[stayathomemom]

I am a little troubled by some of the comments here. God didn't harden Pharaoh’s heart until Pharaoh had hardened it many times himself. For us to say Tiller got what he deserved, is to say we know what God had planned for Tiller. To us, he did seem unrepentant, but it is not our call to say his Time of Grace has ended. God's grace is unfathomable for us. We,however, want justice on our terms and we want it NOW! Again, this is not our call. Paul, himself was responsible for the deaths of many, until Christ changed him. The LC-MS was right to excommunicate him in hopes that he would, through the withholding of the saving body and blood of Christ, turn from his ways and repent. Unfortunately, he was able to run to another church which welcomed him and gave him the Gospel, when what he needed to hear was LAW. How sad that we live in a nation which tries to rationalize these heinous actions and requires the need for executioners of the innocent.

[P-Marlowe]

We,however, want justice on our terms and we want it NOW!

If Roeder's intentions were "justice" then he deserves the death penalty as seeking "justice" is not an excuse or a justification for taking another's life.

On the other hand, if his motivation was to prevent Tiller from committing more murders and all legal remedies to that end had been exhausted (and they had) then I believe he has a legal justification under the doctrine of "defense of others".

[Charles Henrickson]

The LC-MS was right to excommunicate him in hopes that he would, through the withholding of the saving body and blood of Christ, turn from his ways and repent. Unfortunately, he was able to run to another church which welcomed him and gave him the Gospel, when what he needed to hear was LAW.

You are right. And I, for one, do not defend the vigilante killing of Tiller, nor do I delight in his death, which may have been (although only God can see the heart) in a state of impenitence and unbelief. His outward behavior did indicate impenitence, and that is what the church has to go on.

[bcsco]

I am a little troubled by some of the comments here. God didn't harden Pharaoh’s heart until Pharaoh had hardened it many times himself. For us to say Tiller got what he deserved, is to say we know what God had planned for Tiller.

After reading over the comments on this thread, I'm not sure at all what you're referring to. We all know we will come to our final judgment, as will Tiller. Why is that an issue with you?

[SampleMan]

For us to say Tiller got what he deserved, is to say we know what God had planned for Tiller.

There is either free will or there isn't. Tiller had free will. From the Ten Commandments it is also clear what Tiller deserved. All salvation is a matter of mercy vice justice, so beyond this life it is not up to us to decide.

The "Thou shalt not judge" commandment is often brought up as an admonishment against identifying actions as good or bad, but that interpretation of the commandment would leave us all impotent to have any semblance of law. I understand the commandment as "Thou shalt not damn another". An action which is both an affront to God's power and counterproductive in this world.

[Arrowhead1952]

The LC-MS was right to excommunicate him in hopes that he would, through the withholding of the saving body and blood of Christ, turn from his ways and repent.

Yes, the LCMS was right in this case. We discussed this at length in our LCMS adult Bible study this past Sunday and all the elders were in agreement with our congregation excommunicating anyone doing the "occupation" Tiller was in.

Unfortunately, he was able to run to another church which welcomed him and gave him the Gospel, when what he needed to hear was LAW.

Unfortunately, he was allowed to practice his "occupation" because the SCOTUS changed the LAW and said abortion is legal because of privacy issues.