Do you think that if, throughout history, Christians has paid more attention to the sixth commandment...?

Question

... they wouldn't find themselves the target of so much contempt nowadays?

I mean, Quakers manage to keep it. So do the Amish. We like the Amish and Quakers. Why couldn't the Crusaders keep it too? The Inquisition? Dubya?

So why is killing so easy to justify when it suits you?

NB I'm not accusing all Christians of being killers, because that would be absurd (it's absurd to me that I even have to say so). Only that for those of us for whom killing another human being is ALWAYS wrong, the silence, excusing or justification among Christians on this apparently important matter is surprising. And I wonder if any of them can relate that fact with the lack of respect they face sometimes.

The Germans condemn the Nazis. Nazi insignia or slogans are illegal in Germany. I wonder why the same kind of condemnation isn't always forthcoming from Christians. And Dubya isn't in the past.

Does the sixth commandment say "kill" or "murder"? Check your own semantics. You justify killing again.

The phrase "history is over!" is often heard uttered by people who can't work out why the West is being attacked my Islamo-fascists. No-one is asking you to take responsibility for what people did in the past. You're being asked if you think your refusal to reflect on Christianity's history has a bearing on the way Christians are viewed today.
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Sasi, your answer is exemplary for Christians except that you adopt the "no true Christian" argument - what you say is true, but those whom you do not think can be true Christians would not consider you one yourself. Perhaps that's why the biggest victims of Christian violence over the centuries have been other Christians. Still they keep up their numbers.

Angel, yours is that of someone who befouls the name of Christian with your despicable self-victimization and patent hatred of those who disagree with you. You might consider changing your screen name to Devil, which would be more appropriate.
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Answer 1

You're right, sir.
Even as a Christian, I can see your point. Many people throughout time have taken Christ and all he stood for and perverted it, disregarding the commandments and the true meaning of the religion. It's a shame really, and I'm sure that Christ himself would weep at the sight of Crusaders and others slaughtering innocents in his name.
History is history, and it is a shame that ours has been tainted in blood, even though the man himself, Jesus, stood for peace. It was complete hypocrisy on our part.

Answer 2

The reason for keeping the 6th Command should not have anything to do with other peoples' opinion but with seeking to obey God, no matter what the consequences. But your main argument is sound, insofar as supposedly 'Christian' involvement and instigation of blood-baths over the centuries has dishonoured the name of Christ. Sadly, groups who are conscientious objectors can be despised for appearing to be so 'weak' - especially in times of war and patriotic madness. Yet it takes far more strength to refuse to fight than to be swept along with the masses and their stupid ideas of glory and honour.

The idea that 'Christians' are guilty of breaking the 6th Command in war needs checking. It's based on the notion that a whole nation can be called Christian. Well, how many politicians are known to be practicing Christians, and how many are not, when their government decides to go to war? Even a Prime Minister or a President cannot swing the vote - it is a concensus, and just as many (or more) non-Christians decide to go to war as Christians. Consider, too, the armies; how many practicing Christians are there, and how many non-Christians? You cannot say a person is a Christian just because he was baptised by his parents as a baby! So, if you could calculate, and discovered that 51% of the people involved in the decision were NOT Christians, would you not have to drop the claim that it was a Christian decision? (With the Inquisitions, though, it unarguably was done in the name of Christ, though you could question whether any of those responsible actually were Christians.) Huge numbers of Christians in the US are appalled at President Bush (let's have some respect for him and his office, please) and would say, "Not in MY name!"

Finally, God had laws in addition to the Ten Commandments, some of which called for the death penalty for certain crimes. He also provided a way of escape for accidental killers (with the Cities of Refuge). Yet God himself sanctioned killing for certain reasons and he also gave authority to governments to carry "the sword" - to punish evildoers. But woe betide any government that punishes and kills unjustly! We all have to give an account before the Judgment throne of Christ, where everything that was hidden will be exposed. Thank you for raising such an important issue. We all need to search our consciences and seek God's forgiveness for sins of ommission as well as commission.

Answer 3

The correct translation of the sixth commandment is Thou shalt not murder. God sanctions the killing of human beings by human beings in certain instances. Most of the killing by Christians has been in self-defense. Except for the current war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan Christians do not start wars. They either come to the aid of others or they act in self-defense. We are not respected because of Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus is offensive to non-believers who feel that the only way to deal with Christians is to persecute them. Why should we tolerate persecution? Why should we tolerate attacks by people who intend to kill us? The devil is behind all this and anyone who follows the devil deserves the devil's reward which is death.

Answer 4

N.B. it truelly does not matter as someone out there will always kill another person..through jealousy, ill health or through revenge...its not right but it will happen. So is it not right for a man whos wife and kids have been executed to go and find the killers and do the same to them?..i'm a christian but in cases like these surely talking to god isn't the right thing in MHO because lets face it...its not going to bring them back and if anything its stopping the guys from doing it on another family..and since your chrisitan like myself have you ever wondered if everything was meant to be?..such as its all fate..then murders would have to take place..who knows low..to be honest i don't really care aha

Answer 5

How is killing ever different from murder. How dare you think that anyone can justify taking a life. I can understand self defense, but it's still murder, youre taking a life IT'S MURDER. Bush is a murderer, at least 100,000 people have died in the Iraq war due to his orders, he is a Christian, he is a murder in the present, not in the past, wake the F up for real.

Answer 6

History is history. It's in the past. If people want to hold us responsible for it, then it's their own bigotry that will hold them back in life. Should we also hold all Germans responsible for the nazis? Should all Americans be held responsible for the slaves that were owned in the past? Most people choose to live in the present. It's much more meaningful, and it tends to make the future better.

Answer 7

Because like i have said so many times about these so called Christians.These people are hypocrites they pretend to be Holier than Thou and wear their faith on their sleeve ,but inside where it counts they have no true Christian values and are an insult to real Christians who have the true spirit of Christianity in their heart.

Answer 8

People will hate Christians no matter what happened in the past. Because they hate Christ. If we had all been Sunday School teachers with a gleaming past you would still hate us. You can find almost any reason to hate if you search hard enough. The fact is sinners hate Christ, because He shines the light on your sin and sinners love their sin.

Answer 9

True Christianity does not get involved in the politics or wars of this world. Jesus told us to be "no part of the world." (John 15:19)

Answer 10

One can kill other than with a bullet or hands.

One kills with the sword, the tongue. I know many Christians and non believers that have killed their neighbor with their "sword/tongue".

If you kill a person's spirit of God... you have violated the 6th Commandment.