Originally posted by truthsetfree2009
reply to post by Christian Voice

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The bible also says it is ok to stone disobedient children to death and that slavery is ok to have around.
Perfect sense.

If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom. If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward, only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him. If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters, then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. But the slave may plainly declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather not go free.' If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever. (Exodus 21:2-6 NLT)

When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)

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So these are the Bible family values! A man can buy as many sex slaves as he wants as long as he feeds them, clothes them, and screws them!

The old testiment law did allow for capital punishment, but it also called for an eye for an eye (leviticus 24: 19-21). Later Jesus tells us that we should not seek an eye for an eye (Matthew 5:38-39). Where does this leave us for the enforcement of the Law? Are we to be punished for trimming our beard (Leviticus 19:27)?

In the new testiment this verse is often pointed to:
"For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." (Romans 13:4)

Here Paul is talking about governments and many point to the term "beareth the sword" to indicate that God sees it as okay. However, this verse does not actualy say this. All it says is that when we do wrong we sould be afraid because the government will kill us. Paul is telling us what will happen, not what God wills to happen.

Here are a couple more verses that are often used:

Mat 15:4 "For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death."

Jesus is not condoning capital punishment here, he is quoting exodus 21:17 to show that it is wrong to dishonor your parents. This he uses to make a point to some pharases. Context is very important.

Just because it was a punishable offence back then doesn't mean it should be today. If all the law were enforced fully, most of us would be dead. (Like the verse said, if we talked back to our parents we would have been put to death.)

"Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (Romans 1:32)

Paul does not say that they should be put to death but that they are worthy of it. The last time i checked all sinners (aka all of us) are worthy of death.

I have yet to find any verses that uphold capital punishment when taken into context. On the other hand, God tells us that revenge is his to deal with:

"For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. " (Hebrews 10:30)

When we execute a person, it cuts of the opportunity for them to recieve salvation. I am not willing for this to happen. I respect all life, both the unborn and the sinful. And if the the above verse is correct and our job is not to punish, what harm would it bring to give a person life in prison instead of the death penalty?

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not listen to the voice of his father or his mother even when they punish him his father and mother must take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard. All the men of the town must then stone him to death. You must banish this evil from among you.

Matthew 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.