Yes, I see, yours is much bigger than JBs'<br />Originally posted by BassCat73:<br /> <br />Oh, fish be mine Techno!
rolmops, this was what I was trying to say - you just said it better. Yes, I feel his execution was deserved, and yes, I may have even been able to do it, but life is always special, and to be respected.<br /><br />I hope that the difference in the about 50 posts here is semantics and the value we place on certain words, not the value we place on human life. Because if we lose the preciousness of life, then there isn't much that seperates us from "Tookie".
I agree, and it is that preciousness that should lead us to capital punishment.<br /><br />With that said, the Old Testament specifically notes and requires capital punishment. I cannot cite specific passages, but this is my understanding.<br /><br />Also, just because it hasn't been mentioned, the literal translation of the Ten Commandments from Hebrew is "Thou shall not murder" . Thou shall not kill is incorrect.
Kalian,<br />I often celebrate the death of a person and am considered a "true Christian" by those that know me. For the Christian believer, physical death is actually a release into everlasting life. We here on earth mourn for their absense from us; however, if the person was a believer, we should rejoice that the person was allowed to go "home" to heaven.<br /><br />Now as far as being glad that your enemy is destroyed, there is scripture that discusses our attitude towards our enemies. Consider the book of Jonah. Jonah, an Israelite, was a prophet and was told to go to Ninevah to tell them to repent or that they would be destroyed. Well, Ninevah was a city of the Assyrians, who were violent enemies of the nation of Israel. Jonah didn't want to take a chance at the Assyrians repenting so he fled to Tarshish (by way of Joppa), instead of going to Ninevah. On the trip, he was then tossed into the sea because God was angry at him for disobeying. He was then swallowed by a great fish and then spit onto dry land 3 days later (you have to believe in miracles to believe this). He headed to Ninevah. He told the Assyrians God's message and they repented. Jonah was very angry! He wanted them destroyed! God basically said that Jonah had no right to be angry.<br /><br />So, based on that Biblical premise, what should our attitude be towards "bad" people or those that have harmed us or others? <br /><br />We should rejoice if they repent of their evil ways and turn to God. I do believe that the individual who committed crimes deserves to pay for their crimes, as did Tookie Williams when he was executed. I pray that he sought after God's forgiveness prior to his death.<br /><br />What person, based on his or her own merit, deserves anything other than Hell? God tells us that our righteousness is as filthy rags. It is only through the acceptance of the sacrafice that Christ Jesus gave that makes us worthy of a life in Heaven.<br /><br />God is a loving God; however, God, is also just. He won't permit those with sin in their lives to go to heaven no matter how "good" they might have been. God doesn't send anybody to hell, they send themselves by rejecting his perfect gift in His son, Jesus.<br /><br />In summary, I, as a professing Christian, don't rejoice in the death of any "bad person" because they need to be punished. God showed mercy on me, a wretched sinner, and will allow me into heaven. My prayer is that nobody will ignore God's message before it is too late.
The Old Testament also requires you to shout "Unclean" as you walk through the streets if any of the women in your household are having 'that time of the month', so everyone will know to steer clear of you. Also don't forget the prohibition of eating pork. And shellfish. Who was it who said "the truth shall set you free?"
