why join a jury if you're Christian?

Question

I've heard a couple of interesting notions on this board. One, all sins are equivalent. An early term abortion is equivlant to murder. The day after pill is the same as kicking your dog to death (sorry, it's a graphic statement but it's a bold statement). Picking one's nose and blasphemy. A related question that keeps coming up is "what's the worst sin" and invariably a lot of people pop up and say "blaspheming the lords name". What I'm left with is a picture of Christian morality not unlike a vast plateau of sin with one tiny little mound of dirt in the middle that we call Mount Blasphemore. It's utterly nonsensical to me but what I wonder is, when one of you "all sins are equivalent" believers get called up on jury duty, do you get out by saying (a) Kill him! I don't care what he did, he sinned and the wages of sin is death! or (b) I have no moral compass, I'll just set them all free if they'll confess to a belief in our lord and savior Jesus Christ

Funny Walker - my point is that they're not honed at all!!

to the rest - legal or moral obligation? bah. You're not qualified if you can't listen to facts and judge. You can't judge fairly if you're biased towards calling anything and everything the worst possible sin. Trust me, if you say you'll only serve if you can only judge the defendant guilty and that the only punishment is death, you will get out.

Penguini - yeah, I get it. I guess I'm admitting my question is purely rhetorical (most rhetorical questions are thinly disguised rants).

As for the reference to Christians - I don't hear many people claiming to be Muslim or Hindu making the same claim of equality of all sin. I can stipulate that all Christians do not make such claims, as well if that soothes any hurt feelings.

Answer 1

For the chance to show off their exquisitely honed judging capabilities. It's what they do best, even though their bible tells them not to.

Shell: Can you not recognize sarcasm?

Answer 2

Is it Scripturally acceptable for a Christian to place his hand on the Bible and swear to tell the whole truth in court?
Each individual must make a personal decision in this regard. (Galatians 6:5) However, there is no Biblical objection to taking an oath to tell the truth in court.

Oath taking has long been a widespread practice. In ancient times, for instance, the Greeks raised a hand toward heaven or touched an altar while taking an oath. When a Roman juror took an oath, he held a stone in his hand and swore: “If I knowingly deceive, while he saves the city and citadel, may [the god] Jupiter cast me away from all that is good, as I do this stone.”l

Worshipers of the true God also allowed others to put them under oath. That was so in the case of Abraham and of Jesus Christ., Genesis 21:22-24; Matthew 26:63, 64. Even God is referred to as symbolically raising his hand in an oath. Deuteronomy 32:40; Isaiah 62:8.

There is no Scriptural objection to taking an oath. However, a Christian does not have to take an oath so as to back up every statement that he makes. Jesus said: “Just let your word Yes mean Yes, your No, No.”

Neither Jesus nor James said that it is wrong to take an oath to tell the truth in court.

What, then, if a Christian in court is asked to swear that his testimony is truthful? He may feel that he can take such an oath. Otherwise, he may be permitted to give an affirmation that he is not lying. Galatians 1:20.

When courtroom procedure involves either raising a hand or placing it on the Bible when swearing, a Christian may choose to comply. He may have in mind the Scriptural examples of accompanying an oath with a gesture. For a Christian, more important than making a certain gesture when taking an oath is that he remembers that he is swearing before God to tell the truth. Such an oath is a serious matter. If a Christian feels that he can and should answer a question put to him in such circumstances, then he should bear in mind that he is under oath to tell the truth, which, of course, is what a Christian wants to speak at all times.

Answer 3

Religion and the legal system are two separate issues, like trying to compare apples and oranges. Not possible.

In addition, the #1 reason religion is such a controversial issue is because of ppl like you who ASSume EVERYONE in a particular group is THE SAME.

You must be racist as well, bcuz ur all or nothing notions had to have started somewhere and there's no way it ends with religion for you.

If you choose not to be religiously affiliated at all or just with a particular group so be it. but don't go judging an entire group of ppl just bcuz you have ur own issues. Talk about being fair jurors - I doubt whether you would be much of a meaningful asset on a jury either with the kind of pre-judgements about an entire group of ppl.

Bet you can't even tell me what makes someone a Christian vs. any other religion. Hint: there are MANY religious affiliations under the broad heading "Christian". Not everyone is Roman Catholic.

Answer 4

I think being on a jury no matter if you are Christian or not, is ones civic duty. Suppose the person was innocent? That is just human nature to view all things in different ways. So actually the more views you have I think the better to make out the actual events.

And to my understanding there is only one un-forgivable sin which is Blaspheming of the Holy Spirit. I was told that since the Holy Spirit cannot protect himself hence it is the only sin that is not forgiven. And to be honest I am not 100% sure I am correct but I wouldn't even know how to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. An example I was told was that when you see something good happen in someones life and you were to say that it is Satan that did it and not the Holy Spirit.

