Jim at Oldtruth.com is in a hospital suffering from complications connected with a serious bone condition. Please uphold our brother in prayer. More information is available at: http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.1011
And I agree. Note that he said it is PAINFUL. We don’t enjoy it, but if we are going to stand for anything in this world, we are going to face it. So stand up and be counted! Check out the article here:
http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.1008
The State of New Jersey has officially abolished the death penalty. Make no mistake about it: this represents an end to justice in murder cases and an invitation to God’s judgment.
The Bible makes it clear that God commanded that murderers be put to death.
“And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” (Gen 4:10)
“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Gen 9:6)
“then thou shalt give life for life,” (Ex 21:23)
“And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.” (Lev 24:17)
“And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.” (Lev 24:21)
“And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.” (Num 35:16)
“And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.” (Num 35:17)
“Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.” (Num 35:18)
“And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.(Dty 19:21)
“At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death;” (Dty 17:6)
“Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.” (Num 35:31)
Some people think that the New Testament, and specifically the sermon on the mount, does away with the death penalty requirement of the Old Testament. But the sermon on the mount was clearly a treatise on personal relationships and had nothing to do with the carrying out of civil justice in this present evil world. Indeed, the New Testament continues the Old Testament appeal to justice as we can see from the following New Testament scriptures:
”Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder,” (Mat 19:18)
“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:21)
“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,” (1 Tim 1:9)
“But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he [police, law enforcer] beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” (Rom 13:4)
In view of the State of New Jersey’s willingness to ignore God’s word, is there any reason that we should expect God’s blessing and protection on us? If God destroyed the sinful people of His own chosen nation during the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, we have no reason to expect that He will spare His judgment on this sinful generation either.
“For if we sin willfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no sacrifice for sin, but a certain looking for of judgment and fiery indignation…” (Heb 10:26-27)
Justice demands the death penalty. A murderer has no right to breath air, eat food, see the sunrise, feel comfort, enjoy sleep, or become “model citizens”; for their victims shall never have the same opportunities. The equitable payment for death is death. To do otherwise makes justice arbitrary and mocks God’s commandments.
Recently, someone implied that I, and others like me, that are opposed to what is known as the “prosperity gospel”, paint the Christian as someone that “should be broke, depressed and tore up”. Of course, I did not intend any such thing.
What my protestor missed is that the life of faith is not about whether one “should be broke, depressed and tore up”, but rather it is about contentment - regardless of riches or poverty. Contentment can not be bought. As the Apostle Paul said, “I have learned that whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Let’s make no bones about it - the prosperity gospel crowd preaches a false gospel wherein money satisfies, not Christ. The Bible says “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition”, and again “he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent”.
As John Piper says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him”. The ultimate goal of every true believer is to find our peace in Him, and not in things. We must name fasle prophets and denounce their lies. Men and women that preach prosperity instead of repentance from sin and faith toward Christ preach a false gospel. We should be greatly concerned about the damage the lying prophets are doing to the name of Christ and to the souls of their followers.
Edited in on 27 NOV 07: The dialog can be found here: http://acnn.wordpress.com/2007/11/09/mega-church%e2%80%99s-wealth/
Welcome to my blog! I will be posting articles mostly about the Bible, theology, and religion; but some miscellaneous other topics will appear from time to time.
I work for the Air Force Reserves and am a part time student at Sterling College on-line. I have studied the Bible for many years, and more recently began seriously studying systematic theology.
I hope that you are blessed or challanged in some positive way by visiting here and reading my thoughts. Visitors are encouraged to leave comments in a spirit of agreement or of civil debate.
JW
