the Christian Question

A problem that I have with others who share my faith, that I need some clarification about. Christians, Atheists, Jews, Muslims, anyone... please help me to understand.

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• Abortion
• Pro-life
• reconciliation
• Christian

[1140Cecile]

Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17).

The Commandment not to kill obviously referred only to murdering another Jew, not to murdering generally. The Torah states that God commanded hundreds of thousands of non-Jews to be murdered for one reason or another so, obviously, He didn't also mean that murdering non-Jews would be sinful. God hated non-worshippers and loved having them murdered.

[thereprieve]

In Matthew 5:39 Jesus also said "If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well." Add that to the countless references to non-judgement and I think you will find that unlesss God directly commands you to kill someone, you are actually commanded NOT to kill. Thank you for your thoughts and your comment.

[ScrapGoldBass]

part 4 ..Also, Im sure many Christains reflect on God's dealings with the people of Isreal in the Old Testament. Im the OT God instituted the DP. I believe however that God is working in a new way. We are not in the Old Testament times anymore.Also America is NOT Isreal.

[thereprieve]

Thank you for your comments and your thoughts. Many Christians make the mistake of invoking the Old Testament views. Jesus changed everything. Jesus had a way of forgiving the worst of sinners who committes the most immoral of sins. Are we not to pursue the same goal?

"America is not Israel" - I couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks again and God bless you friend.

[vdizhoor]

@thereprieve

I am not sure what the "turning you other cheek" means. If its "as opposed to slapping him" - then yes. But it is still better to simply walk away. That way you don't give him the chance to repeat the offense, to repeat the "sin". Forgive, let go as opposed to "be a martyr". The later is also vanity. I agree with you that state execution sucks, but I am not sure that this is what "though shall not kill" refers to. Its more personal. Didn't stop stoning (as in rocks).

[Relativisticism]

christians love war and killing. In fact the prophecy even says that there can't be any peace until the temple is rebuilt. If peace were to happen and wars were to end it would make the prophecy inaccurate, therefore until the masc gets tore down and the temple rebuilt, christians support killing and wars.

[Erica23hernan]

I don't believe in the death penalty (sorry I'm a year late on this video) but you said it brother!!! Forgive and you shall be forgiven. Two wrongs don't make a right. Murder is murder whether it is done by a person on the street or by the lawmakers. If I don't forgive someone for killing my loved one then I will not enter the kingdom of heaven and thus eliminate any chance of seeing my loved one again(that is if he/she makes it up there also) We need more Christians like you brother. God bless

[flammamancer]

This is probably coming from someone who thinks that the stoning's in the Old Testament were kosher.

However as an atheist I would much rather have the guilty spend the rest of there existence raking leaves and locked up in an over crowded cage than take the easy way out.

[RobotzAreAwesome]

"they are"?

I think a better description is "she is". Most christians could give a damn about inmates dying or iraqi's killed in war.

[BattleshipTx]

they are. Look up Sister Helen Prejean, she has done more than anyone against the death penalty.

[BattleshipTx]

You are making some assumptions that aren't consistent with reality. Who are the leaders of the anti-death penalty movement? Mostly Christians. Sister Helen Prejean, a Catholic Nun, is the face of the anti-death penalty movement, its Martin Luther King. With 250 million Christians in the US, they are on all sides of every political debate. Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Obama, John Edwards, Howard Dean, all are Christians. The idea that Christians are all conservative Republicans is repugnant.

[RobotzAreAwesome]

Wow. Good point. Christians should be just as passionate about changing the death penalty laws as they are abortion.

[lifeisfair123]

You seem to be a reasonable Christian. Subbed. As an atheist, I am not too certain abortion is right. I believe it is hard choice for any woman. By a scientific definiton, a fetus is not alive. The child could have the potential to change the world though. As for the death penalty, I am totally against it. Those people are alive and it is not right to take a life.

[Rithrandil]

I really like this video. As an atheist, I do recognize that sometimes killing is necessary (in self defense, in a "just war" scenario, protecting the life of another, etc) but it should never be done lightly or without fully considering the ramifications of the act.

I'm not sure where I stand on the death penalty. I don't think it's very useful, and I think the only times I would actively support it would be high treason or if the person was too dangerous to be left alive.