Adstar said:
The price of sin is death. Is it not? All the things dealt with in the scriptures you posted are sin, striking, cursing, and the rest; they still hold a death penalty, eternal death. Nothing has changed in that regard. Of course through Jesus we are told not to judge, so not we no longer carry out the death penalty. But discipline is still a good thing for kids. No matter what the governing authorities say.
Those who sin and have not obtained forgiveness through belief in the Messiah Jesus are under an eternal death penalty. That is the will of God, His will be done.
Ones agreement or disagreement with God makes no difference to the ultimate outcome. God is Just and has provided a way for our sins to be atoned for.
All Praise The Ancient Of Days
Hi Adstar,
Can we take a moment to look at this passage one more time?
Deuteronomy 13:6-10 (NIV)
6 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), 8 do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. 9 You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. 10 Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
I guess I am still basically thinking in these terms. The above scripture was written in the days of the old covenant. So it has to be true, good, and perfect for that time regardless of what Jesus said in one place later about judging others. It has to stand on its own and in context. I would guess that you might agree with that. Now, based on that point of view, if I myself were to timewarp back to this real time and real place. I would personally have a real problem actually doing exactly what this scripture calls for. Here are just a few quick thoughts.
1. If I lived in a family who carried out the things written here and elsewhere I would probably not have the fear of God instilled in me, but instead really only the fear of all those who "love" me. I would fear my own "loving" family members and they would fear me for good reason. Why? Because I might kill them, even over a misunderstanding, and they might kill me. I do not see the love and mercy of God that you refer to anywhere here? And if I kill my wife because she momentarily rebels and becomes fed up with living day after day in fear of being killed (what’s her problem anyway!) how do I know that she wouldn't just possibly want to come back and live in this “loving” environment later. She might come back and repent Adstar. If I kill her she will have no chance to ever receive the forgiveness of God you are talking about because I have taken that chance away. There is certainly and quite obviously no mercy or “pity” here! There is only death, and eternal death at that.
2. I would be confused about what is right and honorable and just and true and moral. The Ten Commandments tell me not to murder. That is good! This tells me to murder my own friends and family, just the opposite. Do you see any problem here at all?
3. This is self-destructive. No nation or people or family can grow and learn about loving, or forgiving each other or loving God in this kind of environment. This destroys both the loving and forgiving nature of a family and the idea of a loving and forgiving God.
4. This creates an entire nation and culture of men women and children who have been desensitized to killing in general and specifically the killing of friends and family. It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!
5. I could never bring myself to kill my own 3 sons or my own wife I love, or my friends. What a fool I have been all this time, I thought you were supposed to love and protect your own family and friends from being murdered not kill them yourself.
6. In the “wonderful” little world described in Exodus 21:15 it is not “O.K.” for your child to strike you, but it is “O.K.” for you to kill him. Does it even matter if the child’s “strike” was just in defending himself from one of those repeated and righteous rod beatings? No! This is evil, possibly even insane! This is justice turned on its head! And this is absolutely and completely sickening to me!
Here is a somewhat related question for you Adstar. Do you think that a righteous God would ever ask a person to prove that they are righteous by requiring them to commit a sin? Even against an innocent person?
Thanks for your patience! Hope you have a great week!
All I can do is keep searching and learning and trying to understand. That is why I showed up here.