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

[grasping the after wind]

Why does your question specify someone in another group? Is the dilemma not the same if they belong to one of your own groups?

 

[Dawnhammer]

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.

This of course leaves interesting dilemma of you having to decide yourself what God could conceivably ask you to do and trying to judge if you are just mad or actually being told to do something by God.

 

[Cimorene]

No.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

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

Are you concerned that God will actually show up and ask people to do some disturbing things?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

This of course leaves interesting dilemma of you having to decide yourself what God could conceivably ask you to do and trying to judge if you are just mad or actually being told to do something by God.

As for me, I believe by way of 'context.' So, in my estimation, this is a no-brainer....I already know my answer would be 'no' for reasons that should be obvious to anyone who is familiar with the 'context' of the NEW TESTAMENT (i.e. the fact that we are in a New Covenant). The rest I've already delineated in another thread that Crystal put in the Ethics and Morality section.

Again, it should be a no-brainer.

Peace,
2PhiloVoid

 

[CrystalDragon]

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.

Like I said in the OP, back in the Old Testament, God DID ask people to do that. Saying that God wouldn't seems like just trying to avoid the uncomfortable thought that God would and has done that, at least according to the Old Testament.

Not to mention I've seen "murder" in relation to that commandment defined as "killing without a cause". Killing and claiming that it was God telling you to do so is "a cause", and therefore it could be argued it's not breaking the commandment.

Why does your question specify someone in another group? Is the dilemma not the same if they belong to one of your own groups?

Well I did give a mention to the disobeying children in your own groups as well, I mainly focused on other groups because most of the time when God asked people to kill in the Old Testament, it was killing those in another group.

This of course leaves interesting dilemma of you having to decide yourself what God could conceivably ask you to do and trying to judge if you are just mad or actually being told to do something by God.

Considering the Old Testament, God could conceivably ask that.

Are you concerned that God will actually show up and ask people to do some disturbing things?

Not necessarily, but people have claimed that they killed because God told them to, which is in the Old Testament as well, so someone could claim that and find themselves biblically justified in doing so.

As for me, I believe by way of 'context.' So, in my estimation, this is a no-brainer....I already know my answer would be 'no' for reasons that should be obvious to anyone who is familiar with the 'context' of the NEW TESTAMENT (i.e. the fact that we are in a New Covenant). The rest I've already delineated in another thread that Crystal put in the Ethics and Morality section.

Again, it should be a no-brainer.

Peace,
2PhiloVoid

Saying that though seems to completely brush away or ignore the Old Testament, saying "Oh it's not valid, we have the New Testament now!", which is why I also mentioned if God asked you to do that and you lived in the Old Testament time period.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

This of course leaves interesting dilemma of you having to decide yourself what God could conceivably ask you to do and trying to judge if you are just mad or actually being told to do something by God.

Not really. God wouldn't tell me to break His rules and commit a sin that He already said is a sin.

 

[GeorgeJ]

Not necessarily, but people have claimed that they killed because God told them to, which is in the Old Testament as well, so someone could claim that and find themselves biblically justified in doing so.

And as I stated earlier, anyone that claims that as an excuse should still face the consequences of the laws of a civil society. Whether they feel it was biblically justified or not, they should still face prison time or execution (if the law allows for that sentence).

He'll find out pretty quick if he was "justified" after he kicks the bucket.

 

[Dawnhammer]

God wouldn't tell me to break His rules and commit a sin that He already said is a sin.

And if God would ask you to sin for him as an act of faith? Also why couldn't God conceivably break His rules if he wanted or it might be easily argued that we can't know his mind or "rules" in first place.

God works in mysterious ways after all. Who are we to second guess God?

 

[Left]

Also why couldn't God conceivably break His rules if he wanted or it might be easily argued that we can't know his mind or "rules" in first place.

God works in mysterious ways after all. Who are we to second guess God?

We have a winner in this thread.

