Can Christians reconcile 'Thou shalt not kill' with the war on terrorism?

Free-Lance Star (Fredericksburg, VA ) ^ | November 18, 2001 | Donnie Johnston

[JHL]

This article takes the tactic of attempting to define Christian doctrine as something other than what it is, and then to tear it down. In other words this is a straw-man argument. I am preparing my own refutation of this column based upon the "just war" doctrine, which I hope to submit as a letter to the editor.

[anniegetyourgun]

You're right, of course - it turns everything on it's head to come to a desired conclusion. Best wishes on that letter!

[AppyPappy]

Technically, it is "Thou shall not murder". God ordered the Jews to kill lots of people.

[JHL]

Thanks. It drives me nuts when the media misrepresent Christianity to serve their own ends.

[chemainus]

Reconcile ? Instantly...if not sooner !

[Ziva]

The commandment does not say "thou shalt not kill." It does, however say "thou shalt not murder." Read it in the original language. Murder is defined as as killing an innocent, unoffending person. Self-defense is an example of justifiable homicide. Killing a terrorist holding hostages is another.

[hsszionist]

An incorrect translation of the Torah again causes problems. The instruction is not to commit murder.

[Khepera]

It is "Thou shall not commit murder" and war is not murder. If in war you do commit murder then God will know it and you shall be judged accordingly.

[SocialMeltdown]

Yes, as I understand the correct translation, it's "murder", not "kill"

Murder is soley a deliberate act while to kill someone can include self-defense, accidents, or even war.

There is a difference.

[byTheirCreator]

Can Christians reconcile 'Thou shalt not kill' with the war on terrorism?
Yup.

[Kevin Curry]

A profoundly ignorant essay, deficient on all counts.

". . . but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness." Luke 11:34.

[MudPuppy]

I saw this in the paper yesterday ...this guy usually aggravates me and I try to avoid his column.

James Lakely's column usually makes up for this idiot.

[Khepera]

bimp
Just like the liberal press and the uneducated everywhere to get it wrong when quoting the bible. They need to read it before they comment on it.

[rottweiller_inc]

exactly. a better question would be how did the israelites of the period reconcile it with Gods' command to kill the canaanites.

[TEXASPROUD]

Just a couple of points here:

A. The original commandment was, Thou shalt not murder.

B. We only have four cheeks.

[VRWCmember]

If the finger of God wrote, "Thou shalt not kill," then I assume God meant, "Thou shalt not kill."

The only problem with this statement is that the author didn't bother to find out the meaning of the words God used. We have a simplistic way of translating words into English using words (like "kill") that are much less specific than the words in the original language. What God wrote, if properly translated, was more along the lines of "Thou shalt do no murder." Thus, when God ordered His people, through Joshua and later through King Saul, to go into battle and utterly destroy the enemy -- even the women and children -- He was not commanding them to violate his commandment. Rather, He was ordering them to carry out an act of war against those who had rejected Him and warred against His people.

In Romans, Paul tells us that one of the things God has ordained governments to do is to carry out acts of war to protect the people. There is no conflict here with the 6th Commandment.

[mlocher]

you are correct, being a christian, where you are serving the lord instead of yourself, is a difficult business. not only do you take pot shots from others routinely, but you have to make the tough decisions between law and gospel.

actually, there are plenty of old testament lessons that could be used as an example. i will start with the law of retaliation, which can be summarized as 'the punishment must fit the crime.' in old testament days the punishment for death was death. of course, our merciful god set up cities of refuge where a person could flee if he 'accidently' killed someone.

god's nation many times went to war, sometimes as self defense and sometimes not. when not, the nation was punished. when self defense, the nation usually came out okay -- remember david and goliath?

st. paul tells us to obey our government leaders -- they were installed by god -- unless they directly disobey the word of god. then, and only then, is civil disobedience approrpriate.

we are not tossing the first stone and our nation, after consultation with god, has declared war. this is an act of justice, or more adequately put, an act of enforcing god's law.

[anniegetyourgun]

Prov. 20:26

[4CJ]

Bump for the truth. We are commanded to turn our plowshares into swords. Then what, play tiddlywinks?

[litehaus]

Try Luke 19, 26.....Bring them before me and kill them?