How can anyone justify not believing in capital punishment?

[sealacamp]

It is only by surrendering to the two great commandments that one may have eternal life.

Not quite. It is only by surrendering to the Lord Himself after being broken that we are remade and given the opportunity to have life eternal with Him. We surrender to Him nothing more, nothing less.

Sealacamp

 

[WilliamB]

Not quite. It is only by surrendering to the Lord Himself after being broken that we are remade and given the opportunity to have life eternal with Him. We surrender to Him nothing more, nothing less.

Sealacamp

The bible and Jesus disagree with your ideology. But let's let Christ speak for Himself:

25And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life.

26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Ahh...the simplicity Christ. Love, love, love! Without it, we are doomed despite man made rituals that claim to offer salvation. Love is the key to salvation. Dodge the truth as many will try, one can't claim to know God, if they don't know love. "For many will come in my name and I will say to them, I never knew you".

Truth is, it's hard to offer love, especially toward someone who has done terrible things. But I speculate, that's why it's such a big deal to Christ, because it is the ultimate denial of ones own fleshy feelings and desires. Love in itself IS obedience to God and why if you follow these two commands, you shall live. You can add anything to this equation you like, but without love, it's all for nothing. Or, just call Jesus a liar and we can agree to disagree and move on. Either case, I stand on the words of Christ.

 

[hopetoday]

ghghjghjghjghjg

 

[MadameRadness]

They wouldn't care less if he "converted" or not.

Do not assume to speak for the families of those who have been killed at his hands. I am seriously and completely SEETHING right now at seeing that statement.

I'm so sick of people who have no idea what they are talking about piping up about "the victim's families", as if they are some sort of advocate for me. Here's a news flash: I am a family member of TWO Al-Qaeda victims and YOU do not speak for me. Ever. Period.

Do not open your mouth in regards to something you are ignorant about. If Osama had come to Christ I would have rejoiced, because it would have been an incredible testament to the LORD's glory and power. Would it have brought my family members back? Of course not. Would it erase my pain? Never. But it would mean another soul saved. The rest of my family feels similarly.

I am not against the death penalty, and considering the situation I don't feel like the military members had any choice but shoot him or lose their own life. But I certainly wasn't dancing in the streets when he died. Why on earth would I? It doesn't make me happy to know someone is burning in hell, because the ONLY difference between myself and bin Laden is that I asked for forgiveness for my sins, and he did not.

Sorry, end rant.

 

[frankleespeaking]

I was ecstatic when I heard of that inhumane monster, Osama Bin Laden, was killed by U.S. forces-finally!

And then I think of despicable bleeding heart liberals and their namby pamby fairlyland beliefs of never killing anyone. Could you imagine capturing such a monster as Bin Laden and just letting him live in jail for the rest of his life? There is no other punishment suitable for him that death. The same with serial killers and other terrorists and such.

How can any reasonable person not agree with punishing people like Osama with death?

I think you need to reread the new testiment, paying particular notice to the words in red, and while the old testiment law and requirements were good the new covenant is even better. and who's disciple are you if you are not following the words of Jesus and what He taught under the new and better way

 

[frankleespeaking]

Do not assume to speak for the families of those who have been killed at his hands. I am seriously and completely SEETHING right now at seeing that statement.

I'm so sick of people who have no idea what they are talking about piping up about "the victim's families", as if they are some sort of advocate for me. Here's a news flash: I am a family member of TWO Al-Qaeda victims and YOU do not speak for me. Ever. Period.

Do not open your mouth in regards to something you are ignorant about. If Osama had come to Christ I would have rejoiced, because it would have been an incredible testament to the LORD's glory and power. Would it have brought my family members back? Of course not. Would it erase my pain? Never. But it would mean another soul saved. The rest of my family feels similarly.

I am not against the death penalty, and considering the situation I don't feel like the military members had any choice but shoot him or lose their own life. But I certainly wasn't dancing in the streets when he died. Why on earth would I? It doesn't make me happy to know someone is burning in hell, because the ONLY difference between myself and bin Laden is that I asked for forgiveness for my sins, and he did not.

Sorry, end rant.

never really understood how people could imagine 19 guys with box cutters could bypass all of the worlds intelligence agency's....all of America's defense systems, Airforce, Navy, Army, even separate defense systems of the Pentigon, and White house which have their own defense systems. fly aircraft never flown by any of them with such accuracy and finesse that it would almost appear these aircraft were flown by computer generated flight path. then as all hell breaks out with these odds breaking terrorist attacks three steel reinforced buildings which never in the history of construction fall into their own basement at freefall speed. and all these coinsedences happened on one and the same day. Its amazing if you believe 19 guys with box cutters orgestrated and brought to fruition the most diabolical plan ever hatched against the most highly protected and costly defense systems the world has ever known.........I would imagine Allah was behind their success

 

[AnnCook]

I have to ask if you're referring to capital punishment as in the legal institution of execution or the specific case of Bin Laden?

