If God asked you to kill someone from another group, would you?

[CrystalDragon]

(Feel free to move this if it should be in Ethics and Morality instead.)

Now before you say "God would never do that!" keep in mind that in the Old Testament, there were several times where God commanded entire cities to be destroyed and killed, including the infants. And disobedient children were sometimes stoned to death due to not following the Fourth Commandment (at least of the group commonly called the Ten Commandments. So as much as we may try to ignore it, if we go by the Bible there was a time when God commanded those things.

So even if you say God wouldn't do that now, it's clear he did at one point (and thus he could again since he's the same through time, right?). So, would you be willing to draw a heavy metal sword down upon the tiny body of an infant newborn if God commanded it? Even disregarding modern times, say if you lived in that time period and God asked you to do that, or stone disobedient children in your family or group. Would you do it?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

(Feel free to move this if it should be in Ethics and Morality instead.)

Now before you say "God would never do that!" keep in mind that in the Old Testament, there were several times where God commanded entire cities to be destroyed and killed, including the infants. And disobedient children were sometimes stoned to death due to not following the Fourth Commandment (at least of the group commonly called the Ten Commandments. So as much as we may try to ignore it, if we go by the Bible there was a time when God commanded those things.

So even if you say God wouldn't do that now, it's clear he did at one point (and thus he could again since he's the same through time, right?). So, would you be willing to draw a heavy metal sword down upon the tiny body of an infant newborn if God commanded it? Even disregarding modern times, say if you lived in that time period and God asked you to do that, or stone disobedient children in your family or group. Would you do it?

This has been asked before.................Crystal.

 

[Left]

No.

This has been asked before.................Crystal.

I didn't get to read it, unfortunately.

 

[CrystalDragon]

This has been asked before.................Crystal.

I just keep thinking about it because the thought honestly worries/disturbs me a lot....

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[Big Drew]

This is an interesting question...

My immediate response is no, I couldn't bring myself to kill an innocent because God told me to. But how many soldiers have gone and fought a war because their government told them to? So then the question would be do we trust in the government more than God? I think I would have to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was God telling me to do it...and even then, it would have to be someone deserving of death...not a child, I could never harm a child.

 

[Poppyseed78]

I think people are capable of a lot of things, even atrocities. War has shown us that. It's hard to be able to know how one would act in a certain situation without having experienced it. The story of Kitty Genovese shows us that people are more indifferent than we would like to believe. On the other hand, there are some selfless people who help others even at their own risk. There is both light and dark in human nature.

 

[Dawnhammer]

So how is anyone justifying being Christian and still disobeying God if He actually asked you to shoot someone ? And if you really believe God to be omnipotent, wise and perfect what the difference would it make if He asked you to shoot children, your wife, your dog or anything else?

 

[Left]

Can I be honest? I support our troops, but I could never kill for even government. I'm glad I wasn't put in such a situation, because I would turn the gun on myself.

 

[Jim Langston]

I would like to say yes, but no seems more rightous, but God is God and is my Lord. I do not wish to be presented with this dilema, and unless it's self defense or defending the weak I don't wish to hurt anyone. I am told in the bible to defend myself, though.

 

[Dawnhammer]

Can I be honest? I support our troops, but I could never kill for even government. I'm glad I wasn't put in such a situation, because I would turn the gun on myself.

Bit of hubris there. As you say you were never in that situation and are only speculating from a position of safety.

Being in a courtyard and having choice of being in a firing squad or being target of the firing squad might bring about some new depths of what one would be willing to do to see the next sunset.

 

[GeorgeJ]

Well, if a man murders someone because he says "God told him to do it", he should rightly face the consequences of his actions from the civilian authorities.

 

[Left]

Bit of hubris there. As you say you were never in that situation and are only speculating from a position of safety.

Being in a courtyard and having choice of being in a firing squad or being target of the firing squad might bring about some new depths of what one would be willing to do to see the next sunset.

I just feel like in order to kill someone for the government, you must at least try to agree with their motives. What if one doesn't agree? Is it really that chicken to just turn the gun on themselves?

 

[GeorgeJ]

What if one doesn't agree?

That's known as "conscientious objection". There have been many conscientious objectors that have served in the U.S military in non-combatant roles.....medic, for example....

 

[Big Drew]

I just feel like in order to kill someone for the government, you must at least try to agree with their motives. What if one doesn't agree? Is it really that chicken to just turn the gun on themselves?

I think we can look at many of the Vietnam War veterans for that answer...so many didn't understand why they were there, they saw it as a pointless war...and years later many still suffer from the effects...I use Vietnam as the example and not Iraq/Afghanistan, because during that period most men were drafted...nowadays they have a choice to join or not.

 

[Dawnhammer]

In combat most people don't kill because they necessarily agree with their government. They kill so they and their brothers in arms can survive the fight.
Survival instinct is not that easily overcame.

"Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

-Dylan Thomas

 

[GeorgeJ]

Another thing to keep in mind is that with the Old Testament times the OP refers to, God was the government.

 

[Big Drew]

In combat most people don't kill because they necessarily agree with their government. They kill so they and their brothers in arms can survive the fight.
Survival instinct is not that easily overcame.

"Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

-Dylan Thomas

True...but when the smoke clears and you're left with your thoughts you have to question why, and this has driven many mad.

 

[Dawnhammer]

True...but when the smoke clears and you're left with your thoughts you have to question why, and this has drove many mad.

Instinct. Survival trumps sanity. In some cases this may even be valid survival trait.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

Well God no longer asked people to do that and also says murder is a sin. So won't have to worry about it. If God "did" ask me I'd probably just go admit myself to a psychiatric ward since I know God wouldn't ask me to do that.