Pentagon reveals firing squad execution of Fort Hood terrorist will be livestreamed

subllibrm said:
FWIW there is a school of thought that denies that the sword represents capital punishment.
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What does this school of thought believe "the sword" represents? A stern talking-to?
 
DoctorDuck said:
I understand, but it seems some people are conflating capital punishment and the public viewership of the execution.
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It was, in the day, public, by necessity and by design, to make the people fearful of doing wickedness (e.g. Deut. 13:10-11).
 
ALAYMAN said:
Capital punishment was ordered, and it was to be public, that others may fear (Deut 21:21-23), just as Romans 13:4 says.
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Under the Mosaic Law, the death penalty was called for under at least 23 offenses. Do you believe citizens should be publicly executed for such offenses as idolatry, premarital sex, bearing false witness, etc., in the 21st century? https://jesusalive.cc/death-penalty-sins-old-testament/
 
ALAYMAN said:
No, why do you ask?
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I’m trying to understand your logic when it comes to this topic because you used the Old Testament as your original source.

I’m assuming you’re indicating you wouldn’t support execution for those more petty type offenses (based on today’s definition) because our laws don’t call for the death penalty of such offenses, but for the crime of murder, execution is allowable in some states (at least mine). But based on this logic, is it fair to say that if the US reinstates capital punishment for homosexuality, would you support it? There’s historical precedence of this practice in colonial America: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/policy...lization-of-homosexuality-in-american-history
 
Ekklesian said:
They can be public without being broadcast.
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Or as I suggested, an invitation to the families of the victims if they want to tune in. Here in Florida, only the immediate family members of the victims can witness an execution, but this is done in person.
 
ALAYMAN said:
I think I probably mentioned this before on the forum, but a professor in an ethics course argued that the death penalty was not a deterrent to crime. I was persuaded of his sophistry for a while in my young adulthood. It seems to me that, though your language of it being unnecessary may be true, it is certainly legally justified, and it may serve to let potential bad actors know what they will face. It might serve as a deterrent, might not. But all of the online hand wringing about it being barbaric and only done in the tyrannical authoritarian regimes is simply bogus.
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They’re not deterring anything. Putting it on tv makes him a martyr to his people even more. Also, he died in the name of his God. And probably would gladly do it again. You know this, religion is very powerful.
 
DoctorDuck said:
Under the Mosaic Law, the death penalty was called for under at least 23 offenses. Do you believe citizens should be publicly executed for such offenses as idolatry, premarital sex, bearing false witness, etc., in the 21st century? https://jesusalive.cc/death-penalty-sins-old-testament/
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The O.T. also prescribes restitution for stealing. Does that mean restitution is an archaic notion that has no relevance today?
 
Executions in the times of Christ and the apostles were public.

Every execution these days has a parlor where people watch. Why is this one different in people's opinions?

Could it not be argued that those who witness the execution of a wrong doer are struck to the conscience with fear of sinning as well?

if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. (Romans 13:4–5, NIV)
 
subllibrm said:
FWIW there is a school of thought that denies that the sword represents capital punishment.
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i;ve heard members of that "school" speak out before..... i tell them the sword represents the power of death.... there is no other purpose of a sword but to inflict a fatal injury on a human being.... ... and while other tools and instruments can accomplish that purpose.... (axes... knives... threshing flails.... harvesting blades.. even hammers and screwdrivers ... baseball bats etc)..... nobody cuts meats or hunts game with a sword... or chops down trees with a sword.... or harvests grain or threshes wheat with one...... or uses one to fix a car or build a house.. ....the sword has a specific purpose and it;s mention in scripture has a specific meaning.... .
subllibrm said:
At the same time the folks who have that view will say that the passage requires the government to fulfill the "love others as yourself" command by feeding the poor.
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which historically were the duties and responsibilities of the church..... . yes the state stepped in many decades ago and assumed those responsibilities for itself.. .but only after the church failed and in many cases abdicated it;s own responsibility in that regard..... ..... money necessary for carrying out those charitable duties which was once collected through tithes and offerings - given out of love - suddenly required a tax collected at the point of that very same sword the school of thought you quoted seems to abhor.....
subllibrm said:
Yep, 180 degrees out of alignment with the interpretation you and I find in the passage.
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that;s because those schools of thought were never created to interpret scripture - but to subvert it.... often pretending to be part of the church and even professing a kind of allegiance to Christ - but it;s all a facade to lure people away from truth and scripture and into darkness... ....a darkness that conceals and enables the very kind of predator that a public execution drags out into the light and makes an example of - disposing of that particular predator once and for all...... showing others like him what awaits them.....
 
DoctorDuck said:
Under the Mosaic Law, the death penalty was called for under at least 23 offenses. Do you believe citizens should be publicly executed for such offenses as idolatry, premarital sex, bearing false witness, etc., in the 21st century?
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Canada formally abolished the death penalty for all offences in 1976 (the last execution took place in 1962). We've managed just fine since.

But if we, for some reason, reinstated capital punishment for any of those 23 offences, I couldn't say it was unjust, because all justice comes from the character of God, and he instituted it.

I don't necessarily believe anyone should be executed (public or otherwise). But I believe some people may be executed.
 
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Ransom said:
Canada formally abolished the death penalty for all offences in 1976 (the last execution took place in 1962). We've managed just fine since.

But if we, for some reason, reinstated capital punishment for any of those 23 offences, I couldn't say it was unjust, because all justice comes from the character of God, and he instituted it.

I don't necessarily believe anyone should be executed (public or otherwise). But I believe some people may be executed.
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Great response.
 
DoctorDuck said:
Of course not, but that’s kind of unrelated to my question.
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Kinda, kinda not...

Israel was commanded to exercise capitol punishment certain situations as part of the Mosaic covenant; however, it is prescribed as an option in the OT before the law and as a warning in the NT. So, one cannot put out a blanket statement that it only applies to the Mosaic covenant as to its validity. Other forms of justice/punishment are likewise prescribed in both the OT and the NT.

I find that those who are on the anti-capitol punishment bandwagon like to cherry pick capitol punishment as archaic but favor other means of justice with similar backing as applicable to today.
 
abcaines said:
Kinda, kinda not...

Israel was commanded to exercise capitol punishment certain situations as part of the Mosaic covenant; however, it is prescribed as an option in the OT before the law and as a warning in the NT. So, one cannot put out a blanket statement that it only applies to the Mosaic covenant as to its validity. Other forms of justice/punishment are likewise prescribed in both the OT and the NT.

I find that those who are on the anti-capitol punishment bandwagon like to cherry pick capitol punishment as archaic but favor other means of justice with similar backing as applicable to today.
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I’m not anti-capital punishment. I am not a big fan of it except in rare, egregious circumstances, but I believe this guy qualifies. My argument is against the public broadcast of the execution.

Now, the capital punishment debate should be fleshed out. If one is going to really follow the teachings of Scripture, then the outcome would have be what Ransom said in his response. I would not agree with him on that, but at least it’s authentic and consistent.
 
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