Originally Posted by seekthetruth909
I can understand why a minority of Christians support the death penalty, especially those who live in countries with high crime rates. Left to my own human reasoning and emotional response I too would like to see quick retribution against people who commit murder, but its not for me to question the will of God
I just cant understand how Christians can use the bible to support their position. If they were Jewish following the Old Covenant I could see why. But the Old Covenant is not applicable to Christians. The problem with Christians who do this is that they only use the Old Covenant to support a few laws they personally agree with and choose to ignore the rest.
I havent heard one valid argument of biblical support for Christians under the New covenant of Grace. Only a few that dont seem logical:
1.Paul forgets to mention on over twenty occasions in the bible that when he was speaking about the abolishment of the law, he was only referring to ceremonial law?
2.The Old covenant moral laws are still in effect but the death penalty for people committing adultery, unsubmissive children, and collecting firewood on Sunday
must be part of the ceremonial law which was abolished
. Committing adultery ceremonial?
3.All of the numerous commands in the New Testament regarding the abolishment of an eye for an eye, loving our neighbor, loving our enemies, and doing violence to no one, do not apply to government employees?
4. The much quoted Romans 13, the basis for ignoring all the other New Testament scriptures on this issue. Lets examine this scripture:3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 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, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
No one has answered this question except one person on how does this apply to Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Hussein, and other ruthless rulers throughout history? The one person who answered said that verse 3 and 5 states that this only applies to just governments. Please read the verses a few times. Am I missing something?
Think about verse 4. This is the single verse in the New Testament that proponents of the DP use. A ruler does not bear a sword for nothing. Be objective and think of a few different meanings of the word, Sword in this context. Weapon, weapon to execute, weapon to intimidate, weapon to threaten submission with, the states monopoly on the use of force, a rulers army, or a governments police force. Is the verse, a ruler does not bear a sword for nothing concrete evidence to support the DP, or only a governments right to use force?
I also notice people who quote Romans 13 leave out the context of the following verse: Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Loving others including criminals is the fulfillment of the law. Is it logical to believe that love = kill? I have asked this question close to a dozen times on this topic but I never get an answer only another question. If we literally listen to Jesus and love criminals we would have to free them all. Whats the answer then, should we ignore Jesus because we dont like what he said, besides we have a responsibility to all our neighbors. Putting criminals in jail protects our law-abiding neighbors and allows us to follow as best as we possibly can, the teachings of Jesus.. We can let God deal with them in the end.
Seek