![]() Unborn babies are image-bearers and have equal status as people ( Exodus 21:22-23 Jeremiah 1:5).Ĭhristians need to show love to both the unborn children and mothers by ministering to them. Taking the life of an unborn baby might not seem like the same thing as killing a grown human, but it is murder. God made all people in His image and offers His gift of salvation to everyone.Ģ. Regardless of which view we take about capital punishment, we should all affirm the sanctity of life. Like the issue of war, capital punishment is a hotly debated issue among believers. God values human life and takes murder seriously. In the Old Testament, the Lord set in place capital punishment for murderers ( Genesis 9:6 Leviticus 24:17). Other Important Issues Related to Murderġ. Believers should not actively seek out opportunities for war. However, Christians continue to debate what it means to have a “just war.” The theocracy of Israel is no longer in place, and God has not ordained or commanded war.įrom a biblical perspective, we should strive for peace instead of conflict ( Romans 12:17-19). Some wars could be categorized as “just” if they are done purely in self-defense or to aid another country that is under attack or suffering under an oppressive regime. Augustine of Hippo taught that believers could participate in a “just war.” The Lord is always righteous and good ( Psalm 11:7).Ĭhristian scholars and theologians throughout time have argued for various approaches to war, including pacificism and the idea of a just war. However, even though we cannot understand all the reasons why God commanded the Israelites to wipe out entire people groups, we can trust that He is just. The Lord likely commanded the destruction of these people because of their corruption and opposition toward the Israelites. Such acts included child sacrifice ( Leviticus 18:21), witchcraft ( Leviticus 19:31), incest ( Leviticus 18:6-17), and bestiality ( Leviticus 18:23). The lists in the Mosaic Law denounced various sinful actions that had been done by the people of the land, including the Canaanites ( Leviticus 18:1-3). These people worshiped false gods and had corrupt practices, which later negatively influenced the Israelites. He commanded the Israelites to completely destroy the Canaanites and Amalekites ( Deuteronomy 20:16-18 1 Samuel 15:2-3). Like accidental killings and self-defense, God also permitted war at times. The Old Testament also includes multiple instances of the Israelites protecting themselves from enemy armies ( Judges 7:13-25 1 Samuel 30:1-31). For instance, the Jews protected themselves from the Persians ( Esther 8:11). The Lord did not view people who were killed accidentally as guilty of murder since He offered them cities of refuge to escape the avenger of blood ( Exodus 21:13 Numbers 35:24-28).Īlso, killing in self-defense is permitted since individuals are merely trying to protect themselves and others from harm. At times, people killed others accidentally. Scripture does include the word “kill” and describes many people being killed. Because we are His image bearers, we act unnaturally when we take the life of another image bearer. He created all people in His image ( Genesis 1:27). Murdering another human being is an offense against God. Murder is always connected to sinful motives and intentions. The very first murderer, Cain, killed his brother because of his jealousy and hatred. He also warns of the attitudes that lead toward murder, such as anger and hate ( Genesis 4:6-7 Matthew 5:21-22 1 John 3:12). Intentionally taking the life of another human being is murder, which is condemned by the Lord. The King James Version is best known for its insistence on “do not kill.” As the Amplified Bible includes, the Greek word carries the idea of “unjustified, deliberate homicide” ( Exodus 20:13). However, the proper translation of the verse in Exodus 20:13 is “You shall not murder.” We are told not to kill in the Ten Commandments. Killing or Murder?Īt the surface level, the issue of killing may seem self-explanatory. Believers should carefully study Scripture themselves to arrive at their conclusions about ethical issues, including killing in wars and other contexts. In this article, I will cover what the Bible says about killing, God’s value of life, and other modern issues associated with murder. When talking about the act of taking the life of another or even killing animals, we are entering into a multifaceted discussion. ![]() Other believers assert that murder is wrong, but killing in self-defense and war is justified. Many Christians take the stance of pacificism, arguing that it is always wrong to kill another person. Like other topics in the Bible, the discussion of killing is complex and includes multiple different issues. ![]()
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