That's quite enough.
I don't understand how some people can claim to be Christian and yet be in favor of capital punishment. Did not Jesus stay the execution of the adultress? Are Christians not called to be Christ-like? Additionally, none of the canonical gospels record Jesus committing an act of violence against anyone. In fact, didn't Jesus instruct his followers to turn the other cheek? To pray for those who harmed them and love their enemies? So how can some Christians be pro-war? If Jesus had a ministry of unconditional love, healing, and inclusion, why are some Christians so in favor of death and violence?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by MandateSchoolMan on -
A mix between both with a twist of liquor : )
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Permalink Reply by Hideko Makabe on -
Thats a tough one... GOD teaches us to be as forgiving as he is. you have probablly heard the 70x7 rule (490 times) thats only for one sin. we taught to forgive infinatly. this may come as a shoker to you but if Hitler had come to confess his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as his lord and savior GOD WOULD have forgiven him and he WOULD have been accepted into heaven. Unfortunately that line is kinda blurred and i have trouble with the whole forgiveness thing, but so far (at least i think so) im doing pretty good. but then again im sure if something horrible like someone murdered my familly, or raped my Girlfriend (Soon to be *Hopefully* Fiance`)... if something like that happened.....someone would have to die... im a very sorry, but i am a verypassionate person when it comes to people i love...man i cant even think about that kind of stuff without my heart boiling. that is probably the only thing that will enrage me.
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Permalink Reply by MandateSchoolMan on
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"for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks: (Luke 6:45b, NRSV) I am heartened that you are a passionate person, and I wish many blessings on your *hopefully* fiancee becoming your wife. We all have trouble with forgiveness, and it's never easy to forgive major things. But if we look to others with condemnation, wrath, and rage, then we stand outside of the example of Christ. I'm not saying we shouldn't get angry, that would be an unrealistic expectation. I also believe that if we truly lived as Christ commanded us (1 John 4:18) then there would be much less darkness in the world. I pray you never have to face the hypothetical situation you put forth. "live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you" ( 2 Cor 13:11, NRSV)
There are a lot of people out there who would have or could have accepted Jesus, but we know not the heart of man, and it is God's place to judge, not ours. In the meantime, Christ calls us to unconditional love and forgiveness, especially when it's someone we don't like, especially when it's someone (or something) that makes us angry. I'd argue (since I don't have a monopoly on the truth) that if we truly bring Christ into our lives and live out his commandments, then that wrath and anger can be diffused with the eternal love of God. I pray that you continue to work on forgiveness, and what it means to you to forgive and be forgiven. I'll be working on it too. After all, God knows better than to expect perfection from us, and loves us even if we fail. I believe that broken does not mean bad, and that with God, anything is possible, even forgiving those who hurt us the most. I respect your passion, and I pray you find the wisdom to employ it the best you can for those you love.
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Permalink Reply by Hideko Makabe on
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yes... the Heart is Key. You cannot just spake the words and you are saved, you must believe in your heart that Christ is Lord and Savior, and have unending faith in him to be saved. And thank you for your support brother... GOD has been working on me in such a way that i can actually SEE it... and im so happy and excited. i can see myself becoming less angry with people, now (opposed to a year ago) it takes alot enrage me...and thats one of them... i guess its one of those classic Darth Vader cases. i have trouble letting go of the ones i love... Again Thank you
-In Love
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Permalink Reply by Hideko Makabe on
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when i say Fiance i mean in two years (or so...)
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Permalink Reply by An Unexpected Armageddon on -
I am horribly confused. You propose that Christian's should oppose capital punishment when Christianity itself is packed with a bloody and violent past. It would be more accurate to say, "Why aren’t more Christian's in support of capital punishment?"
Also, we don't give adulterers the death penalty; in fact I don't believe we do anything, not anymore anyways.
And is it not heresy to propose that any one is Christ-like?
Is it not safe to say that a theoretical reason the canonical gospels have no record of Jesus committing an act of violence is because by recording such would result in mass hysteria and conversion to a different religion? Does not Jesus appeal to the sick, the poor, the weak? Imagine, if you will, if Jesus struck a man in need of aid? Once word spread there would be riots in the streets.
There is zero physical evidence recorded by other than Jesus’ followers that any one of them committed violent acts, for all we know Jesus was rewarding violence.
The Bible is the only evidence that Jesus was a kind, selfless being. There is a rumor that a single page was uncovered in recent excavations that reveled what Jesus’ real purpose was. It was so incredibly faith crushing that the man sent in to read it was said to have exited weeping and demanding conversion.
You also must realize we are part of a society that is more powerful than any religion. If society demands the death of anyone to improve itself, then opposing it is considered heretical.
I hope my proposals have been "enlightening."
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Permalink Reply by iloveninjaspie on -
in order to understand the violent and bloody past of christianity (before christ) you must first understand the difference between the law of the jews and the saving grace of jesus. the law: first of all if a priest entered into the holy of holies (which is a place that only the priest could go into to ask forgiveness for everyone) and was not repentant in his heart for his sins and the sins of the people he would be killed on the spot by God. this is because sin was that big of a deal to God. that we are sinful and God is holy. the many wars that took place was a kill or be killed scenario. in many times God let them be killed other times God told them to kill. all of this was to preserve the nation that God would save the world though. Saved by grace: now that god had saved the world there was no more need for now to defend his kingdom by violence aka wars (something that the early church really missed) this is why jesus said to turn the other cheek. no more killing in the name of God.
now the whole argument that the bible is the only account that jesus as a nice person bit might be true i have no idea to be honest. the thing that you have to remember is that christians have faith that the bible is right and we fallow the teachings of jesus. just like any other person of any other religion would believe in the teachings of there religion because they have faith. now that that is out of the way.
you can see why some of us are all like WTF when some crazy comes out and says kill the abortion doctor! lol XD.
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Permalink Reply by iloveninjaspie on
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I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
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Permalink Reply by MandateSchoolMan on
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How utterly proper. Well done!
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