What is the Christian position on the war/the death penalty and murder as a sin?

Question

If the Bible says "thou shalt not kill" do Christians support the war or the death penalty? If so, please cite applicable verses of extenuating circumstance.

Answer 1

God says that whoever takes a life shall lose theirs. He expects us to enforce the death penalty.

Answer 2

Genesis 9:5-6 sanctions the taking of a existence as punishment for homicide. Romans 13:4 makes it clean that that's the authorities that has this accurate. even if the demise penalty is sturdy public coverage in a given time and position is yet another question. notwithstanding the view that the demise penalty is immoral in idea has no foundation in Scripture.

Answer 3

The BIble, in true translation never says thou shalt not kill, it says thou shalt not MURDER. THe DIctionary characterizes murder by aforethought, pre-meditation and malice. The Bible says we are to love one another as He, originally loved us. It is clear then that no man should ever intentionally take the life of another. The Bible also says that though man looks to the outside appearance, the Lord looks at the Heart. GOd knows wher our hearts are and He will not tolerate killing when we are spiteful to the victim. The Lord also says "Vengeance is MIne." So in any case that may result in the loss of life, war, punishment or otherwise, when the Lord clearly instructs a man to take the life of another, as He has done many times throughout HIs word, Just read through the book of Joshua, it must be absolutely clear that is is the will of God and the person's motives are purely to serve Him and defend HIs name. IN all we do, we a re subject to the Will of the Lord, and we must act according to what He commands.

Answer 4

I believe the Hebrew word used in the original means more closely the word murder in English.

However, God declared capital punishment just when He had the Israelites stone Achan and all his family to death for Achan's disobedience.

He sanctioned war in many cases throughout the Old Testament, too numerous to elabrate on here.

But we are not to kill (murder) people for no reason. God even ennumerates the different types of killing, including accidental deaths caused by another person, throughout His words in the Old Testament.

That being said, good Christian people do disagree on the answers for all these issues today.

So, there is NOT one position for all Christian people on this, please seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit and search the scriptures for answers. Jesus Christ had a message of hope, forgiveness, and love, but not one that eliminated earthly consequences, etc...

Answer 5

Thou shalt not commit MURDER

It's "murder" in both Hebrew (ratsach) and Greek (phoneuo).
Murder is considered "lying in wait". It is taking in to your own hands the taking of a life without due cause or justification.

"Does it actually give conditions in the commandment?"
Yes, you need to read the entire Law to see the details.

"unless you're being attacked"
Self defense is excused if found to be so by the judges.

"if you're in a war"
The God of the Bible is a God of war. To God, war is not murder, but rather defense against oppressors or those that pollute the land.

"if you say 'in the name of god'"
There is no such provision since the coming of Messiah.

"if it's a death penalty"
God instituted the death penalty as well as appointed man as judges to govern with capitol punishment.

Note that even killing someone by accident is taken in to consideration. In fact, they set up cities of refuge that you could flee to so that a family member (the avenger of blood) could not find and kill you.


The following were guilty of murder... Moses, David, and Paul the Apostle.

As for the death penalty...

God made it quite clear that innocent life was indeed sacred. And that the taking of life required the same punishement at the hands of man.

“Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man”- Genesis 9:6

Answer 6

Murder has nothing to do with war... except maybe WW1 where it caused it to start. The only thing murder has to do with death penalty is it was often the criminal act which precipitated the punishment. Death of a convicted individual brought about in punishment for their CRIMES is NOT a violation of God's law, RATHER, SCRIPTURE UPHOLDS THE RIGHT OF GOVERNMENT TO USE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. -- Romans 13:3 If you do what is right, you won’t need to be afraid of your rulers. But watch out if you do what is wrong! You don’t want to be afraid of those in authority, do you? Then do what is right. The one in authority will praise you. 4 He serves God and will do you good. But if you do wrong, watch out! THE RULER DOESN’T CARRY A SWORD FOR NO REASON AT ALL. He serves God. And God is carrying out his anger through him. THE RULER PUNISHES ANYONE WHO DOES WRONG.

When will people understand the difference between killing and murder?

Answer 7

Well yes real Christians are not to engage in warfare or be involved in the death of someone else. But as it is not many are real Christians even though they cry and argue and even cuss about how they are and that what they do is nothing wrong when in reality the bible condemns such horrific acts.

Answer 8

There is no one Christian position. There is confusion over which verses to emphasis .. do you follow the commandment 'thou shalt not kill'? or emphasis "an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth?

Answer 9

this is an example of taking a word in the English and not bothering to see what was really written. God uses government to deal with murderers. It does not matter what we think of it. God can do as He pleases for His own good reasons. It is always a joke to listen to people trying to be holier than God.

Answer 10

The correct commandment is Thou shall not MURDER. Murder and killing are 2 different things