Let Our Voices Shine

If you care to know a little more about who I am, feel free to read this article in the Missourian.  Following is one of my submissions to the board.

            I am in doubt as to the rightness of taking a human life primarily because of the nature of our loving God.  He is patient with us, not wanting any to perish (2 Peter 3:9); I believe those having the Spirit of Christ should be likewise patient.  Further, we see that God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather desires them to repent and be saved (Ezekiel 18:23, 33:11).  We also are fallen and evil (Romans 3:23), and as such should not think our sins any less heinous than the most vile of offenders (James 2:10-11).  In fact, while we were enemies of God ourselves, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).  This is the foundation of Christianity.  We do not take life, but give life, just as Christ gave his as an expression of his love for us (1 John 4:10) and as an example to us (Ephesians 5:1-2).  While we were enemies of God, we also were inclined toward every evil practice.  Our hope must be to bring an end to evil by filling souls with the love of Christ.  Weapons of death cannot solve this problem.  When we kill an individual, we add fuel to the fire of hatred within that person’s family.  The God of love and the sacrifice of His Son is the hope for peace among nations and in our very lives.  Knowing God has redeemed me from death, I could not put another to death for any wrong (John 8:7, Matthew 18:21-35). 
            Regarding punishment of those evil men, I have mentioned previously that we are all deserving death (Romans 6:23).  However, God’s grace and love has been extended to us through his Son, which is also available to the whole world (1 John 2:2).  For at least two reasons we should not seek the rightful punishment of sinful men.  First, it is not ours to judge man.  The Lord is judge and will do so as He pleases (James 4:12).  Second, God placed the punishment for man’s sins upon His Son.  If we seek further punishment for men, we are disrespecting the grace He has given in this greatest of sacrifices.  As I have mentioned, God Himself does not desire death to the wicked and neither should we.  We have no right to punish anyone, nor should our hearts be inclined to do so if we are children of God.  There may be need for discipline as there is for all men, but this is not retribution for wrong, but redemption – a bringing back to light.  This cannot be done by taking life. 
            Regarding self-defense against the evils of men, we are given the example and teachings of Christ, whose name we bear.  He suffered much at the hands of men, yet did not retaliate (1 Peter 2:23).  This is consistent with his own words to love our enemies and not resist an evil person (Matthew 5:44, 39).  It is, in fact, to our credit to endure evil while doing good (1 Peter 2:20) and we should expect suffering (2 Tim 3:12).  And we know that Christians have suffered much evil throughout the centuries, starting with Stephen who prayed forgiveness upon those who stoned him (Acts 7:60) to thousands all over the world today.  Therefore, for our own sake, it may not be right to retaliate in any form, much less with lethal force.
            Regarding the corporate defense it is a more difficult position for we are called to take up the cause of the oppressed (James 1:27).  However, given the aforementioned considerations, it is likely that our actions should promote life for every person, oppressor and oppressed.  We know that a deeper war is taking place and our battle is against the unseen forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12).  Therefore, even in the particulars of corporate defense, I believe we must learn to withstand the advances of wickedness while preserving all life. 
            In all this I find that taking life is not only inconsistent with the nature of Christ which dwells within us, but also ineffective in reaching its desired ends.  Therefore, taking life comes up twice wanting.
            Some may site the fact that Jesus encountered many soldiers, yet never spoke condemnation to them regarding their position.  I believe using this fact to decree soldiering, and particularly killing as a soldier, acceptable and good is premature.  John 3:17 states that Jesus did not come to condemn but to save.  Surely the soldiers who crucified the innocent Christ sinned in doing so, but he spoke no ill toward them.  Even beyond this, even if we assume Jesus’ lack of condemnation was consent, we have not established what is best for a man but only what is not bad.  However, God desires us to discern what is best (Philippians 1:10).  I myself cannot assume, based on all the supporting information, that Jesus believed their occupation without fault, but rather was putting first things first by loving unconditionally.  

This entry was posted on Monday, March 20th, 2006 at 11.45 and is filed under Politics, general. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.