I have a question for anyone who wants to tackle it. I have heard different ideas and answers to this question, but I would like to hear other's thoughts. Just for the record, I am not sure what the true answer is, nor if it is for us to fully understand why.... please this is not meant to start up arguments, just to get different views on the topic
Question: God has made it clear to us that we are not to kill one another. If this is so, why is it ok for our justice system to give the death penalty as a sentence for crimes, and why is it ok for our soldiers to kill in a war?
It is not okay, for if a Christian is not to verbally abuse when verbally abused, and not to physically abuse when physically abused, and not to hurt, and not to kill, to be right with God, then the world cannot do it for they will be judged for such things, for all must meet the conditions of the saints to be right, and justified in the eyes of God.
Jesus is the standard for the world to be right with God, and that is all there is to it, and anything contrary to that is not justified in the eyes of God.
There is no justification for the death penalty, and there is no justification for war, not at all.
And God may use the heathen to put down the wicked, but they will be judged for doing so, but He will use them for their fleshy ways, but all the while they are not right with God, and anybody not right with God is wrong.
An example is Babylon when God used them to go against Israel when they were rebellious, and to lead them captive to Babylon because they were disobedient to God, but even though God allowed it to happen because Israel was disobedient He said that He would also go against Babylon for going against His people.
So God might allow nations, and people to go against those that are wicked, but He will still go against those people for acting that way, for God did not ordain it, but he allowed it, and they will be judged for cruelty towards other people.
Jas 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
God said wars do not come from Him, but from the lusts of people, so God does not ordain wars, although He might allow it, but wars come from people.
With the exception of Israel in the Old Testament for God would allow them to fight, and would fight for them, but all others He did not ordain it, but might allow it.