canadyjd
Well-Known Member
First, the reason many don't want to answer you directly, imho, is that it is offensive/arrogant to believe we have the right to pass judgment on what God has done.Under the law of the OT there was some very serious punishment for certain crimes against others. Do you believe that God was being too severe in the calling for the death penalty for such crimes as.....
We have no right to say "yes, God was being too severe... or no, God was not being too severe..." because we have no right to pass judgment upon God.
That being said, it seems you may not be articulating very well the question you are trying to ask.
You appear to be asking "Since God prescribed capital punishment for various offenses in the O.T., (murder, adultery, homose*uality, striking a parent, and rape among others) shouldn't we practice capital punishment for those offenses today?
Please correct me if I am wrong. If that is what you are asking, then the direct answer is "no" because Jesus changed the terms for administering the death penalty in John 8. It is no longer the "two or three" witnesses that cast the first stone (administer the death penalty), it is the "one who is without sin". Since God is the only one without sin, only God can administer the death penalty.
I don't believe that God has changed the way He feels about such things. God has obviously changed the way He deals with people today, in the Light of His Son and the revelation which He has given us.Also should we have the same standards today or has God changed in how He feels about such things?
God doesn't deal with us the same way as He dealt with the Jews under the Law.
And one more thought. The Apostle Paul is clear that if you desire to live under the Law, then you have to keep the whole Law..., not just the part you have a particular interest in keeping.
As far as the death penalty goes, Christians should not support the death penalty, as it is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
peace to you