The Poll about the Death Penalty -

Ask the question as basic as you can, so I don't misunderstand it. I'll then answer.

 

I'm speaking of mature Christians upholding Christ's teaching with their life if necessary. Most are nowhere near that level of discipleship.

 

It's a sin if you use violence to do so. Jesus taught against it and none practiced violent self-defense in the NT.

 

I was curious about your state commentary so I looked it up for New Jersey and yes they honored the Church of England then... but I also found this, In recent years, irreligion has been an increasing force in Jersey, with two fifths of the population identifying as having no religion. This number rises to 52% for Jersey people under 35.

So NJ is fast turning into a irreligious state.

 

So you are saying that Christ teaches non violence in leu of self preservation?!?

 

Paul says it's better to die. How can you as a believer not think so. Do you love this world that much?

 

I love my family and my life that much.

 

But you are not placing Christ first the way Abraham did when he offered up Isaac. He demands you love him more than your own life and all it entails.

 

16 If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request. 1 Jn 5

IMO, the thief on the cross was a child of God that had sinned 'a sin unto death'. Sentence carried out by 'the powers that be', i.e., the Romans.

 

Luke 9:24 “For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it. And whosoever loses his life for My sake, the same shall save it.”

Peace to you

 

What did Isaac have to say about it? Anyway I’m not the father of the Jewish race and I wouldn’t apply for the job anyway.

 

You're welcome.

Yes, it does.
I also clearly see that it is the Lord who sets up kings, and takes them down ( Psalms 75:7, 1 Samuel 2:7, Daniel 2:21 ).

How they execute that office is then under His judgment and I am to leave that up to Him,
and we as believers, unless it specifically violates God's commandments, are to obey those who are in authority over us.

I'm not a Jew, but as a believer and as one of God's elect, I am bound to obey those that He has set in authority over me...

Just as I was when I was a member of the United States Navy and bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice some years ago, so am I also bound by the laws of whatever nation, county, city and township that I currently reside in.
I am to render to "Caesar" what it "Caesar's", and to God what is God's ( Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:16, Luke 20:20-25, Romans 13:7 ) and as much as lies within me, to be at peace with all men ( Romans 12:18 ).

I agree.
In fact, it angered the unbelieving Jews to no end to have the Romans occupying their land, and this occupation eventually led to the second temple being destroyed in 70 A.D. by the armies of General Titus and the fall of Jerusalem as a city.

But this is not our world, ours is the one to come.
We have no percentage in "fighting for our rights" ( neither do God's people have any business getting involved with the affairs of this life ( 2 Timothy 2:4 )), and we should be glad of whatever grace God sends our way.

In light of this, I see the Lord Jesus and His apostles teaching obedience to the law of the land, not rebellion against it.
If the death penalty exists in a nation, then it exists and I am bound to live in the light of that.
Do I agree with it?

Yes, I do, if that is what it takes to function as a deterrent against wickedness and violence.

 

Jon, as I read through this thread, I think I noticed you make this kind of statement several times. Based on what Scripture do you assert that the death penalty is a sin against God? Thanks.

 

No. I have said science is mostly developed by fools and is often proven wrong. Once it has proven itself, I have no problem with it.

 

You lost me there. You say the death penalty is not a sin to the world, but you also say that the U.S. (not God's people, therefore the world) is sinning when practicing the death penalty. It seems like you are contradicting yourself. I don't get your point.

 

In speaking with you lot I could have a breakfast of champions and still feel disillusioned.

 

Be at ease, He probably doesn’t understand his own pretzel logic either.

 

Forget about it