Should Bin Laden be executed or allowed to live?

What do you as a Christian believe? Should he be punished by death for causing the deaths of so many, or should he just be imprisoned for life?

This topic is too heavy for General Fellowship, and belongs more in the Prophecy Forums which I will rename Prophecy, Endtimes & Current Affairs.

Thanks for understanding!

Die.

The age of "a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye" is over - we should practise grace - Bin Laden should not be murdered, but be incarcerated indefinitely.

I see nothing wrong with cutting off his head where we find him hiding, then bring his head back here & put it on a tall steel spike in wtc rubble.Sell pictures of it, make a new postcard. This is the descendant of Ishmael who said on Cnn he wants his birthright back. Let's give it to him. Prison is not an option. He could escape.

Tough and controversial question. Jesus says we are to forgive our enemy and to pray for those who persecute us. We are also suppose to turn our face to allow our tormentors to hit us a second time - aka "turn the other cheek".

This is the moral aspect of Christianity. Yet God has given us government. Read Romans 13 and, though it has a naive tone to it, bear in mind that it was written at a time of persecution by the Roman and Jewish authorities; Paul knew more about persecution by authorities than most of us ever will.

Edited section of Romans 13 for those who do not have their bibles handy -
"... The authorities that exist have been established by God. ... those who (rebel)will bring judgement on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. ... 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, and agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer."

The authorities, Paul says, bear the right to the sword against evil doers. In this instance, Osama Bin Laden, the leader of a known terrorist organization has done evil. And the authorities, ie the US and its allies, are going to kill him for it.

In our hands, we cannot kill him. But God has given us an authority who will work out justice.

BTW, please do not post any oneliners i.e. a one message "yeah" and tempt me to delete it.


[This message has been edited by Yauming (edited 12 December 2001).]

This raises the topic of capital punishment and the subsequent debate that follows. Should anyone be punished by death for their crimes? Should Timothy McVeigh die? Should Martin Bryant die? Should Charles Manson die? I personally believe that as a Christian we should not support taking a life for a life. We are not ones to judge.

John 8:1-11

God is the Judge - he who has no sin cast the first stone.

Eventually someone has to pass judgement be it a jury, court room judge or military tribunal.

Nonetheless, we should refrain from getting emotional about it, expressing passionate hatred or being critical - "the real passing judgement" - over the person. But everyone is entitled to their "matter of fact" point of view based on the facts.

He should be trialed, and executed for crimes against humanity. He had no thoughts for the innocent - why should he the guilty be offered the same?