If a police officer kills a criminal because of a threat on his life or others, is it right for him to pull the trigger, and let the hammer slam down the irreversible death of the criminal? If a thief breaks into your house and holds a knife on a family member, are you right to blast his life into history? There is no reason, to not be able to answer these questions as a christian, with the book of life right in front of us. “Yeah, it’s simple ... Exodus 20:13, thou shall not kill, that simple” ... WRONG. The KJV might say “kill”, but translated from Hebrew, the scripture actually uses the word “murder.” The definition of killing is to cause death. The definition of murder is to kill in a way that breaks the law, or is unjust. Well, what is “unjust”?
Killing is justified in warfare. Why would God send out nations to fight other nations, if killing was a sin? That is, because it’s not. God wouldn’t contradict himself. God even commanded certain people to go kill their enemy (Gen. 10-12). When these wars were set, they were just, because they were through means of protection. IF they weren’t to fight, their nation would be taken advantage of, or even wiped out.
“Well, I’m not a soldier and don’t plan on ever being one... is it ever just for me to kill?” First of all, we all are soldiers of the LORD’s army, we are mighty warriors always at constant battle. Killing is justified in self-defense. Similar to the situation in warfare, God does not want people to just stand there and be killed, but stand up and defend their lives. This is how the police vs criminal, and family vs thief situations are justified. IF YOU’RE LIFE IS BEING THREATENED, DON’T JUST STAND THERE...DEFEND YOURSELF!!! “Well, why is it justified, when the thief holds a family member? I am not the one at threat, they are.” You didn’t expect the thief to break into your house, did you? You didn’t know he was going to grab your family member, did you? Then, do you know what his other plans are? NO. What if he will kill you after killing your family member? In addition, if your love isn’t strong enough to even attempt saving their life, are you really a christian? “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
Now this last one, I will leave for your interpretation.
Capital Punishment is justified. God himself beliefs in it’s concept. Genesis 9:5-6, "And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Why would the word “demand” be used? Does God command himself of an action? The definition of a command, is to direct with authoritatively, or overlook and dominate. These definitions make it seem to point at a command given to man. This would justify criminal punishment. I want to remind you guys, this is not necessarily what i believe, but its food for thought, rather than just always side with what we are told. we are to be challenged in our thinking, so think about it.