How does killing in war get a free pass?

Question

Why isn't killing in war referred to as murder or as sinning? Does "thou shalt not kill" have some finely chiseled print??

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"Thou shalt not kill."----anything additional is added by man for his convenience.

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How does your explanation apply to the killing of innocent civilians in war?

burnett----so you admit that the killing of civilians in war is murder...thank you.

burnett---maybe if you pulled your head out you'd notice I didn't mention enemy combatants at all......you assumed.......so as you've claimed those responsible for killing civilians will be court martialed right? You're answer is weak and preachy.

burnett---in your own words:

"When someone is killed in a war that cannot be interpreted as an enemy combatant the person that committed the killing is treated as a murderer and punished like any other criminal"

Rarely.

Answer 1

Oh it's particularly hypocritical when you look back to things like the crusades

Seems "Thou shalt not kill" actually means "Thou shalt not kill .. UNLESS YOU ARE DOING IT IN GODS NAME, THEN IT'S OK"

Answer 2

When police confiscate someones property as evidence or contraband is that stealing? But to answer your question, they get a "free pass" because it is a war! That's what war is, it is organized death and destruction. Killing an armed enemy during combat cannot be interpreted as murder. When someone is killed in a war that cannot be interpreted as an enemy combatant the person that committed the killing is treated as a murderer and punished like any other criminal. Ever heard of a court-martial? Pull your head out.

Answer 3

Different translations use "thou Shall not Murder" but we will go with "Thou Shall not Kill" as it is in Exodus 20:13. Just the next chapter starts laying out capital offenses the penalty for which is death. A few books later, God is ordering Israel to prepare themselves for war and in fact He tells Israel to destroy. or kill, their enemies.
So to answer your question is their fine print, not exactly however there is more explaining done if you read beyond the Ten Commandments you read about men being sent to war.There are also exceptions made in the Old Testament for manslaughter. So the inference is clear. Murder is wrong, it is a sin. There are times when taking a life is necessary to defend yourself, your family, your country...etc and it is clear that God allows for this.
Now people will say that's no different than Islamic terrorists. Well it is. You can deny Christ, deny God, curse him, draw blasphemous cartoons and true Christians will express outrage, maybe write some letters but they will not set out to kill you. If you hear the Gospel preached decide its not for me, there is NO teaching in the Bible that says its OK to kill you.

Answer 4

It means thou shalt not murder in the context. It is referring to individuals not killing other individuals for what ever they wish. Our God is a "GOD of WAR" do you need help finding the reference? You should understand that the Old testament is full of death penalties. And those penalties were administered by individuals acting for justice as government. God even established cities of refuge for those who had killed someone to flee because of the vengeance of a blood relative. Look up those cities. It is a mistake to take this Hebrew passage out of context. And to use it as an English saying with a different meaning, is doubly wrong. It means to not kill and innocent life. It is not at all in the context of War.
To answer the free pass questions you will have to understand we will all be judged for actions and the context of those actions. "Shall not the judge of the earth do right?"
Our freedom will never give us liberty to sin. You should ask when and how in war can killing be considered murder to skirt the issue of war killing in general. Which should be yes. And in specific cases can that action to kill when in war be murder and a sin. The answer then has to be yes and no. Prepare war with wise council. I think its in Proverbs.

Answer 5

Religious 'thinkers' can always sit down and misinterpret or invent new meanings for laws, which are pretty straightforward to the common man. The semantics of 'killing/murder" for example.
In fact the whole concept of religion revolves around misconception. Sometimes it takes centuries for the intended meaning to come round again.
The best 'religion' or 'way of life' for me is the one of responsible freedom, 'do whatever you like, as long as it doesn't harm others'. Killing or murder certainly harms!
Of course this concept could never work, because whatever we do there is always someone who takes 'offense'.

Answer 6

That is a hard question. I don't think I could kill someone even in self defense. God says not to kill so I'm not going to be shooting anyone anytime soon. There are many wars that are mentioned in biblical days and are not refered to as sins. I don't know, good question I'll keep an eye on this one myself!

Answer 7

The devil is the author of wars because of hatred and greed. Yet he himself will one day bring war against Christ, His Saints, and the Almighty God and lose, along with those who will join forces with Him and they all will be comsumed with fire as they will enter the Lake of Fire as recorded in the book of Revelations chapter 20-21

Answer 8

Apparently it does (according to Christians, Muslims, etc...). What really matters is what WE consider good in the eyes of God. The murderers of the crusades thought God was on their side. So did the early Muslims when they defeated surrounding tribes and began their conquest.

Answer 9

Its like killing for a police officer its not murder

Answer 10

Thou shalt not murder is the correct way to interupt that.

Do you think God will punish a man who kills a man who is trying to rape his wife and kill his son?