Killing

I have had this conversation lately with a good friend. This person know some details that I cannot and will not share on this blog. Let me say though that this is a subject that has been wrestled over for quite some time and this is what I have written down with the encouragement of this friend. I look forward to any comments.

Can we kill biblically? I would say yes. First I must say that there are different types of killing.

1. Murder
2. Killing in self defense
3. Killing in war
4. Killing as a part of government law

Ok, let me address murder first. This is probably the easiest and most straight forward. It is wrong to kill someone in hate, or in a premeditated way. Ex 20:13 "Thou shalt not murder." Some translations say kill, but some people will argue that the hebrew word actually would translate better as murder. I don't know hebrew and don't claim to be an expert. God commands us not to take the life of another person due to our greed, hate, and own sinful desires.

Self defense. This actually falls under government allowed and biblically allowed.
Ex 22:2 - If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him. This is actually where the government based its laws in self defense. This is also God saying that if a person comes into your home intending to do harm, you can defend yourself, and if you kill him, there is not guilt on your part. We can also look at Rom 13:1
Rom 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
If we look at this, God is the one that has instituted the government. In the USA, they have written laws that allow us to protect ourselves. The castle doctrine, adopted by every state that I know of, states that your home is your castle. You can retreat no further. You can use any force necessary to protect your castle.

Let me say that in this case, if God allows me to have a family, as the man and head of the household, I am responsible for protecting those that God has given to me (both physically and spiritually), and I would use all force, including killing, to protect that.

Now one time where I believe that self defense would be wrong, would be if we retaliated to persecution. They are specifically attacking us against Christ. We never see an example in the Bible where anyone retaliated to persecution. They either fled or stood and were a witness for Christ. If I am ever in that position, I pray that God gives me the strength to not react but to be a faithful witness for Christ so that others can see the love of Jesus and come to Him.

3 and 4 fall under the same category really. They are both permissive under government authority. Take war. There is killing in war. You have to use force to get the objective complete and to win the war. A war is started under government authority, and they give you the authority to use force and deadly force. God also used wars and permitted killing under these circumstances.

Government laws are the same. The death penalty has to be carried out by another person. God had very strict laws in the old testament. How do you think they got carried out? The leaders and those appointed by them carried out the punishment. Police are appointed to protect, and are permitted under certain circumstances to use deadly force. Those working in prisons that perform executions were appointed by the government and are authorized to carry out killing. God has established this pattern, and has used it for His glory.

Under these circumstance, it is my belief the it is ok and biblical to kill.

Let me say now that killing is not an easy thing. It has huge ramifications in your life and in others lives. There are many people that are affected and killing should not be taken lightly. All lives are precious in Gods eyes, and to needlessly take that is wrong.

I have asked myself, could I kill? The answer is yes, but it is something I pray I never have to do.