God's Will Before the Firing Squad
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We are to pray for "all who are in authority". That doesn't mean we are to cast aside the world's borders that God established. (Acts 17:26) I'll put it this way as simplest as I can,
My concern over this is wherever an agreement over the RS for a country is struck.
There's nothing really fancy over post#11 to do so. It's all there: His will - His authority - His fellowship by Christ - His "greater love" with the RS in the power of the Spirit to live or die by the sword, Glory to God. Hard pill? Comments are proof.
Okay, good for you I guess? I don’t mean to sound callous but, I feel there needs to be more capital punishment in America.
"But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for [the RS] does not bear the sword for nothing." (Rm 13:4)
But what if that "evil" moves in on the flock, till an offending brother becomes a betrayal of sound trust & confidences: through backstabbing, in taking an ungodly adversary’s side during a dispute after which, all dialog has run out eventually forcing an acting RS’s hand? Brother against former brother not possible?
“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,” (Heb 3:12-14)
Yes, because he "departed from the living God" in real time.
But what if that "evil" moves in on the flock, till an offending brother becomes a betrayal of sound trust & confidences: through backstabbing, in taking an ungodly adversary’s side during a dispute after which, all dialog has run out eventually forcing an acting RS’s hand? Brother against former brother not possible?
“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,” (Heb 3:12-14)
Yes, because he "departed from the living God" in real time.
Is it supposed to be capitalized? (because I’m punishing the Capital Letters by not Capitalizing)
There's another saying - The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth - Matthew 13:41,42
You gotta be careful with that verse, it really offends the reformed people who believe an evil heart of unbelief is all good and does not cause one to depart from the living God
Good reminder. While none of us are 'self-made', but "co-laborers" with Christ, I do tend to steer clear of reputable long-standing contentions. But if it so happens such as this with the Reformed vs those of us who knows there is a difference between 'running the race' of reaping and sowing vs 'keeping the faith', I still avoid it due to the counter mention of 2Timothy 2:14, "striving about words". For the mention was placed there for those who throughout the entirety of corrections, are unshakable in their quest for 'profit'.
I'm surprised they don't accuse Paul of works based salvation after he said this:
2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith
Wouldn't be surprised. Nor their opposites, ever holding him to light-hearted (2Cor 11:1) satire:
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, , foolish talk - Ephesians 4:29, 5:4
Yesterday, Christa Pike was discharged from the hospital after a botched execution. The torch/pitchfork folk insist having recovered to near full recovery, we now can resume carrying out “justice”. But here we are, once again strapping God’s will to the gurney, post, scaffold, whatever. One of the most deepest concerns has been overlooked, however long Christa now has to wait for the second process to resume, she now has to relive that event thousands of times in high-definition of anguish. What manner of "cruel and unusual punishment" must one secure before sound reason begins to appear? How can a people ever hope too secure God’s blessing in untold manners if they insist a frivolous view of it by raw sensual appetite?
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” — Romans 12:19
The United States Supreme Court has recognized that the Constitution places limits on how the state may carry out a death sentence. In Baze v. Rees (2008), the Court examined the risk of severe pain in lethal injection, and in Glossip v. Gross (2015), it considered constitutional challenges involving execution methods and the risk of severe suffering.
Those decisions did not establish that every botched execution automatically makes a subsequent attempt unconstitutional. But they demonstrate that the manner in which punishment is administered is a legitimate constitutional concern, not a sentimental distraction from justice.
And that brings us to the particular anguish in your question: What happens when the failed procedure itself becomes part of the punishment the person must endure?
In the more recent case of Thomas Creech, courts considered whether a failed execution and the prospect of another attempt violated constitutional protections. The legal outcome in such cases has not established a categorical prohibition on a second attempt, but the question of added physical and psychological suffering is real.
Pike's situation is especially disturbing because the suffering is not hypothetical. Reports indicate that she sustained serious injuries, including burns to her arms, and that her attorneys have raised concerns about cognitive impairment and lasting harm." - ChatGPT
What could have been severe punishment, has now only made more victims.
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” — Romans 12:19
"1. When does punishment become cruel?
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits “cruel and unusual punishments.” That protection is not limited to the final outcome of a sentence; the methods and circumstances of punishment matter, too.The United States Supreme Court has recognized that the Constitution places limits on how the state may carry out a death sentence. In Baze v. Rees (2008), the Court examined the risk of severe pain in lethal injection, and in Glossip v. Gross (2015), it considered constitutional challenges involving execution methods and the risk of severe suffering.
Those decisions did not establish that every botched execution automatically makes a subsequent attempt unconstitutional. But they demonstrate that the manner in which punishment is administered is a legitimate constitutional concern, not a sentimental distraction from justice.
And that brings us to the particular anguish in your question: What happens when the failed procedure itself becomes part of the punishment the person must endure?
2.The law has already recognized the terror of awaiting punishment
There is a remarkable historical precedent. In re Medley (1890), the Supreme Court discussed the severe psychological suffering caused by the anticipation of execution, recognizing that the circumstances surrounding a death sentence can add profoundly to the punishment itself.In the more recent case of Thomas Creech, courts considered whether a failed execution and the prospect of another attempt violated constitutional protections. The legal outcome in such cases has not established a categorical prohibition on a second attempt, but the question of added physical and psychological suffering is real.
Pike's situation is especially disturbing because the suffering is not hypothetical. Reports indicate that she sustained serious injuries, including burns to her arms, and that her attorneys have raised concerns about cognitive impairment and lasting harm." - ChatGPT
What could have been severe punishment, has now only made more victims.
Scripture calls for wrath to come down on her by civil government which is set up by the Lord as "the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. The sword is not being used in vain.
Through civil government she is to receive the wrath of the Lord and be put to death for murdering someone in cold blood.
She needs to reap what she has sown so the Lord is not mocked. She took life, now hers should be taken.
Romans 13:1-4
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
I agree. Here is my idea for reforming the criminal justice system:
In Rom. 13:1-5 Paul said to obey godly rulers, through whom God works to punish wrongdoers. Governments or rulers that are not tyrannical toward right-doers are ordained by God to punish wrongdoers and should be obeyed (cf. Tit. 3:1). The reason for obedience should not only be fear of punishment but also because it is morally right.
Considering the current system of criminal justice in the U.S.A., it sometimes seems to be more criminal than just. For one thing, it takes way too long to achieve court decisions, and “justice delayed is justice denied”. In addition to speeding up the process via congressional laws, the system could be improved by implementing logical ideas such as requiring restitution for victims and for criminals to work for wages ten hours per day six days per week and have their wages garnisheed until the debt of restitution including the cost of their room and board was paid. The length of the sentence is due to the amount of restitution plus 10% to an account the prisoner would receive when discharged.
This system eliminates plea-bargaining, parole, innocent by reason of insanity and death row. It does not eliminate the need for lawyers, but their role would be changed to determining guilt and the just consequence/ restitution. Anyone who intentionally withheld information pertinent to establishing the truth and a fair penalty would be culpable of a crime.
The intent of this system is to maximize the probability of reforming criminals. The living situation would approximate as close as practical what the prisoner would need to function as a law-abiding citizen, including an efficiency apartment type of cell, so that the prisoner would do his/her own cooking and laundry. If a prisoner refused to work, then he/she would not be paid and thus the sentence would be lengthened; nor would food be provided (cf. 2Thes. 3:10).
Prisoners who failed to reform but instead damaged property, injured people or committed some other illegal act would have the restitution for that crime added to their original sentence. They may be viewed as committing suicide by degrees. When their misbehavior results in a sentence of 100 years, they would be allowed to complete their suicide or be executed.
Of course, deciding on a crime’s just restitution for the myriad extenuating circumstances would require the wisdom of Solomon,
as it does in the present system. However, this objective method should eliminate repeat offenders within a generation or two.
Any better ideas?
This is allowed in an over abundance of caution to try and make sure the person is really guilty.
Appeals are allowed for this purpose as opposed to other systems that once a person is convicted that's it, they are served with their punishment. The founding fathers recognized that some people get railroaded and our system allows appeals to help prevent that sort of thing.
That's a waste of time unless they start teaching them the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many if not most are reprobate and cannot be trusted to be released in to society, so for the continued safety of society they need to remain behind bars for their entire lives.
They should have prison camps in remote areas where all prisoners work to make the camps self supporting to minimize the cost to tax payers.
That's faulty because the system is allowing criminals to go back out and harm members of society
Here's a better fact and time will show this to be true. We will only have massive decrease in crime after the Lord Jesus returns to earth and rules for 1000 Years during which time we will see crime become almost non existent.
Even then He will have to rule with a hand of iron because there will still be some being lawless even though satan and his demons have been removed from this world and are no longer around to tempt people to do evil.
During Jesus' 1000 year reign Christians in glorified bodies will reign with Christ and we along with the angels will police this world with absolute power over all forms of evil. During this time punishment on evil doers will be applied swiftly.
Only a corrupt penal system allows appeals to take years.
When Christ returns, repentance will be too late and not genuine/uncoerced.
Yes, but there have been cases where people have been wrongly convicted so we want to make sure they are actually guilty before whacking them.
When the Lord returns and reigns for 1000 Years, He'll know right up front when a person is guilty since He knows all things. Right now we don't know all things like that so sometimes there are cases where people have been wrongly convicted.
But to your point, I think they should pass a law saying once a person is found guilty in court for murder and is sentenced to death they should be given 2 years only for appeals. After that they get whacked.
A couple of years should be plenty of time for someone to demonstrate they were wrongly convicted if they were in fact wrongly convicted which does happen sometimes.