The Fifth Commandment says, Thou Shalt not Kill. Why and how do Christians justify murder, anyway?

Question

Is the Bible a buffet of Commandments and laws that can be read in a literal way without regard to the core beliefs of Christainity, For Example, Thou Shalt not Kill! I see nothing about that amendment that could be anything but crystal clear.
Don't Kill, PERIOD!
What do Presidents, parents, police officers, Soldiers say and believe that makes it Ok to kill other people? What do citizens say to themselves that motivates them to vote for War when and were many people are murdered? Based on What? It is not self-defense in Iraq for the ones home and buying TV's at the Maul.
Just what is it in Human Nature that can make us be devote and humble on Sunday, but cold blooded on Monday? After all, we know the the Death Penality does not detier Murder. In fact the death penality is murder.
We humans have been murdering each other as far back as our histroy will take us, Why do we consider murder and killing ok under some circumstances? We do justify murder in self-defensive not fear alone.

Answer 1

Murder is never justified...

Isaiah 2:4: "And he will certainly render judgment among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore."

Romans 12:17-21: "17 Return evil for evil to no one. Provide fine things in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, as far as it depends upon YOU, be peaceable with all men. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.” 20 But, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals upon his head.” 21 Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good."

Answer 2

There is a larger issue: the moral nature of God. What are its bounds? Who can say what the Almighty can and cannot do? The Prophet Joseph Smith observed, “It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the Almighty.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 320). Yet the Lord “willeth to take even them whom he will take, and preserveth in life them whom he will preserve” (D&C 63:3).

Man’s agency cannot delimit or circumscribe the agency of God. For his own reasons, God can temporarily suspend or revoke that which he has previously commanded. For example, he told the Prophet Joseph Smith, “Abraham was commanded to offer his son Isaac; nevertheless, it was written: Thou shalt not kill. Abraham, however, did not refuse, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness” (D&C 132:36).

The principles of the gospel are unchanging, and God is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (D&C 20:12). But our mortal circumstances change, and the application of divine law is sometimes adapted to those changes. That is why a living prophet is indispensable. Man does not have the right to adjust the application of God’s laws. But God has every right to do so; and when he does, he will reveal his decisions to his servants, the prophets (see Amos 3:7).

Answer 3

There is nothing to justify killing anyone, for any reason. If a christian truly believes and has faith in their belief in the Supreme Being, they would not need to kill for anything.
Now, there is nothing wrong in defending ones self. But, to the extent of killing someone in the defense of yourself or others, is a debt that will need to be repaid. In the event you do kill someone, the intent that is truly in your soul, will define how much debt you owe.
There is nothing to be afraid of in death. An individual is far better off, in dying rather than killing their perpetrator. Once people better believe in how the cycle of life functions, and our eternal spirits' role in it, people will be better able to make the correct decision.

Answer 4

Yes I agree... Killing is killing, whatever label we place on that act... no matter how noble the intentions.

This "Justification" system thinking is what's causing so much war and strife all the world over. In religious circles, rules are never adamant, its always.." Its ok to ( put forbidden act here ) IF.... ( place an excuse here to justify) in the name of God.

The culling, pillaging and plundering of myriad nations and cultures all through history is evidence of that...

Answer 5

The church believes in 'just wars', in which the life of a country which is at risk can be given consent to kill. However, i feel that religion is there mainly for power and its a bit of a"Do as i say, not as i do" kind of attitude of many high powered people. I aso feel that presidents nd primeministers use christianity as a way of capturing people's attention and portray them as kind, all loving people. Although, i'm pretty sure that now many people can see beyond that as many people, especially here in UK and in USA, don't really follow a religion.

Answer 6

It says do not MURDER, not kill. Sometimes we need to kill in order to ensure national security, enforce laws, etc.

You have another problem with your definitions. When people recieve justice (IE:they murdered someone) if they are put to death is in the interests of justice. To not punish lawbreaking would be more tragic than having to put people to death that deserve it. There is a fundamental difference between justice and murder.

In the case of Iraq and other wars, they are all in the interests of fighting tyrany. The reason why you can sit here today in your nice house with running water and chat online with your computer is that past generations and have fought viciously for the cause of freedom around the globe. You dont seem to understand that tyrany didnt go away when this country was founded. It is like a lion on the prowl waiting to devour us when we lower our guns.

Answer 7

Religion=hypocrisy... Why? because all a religion is, is a collection of individuals who interpret everything in their own way, have their own opinion and skew the facts to make them fit what they believe. Just look at what all the different people say to your answer, how do they get such different meanings out of the same book? its simply because people hear what they want to hear, and people ignore what they do not want to hear.. when reading the bible so many believers make it out to say what it is they believe in and not just what it says. For example anti-abortionists may cite the commandment "Thou shalt not kill" as a proof that abortion is wrong, however the same people will turn around and say that same commandment doesnt apply to the death penalty used on criminals.. Its all depends on what their agenda is, and they will interpret things accordingly to support their agenda.
PS check out online how all the different religious denominations interpret the commandments themselves, you will notice that each religion twists it their own way to get it to say what they want.

Answer 8

The Ten Commandment originally applied to Jews only. Therefore 'thou shall not kill" really meant "thou shall not kill another Jew"

It was OK to kill a heathen...

Answer 9

this is a hard topic. you are correct you should not kill. if everybody took an eye for an eye, the whole world would be blind. however, with war there were iraqi people being killed everyday. they were tourtered for no reason. osama bin laden was unfair, and hurt and killed many people. so even though it is wrong to murder, would it be right to let many people die without standing up for them? so killing is wrong, but the killing of a few in war might save many more.

Answer 10

But the Bible also says...'A Time to Kill and a Time to Heal' Yes?
Jesus also commanded his disciples to prepare to defend themselves after he left them. Yes?