YOU SHALL NOT KILL or MURDER?

Exodus 20:13 says, "Thou shalt not kill." (KJV). Or does it say, "You shall not murder." (NKJV).

This particular commandment has fueled many long and heated debates. Does the sixth commandment condemn all killing or only a particular type of killing? At the heart of the debate is the proper translation of this verse. Is it KILL or is it MURDER. Kill, in our thinking is a general term covering the taking of a life in general. Murder on the other hand is a premeditated, intentional act. The Hebrew word generally means to dash to pieces, kill murder, destroy, or crush. Specifically in Exodus 20:13 it means the unlawful killing of a human being with deliberate malice, either expressed or implied. there are three major areas where this debate is seen and heard. These are warfare - can a godly person go to war and fight for his cause? Abortion is included - can a godly person be pro-choice or pro abortion? The other is capital punishment - should a human government have the power to take some one's life?

Let's consider the question of war - Can a godly person go to war? To answer NO! makes God out to be a liar. Exodus 17:8 to 16 reads, "Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.'' So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.'' And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, "Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.''(NKJV). Goid blesses Moses and Israelites and promises future victories. The keys to this are that first the cause had to be righteous, the cause had to be God sanctioned. Generally this was the defense of His chosen people. The people involved had to be righteous (IIKings 17:16 to 20; 20:10 to 15). Some would ask about the New Testament because God's "cosen" changes. In the OT His chosen are a single nation , a given country. In the NT His chosen make up a kingdom not of this world, it is spiritual rather than physical.

Ephesians 6:10 to 13 read, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (NKJV). Our battle is not against an enemy of flesh and blood, but it is a spiritual conflict against a spiritual enemy. Our weapons are a helmet of salvation, a sword of the word of God, body armor called truth and righteousness, combat boots of the gospel, and a shield called faith. Does this mean that Christians should be pacifists or conscientious objectors? Perhaps, but when called to serve we need to consider Romans13:1 to 5. These verses read, " Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake." (NKJV).

Lets consider abortion - can a godly person be pro-choice? In this case to answer YES! makes God out to a liar. Two questions need to be answered to prove this. When does life begin? Jeremiah 1:5 says, " Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;..." (NKJV). Psalm 139:13 to 16 adds, "For You have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them." (NKJV). Life does not begin after nine months of gestation. Life does not begin in the second or third trimester. Life does not begin in the first trimester. Life begins when a sperm cell meets an egg cell and fertilization takes place. The second question is what constitutes murder? Numbers35:16 to 31 reads, "But if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. And if he strikes him with a stone in the hand, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand weapon, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. If he pushes him out of hatred or, while lying in wait, hurls something at him so that he dies, or in enmity he strikes him with his hand so that he dies, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death, for he is a murderer; the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him." (NLKV). With this description, can abortion be anything but murder! What is a Christian to do? Do we become the avenger of blood and hand out justice as we see fit. Do we bomb abortion clinics or kill abortion providers? No - that is God's job to meet out their justice. Remember - according to Romans 3:23 we are no better or worse than they are. However, we can become loud vocal advocates for the unborn. We MUST offer abortion alternatives. We should campaign for Christian pro-life political candidates

Finally let's consider capital punishment. Can a godly person be pro capital punishment. God's law prescribes capital punishment for a variety of offences and crimes. These include: murder,attacking one's parents, cursing one's parents, owning a bull that kills out of habit, adultery, incest, homosexuality, bigamy, bestiality, blasphemy, promiscuity, and rape. The purpose is seen in Leviticus 20 where we read, "...so that no wickedness will be among you." It was for a cleansing and a deterrent to other crime. The ones executed had, "...their blood on their own heads" as God gave out justice. in the New Testament there seems to be two prevalent opinions. The pro position is based on Romans 13:4 which reads, "For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." (NKJV). The sword is seen as just punishment. The anti position is based on John 8:7, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." (NKJV). Where do I stand? I trust in God's justice and mercy. If we miss punishment here, God will certainly punish us in eternity. Likewise, if we are unjustly punished, even to death, God will certainly be merciful.

Where then does a murderer stand with God? It is simple, the same place we all do. Romans 3:23 and 6:23 tell us of God's just judgment. But Ephesians 2:8 remind us of his grace and mercy. Some may feel guilty for taking the lives of enemy combatants on a field of battle - God forgives. Some may be weighed down by the guilt for being a party to an abortion - God forgives. Some may feel uneasy about capital punishment - God understands.

Dr. O.