Foreword:
The following exerpt is taken from The Ten
Commandments by Arthur W. Pink
(BAKER BOOK HOUSE, 1994 GRAND RAPIDS, MI)
In this blog series I will work through this very
important article a paragraph at a time – asking my reader comprehension style
questions at the end. I have been much convicted by the writings of Pink and I
pray your walk will also be strengthened meditating on his teaching of
scripture …
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT PART II
Let us begin by pointing out that every killing of a man is
not murder. It is not so in the execution of justice, when the magistrate
sentences a slayer, for he is vested with lawful authority to put capital
offenders to death, and if he fails to do so, then God will charge it upon him
as sin. "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed"
(Gen. 9:6). These words state the general and unchanging principle. "Thine
eye shall not pity, but life shall go for life" (Deut. 19:21). This is
God's order to the magistrate. Nor is the shedding of blood in a righteous war
chargeable with murder. It is lawful to take up arms against an invader and to
recover what has been unjustly taken away. Thus David pursued the Amalekites
who had carried away his wives captive. It is also lawful in order to punish
some great injury or wrong. David made war upon the Ammonites for their
outraging of his ambassadors (2 Sam. 10).
As there are some who decry this assertion and denounce all
war as unlawful in this Christian dispensation, let us point out that when
soldiers came to Christ's forerunner for instruction saying, "What shall
we do?" (Luke 3:14), he did not say, Fight no more, abandon your calling,
but gave them directions how they should conduct themselves. When the centurion
came to the Savior and drew arguments from his military calling, our Lord did
not condemn his profession or rebuke him for holding such an office. Instead,
He highly commended his faith (Luke 7:8, 9). When examined by Pilate Christ
declared, "My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this
world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the
Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36). Those words
clearly imply that though carnal means were improper for advancing Christ's
spiritual kingdom, yet had not His state of humiliation prevented His assuming
the royal scepter, His followers might lawfully have fought to defend His
title.
1) By disregarding this principle: "Thine eye shall
not pity, but life shall go for life" (Deut. 19:21), consider how a prison
sytem can actually breed more murders rather than rehabilitate them. Discuss
how, or how not, by disregarding God’s instruction on this issue we perpetuate
the very conditions that make capital punishment necessary. Society pays to house, feed and entertain
murderers who then train others in their company to murder. Or is this too
simplistic a view?
2) When is killing laweful other than as a state
executioner?
3) Discuss the difference between homicide and murder and also consider the difference between negligent or accidental homicide.
4) What, in your own words, is God’s view on war?
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