You’ve not advanced one Scriptural argument for your position, and have side-stepped every request of mine for one. You’ve said I use Scriptures that are convenient for me, without showing how you apply all of the Scriptures consistently, without regard to convenience. I’ve given evidence (which is based on the NT) of how to deal with the OT, and you said it’s not good enough; yet I still don’t know what you consider to be “good enough.” I’ve asked, and you’ve refused to answer, telling me it’s my turn to answer your questions. I’ve done nothing but answer your questions–and with Biblical answers and support–while you’ve answered nothing with Scripture, just your opinion that if God wanted someone dead, He’d do it, despite all the Scriptures (which are many) which clearly show, demonstrate, and even command for man to execute justice. I’m tired of being the only one offering Scriptures, so I’ll leave with this: if you want to change my mind, you’ll have to bring some sort of Scriptural argument to do so.

Kathy

I found this article in my hometown paper and thought that it was relevant to this thread and touching, so say the least.

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/03/remembering-infants-sixday-life

I asked the question and in all fairness of argument, it is your turn

I will say that you are doing what you are saying I’m doing–conveniently ignoring those Scriptures which are inconvenient or convicting. So that I better understand where you’re coming from, will you explain to me (with whatever you consider “valid proofs”) why some Scriptures are still in use and others are not?

You said that you can say with all confidence that the death penalty is wrong. You also said “life taking involves the usurping of authority–God gives and takes life.” So please explain away Gen. 9:6 which not only says the death penalty is not wrong, but is actually a command from God to do it (so is obviously not usurping God’s authority). Or are you saying that it was right in the OT, but became wrong? Please give a valid Scriptural proof for this reasoning.

Once I understand your reasoning and Scriptural basis for these things, perhaps I can better understand your position on this, and maybe even better explain my own.

Kathy

I am a Christian; I just don’t do with the scriptures what you have chosen to do. Not because I do not know the Bible, I just hold the book in very high esteem and I don’t believe that God gave His word to justify a lot of what I see going in “Christendom”, like self serving scripture throwing…

(Check out the alliteration Laura)

I will also assert that I have neither Christian, moral or legal obligation to support the death penalty-which is why I don’t…

As far as your stance goes, I cannot come over to your side because of a lack of persuasiveness.

In like manner, you have failed to provide valid proof as to why some scriptures are used while others are not. But, I already know the answer so this is no longer a valid request.

I will however agree that you have given me proof that you use scriptures that are convenient…

You asked me about God’s commands and wanted to know which ones that I do not follow. To answer your question in a round about way that was designed to invoke critical thinking, I asserted that not “every” command is to be used by man today and the example I used was the writing of the 10 Commandants.

Thus, Righter says that man will pick and choose the scriptures that he/she wants in order to push personalized agendas. This is especially true of the OT, until it comes time to either be convicted or inconvenienced, the tune will more often than not change to, “that went out with the Law”

With this, Righter is a tad confused, and would like to know: is it the Law, or isn’t it?

Before you go there, I believe in all 66 Books, I just think that man is sometimes overzealous with use of scriptures.

Righter would also like to have some hardcore statistical evidence that would tell her which OT scriptures are applicable in contemporary society and which one’s aren’t. Additionally, she would like to know why they are applicable and the reasons as to why they wouldn’t be.

Now it’s late so help a sista out, what NT directives point specifically to the death penalty? Moreover, didn’t Paul stop this type of foolishness to become a follower of Jesus who promoted the Gospel? I mean, he actually “thought” “he was doing right by upholding the law”. Based upon the fallacies that you’ve presented, he could have kept right on killing, oops, executing justice through killing, and proclaiming the Gospel at the same time…

But thank God almighty, he saw the light and stopped…

So, if it “sounds better” Righter will say that she doesn’t like violence, period. Moreover, she will repeat herself for the last time and say with all confidence that the death penalty is wrong…

Now, if you feel like you have the need to either be the executioner or the right arm of one, you go right ahead, I’m just not coming with you…

Righter also says that life taking involves the usurping of authority-God gives and takes life.

Not because it is not in the Bible, but because of the methodology of “finding a scripture” to say, God did it, why can’t I? Cause man is not God that’s why! This one is simple to me and doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

I’m not going to question your faith because of your stance on the death penalty; it would ruin my credibility because it is indicative of weakness.

As I said earlier, I respect your stance-I just don’t come close to agreeing.

In conclusion, yes, I believe that God has both the right and the authority to bring upon death at any time and I don’t believe He desires or needs the help man, because He knows that he/she will screw it up and go overboard