother.

Didn't Jesus say something about those who hurt little ones would be better off with a millstone tied around their necks and tossed into the sea? That sounds pretty vicious to me....LOL!!

Hell is the ultimate death penalty isn't it? I don't find where Jesus did away with that.... Those who choose sin, choose death. I think those who choose certain actions, knowing the consequences, choose their own death.

[Jehoram]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I'm not trying to find the "basis of approval" in the OT law...I'm pointing out that God's commandments sometimes seem to conflict, when they really don't. Can you find an instance in the OT where God commanded one of His people to eat pork?

I don't believe that God disapproves of defending one's family. I think protecting my children is one of my top priorities as a mother.

Didn't Jesus say something about those who hurt little ones would be better off with a millstone tied around their necks and tossed into the sea? That sounds pretty vicious to me....LOL!!

Hell is the ultimate death penalty isn't it? I don't find where Jesus did away with that.... Those who choose sin, choose death. I think those who choose certain actions, knowing the consequences, choose their own death.

But is the basis of military combat always to protect our children? What about when our military sends men into battle to protect other nations? Or when we war simply to guard our "interests"?

Defending one's family is one thing. How do you allot the judgement for crimes against against one person to another who had no vested interest in the victims?

[tv1a]

If I'm not mistaken, the more accurate translation of that commandment should read Thou Shalt not murder.

Death Penalties would be more of a deterrent if it didn't take so long to do it. I like OT law. Guilty, Die, get it over with.

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

God said "Thou shalt not kill", yet He commanded His people to annihilate their enemies. How does that reconcile?

I think there is a difference between taking innocent life and someone who basically chooses their fate with their own actions.

I'm not entirely comfortable with the death penalty...BUT...I certainly wouldn't hesitate to defend my family with deadly force if necessary, and I think the death penalty is similarly...a defense of society.

[tv1a]

This is one of the few areas people can say I'm inconsitent. I have not been able to effective reconcile my pro-life/pro death penalty positions. It may help if I think of this issue like the pro internet/anti tv folks. I'm sure I can come up with something fantastic.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by Trouvere

Most people who get the death penalty know they deserve it.Many even admit they deserve it.I wonder how you would feel if you went home today and someone had murdered all the members of your family and then this monster crossed into the next county and murdered another family.Is this a possible scenario? yes it is.Then this person goes before the judge and gets the chair.
Is it justice even though it won't bring the person back? I don't know but I am
praying about it.Murder is one thing.That is the taking of life just to do so but what if its in self defense? Alot to think about.Is self defense okay but the defense of others who are innocent not allowable? There are some dirt bags on this planet who don't care who they kill.Just some fodder for the flock.Life is not always ideal.
The group there at Jerusalem chose to let a murderer run free and kill Jesus.

All true. I'm not completely comfortable in my anti-death-penalty position, really. There are many who truly deserve what they get (in my gut feeling, anyway), and yet, what about the innocents? Every once in a while, there's a report of someone on death row being freed because of new evidence. Yes, of course, that's pretty rare, and most on death row probably are 100% guilty. But open and shut cases, proven guiltly beyond doubt etc. are probably rare, too.

It has always bothered me that death row in-mates are sometimes there for many years. But if it weren't for that, the exonerating evidence would have come too late. (It probably has anyway, for some.)

[revrandy]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

By what measure of sanity can Christians call themselves Pro-life and yet be in total agreement with the death penalty? The death penalty allows for murder at the hands of the government, which in America is the citizenry. So everytime someone is executed, we are his/her murderers.

How is it possible to be a Christian and yet approve of such barbaric practices?

This is a GOOD Arguement... an elderly man asked my one time... Would I be Willing to Pull the Lever on the Electric Chair as a Christian and take a Man's Life... ... made me think..

Originally Posted by revrandy

This is a GOOD Arguement... an elderly man asked my one time... Would I be Willing to Pull the Lever on the Electric Chair as a Christian and take a Man's Life... ... made me think..

Is this why kids in the UPC are discouraged from joining the armed services?