At what point is killing ok?

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?

I reconcile war with protecting our children, and I believe Jesus said, there no greater act of friendship than to lay down ones life for another. As far as the death penalty, I don't agree with it but I understand why some would. My lifelong sister friend who has a heart of gold believes it to be biblically founded. I don't agree. I may be wrong, but following my true hearts and minds conscience, I say it is not our place.

Where do you stand?

My Belief..
It is not ok for Christians to execute people, to take part in a justice system that does so..
It is not ok for Christians to be Solders to kill in a war..

Thank you for your response and for keeping this touchy subject as neutral as possible as I do not want to offend anyone on their views.

I honestly dont know where I stand. I have heard valid views for both sides and I stand neutral as of now.

thank you. I like that you stand firm on how you feel about the issue.

Yeshua told us to obey the law of the land (the governing council). The laws of our land are no speeding, no killing, no jay-walking, etc. But, another law of the land is being in the military. Here, you are obeying the Law of Land, by obeying the Governing Council in the ACT of war, defending your homeland borders, being sent off to protect your Allies. This is a place where literally millions of people can lose their lives by the Act of Killing in a matter of days, minutes, a single moment. This is still following the Laws of the Land by obeying the Governing Council that made the decision to either create war, become a part of war, or to help your Allies during war.

Now, is it really OK by God that war (a creation of men in power that costs the lives of many for the single purpose of being victorious and most powerful) causes millions of people to die?

Someone will be always be held accountable for causing war that leads to unnecessary murders. But as a member of the military under the regime of a Governing Council (Laws of the Land), technically, anyone that I would happen to end their life is held against those who created the war. Spiritually and then emotionally because you are connected to God, you will condemn yourself for being the instrument that ended those lives. God clearly knows you were obeying orders (Laws of the Land), but He works in such a personal way, He makes it known to you, those are also lives that He died for. And giving that burden to God, is very essential, to be able to live day after day in the Knowledge and Understanding of God's WORD. Especially, understanding your actions under the Laws of the Land, will haunt you, and should haunt those who created the war. They will haunt you, until you are Free and Able to give it over to God.

Even though the burden seems to fall upon you, you were under the Law of the Land. You are free as long as your actions were according to the principles of war and life/death. God does not hold it against you. But you must give it over to God.

Think on our Lord and Savior on the cross speaking on our behalf to the Father, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." He said this while dying for all who sin His agony.

He also taught us to love our enemies. With the afore in mind, I believe th laws of mankind's governments demonstrate the hardness of men's hearts without considering our blessed and merciful Maker.

Murder can be viewed as starting in the heart. A desire to kill. Whether it's a lot of people or one specific person.
Killing can be viewed as a reaction to something external (war, self defense) wherein one does not choose to kill out of desire but necessity.

Asking why a secular government finds it ok to kill inmates is a bit of a separate topic. But often times executions are viewed as preemptive against people who have shown a high capacity for brutality and a propensity to repeat such acts.

"Thou shalt not kill" is really better translated as "Thou shalt not murder."

God authorized those in authority to kill people who have committed grave crimes, in Leviticus and in the NT. As for the rest, people make their own decisions. Many choose to kill when operating as soldiers; a few do not. Some believe that killing in self-defense, or in defense of the helpless, is legitimate; some do not. Both positions are defensible from Scripture.

For me:

I will not purposefully or knowingly kill anyone under any circumstances. Instead my goal is to "love my enemy," as Jesus taught. Jesus is very clear about killing in the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus said that his kingdom is not of this world.

There is a difference between murder and kiling.

Militarily, I agree with Charlirenee that we are told to protect our families. I also think that if one takes ones life in the act of protecting ones family when the other threatens them, this also is justifiable.

As for capitol punishment, It was practiced in the OT given as the law of the nation. (I re-iterate a nation, isreal was nto a nation under roman rule. It was a slave state) I believe it is a great deterent to crimes. If done properly. The way the US does it today (many years of reviews and retrial and whatever) is not a good system, if a person was caught red handed and there is no doubt, It should be swift. If there is any doubt, there should be no death penalty. It should be a life sentance, until and if the doubt is removed, or the person is proven innocent.

Killing is never ok, because it leaves scars on the living. I would kill if called to war by my country, to protect my family, or to protect my life. If God wants me to believe otherwise, he'll let me know.

It’s a tricky question and one that could only really be answered if it
came to it, under the guidance of God.

There was a lot of killing in the OT, God instigated it!

1 Samuel 15:2-3 NKJV
[2] Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he
did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up
from Egypt. [3] Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all
that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman,
infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'"


The difference is that God could see the beginning from the end. In my
opinion the reason people were asked to kill in the OT, was because God wasn’t
just dealing with people, He was dealing with Satan’s plans.

In the NT however Satan was defeated on the cross, and that makes the difference.
So I very much doubt God has or would ever ask or need to command such a thing again.


That being said, it’s a matter of conscience for Christians who find themselves
put in that position. Have you ever heard the testimony of Andrew Womack when he
was in the army.

There was also a movie a while back sorry can’t remember what it was called.
It was based on a true story of a medic who refused to carry a weapon.
When his side got gunned down and the others who could, fled. He stayed
behind and gradually carried all the wounded down off a steep cliff and to safety.

He kept going back for more saying “God just one more”. Despite being under
constant fire he was not wounded in the battle field.

This has been discussed many times on this site.
Everyone needs to realize that if it were not for the killing of evil men by good, Godfearing men, we would not be having this discussion. We would all be dead and only those evil men would be alive.
How safe, how long would you be alive is there were no police in your city?
How safe, how long would you be alive is there were no military to KILL the Hitlers and those like him?

I have never killed another person and hope I never have to.
BUT, if my wife, kids, or any innocent person is threatened, I will kill if that is the only way to save the innocent.

God often instructed that evil people be killed. He does not expect you to stand by and allow innocent women and children to be enslaved, raped, or killed. Anyone who would do so is a poor child of God.

any leader that orders death and destruction will always justify it by telling the people those being killed deserves it because they were evil. one thing that German and allied soldiers had in common was the reason they fought, they both believed their homeland, their lives and their families were under threat.

During Home invasion we are to use as much force that is necessary to subdue an attacker. There is a text about killing an invader at night, but in daylight when you can see if the person is arm, then necessary force.

In war Romans 13 makes it so. When I was in NAM, I gave orders to seriously injure the other side persons because it takes more than three people off the battle field. One to drag them to safety, two to carry them to a transport, the transport driver and guards, the makeshift hospital, transportation home. When one had no choice to protect their life, then kill.

The Bible only tells us not to Murder, not not to kill.

Luke 11:21
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe.

Romans 13 refutes that, but I respect your position and understand it.

Augustine taught Just War Theory.

I would recommend taking self defense classes.

An idea I had is for cities to install alarms throughout the city which can be triggered by dialing 666. So, if someone is being attacked, anyone with a cell phone nearby can dial 666 to set off the alarm and scare the attacker to retreat. And, contact the Police.