I'd be honored. I don't usually join in debate about the death penalty, it's an exercise in futility. I've yet to see anyone change their minds on the subject but I do feel somewhat obligated to let my stance be known from time to time, to totally ignore the issue would be a cowardly thing.
I've have had my conservatism and even my Christianity questioned because of that stance, as you have on this thread, usually by having Old Testament verses cited to me.
Thank God Jesus Christ freed me from Mosaic/Levitical law and I will continue to pray for everybody who still binds themselves to it.
If we are bound by one law, we are bound by all of them and quite frankly, at age 69, I'm not as old as Abraham was when he was circumcised but I sure wouldn't want to have it done now.
God bless you and yours and everyone on this thread, no matter what their opinion on the matter is.
Thank you for that post. I, too, have been set free (and am in the process of continuing to be set free) by grace from the law.
I feel like the Lord has helped me put together some good reasoning on some of these things and feel like discussing or debating them with those opposed may benefit them (at some point later) and/or those who follow the discussions, not unlike the New Testament where most of what we read are discussions between Jesus and others or discussions via letter from Paul to the churches.
Your words reminded me of this scripture.
Gal 5:4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
That is a strong pronouncement and a terrible end for those it applies to. By our words we will be justified, and by our words we will be condemned. It at times amazes me some here who rush to judgment against others with their eye for an eye judgment. And the anger and vile hurled at the poor at times in some threads makes me think they follow someone other than Jesus.
Matt 12:30-37 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”