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aRs3N1c42 · 10-06-2004, 01:10 PM

Oh my! This is a doozy of a topic. Isn't it?
My take?

God has allowed, appointed, placed secular governments to be His instruments of justice on this earth. In as much as a government institutes the death penalty, it is that government acting in what it believes to be the best interest of the nation or tribe or whatever. Are human institutions able to be completely impartial and objective about their decisions and punishments? No. Humans are rather subjective in their approach to just about everything. Is the American justice system perfect? No more so than any other justice system in the world. We have judges passing sentances because they have their own particular issue with the crime that was (or was not) committed. One judge may view a crime as extremely terrible where another judge views some other crime as worse.

I belive that God prefers mercy to justice, forgiveness to vengance. I had a similar discussion the other day. Law suits that involve millions of dollars for "pain and mental anguish" or for "pain and suffering". No amount of money can erase what has happened, bring back our loved one, restore our sense of security or self confidence. Only God can bring about true healing and restoration. Would God have pardoned Hitler if he had a sincere change of heart on his death bed? Only God can know what is in someone's heart, if they're truely repentant.

Is it wrong for an earthly government to put criminals to death? That is for the elected officials to determine. If you don't like the stance of the current administration, loby and campaign to put someone in office who supports the ideals you hold dear.

The way I see it is you can go to either of two extremes. It's either "Kill them all and let God sort them out" or "wait on God to exact justice as He sees fit". Either way, innocent people will die. I don't think there is any way around that until we live in a society where God is the one and only rulling body and all justice is exacted by Him and Him alone. In war we call in collateral damage. I think all of life is a war. A war against death. A war against evil. A war against injustice. A war against indifference. There's collateral damage in every war.

Here some really hard questions.

Is a police officer guilty of murder if he shoots someone he is convinced is about to shoot someone else, himself, even? What if the person who got shot was never intending to shoot anyone? The courts will examine the evidence and if the police officer is found to have acted in the best possible way considering the information at hand, he will most likely not be prosecuted.

How about a bomber pilot who was given incorrect coordinates for his bombing run? Is he guilty for the murder of the school children that just happend to be in a "chemical weapons plant"?

Here's one. Who is innocent? Do you believe in orriginal sin?

I've got much more to say, but I must be running along now.

One final thought. Christianity isn't the only religion subject to interpretation. There are muslims in Iraq killing western infidels because their interpretation of the Koran says they should. Some of those they are killing may be muslims from USA, Britain or another allied country who's interpretation of the Koran says that the terrorists are wrong. Think about it...

10-06-2004, 01:10 PM	#35 (permalink)
aRs3N1c42 Upright Location: Somewhere over the rainbow	Oh my! This is a doozy of a topic. Isn't it? My take? God has allowed, appointed, placed secular governments to be His instruments of justice on this earth. In as much as a government institutes the death penalty, it is that government acting in what it believes to be the best interest of the nation or tribe or whatever. Are human institutions able to be completely impartial and objective about their decisions and punishments? No. Humans are rather subjective in their approach to just about everything. Is the American justice system perfect? No more so than any other justice system in the world. We have judges passing sentances because they have their own particular issue with the crime that was (or was not) committed. One judge may view a crime as extremely terrible where another judge views some other crime as worse. I belive that God prefers mercy to justice, forgiveness to vengance. I had a similar discussion the other day. Law suits that involve millions of dollars for "pain and mental anguish" or for "pain and suffering". No amount of money can erase what has happened, bring back our loved one, restore our sense of security or self confidence. Only God can bring about true healing and restoration. Would God have pardoned Hitler if he had a sincere change of heart on his death bed? Only God can know what is in someone's heart, if they're truely repentant. Is it wrong for an earthly government to put criminals to death? That is for the elected officials to determine. If you don't like the stance of the current administration, loby and campaign to put someone in office who supports the ideals you hold dear. The way I see it is you can go to either of two extremes. It's either "Kill them all and let God sort them out" or "wait on God to exact justice as He sees fit". Either way, innocent people will die. I don't think there is any way around that until we live in a society where God is the one and only rulling body and all justice is exacted by Him and Him alone. In war we call in collateral damage. I think all of life is a war. A war against death. A war against evil. A war against injustice. A war against indifference. There's collateral damage in every war. Here some really hard questions. Is a police officer guilty of murder if he shoots someone he is convinced is about to shoot someone else, himself, even? What if the person who got shot was never intending to shoot anyone? The courts will examine the evidence and if the police officer is found to have acted in the best possible way considering the information at hand, he will most likely not be prosecuted. How about a bomber pilot who was given incorrect coordinates for his bombing run? Is he guilty for the murder of the school children that just happend to be in a "chemical weapons plant"? Here's one. Who is innocent? Do you believe in orriginal sin? I've got much more to say, but I must be running along now. One final thought. Christianity isn't the only religion subject to interpretation. There are muslims in Iraq killing western infidels because their interpretation of the Koran says they should. Some of those they are killing may be muslims from USA, Britain or another allied country who's interpretation of the Koran says that the terrorists are wrong. Think about it...