Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquila
First, God's choice to institute execution among his people was necessary seeing that God's focus was a nation. I'm not saying that the death penalty isn't necessary. I'm saying that we should view it with extreme reserve and always remind ourselves that we aren't ancient Israel and that our system is often flawed. We therefore should advocate that all measures be taken to save the life of the condemned on the grounds that they may indeed be innocent. When DNA evidence or outright confessions are made perhaps it's more justifiable. Again, I'm not against the death penalty. I just have reservations against a wholesale embrace of it. I see it as incongruous to support prison ministry and mercy...and yet support the death penalty wholesale. Typically the death penalty is persued in a spirit of revenge not justice. This is why we've executed some who were innocent. Revenge can bring a mad rush to judgment that clouds justice. So in short I have reservations about the death penalty, I feel we should always advocate on the side of mercy, teach forgiveness no matter how difficult, and even when the condemned are executed...I believe that a Christian shouldn't flip the switch but rather close their eyes and pray that it be fast for the sake of the condemned. Do they deserve it? Absolutely not. My human nature says, "Fry 'em!" But that's my flesh. My spirit sees a soul. It sees the death penalty as a final tragedy in the situation. Two tragedies...the loss of the victime...and the loss of the condemned.
As for Israel's wars. You will remember that in the beginning God himself defended Israel supernaturally. When Israel did march to war they marched under the DIRECT order from God as spoken through the prophets. They weren't sent by a President who counseled with staff. It was ordered by God himself. Also again, God was focused upon a nation. Today he is focused on us as individual people called out from the nations. Therefore these wars don't compare to war today. To continue, after Israel grew in power and demanded a king God slowy began backing away from being the defender of the nation. The prophet Samuel even warned them that a king would use their children to wage wars and serve his interests. From that point forward Israel's protection was increasingly in their own hands until God completely turned them over to their enemies culminating in what happened in the year 70 AD. War is the scourge of humanity.
Also consider how governments have been known to lie to justify war. How does a Christian know when they are truly engaged in a justified military action? When a Christian participates in this world's military they accept being pawns of the government that can be used in an unjustified manner. Even in Hilter's Germany the average German soldier believed the Allies were out to destroy the German Fatherland and their beloved culture and history. Lies abounded in Hitler's propaganda. Often they just wanted to preserve what they felt the Allies would destroy. When Hitler invaded a country he never said, "We'll invade them though they did us no harm." No, Hitler always claimed the nations he invaded served as threats to his Germany and that pre-emptive action was necessary to preserve the German state from enemies who hated her. Can a Christian truly "trust" fallen worldly governments to always act righteously? No. Could you see an American Apostolic serving in the American military meeting a foreign Apostolic serving in his nation's military meeting on the battlefield killing eachother, each believing the other nation is the aggressor? No. Therefore I believe we should refrain from allowing ourselves to be pawns in this world's wars. If any Christian participates in the military surely it would be best to serve in a non-combatant fashion. But still the ethical questions of possibly participating in an unjustified war of national self interest should cause us pause and consideration.
Since God is no longer focused on building a nation but rather a called out people, much of what was done in the OT isn't applicable but rather serves as spiritual types and shadows. Today we do not violently wage war in the flesh...we wage war in the spirit through preaching and teaching God's Word in a lost and fallen world.
We should stand and speak regarding the value of life in every context. Life is either sacred or it isn't.
|
I'm working a series of 12 hrs shifts thru Sunday so please forgive the brevity and the sporadic nature of my answers.
You said "Since God is no longer focused on building a nation but rather a called out people, much of what was done in the OT isn't applicable but rather serves as spiritual types and shadows. Today we do not violently wage war in the flesh...we wage war in the spirit through preaching and teaching God's Word in a lost and fallen world. "
This is where we have a fundamental difference. You believe that "much" of the OT law serves as a mere example. I believe that the hermanutical principle is that the provisions of the law remain intact unless changed by the Writer of the new covenant. While God may not have a 'earthly' people, per se, He does exercise authority over the nations of the world and installs the rulers as His ministers to carry out justice. This is not an arbitrary justice. Justice, to be just, can not be arbitrary or changing. There must be a law above the local/national civil law. I agree that through history most rulers have not followed that law that that in no way negates it's necessity. They are held responsible for keeping it.
You show examples of justice being perverted and I agree. We must be careful to execute extreme caution be for rendering the death penalty. I have no problem there and we have many tools at our disposal, that the ancients didn't have, that help us determine the facts of the case.
The scripture calls Christ's civil ministers(magistrates) to dispense the 'wrath', 'vengeance', and 'fear' of God against civil disobedience. BTW, this is New
Testament. It is clear that God has ordained both temporal and eternal judgment. Where are the magistrates of the earth to get their guidance for proper punishment that is just, fair, and not arbitrary?
Sorry! Got to run.....
Threaded Mode