If the first, in my case I'm against it simply because only God knows a person's heart and full and complete truth. In a system created by man we are often wrong and I hate to think of the risk of being wrong when it comes to a person's very life.

 

[VCViking]

Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

“People tell me judge not lest ye be judged. I always tell them, twist not scripture lest ye be like Satan.” - Paul Washer

 

[VCViking]

WilliamB - The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:9-11...
​

Hammster - This is talking about Christian loving Christians. Not all are our brothers

WilliamB - Really, that's strange given there were no "Christians" until sometime after Christ died. Therefore, he'd actually be talking to Jews. Your brother is any stranger. Do you check someone's church membership before you show them love? Do they need to be wearing a cross? If you see someone in need, do you ask if they're a Christian first and if not, refuse to help? When He said love your neighbor as you love yourself did He mean just the people that live next door to you? Hmmm...
​

​

Actually, since 1 John was written arond A.D. 90-95, there were plenty of Christians around, so it is referring to Christians.

 

[VCViking]

In one breath we pray our enemies will be punished for their sins. In the next breath we pray we won't be.

Read the Psalms

 

[VCViking]

:
We as Christians should never, and I repeat never rejoice at the thought of another soul separated from the love of Christ for eternity. No matter what he or she has done. I have a hard time picturing Christ jumping up and down in Heaven right now, ecstatic that another one of His children has been separated from Him and will never come to know him. And yes, we are all God's children, OBL included, no matter how heinous our sins may be.

I somewhat agree with the exception of that we are all God's children. We are not. We are all God's creation but only those who are born again are God's children. One is either a child of God or a child of Satan. John 8:42-47

 

[VCViking]

Here's what you should ask yourself, would JESUS have been excited that Osama was killed? Would JESUS have pulled the trigger?

Excited? No. Pulled the trigger? Yes. Read Acts 5:1-11

 

[VCViking]

As for capital punishment it is easy for me there is no question that we have put innocent people to death and there is no question that it will always remain a possibility. One innocent is enough for me to end capital punishment completely.

No one is innocent. We are all deserving of death and an eternity in Hell. Be thankful for God's grace, mercy and longsuffering.

 

[VCViking]

"For many will come in my name and I will say to them, I never knew you".

Where are you quoting this from?

 

[VCViking]

Taken from the New Covenant:


Romans 13:1–5

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

 

[Cactus Jack]

I'm just gonna say this (without reading all the multitudes of pages)-

Hate the sin, but love the sinner.

Now, I ask you to consider the many people that have been freed from Death Row, after finding the state was negligent in their rights.

 

[VCViking]

I'm just gonna say this (without reading all the multitudes of pages)-

Hate the sin, but love the sinner.

Nowhere found in the bible. Made popular if not originally coined by Ghandi. Also, read Psalm 5:5

 

[General Mung Beans]

Nowhere found in the bible. Made popular if not originally coined by Ghandi. Also, read Psalm 5:5

So should we hate our enemies then?

 

[Faith.Man]

So should we hate our enemies then?

God did not show mercy against the enemies of Israel in the OT. Was God wrong? Was God wrong when He said the following?

Malachi 1:1 - An oracle: The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.
Malachi 1:2 - "I have loved you," says the LORD. "But you ask, 'How have you loved us?' "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" the LORD says. "Yet I have loved Jacob,
Malachi 1:3 - but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals." [NIV 1984]

Romans 9:13 - Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." [NIV 1984]

 

[General Mung Beans]

God did not show mercy against the enemies of Israel in the OT. Was God wrong? Was God wrong when He said the following?

Malachi 1:1 - An oracle: The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.
Malachi 1:2 - "I have loved you," says the LORD. "But you ask, 'How have you loved us?' "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" the LORD says. "Yet I have loved Jacob,
Malachi 1:3 - but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals." [NIV 1984]

Romans 9:13 - Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." [NIV 1984]

Isn't that because God is perfect and omnipotent He has the right to hate people while humans are sinful and not omnipotent they shouldn't.

Matthew 5:43-48

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbori]" class="footnote">[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

However I've also heard that "loving your enemies" means in this context your personal enemies like people you argue with or a bully not a mortal enemy like say someone who tried to murder you.