People are going to argue that God can't contradict Himself or some such, but the fact is, God does work in mysterious ways.

 

[GeorgeJ]

God works in mysterious ways after all. Who are we to second guess God?

So the "God told me to" defense is perfectly acceptable in your eyes, then?

 

[SPF]

And if God would ask you to sin for him as an act of faith? Also why couldn't God conceivably break His rules if he wanted or it might be easily argued that we can't know his mind or "rules" in first place.

God works in mysterious ways after all. Who are we to second guess God?

The very reason that Jesus died on the cross was to take the punishment and bear the burden of your sin. Do you honestly believe that given what Jesus endured for you, that God would ask you to sin? From the moment you became a Christian you began the process of sanctification which is a lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. We have commands in Scripture to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. For God to ask you to sin would be God going against His very character and nature.

God does not act against His own nature. This is one of the very reasons that we can have faith in God, it's because of His immutability. God does not change. It's part of what makes God, God. It's the very reason we can point to objective moral values and Truths - because God does not change. If God were to go against His nature and tell you to do something evil, that would make God evil. God is good. God does not operate outside His character because His character is perfect.

 

[Paul Yohannan]

No. God would not ask that as it would be against the Gospel. Galatians 1:8 is in effect.

 

[Thedictator]

If God truly came to me a told me to kill someone, like he did in times of old the answer would be yes. I would have to know it was God though. Abraham was told to kill his own son and was given no reason for doing so. God said he was righteous for willing to do so. The problem here is that Abraham had a personal relationship that we do not have today that is why I believe God would not ask such a thing today. There will be severe consequences both earth and spiritually for not obeying a direct order or command from God if he was to do this.

God works differently in each time dispensation. In the dispensation of Israel he controlled the government, and in Romans 13 Governments have the right to use capital punishment. In the dispensation of the Church ( todays time ) God is not in direct control of our governments and does not and would not do what he did in past dispensations. In todays dispensation God rules a spiritual kingdom (the church) and no longer a earthly kingdom like Israel.

 

[Der Alte]

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...

Can you provide a credible, verifiable source for this claim? It sounds like internet gossip to me.

 

[Big Drew]

Can you provide a credible, verifiable source for this claim? It sounds like internet gossip to me.

You can do your own research...it's easily done. I was merely using this as an example...in fact, a well known one. But I'm not going to derail this thread. If you would like to discuss this more please start a thread in the appropriate forum.

 

[Ken Rank]

(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?

The places sacked in the OT on the order of God all had something in common... these were places giants lived. I personally believe that this was in part why we had the flood, and that same cleansing happens again on a smaller scale as Israel moves toward and into the chosen land. There more here than just "God ordered them to kill."

If you are worried about this, don't be... no women will be fighting in any war God is general over.

 

[PropheticTimes]

What you need to understand is that those God ordered to be wiped out were of corrupt seed, the fallen angels who mixed with human women (see Gen 6). These were hybrid beings (as scientists are trying to create today....nothing new under the sun...).

God never ordered the genocide of fully human groups of people. If you keep this in mind those OT accounts will make more sense.

 

[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?

Enjoy your extraneous discussion, Crystal......

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

And if God would ask you to sin for him as an act of faith? Also why couldn't God conceivably break His rules if he wanted or it might be easily argued that we can't know his mind or "rules" in first place.

God works in mysterious ways after all. Who are we to second guess God?

I'd say anyone who thinks like that is out of touch with the bible. I mean true, there are somethings we don't fully understand about how God thinks. However, He makes it super clear the rules now. Which is not murdering. So if He told me to murder someone, I would not because its really the devil speaking. This isn't the OT days where God told people to do such things.

Look at all the christians who have done crazy things in recent history and said "God told me to!". Raping and killing a family for example. Sorry, thats not God. Its just a mental disorder (usually is the case). BTW not pointing this at you of course, just making a general statement about killers in the past who said God told them to do something.