http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgUR7RaMHAqo37o_TCecUsHsy6IX?qid=20060905105903AAyj0Ad
Quite a few people say killing/murder for war is fine as long as the government orders it. What gives the government power to countermand God's law that "thou shalt not murder"?
2006-09-05 07:17:56 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
And what about the commandment that God gave to king Saul, for instance, in 1 Samuel 15:3, "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys."? God works in ways a little more than we might superficially surmise--look at the end of the book and how God destroys an enormous number of humanity. But then again, they were humans that didn't want to follow him anyway.
2006-09-05 07:29:49 · answer #1 · answered by Rabbit 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Simple, that commandment, like all the 10 commandments, was given to inidivduals, not governments. A government can not "honor its father and mother". A government can not "commit adultery". A government can not commit prejury. Only the inidividuals within it can. It is the same with the "Thou shalt not murder". It applies to individuals.
Does the Bible permit a government to conduct wars? You would have a difficult time find five pages in between Judges and 2 Chronicles were there is a war in process, often at God;s command. In the New Testament (after the death of Jesus), Paul writes in Romans 13:4 that the government "beras not the sword in vain" but is to "execute wrath upon evil doers."
So when you like at "thoushalt not murder" in context with the rest of the Bible, it could not possbile mean that governments can not conduct war. When you read the verse just in the context of the chapter it is in, ignoring the rest of the Bible, you will still see that it is talking to individuals because it says "if you do break one of these laws, offer the following sacrifice" and gives rules for an individual, not a government.
2006-09-05 07:32:53 · answer #2 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God said "Do not murder" - war and murder are two different things.
If you read anywhere else in the old testament besides that one verse, then you would see that there were many instances where God's people were commanded by God to go to war with other people.
So please, don't compare shooting someone in a drive-by or some other cold-blooded murder to a war. Don't you realize that the majority of the wars that have been fought by the US have been done so that you would have the freedoms that you have???
One of the principles this country was founded on was freedom of religion. And sometimes we have to fight for it
If we hadn't fought back in WWI we'd all be speaking German right now because Hitler would have succeeded in taking over the world.
.
2006-09-05 07:29:09 · answer #3 · answered by tdh05 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Romans 13:3-5 (Amplified Bible)
3For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation.
4For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.
5Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience.
2006-09-05 07:22:57 · answer #4 · answered by Bruce 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I belief that the god of the hebrews mentioned to Joshua to commit genicde against the canaanites; therefore, the thou shall not kill was abrogated by this supreme being within a short time of having that enscribed on a piece of rock.
2006-09-05 07:22:16 · answer #5 · answered by goldmedaldiver 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is not religous question.
This is a government question.
There are rules of conduct defined by the UN and the Geneva convention, that are required to be followed.
2006-09-05 07:26:52 · answer #6 · answered by creskin 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do as the government says, not as it does, and maybe they won't come after you.
As for a real answer to your question, I have none. However, it is a good question that you asked.
2006-09-05 07:23:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
War is not murder..Capitol punishment is not murder.. God ordered both on ocassion
2006-09-05 07:25:15 · answer #8 · answered by ad s 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
get a grip jesus lover.without war your a#$ wouldnt be here.our army protects us from our enemies.live your life stop judging others.
2006-09-05 07:21:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Apparently they do.
2006-09-05 07:22:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