Should I take from your post that we should “pick and choose” whatever parts we like and adhere to those parts, but when we come across a part that we don’t like that we should ignore it or defy it through justification on the grounds of utilitarian “values?” Or perhaps even on contemporary secular grounds?
I take it from your post that you agree with Christ when he says that death is an appropriate punishment for striking or cursing parents. I just want to know if this is a well-publicised part of the Christian faith - if not, why do you think the Church is setting it's face against one God's (apparently) key laws? As a keen student of religion it's a debate I admit to being ignorant of, but would like to learn more.
And I don't pick OR choose. I am not a Christian (although I love the Sermon on the Mount), so the question doesn't apply to me. A God that calls for death for unfilial children doesn't appeal to me.
And, yes, I'm sure I will repent for the above in Hell, just as soon as I paid off my spiritual debt for cursing my father a few times when I was a misguided teen.
Just to be clear:
If a child cursed or struck their parent in public - with many reliable witnesses - and then the parent 'executed' the child with a few swings of a knife, would you consider this (which to my reading of your original post would be following the word of God) to be a Christian action, albeit one that would [should?] then be dealt with by secular authorities?
If not, why would you not follow Christ on this point?