Whats your opinion?

[bhsmte]

He will determine that, when he returns. (see post #138).

In other words, 2/3 of the worlds population are the enemies of Jesus and will be killed?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

In other words, 2/3 of the worlds population are the enemies of Jesus and will be killed?

We don't know how many (or who) are Jesus's enemies at the present time. That remains to be determined. Much of the world's population will die in the tribulation period before Jesus arrives for the final battle.

 

[bhsmte]

We don't know how many (or who) are Jesus's enemies at the present time. That remains to be determined. Much of the world's population will die in the tribulation period before Jesus arrives for the final battle.

Ok then.

 

[Cactus Jack]

My opinion is that this is a really stupid thread because all it's doing is fostering argument and discontent amongst our fellow Christians. I see no growth or benefit from a thread like this.

 

[ForJesusChrist]

My opinion is that this is a really stupid thread because all it's doing is fostering argument and discontent amongst our fellow Christians. I see no growth or benefit from a thread like this.

Sorry you don't like my thread, wasn't the intention to spark arguments, I guess its just human nature. But anyway, what did you think of the article?

God Bless

 

[Cactus Jack]

You didn't see it, I guess.
http://www.christianforums.com/t7819811-5/#post65540358

 

[Cactus Jack]

Let me ask you- what is the value of the human life? In some instances there are no options. In others, it's the world. Look at a fella that was exonerated after 20+ years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. I forget his name, but he's not the only one. What could he have done with his life and for this country, for this world, had he not been locked up? What if they executed him instead?

Top 5 Wrongful Executions | News One
The Innocence Project - Home

 

[OldWiseGuy]

My opinion is that this is a really stupid thread because all it's doing is fostering argument and discontent amongst our fellow Christians. I see no growth or benefit from a thread like this.

If it gets people to study their bibles it's beneficial. Sadly half of the responses are "Oh yeah, sez you."

 

[interpreter]

We don't know how many (or who) are Jesus's enemies at the present time. That remains to be determined. Much of the world's population will die in the tribulation period before Jesus arrives for the final battle.

An enemy of Jesus is anyone that the US condemns to death.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

An enemy of Jesus is anyone that the US condemns to death.

I like your somewhat twisted humor.

 

[florida2]

As much as I agree with you, Florida2, far from all christians seem to do so. Your viewpoint is clearly in line with what my own was as a christian, and I maintain that position without believing there is any divine commandment demanding it of me today. However, there are many verses in the bible where violence is quite significantly endorsed directly (as in the call for death penalty for minor perceived crimes, the sale of offspring as slaves, or extermination of entire nations) or indirectly (By speaking of atrocities without any form of condemnation).
Christians today are the ones who keep pushing for discrimination of homosexuals. It tends to be christians who want borders closed to immigration, and who work against universal healthcare in the states. Just to bring up a few examples. Yes, plenty of christians are as you describe loving and kind people. Who genuinely seek to do good and who also DO good. We can probably make a long list of such people, famous or not. But, we can also make a long list of christians who are anything but. And both sides (it is an excessive simplification to say there are only two sides, I know) tend to claim they are right because the bible supports THEIR view. In many cases both sides are right, too. The bible may be said to support many different things if the reader only wants it to.

I applaud the viewpoint you seem to have, that love is your primary purpose, and I would agree that this would be Jesus of Nazareth's core teaching. It would seem not everyone agrees with us on that though. Not in practice, anyway.

Indeed, it is sad that there are many Christians who don't seem to follow Jesus' example. I think Ghandi's quote 'I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians - they are nothing like your Christ' is very powerful and apt.

What did Jesus do when he met tax collectors, prostitutes and Pharisees? Did he run them through with a sword or call on God to strike them down? No, he talked with them and showed love. That's all that is needed!

Sure Jesus got angry when he saw the money changers in the temple - he was after all a human with human emotions. A bit of righteous indignation is not necessarily a bad thing. Jesus did chase them out of the temple but he certainly didn't kill them despite him calling them 'a den of robbers' (which certainly sound like enemies of God to me).

Although we don't know for sure of course, but if Jesus met up with them afterwards he would have done exactly as he did when he met other sinners and 'enemies of God' - shown love.

 

[bhsmte]

An enemy of Jesus is anyone that the US condemns to death.

That takes the vast majority of non-believers off the hook then, thanks.

 

[florida2]

An enemy of Jesus is anyone that the US condemns to death.

Since when was the US the mouthpiece of Jesus?

Let's say that someone in another country murders someone. That's clearly a terrible sin and is in direct opposition to Jesus, yes? The US authorities will not have even heard of this person and will anyway have no authority to condemn this person to death.

By your reasoning the murderer is not an enemy of Jesus.

 

[bhsmte]

Since when was the US the mouthpiece of Jesus?

Let's say that someone in another country murders someone. That's clearly a terrible sin and is in direct opposition to Jesus, yes? The US authorities will not have even heard of this person and will anyway have no authority to condemn this person to death.

By your reasoning the murderer is not an enemy of Jesus.

How about the condemned murderer in the United States, that is on death row? I thought if he found Jesus and repented, he could be saved?

 

[interpreter]

Since when was the US the mouthpiece of Jesus?

Let's say that someone in another country murders someone. That's clearly a terrible sin and is in direct opposition to Jesus, yes? The US authorities will not have even heard of this person and will anyway have no authority to condemn this person to death.

By your reasoning the murderer is not an enemy of Jesus.

Depends on whether the suspect murdered a Christian.
Jesus now rules the earth through the 4th horseman, the US, whose weapons bring hell and death to the enemies of Jesus.

 

[Robban]

Depends on whether the suspect murdered a Christian.
Jesus now rules the earth through the 4th horseman, the US, whose weapons bring hell and death to the enemies of Jesus.

Philippians 3:18,

"For I have told you often before, and I say it again now with tears in my eyes, there are many who walk along the Christian road who are really enemies of the cross of Christ,"

So, who is who?

 

[David Brider]

Having grown up in a country which, to all intents and purposes, hasn't had the death penalty for my lifetime (well, technically it was finally abolished in all circumstances in 1998, but hadn't been actually executed 'scuse the pun for 34 years before that), I find it rather barbaric that anyone - particularly Christians - can even consider it as a possibility.

 

[TheReasoner]

Having grown up in a country which, to all intents and purposes, hasn't had the death penalty for my lifetime (well, technically it was finally abolished in all circumstances in 1998, but hadn't been actually executed 'scuse the pun for 34 years before that), I find it rather barbaric that anyone - particularly Christians - can even consider it as a possibility.

Seems to me the most vocal supporters of it are christians. The christian right in USA want it kept or sometimes expanded in scope. Not all too few in the christian right here think it a bad idea either. And I am sure the same is the case in the UK.

 

[Vylo]

I support the death penalty, but with a higher burden of proof than "beyond a reasonable doubt". There should be virtually no doubt what-so-ever in capital punishment cases, and the offender must either pose a serious threat to society or have committed a truly heinous act.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I support the death penalty, but with a higher burden of proof than "beyond a reasonable doubt". There should be virtually no doubt what-so-ever in capital punishment cases, and the offender must either pose a serious threat to society or have committed a truly heinous act.

I agree, and there are many such cases where there is no doubt.