Re: Should christians believe in the death penalty
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaamez
Interesting conversation.
I think I'm still leaning more toward the pro-life side, believing that only God has the right to take a life.
I understand that if I commit a crime that is punishable by death according to civil law, then I must submit myself to that punishment. But, as Christians, should we support such laws or policies in our government - especially in the USA? I know how far we have really gotten away from an actual constitutional republic, but isn't the basis of our government still, technically, "of the people and by the people"? Bro. Alex, I don't believe it's okay for us to just say, "well, that's the law" if we feel the law is unjust or sinful. I believe it's our responsibility (and in the US, our right) to speak out and try to change that.
I've seen a few post about how the death penalty is biblical, but I've still not seen any scripture posted, in the context of the grace that God extends to us, that supports that position. And to echo what has already been stated, if we are to believe that God's Word supports a penalty of death for certain crimes, do we also make adultery and rebellion punishable by death?
I'm still morally conflicted here - given the peaceful death that Richard Cooey was given 22 years after he raped, tortured and killed two 19-year old girls. He lived in prison longer than they were even alive. Their deaths were not peaceful. And he was defiant and unrepentant even until the very end. But now his options are gone: not because God decided it was enough, but because we (society) made that decision. Now, Richard Cooey has no more space for repentance, no more opportunity to meet his Savior at the cross and experience the freedom of living a life more abundantly. Instead, he'll very likely meet Jesus as his Judge - and with a very unhappy ending.
Was he ever offered the chance to know Jesus?
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
Re: Should christians believe in the death penalty
Quote:
Originally Posted by tbpew
D4T,
I will endeavor to engage this matter over the next 1-2 days since you have contributed in this thread.
The key point I was responding to was a declaration of "ineptitude" in the administration of laws. If that thought is the 'emergent' thought, then we have emergent chaos....and God will not be pleased if we advocate lawlessness because of the failure of the administration of laws.
Judgments were made in every circumstance before any stone was thrown (I think the witnesses were to throw the first stones). How we LIVE this life is what matters, not how we die.
Judgments are the closest thing we have to REAL matters of the heart...they are formed by a specific MOTIVE set. If righteousness and peace are to have a place in temporal society, there must either be justice OR there must be people willing to suffer being defrauded.
I do not expect ANY non-believer to suffer his/her self to be defrauded....and only the most mature believers will willingly accept this calling.
I think the reason I am entering into this conversation is because it seems to have something deeper than just the death penalty. I think what undergirds this topic for many is a belief that "chronic ineptitude" is the RULE of the day.
If you can, in good conscience, leave in place secular authority that can incarcerate a human life until it dies....you can leave in place secular authority that administer a penalty of death. It is a matter pertaining to the Kingdoms of this world, not the Kingdom of God.
Yes sir...
Pretty much... I see this post as a statement with no hanging question to respond to.
But since short posts give me hives I will state this...
This is a subject that we have spoken about several times and it is one which I find myself "coming around" on as well.
In the God's will thread it was asked if, no matter who wins the election, we felt that Gods will had been accomplished. I was a little surprised to see my fingers type that I don't God really cares about the kingdoms of this world having been such a politically motivated person for so long.
To me this thread is about how we feel personally about the existence of the death penalty. In the end I don't feel that I am supportive of it's existence. Any movement on my part to support it or end it in the present secular kingdom that operates around the land I live on would be another subject entirely.
Anyway... I only rambled.
But, as I said, I don't think that there was any question that you needed answered though.
Re: Should christians believe in the death penalty
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joelel
Well,the next question is.If we can't kill them,then is it sin to put them in jail for life ? Maybe we should just let them go to keep on with their evil against us ?
AMEN.
Now you are really talking about what people who profess being a true Christian would do when any evil presents in their life.....just suffer it.
So Timmy, my virtual friend,....just suffer everything that is negative that comes into your life and count it all joy....suffering yourself to be defrauded.
Otherwise, please consider that if we can say "yes....jail'm forever" but "I'm too civilized to take away somebody's life", we are talking out both sides of a conflicted mouth.
Our Lord would never take away a thing until a more perfect is in place.
In the Kingdoms of this world, I suppose civilized society has decided that caging a person for the rest of their human existence is an appropriate and civilized punishment for a person found guilty of premeditating a plan to take innocent life. Is caging a person for the rest of the days they live a just and humane punishment?
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Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath [James 1:19]
Re: Should christians believe in the death penalty
Quote:
Originally Posted by tbpew
AMEN.
Now you are really talking about what people who profess being a true Christian would do when any evil presents in their life.....just suffer it.
So Timmy, my virtual friend,....just suffer everything that is negative that comes into your life and count it all joy....suffering yourself to be defrauded.
Otherwise, please consider that if we can say "yes....jail'm forever" but "I'm too civilized to take away somebody's life", we are talking out both sides of a conflicted mouth.
Our Lord would never take away a thing until a more perfect is in place.
In the Kingdoms of this world, I suppose civilized society has decided that caging a person for the rest of their human existence is an appropriate and civilized punishment for a person found guilty of premeditating a plan to take innocent life. Is caging a person for the rest of the days they live a just and humane punishment?
I am having trouble nailing down exactly what your take is on this subject.
Re: Should christians believe in the death penalty
Quote:
Originally Posted by tbpew
AMEN.
Now you are really talking about what people who profess being a true Christian would do when any evil presents in their life.....just suffer it.
So Timmy, my virtual friend,....just suffer everything that is negative that comes into your life and count it all joy....suffering yourself to be defrauded.
Otherwise, please consider that if we can say "yes....jail'm forever" but "I'm too civilized to take away somebody's life", we are talking out both sides of a conflicted mouth.
Our Lord would never take away a thing until a more perfect is in place.
In the Kingdoms of this world, I suppose civilized society has decided that caging a person for the rest of their human existence is an appropriate and civilized punishment for a person found guilty of premeditating a plan to take innocent life. Is caging a person for the rest of the days they live a just and humane punishment?
I say put them all from all nations on an island in the middle of the ocean,cut all the trees down and take them away so they can't build a boat and get off.Let them take care of themselves in any way they want.
Re: Should christians believe in the death penalty
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joelel
I say put them all from all nations on an island in the middle of the ocean,cut all the trees down and take them away so they can't build a boat and get off.Let them take care of themselves in any way they want.
They already did it, now people vacation there: Australia.
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