"Good" Christians should stone people?

Question

There seems to be a common misunderstanding among non-Christians that the Bible teaches us to stone people for certain sins - witchcraft, adultery, etc. My question to them is, if that were true, why do you think we DON'T stone people? Think about it. There are a lot of professing Christians in the world. Even among all of our different denominations, how many of those still practice stoning? None.

Do you think it's because we're all "disobedient Christians", or could we actually be telling you the truth when we say it's because we believe Christ came to establish a new covenant?

If you answer "because it's illegal to stone people", then what about Muslims? The Koran teaches them to kill people and they do it all the time whether it's legal or not. The law isn't going to stop someone who places their faith above the law.

Answer 1

Jesus said he who is without sin cast the first stone ...

Answer 2

I'm a non-Christian and I don't think that Christians should be going around stoning people. I also think that the whole act of stoning people - along with the idea of there being no forgiveness or repentance in the OT is a highly misunderstood idea.

Of course, I also believe that G-d established everlasting and unchanging covenants. He even stated that these covenants would be unchanged over all the centuries of mankind. So why would he suddenly go back on his word and decide to start a new covenant? Especially a covenant that went against his Law and spoke of the Law as being a prison, a burden. The Law is doing G-d's will on earth. Why would this ever be a burden?

*** I also notice after reading the answers to your question that most people seem to miss the point entirely. That Christians claim to follow a new covenant, that the Law cannot be upheld fully so Jesus had to come. Which is why Christians do not follow the Law but follow Jesus. They use the Law as a mirror to sin, but do not follow it physically. Sheesh, I didn't think it was that hard of a concept - but looking at the answers above, reading seems to be a difficult concept.

Answer 3

I wish you were right. Those quotes have been used as justification on numerous RECENT violent attacks on individuals and their way of life.

ADD: See number 2.

1) Not all of the Christian Bibles are the same. Part of why Christians have spent so much time killing each other was over which stories to include (Canon, Apocrypha, or right out), how to translate them, and how to interpret them.

2) The Christian bible was taken from the Torah which at the time of the first Christians was incomplete. It had some of the punishments written down but was missing much of the rules of the laws including trial procedures (Talmud). That is why the Bible says things like "stone your disobedient child" when the Jewish law says "take your consistently disobedient child to court; if he is violent and a danger to others he may have to be executed after a proper trial." Quite a difference!

3) Both the Christians and the Muslims claim to have had new revelations from a new prophet (messiah). Both claim that their New Testaments overrule the Original (Jewish) Testament, but both "New" Testaments are incomplete on many complex subjects. This means that they have to go back to the "Old" Testament for answers even though they claim that the old laws no longer apply.

Non-Abrahamic Deist
(I believe in at least one deity, but it is not the one-god of the Jews, Protostants, Catholics, nor Muslims)

Answer 4

The bible was basically written as a social guide back then. It illustrated what to do with sinners, and stoning was a perfectly fine punishment for someone that broke the law. Over time some parts of the bible have been taken more lightly while others have been taken more seriously... which is kind of ridiculous if you think about it.
We're all disobedient Christians because our ethics have changed. Stoning just isn't an efficient way to kill people, shooting them is. Over time we have kind of 'up-graded' our stoning.
However, the bible also says not to hate anybody and treat everybody kindly... and at the same time it preaches that we need to destroy sinners.
Also, may I add that the bible says that Noah took (only) two of every animal on an arc and saved the world?
We need to not look at the bible as a guidebook. It's very dated. We need to look at the outline: Be a good person, and you'll go to heaven.

(P.s. Are you SURE that NO ONE still practices stoning?)

Answer 5

Christians were never told or expected to "stone" people. On the contrary, Jesus says, "those without sin, cast the first stone". He was talking to a group of Jews who were wanting to stone a woman caught in the act of sexual sin. Most people say Jesus, in this account, forgave the woman. NO HE DIDN'T! He didn't have to because He told her "neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more".
Jesus was a Jew who lived under the Jewish law. Law is always ready to punish the lawbreaker, but mercy and grace are ready to forgive and restore.
Yes, a MUCH better new covenant! History tells us that God knew the human race was growing up like individuals, they can't possible accept mercy and grace and walk in love until they are able to "obey the rules without rebellion"! Adolescence comes before adult maturity..., 10 Commandments before the covenant of grace and truth!

Answer 6

C.L. We are NOT under LAW. According to Paul, who was a master of the Mosaic covenant. That is to say NOT under Torah. We are under the New Covenant, which has a new set of laws.

the moral LAW is written on our hearts. (See Jeremiah 31-33)

Did you see the Apostles stoning anyone? No.

Did you see their disciples stoning anyone? No.

We have been given the ministry of.... reconciliation. That is to reconcile the world to God by the Gospel. Stoning isn't in the Gospel.

If God needs to sort out some hypocrates, such as with Ananias and Saphira, he's going to take care of it. Even Peter didn't do that.

We're called to take the Gospel the world. First, you gotta know what the Gospel is.

That's where Christians are disobedient: not knowing the Gospel.

Answer 7

Well, this is my opinion. God pretty much showed how he felt when back in the old times under mosaic law and such, people were stoned for things like you mentioned. However times have changed and obviously he doesnt expect us to stone people. When Jesus was on earth he set the example as to how christians should live their life. Even when under attack by imperfect people who showed up to impale him, Jesus told his disciples not to fight them. So he set an example of peace and love. So no we are not doing something wrong by not stoning someone, however it is a good indication as to how he feels about those things.

Answer 8

It's about the history of Christianity. Nowadays Christians throw around rhetoric instead of stones. In times past, they were stoning, burning, and torturing non-believers. The mass carnage starts with the inquisitions beginning around 1200 AD. Things just go down hill from their.

It wasn't until the last 300 years that Christians started behaving themselves and I firmly believe they only civilized their tone because they've lost power in numbers.

Had you read the real history behind your faith you'd be apologizing to non-believers instead of calling them out.

But in the end, you'll probably just believe what you want regardless of the truth. It seems to be Christian nature.

Answer 9

The reason Christians don't stone people for such crimes is because it is ILLEGAL. While most Americans are Christian, we the people have not overwhelmingly supported such a punishment.

I agree that the Bible says Jesus came and established a new covenant. Why, then are the Ten Commandments relevant?

.

Answer 10

GEG

Read Matthew 5:17-19

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Answer 11

Stoning people is not a Christian belief or practice. As a matter of fact, I am quite certain it was Christ who taught people to stop the practice of stoning others for sins against God as we would all then have to be stoned.