Answer 5

You informed the tale incorrect. You handed over that you've been born right here and that each and everything you had or did develop into because this god allowed it and gave it to you. you desirous to be a butthead and lie and scouse borrow and rape and homicide the non violent friends. the city's god forgave you repeatedly. he will once more beneficial, in case you merely ask him. yet NO!, you're gonna tell him merely what you imagine of him. it is what you're saying: "**(&%$#@$@%&)()_(*%#$%#%$*&^%*&$!!!!!!" then you actually go away the city and head into the desolate tract. 3 days later, you're lack of life of thirst, sunstroke and exhaustion. The god again promises that could actually help you. You supply him the finger and die. Now your tale begins. it truly is too previous due, you opt for, you lose. You shoulda made more beneficial options, informed an more desirable tale, and not in any respect tried to LIE your way round it. God loves you besides.

Answer 6

I hope I never have to serve on a jury where capital punishment is on the table, to me murder is murder and I could never be involved in a situation that might take someone's life.

Me I am all for the morning after pill, it actually prevent pregancy, not terminates it.

So I guess If I ever get on a jury, I will have to take it as it comes. Luckily I live in huge city and last time I got called in I wasnt even assigned to a court room for selection.

Answer 7

The best thing about flawed logic and reasoning is that it is easy to pick apart. The first issue is that what you are comparing here (God's Laws vs Man's Laws) are apples and oranges. These are two separate issues that cannot be compared. (BTW picking ones nose is neither a sin nor against the law, it's just gross, but your comparison of picking your nose to blasphemy is consistent with your comparison of God's Law vs Man's law). In regards to the worst sin, either they are saying it wrong or you are hearing it wrong, but either way, as stated in the bible, there is ONLY one unforgivable sin, which is Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Yes it is a sin to blaspheme God and Jesus, but to blaspheme the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. So the Christians are not contradictory nor hypocritical in telling you all sins are equal save one, which is the aforementioned sin.

You cannot judge God's laws by man nor would you want man's laws to be judged by God. You are correct in that the wages of sin is death, but it's death being the second death, or death of the spirit vs death of the physical body, where a person is cast into the lake of fire (hell) and separated from the presence of God. Be glad God doesn't come down and judge us now. All sin, or the breaking of God's law, will be judged the same in God's eyes where the breaking of man's law has varying degrees of punishment. BTW unless your confession of Jesus as your Lord and Saviour is backed by true repentance you will not be saved, even from God's law. God knows the intent of our heart and can easily distinguish the genuine from the BS. Moreover repenting of your sin will not free you of the punishment's of man's law because there must be consequences for our actions, but because of God's mercy and desire for you not to go to hell it will save you from His law. You also have to understand that when a Christian speaks of sin, the Christian is not "judging others" but simply telling the world of God’s judgment —that God (not the Christian) has judged all the world as being guilty before Him (Romans 3:19,23). Jesus was able to offer that woman forgiveness for her sin, be-cause He was on His way to die on the cross for her. She acknowledged Him as "Lord," but He still told her, "Go, and sin no more." If she didn’t repent, she would perish.

So to answer your question, a Christian is more than capable of serving on a jury, listen to the facts and determine based on those facts if someone is innocent or guilty just as any other person is capable of serving on a jury.

Answer 8

I have been commanded by Jesus to obey the laws of this country unless they require that I deny Him. Only this I cannot do. Being on a jury, voting and such are part of the law. This I will do as a believer in Jesus Christ according to His words. And may I add, have done many times in my life.

Answer 9

For one thing you do not join, you are picked.
It is selection based on peers.
The lawyer for the defence will pick up on that if he is any good.
Generally they try to pick a jury of your peers, so if a Christian is on trial I am sure he would want a jury of his peers.
You seem to be putting a heavy emphasis on sin as a general statement.
Your reasoning is not viable because each person does judge based on personal life and experiences, notwithstanding Religious affiliations.

Answer 10

We all have to do jury duty if called.

We are to take the facts and either convict or release a person by the evidence presented. We do not judge. We are to rationalize all evidence and to give a verdic as to guilty or not guilty.

Our evidence must be corrabable and our opinions or verdict has to be "beyond a shadow of a doubt for convition"

We are not judges nor hypocritical when doing this. we are merely doing our duty as citizens.

We are not judging the sinner. We merely asses the evidence and give our opinion.

Answer 11

First, why join a jury ? answer, to stay out of jail. It's a citizen's duty. As for the rest of your statement, well it's a statement. I'm sure you feel a lot better after getting it off your chest.
Praise the Lord, Allah akbar, Merry Christmas.