Comments on Decompose: How Shall We Then Kill? #2

A soft refusal is not always taken,but a rude one ...

2008-08-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

A soft refusal is not always taken,but a rude one is immediately beloved.In the way emotions and understandings between every individual results some time in crime.
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mike smith

alcoholism treatment

Seems pretty straight forward, doesn't it? Perhaps...

2008-08-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

Seems pretty straight forward, doesn't it? Perhaps one of the clearest laws in all of human history. Four words. No exceptions. Handed down from God, so they say. Published in the world's most famous book. Pretty simple, right? Now, we have the so-called "Christian Right" led by Pat Robertson and a few others. A group of people who claim they are Christians. A group of people who claim to be doing God's work. A group of people who would love nothing more than to see the Ten Commandments in every school, court room, park, and public building. So you think they would have a pretty good understanding of the Ten Commandments, right?
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Sheik

alcoholism treatment

Hey nice blog you got.I just finished a page on Pa...

2007-04-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

Hey nice blog you got.

I just finished a page on Pain Killer Addiction.

It's meant to help those currently addicted and those still struggling with pain killer addiction and other opiate addictions.

Well I hope you like my site, and I'll stop by your blog again.

Greg

Interesting thoughts, Mike.Of course, you are righ...

2006-08-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

Interesting thoughts, Mike.

Of course, you are right. Genetics and our environment affect us. And yet, people become monsters with little provocation. I hate to use the overused, but Hitler is a good example. Every thing I read about him would indicate he had no overriding reason to hate Jews, except what we would consider a minor offense.

Then on the other hand, people who have endured horrific upbringings overcome their past and lead productive, upright lives.

The point is evil is in each of our hearts. Our sovereign God gives us the upbringing of His choosing. And He created us with the genetic make up we live with.

I think, though, we have to face the fact that the root of the problem is sin. That's the evil in our heart. That's what causes person to sin against person, creating a society of violence and greed and lasciviousness. That's even the deterioration of our genetic makeup that predisposes a person toward addictive behavior.

As I see it, that I am under judgment, but for Christ, condemned to die because at heart I am no better than the serial killer, is cause for me to extend mercy to others whose hearts are like my own.

Thanks for the comments, Becky! You're absolutely ...

2006-08-25T04:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the comments, Becky! You're absolutely right about everyone possessing a sin nature. However, there are many forces that shape/cultivate/contribute to the anatomy of those things in our lives. I'm unsure how much genetics and upbringing determine the outcome, but guess they play a part.

Lisa and I have raised four children (the youngest recently turned 18). Because I had an alcoholic father and have struggled first-hand against similar addictive tendencies, we've gone out of our way to discuss the issue with our kids. I am very frank and open with them about my background. As far as I can tell, none of them are, or are headed toward, drug addiction or alcoholism. No doubt, this is part of God's great grace and mercy. Praise Him! Nevertheless, I'd suggest that had their upbringing been different, that root might be a hideous tree threatening to consume them.

Was Wayne Adam Ford destined to be a serial killer? Would things have turned out differently had his childhood been better? I think so. Of course, he would still be a sinner. He just may have avoided becoming a monster. While we all possess the sin nature, there are very fine forces / circumstances that contribute to its specific cultivation.

Thanks for the great comments, Becky!

Mike, what a great post—authentic and even-handed....

2006-08-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Mike, what a great post—authentic and even-handed. Your spirit of compassion runs deep.

You wrote a powerful line, but I think I need to comment: People aren't born to be alcoholics, thieves and serial killers. There are processes that get them there. Aren't we? Aren't we all lovers of the flesh, greedy, haters of others? I think that is exactly what the sin nature gives us all—the nature of an alcoholic, of a thief, and even of a serial killer.

It is for THAT reason that I should forgive, because of the enormity of the debt I own for my own forgiven sin.

BTW, I have a completely separate issue with our current means of arriving at who receives capital punishment, but that doesn't seem to apply in the case you're concerned with.

Becky

Another thought-provoking post. You haven't change...

2006-08-23T15:30:00.000-07:00

Another thought-provoking post. You haven't changed my opinion (not that you wanted to) that captiol punishment is a fair punishment for murder. I believe it is. But we (Christians) must approach the condemned criminal with love and forgiveness. We are all sinners, capable of evil. When my 7-year-old got caught lying to me last week, she broke down in repentent sobs. I felt badly for her and understood her motive for lying (she was ashamed of something she'd done and was afraid to admit it.) But lying is an abomination to the Lord and trust an important thing in a family, so in love I punished her and forgave her.

You're right, Tim. In fact, I made that point, quo...

2006-08-23T04:45:00.000-07:00

You're right, Tim. In fact, I made that point, quoting from Romans 13, in part one of this series. This, however, may be the only New Testament verse that actually supports (at least infers) the death penalty.

Can you think of other N.T. Scriptures which call Christians to support capital punishment? I can't.

I agree that we must "make a distinction between we as Christians and the government." In a way, that's exactly what I'm trying to do. As believers, we must both comply with the laws of the land and issue grace and mercy. In fact, it is the balance of a Christian perspective and judicial power that should temper this difficult subject.

In this series, I am not questioning the biblical or social basis for capital punishment, but wondering whether or not Christians bring the proper spirit to the subject. Thanks for the comments, Tim!

Remember in all this musing to make a distinction ...

2006-08-22T20:24:00.000-07:00

Remember in all this musing to make a distinction between "we" as Christians and the government.

As Christians, we are called to forgive. We are called to witness. We are called to love the unlovable.

But the government is ordained to stand in the place of God Himself when it comes to punishing the wicked, not as God the Loving, but as God the Avenger. Romans 13 makes it completely clear what the government's role is to be (one could even argue that it's the only true role given by God TO the government in Scripture).

Can I attempt to love and forgive the person who murders someone I know and love? As an imitator of Christ, it is absolutely required of me to do so!

But at the same time, my government is required by God to punish that person. And "the sword" does not mean therapy.

I like what Kelly said as well. And I'm deeply mov...

2006-08-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

I like what Kelly said as well. And I'm deeply moved by what you said, Mike.

I read this post yesterday and it is still resonating with me. Thank you for your honesty about your past and the scars it left. As you said, "People aren't born to be alcoholics, thieves and serial killers. There are processes that get them there."

Yes. There's always a story. And the mind-boggling truth is there's a Redeemer who can reach all the way to the mired depths, no matter how black the darkness may be. So, how much time should we give Him before we quench the dimly burning wick? Or should we presume to have the right to quench it at all?

Much to think about.

I like what Kelly said..."You have a gift for stat...

2006-08-21T20:41:00.000-07:00

I like what Kelly said...

"You have a gift for stating the obvious, disarming the passionate opposing view, and turning it all back to Christ."

Mike

Mike,You have a gift for stating the obvious, disa...

2006-08-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

Mike,

You have a gift for stating the obvious, disarming the passionate opposing view, and turning it all back to Christ.

Good job. These are thoughts we all need to wrestle with.

As the mother of two girls gut level response is "Nuke Him!" As a follower of Christ - it gets a little trickier.