Olde Tymer
Well-known member
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It's sometimes alleged that capital punishment isn't Christian; and to a certain
extent that's true because God introduced the death penalty right after Noah's flood
when as yet no Christians existed.
● Gen 9:5 . . But for your own life-blood I will require a reckoning: I will require it
of every beast; of man, too, will I require a reckoning for human life, of every man
for that of his fellow man.
That law is universal regardless of one's age, race, sex, gender identity, nationality,
culture, and/or religious preference. It applies to every family of Man and Beast; no
exceptions. And we can't lay the responsibility for enforcing it at God's doorstep
because He requires it to be enforced by mankind rather than Himself.
● Gen 9:6a . .Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed;
God requires an investigation into the death of a human being whenever it is
caused by another human being or by a member of the animal kingdom. If the
killing cannot be justified, the perpetrator has to be executed at the hands of
human beings: no exceptions.
The death penalty here in Gen 9:6 is mandatory only for murder; which Webster's
defines as: the crime of unlawfully killing a person; especially with malice
aforethought.
The key word in that definition is "unlawfully" because not all homicides are illegal,
e.g. national defense, home defense, self defense, law enforcement, crime prevention,
accidents, diminished capacity, etc.
* Murder wasn't prohibited because it's immoral, rather, because it demeans the
dignity of God.
● Gen 9:6b . . For in His image did God make man.
Apparently, were humanity lacking His image, people could go on safari and stalk
each other like game animals and mount human heads as trophies of the hunt.
The bottom line is: capital punishment for murder isn't immoral; au contraire,
capital punishment for murder is divine; and Christians should expect that if and
when they kill somebody, they are required to answer for it the same as
everybody else. (cf. Rom 13:1-4, 1John 5:16)
FAQ: Don't you think it's better to lock all murderers away for life rather than risk
taking the lives of those who are innocent?
REPLY: It is never better to disobey God. The first couple did, and you see what
that got them.
Resistance is on a scale with dark arts and the worship of Shiva and Vishnu.
"Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the
voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat
of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity
and idolatry. (1Sam 15:22-23)
In war, commanders expect a percentage of casualties by human error and/or
friendly fire; and those kinds of casualties are usually factored in as acceptable
losses. But it isn't wise to turn off a war just because somebody might get hurt by
friendly fire. Mistakes happen; even under ideal conditions.
It's the same with the war on crime. Just because a percentage of innocent people
get executed for something they didn't do, is no excuse to get in bed with the Devil
and oppose God's edicts.
America's justice system, although far from perfect, has a pretty good batting
average. The overwhelming majority of people dead from executions fully deserved
what they got. Only a relatively small percentage are victims of error; and those
percentages should always be considered acceptable losses in any legitimate endeavor
to protect domestic tranquility.
_
It's sometimes alleged that capital punishment isn't Christian; and to a certain
extent that's true because God introduced the death penalty right after Noah's flood
when as yet no Christians existed.
● Gen 9:5 . . But for your own life-blood I will require a reckoning: I will require it
of every beast; of man, too, will I require a reckoning for human life, of every man
for that of his fellow man.
That law is universal regardless of one's age, race, sex, gender identity, nationality,
culture, and/or religious preference. It applies to every family of Man and Beast; no
exceptions. And we can't lay the responsibility for enforcing it at God's doorstep
because He requires it to be enforced by mankind rather than Himself.
● Gen 9:6a . .Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed;
God requires an investigation into the death of a human being whenever it is
caused by another human being or by a member of the animal kingdom. If the
killing cannot be justified, the perpetrator has to be executed at the hands of
human beings: no exceptions.
The death penalty here in Gen 9:6 is mandatory only for murder; which Webster's
defines as: the crime of unlawfully killing a person; especially with malice
aforethought.
The key word in that definition is "unlawfully" because not all homicides are illegal,
e.g. national defense, home defense, self defense, law enforcement, crime prevention,
accidents, diminished capacity, etc.
* Murder wasn't prohibited because it's immoral, rather, because it demeans the
dignity of God.
● Gen 9:6b . . For in His image did God make man.
Apparently, were humanity lacking His image, people could go on safari and stalk
each other like game animals and mount human heads as trophies of the hunt.
The bottom line is: capital punishment for murder isn't immoral; au contraire,
capital punishment for murder is divine; and Christians should expect that if and
when they kill somebody, they are required to answer for it the same as
everybody else. (cf. Rom 13:1-4, 1John 5:16)
FAQ: Don't you think it's better to lock all murderers away for life rather than risk
taking the lives of those who are innocent?
REPLY: It is never better to disobey God. The first couple did, and you see what
that got them.
Resistance is on a scale with dark arts and the worship of Shiva and Vishnu.
"Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the
voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat
of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity
and idolatry. (1Sam 15:22-23)
In war, commanders expect a percentage of casualties by human error and/or
friendly fire; and those kinds of casualties are usually factored in as acceptable
losses. But it isn't wise to turn off a war just because somebody might get hurt by
friendly fire. Mistakes happen; even under ideal conditions.
It's the same with the war on crime. Just because a percentage of innocent people
get executed for something they didn't do, is no excuse to get in bed with the Devil
and oppose God's edicts.
America's justice system, although far from perfect, has a pretty good batting
average. The overwhelming majority of people dead from executions fully deserved
what they got. Only a relatively small percentage are victims of error; and those
percentages should always be considered acceptable losses in any legitimate endeavor
to protect domestic tranquility.
_
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