[Conservative Coulter Fan]

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 contains what is, perhaps, the most vilified law of the Old Testament. It is widely believed that this law authorizes the stoning of children who disobey their parents. Accordingly, this law is used to prove how harsh, severe, and unworkable Old Testament law is in "the New Testament age of love and grace." When theonomists advocate the use of the case laws as the standard for ethics and civil law today, often one of the first remarks they hear is something like, "So you advocate the stoning of children who disobey their parents." The supposition is that by merely referring to this "harsh" law, they have proven that the theonomic view is absurd and cannot possibly be the standard for Christians today. Detractors of theonomy believe that the mere mention of the law of "stoning children" in Deuteronomy 21:18-21 will silence the theonomist, and prove to all thinking Christians that these "cruel" Old Testament case laws should not govern our lives in this "age of grace."

But as with most attacks on theonomic ethics, this objection to the use of the Old Testament case laws is based on a shallow reading of the law, a misunderstanding of the actual case law requirement,1 and an attachment to sentimental impulses as opposed to a commitment to the high ethical provisions of Biblical law.2 When this case law, which applies the moral law of the Fifth Commandment to a specific circumstance, is understood it will prove to be "holy, just, and good," a delight to the heart of God's true people (Rom. 7:12, 22).

This law is given in the standard case law formulation of "if . . . then." The genius of the case laws is that they establish justice (or duty) in a specific case so as to enable us to know how to proceed (act righteously) in all such related cases. The particular case at hand involves a "stubborn and rebellious" son who will not heed the admonitions of his parents, nor submit to their discipline (v. 18). It is vital to proper interpretation and application that the precise nature of the case be ascertained.

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[DBeers]

I suggest not feeding the trolls...

[NJ_gent]

You haven't responded as to whether or not you, personally, support the stoning of children who curse their father and mother, nor have you explained that answer.

[Mr. Brightside]

If you have the Bible on your side, why do you need a man-made law to allow you to kill homosexuals?

[Almondjoy]

So what you are saying is that a stubborn child who repeating disobey's his parents should be stoned.

As you point out... "The particular case at hand involves a "stubborn and rebellious" son who will not heed the admonitions of his parents, nor submit to their discipline..."

So you still advocate pushing forth old testament law. It's amazing how you skip over that fact of the new testament saying "thou shall not judge..."

Why should we not be able to judge you may ask? Because you are as tainted with sin as these stubborn children or homosexuals.

Be mindful of what you say.. because God's grace extends to everyone who wants it. God's law will be enforced by himself and himself alone. Not by some "lawyer" who thinks he knows it all.

[onedoug]

Like the "death" Adam and Eve received from eating the forbidden fruit.

"If I knew God I'd be Him."

Though dictated for many offenses, there's very little such execution related in Torah.