Here is something I struggle with understanding. Why are most (not all) Christians pro-capital punishment? Why, when Osama was killed, did many conservative Christians say "justice has been done"? Isn't God the only one who can pass that judgement?

 

What about when he says-

Luke 6:37-42 [37] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

 

Later he goes on to say that he did not come to preach "eye for an eye".

 

I just don't get it. Where do (some) Christians get off thinking that capital punishment is a just thing?

I'm assuming because many are able to separate their political and religious beliefs.

I hope bin Laden was saved.

 

I am a Christain and I believe in the death penalty.

 

Evil must be taken out, Osama was evil as is child predators.

I'm assuming because many are able to separate their political and religious beliefs.

 

 

I highly doubt that, I think most just try to justify it. Especially considering the number of them that oppose gambling and same sex marriage.

Here is something I struggle with understanding. Why are most (not all) Christians pro-capital punishment? Why, when Osama was killed, did many conservative Christians say "justice has been done"? Isn't God the only one who can pass that judgement?

 

What about when he says-

Luke 6:37-42 [37] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

 

Later he goes on to say that he did not come to preach "eye for an eye".

 

I just don't get it. Where do (some) Christians get off thinking that capital punishment is a just thing?

 

I personally am pro-life and anti-capital punishment. I, like you, know may Christians who differ greatly on that. I have heard two well thought out points made regarding the topic:

 

1) In Genesis 9:6, God spoke to Noah, saying: "Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind." Old Testament, yes, but the New Testament is not completely divorced from the Old Testament, as many would have you think.

 

2) The other argument I've heard was made by a very Christian county prosecutor I know. He told me that, personally, he would like to see the death penalty done away with. However, in the grand scheme, the death penalty is a irreplaceable "bargaining chip" to have on the table when it comes to dealings with murderers and he doesn't know how prosecutors could work out confessions in many many situations were it not for the fact that the threat of lethal injection weren't in the back of the offender's mind.

I highly doubt that, I think most just try to justify it. Especially considering the number of them that oppose gambling and same sex marriage.

 

Nope. It's completely separate for me.

 

Oppose gambling? Someone needs to let the Catholic church know that. :lol:

Here is something I struggle with understanding. Why are most (not all) Christians pro-capital punishment? Why, when Osama was killed, did many conservative Christians say "justice has been done"? Isn't God the only one who can pass that judgement?

 

What about when he says-

Luke 6:37-42 [37] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

 

Later he goes on to say that he did not come to preach "eye for an eye".

 

I just don't get it. Where do (some) Christians get off thinking that capital punishment is a just thing?

 

Why stop your logic there, shouldn't it carry over that Christians should support no forms of punishment? And most crimes are mans law, not God's, judging someone a prison or death sentence is done under mans law, judging someone under God's law condemns them to Hell. Matthew 22:20-22 talks about rendering to Caesar (government) what is Caesars that is what happens when you go to prison or yes even face the death penalty you are rendering to Caesar what is his because you broke his laws, it has nothing to do with eternal judgment.

Here is something I struggle with understanding. Why are most (not all) Christians pro-capital punishment? Why, when Osama was killed, did many conservative Christians say "justice has been done"? Isn't God the only one who can pass that judgement?

 

What about when he says-

 

 

Luke 6:37-42 [37] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

 

Later he goes on to say that he did not come to preach "eye for an eye".

 

I just don't get it. Where do (some) Christians get off thinking that capital punishment is a just thing?

 

Based on your quote we should not prosecute anyone for anything because we would be judging.

Nope. It's completely separate for me.

 

Oppose gambling? Someone needs to let the Catholic church know that. :lol:

 

I know that you do, as do I. Simply saying that we are not indicative of the whole.

Here is something I struggle with understanding. Why are most (not all) Christians pro-capital punishment? Why, when Osama was killed, did many conservative Christians say "justice has been done"? Isn't God the only one who can pass that judgement?

 

No. God has instituted various sources of authority, in part, to administer His justice. The government is one such authority, as evidenced here:

 

"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. 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." --Romans 13: 3-4

Bin Laden essentially passed judgement upon himself.

What about when he says-

Luke 6:37-42 [37] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

 

Later he goes on to say that he did not come to preach "eye for an eye".

 

I just don't get it. Where do (some) Christians get off thinking that capital punishment is a just thing?

 

Again, I would reference the Romans 13 passage where God clearly speaks of certain authorities that "bear the sword." And as someone else mentioned, God has made a distinction concerning those who take life. God does not call for vigilante justice, which is what I believe Jesus was partly alluding to in the Luke 6 passage you referenced.

 

I also think you overestimate the number of Christians who are pro-capital punishment. In the past, I have thought like you do--that most Christians are pro-death penalty. But the more I talk with people, I see more and more opposition to it.

Here is something I struggle with understanding. Why are most (not all) Christians pro-capital punishment? Why, when Osama was killed, did many conservative Christians say "justice has been done"? Isn't God the only one who can pass that judgement?

 

What about when he says-

Luke 6:37-42 [37] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

 

Later he goes on to say that he did not come to preach "eye for an eye".

 

I just don't get it. Where do (some) Christians get off thinking that capital punishment is a just thing?

That's the problem. The bible contridicts itself on pretty much everything. For every verse you can come up with against it you can come up with one for it.

The Bible does not contridict itself.

Because it's natural to want a person like Osama dead. Nobody has perfect judgement but God. As for me, I'm Christian. That doesn't mean I wouldn't dance over bin Laden's grave.