I had an interesting conversation with a lady today in relation to Christianity's form of punishment from the OT (stoning) and Muslim's form of punishment (beheading).
She had no understanding of Christianity and how either one of these punishments were justified enough to put someone to death.
She then continued to explain how both religions were just as bad as the other if they both teach to murder.
As a Christian how would you explain to someone who is non religious, who does not understand the difference between the two punishments and how they compare?
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First of all, I would explain to her, that GOD's rules for Personal Conduct and not the same as GOD's rules for Governmental Conduct.
Thou shalt not kill - is a rule for Personal Conduct, in fact the word kill means to commit murder.
Take a life for a life eye and an eye and a tooth for a tooth, etc. - is a rule for Governmental Conduct where GOD is commanding those in charge of a nation to set up a fair justice system that makes punishment fit the crime.
Then I would show her this portion of Scripture:
Romans 13:1-7 (NIV)
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1 [/SUP] Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
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2 [/SUP] Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
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3 [/SUP]
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
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4 [/SUP]
For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
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5 [/SUP] Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
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6 [/SUP] This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.
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7 [/SUP] Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
For the SAME REASON, an Officer of the Law or a Military Personnel, does not commit murder when He pulls the trigger in the line of duty, BECAUSE he or she is acting in the line of duty. However by the same token, if the same Officer or Soldier kills a prisoner out of hate or revenge for a fallen fellow Officer or Soldier, that then would be murder.
Even in this scenario where two men are fighting and a pregnant woman steps between them to stop the fight, and one hits her in the stomach causing her fetus to be aborted still born, GOD WANTS MURDER CHARGES TO BE FILED, and the Death Penalty applied. Clearly the
you in verse 23 below, is the Court System that we see mentioned in the previous verse. NO WAY IS GOD ALLOWING PERSONAL REVENGE.
Exodus 21:22-25 (NIV)
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22 [/SUP] "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and
the court allows.
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23 [/SUP] But if there is serious injury,
you are to take life for life,
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24 [/SUP] eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
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25 [/SUP] burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
If we are always complaining that there is no point, because the government is a always corrupt, perhaps it is because we Christians are not praying for our politicians ruling over this Country as we are commanded to.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (ISV)
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1 [/SUP] First of all, then, I urge you to offer petitions, prayers, intercessions, and expressions of thanks for all people,
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2 [/SUP] for kings, and for everyone who has authority, so that we can lead a quiet and peaceful life with all godliness and dignity.
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3 [/SUP] This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
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4 [/SUP] who wants all people to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth.