Various Moral Issues

There is no need to put someone to death for any crime, jail with no release ensures
the killer or murderer can not do it again, God can judge and punish when the time comes.
Highly unlikely God will punish us for not killing someone for their crimes.

God sure did a number on Saul for not killing some people...

Samuel was really ticked off. Had to do the job himself.

I will leave it to the Lord, kill all you want if sense can't tell you otherwise.

Nah. I'll pass. There aren't any people I want to kill.

The Bible says if you commit murder you forfeit your own life. End of story.

Imprisoning people does not prevent criminal behaviour from criminals.

Not even murder. In fact, some prisoners get special protection because it is a known FACT that if put
into the general population, they will be murdered by others criminals in the same prison population.

No matter how you slice and dice it, murder and killing are two different things.

World-first stem-cell treatment restores vision in people

The treatment, given to four people with damaged corneas, seems safe but needs to be tested in larger trials.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03656-z

No biggie. Nothing to see here. Moving along ...

Okay, so you would not execute people for committing abortion/murder, but what penalty WOULD you administer?

Life in prison, everyone safe from any future evil thoughts or deeds they think up.

I can agree with that as long as society does not have to pay for free room and board the rest of their lives. Instead, they need to be required to work 10 hour days at minimum wage with the money going to compensate victims and reimburse government expenses.

Next we come to the issue of homosexuality.

There are two passages in the NT relevant to the issue of homosexuality.
In MT 19:4-5, Jesus cited GN 1:27 and 2:24 in teaching that marriage is the union of a male and female as “one flesh”,
and in RM 1:26-27, Paul condemned homosexuality as shameful lusts, unnatural relations and indecent acts.

So, what do y'all think about this?

I agree with Paul.

Fully agree with you here, its too easy for a lot of them in prison, they have to do nothing.
Would love to see that change.

I do too, but in discussing with homosexuals, they tend to claim that they were born that way, but my understanding of the research in this area is that a biological basis for homosexuality has not been discovered.

However, just in case there is an inborn proclivity for homosexuality, surely it is somewhat like the susceptibility to alcoholism among some human groups, which means it is resistible. We all have our cross to bear, and with God homosexual celibacy is possible.

BTW, when discussing the sin of homosexuality, I think we should always cite the sin of heterosexual fornication.

There are two passages in the NT relevant to the issue of homosexuality. In MT 19:4-5, Jesus cited GN 1:27 and 2:24 in teaching that marriage is the union of a male and female as “one flesh”, and in RM 1:26-27, Paul condemned homosexuality as shameful lusts, unnatural relations and indecent acts.

In addition to these biblical passages, the anatomical differences between male and female bodies indicate heterosexual intercourse is the natural mode. Although the cause of gender preference remains unproved per the APA, the design of gender-specific parts implies the appropriate use of those parts as normal.

Although these passages indicate that God intends for people to be heterosexual, He allows homosexuality. The key question is whether homosexuality is always due to sinful choices. Some people advocate homosexuality as a “viable alternative lifestyle”, implying that heterosexuals ought to consider freely choosing to try it, which is wrong. Christians whose homosexual orientation seems not to be freely chosen should agree with the biblical ideal regarding sexuality, and everyone should acknowledge that homosexual “civil unions” are not biblical marriages.

Hopefully, science will find a cure if the cause of homosexuality is genetic, and therapy will help if the cause is environmental during the formative years of life. We all have our cross to bear or issues that we struggle with, because this life is not heaven yet, but God wants to comfort us as we do the reasonable best we can with what we have been given. (Consider the Parable of the Talents in MT 25:14-30).

Okay, y’all don’t want to discuss fornication, what about the fentanyl problem? What is the solution?

I'm completely switching gears here, but your mention of biological basis makes me ask the question of those impacted by psychopathy and narcissism.

Narcissistic individuals appear to have altered neurological systems, while primary psychopaths are shown to have smaller portions of as well as underdeveloped and low functioning parts of the brain. Psychopaths are considered to have a 'hard drive' problem.

Is it enough that they are able to override some of the initial bad thoughts or actions that come to mind? Is a negative thought in itself a sin? Any scripture and interpretation that can guide me with this?

While thoughts associated with temptation to sin are not sinful in themselves, because Jesus also was tempted per HB 4:15, ungodly thoughts precede evil actions, and those ARE sinful in themselves.

Relevant Scripture includes: MT 15:19, HB 4:12.

I would also note that God could not force people to return His love without abrogating their humanity. If God were to zap ungodly souls, it would be tantamount to forcing conversions at gunpoint, which would not be free and genuine. If God were to prevent people from behaving hatefully, then He would need to prevent them from thinking evilly, which would make human souls programmed automatons.

I had always been taught that to think something is as sinful as to do it. That's been very discouraging for me. I sincerely appreciate the insight and scripture.