[DieHard the Hunter]

> Better translated, "Thou shalt not murder". Even God directs the complete decimation and annihilation of Israel's enemies in OT history, to such an extent that even after victory, the fields were to be salted and their livestock slaughtered and not eaten. See 1st Sam 15 in regards to the Amalekites.

That may be so, but I believe that for Christians to draw the distinction between "kill" and "murder" is actually mincing words. Christ holds His followers to a higher standard than that, in Matt 5:21-22

Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

[dsc]

“I believe that for Christians to draw the distinction between “kill” and “murder” is actually mincing words.”

There are no rational grounds to think that. The difference between killing, say, in a struggle against Evil, and murder, are greater than those between a mugger cutting with a switchblade and a surgeon cutting with a scalpel.