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As with the other commandments, people tend to distort the command "Do not
murder" into something that serves or excuses their own interests. Some
invent "exceptions" to excuse murders they want to commit (such
as genocide or murder of the unborn); others try to use this command as
a "weapon" against legitimate forms of punishment that God requires of
civil authorities (such as capital punishment). Still others choose to
ignore the attitudes of the heart, which are "invisible"
expressions of murder.
In addition to the "do not" aspect of this
command, there are "positive" commands implied. We have an
obligation to do what encourages life - which includes anything
that would "build up" another person (rather than "tearing him down").
Even expressions of love, such as encouragement, would fall under the
"positive" side of this command. Everything we do must express a
constructive "life-style," rather than a destructive "death-style."
NOTE: In the command "do not murder" (Exodus 20:13), a few translations use the word "kill," instead
of the word "murder." Though the context would make it
obvious to most readers that it refers to murder, some people try to use
it to justify a prohibition against the taking of any human life
under any circumstances - thus "forcing" it to contradict many
other verses found in the Bible.
Murder in the Heart |
Scripture warns us that attitudes, such as anger, violate the command against murder, as much as killing an innocent person
does - though the visible damage may be far less. Yet there are some instances in which anger is legitimate - yes,
even required. This group of articles looks at what the Bible says about some of these attitudes. |
Anger & Rage |
This is an in-depth study (mostly New Testament) of two
topics that are closely related. Scripture gives many prohibitions
against anger and rage, but it also spells out specific circumstances in
which they are legitimate or even mandatory. |
GROUP OF ARTICLES |
A "Make Your Own" Study Guide on Anger (a list of verses) |
A list of verses from the Psalms, Proverbs and New Testament, about anger. A few suggestions are given, but you're in charge of designing the study. |
HTML / PDF |
Revenge
or Vengeance |
This article takes a look at the concept of
revenge/vengeance, with a focus on Romans 12:19-21. Included are
comments about instances in which revenge may be a legitimate course of
action. |
HTML / PDF |
More about the interpretation of Romans 12:20 (optional)
- HTML / PDF |
A "Make Your Own" Study Guide on
Revenge (a list of verses) |
Here is a list of verses, mostly from the Old
Testament. A number of verses that mention God's vengeance are
included. |
HTML / PDF |
The "Legal" Murder of the Unborn |
People can call it what they want, but with the Bible's definition of human life, it is nothing more than murder. The only difference is that this group of people are unable to fight back. In the days of the Old Testament prophets, people murdered them just
after they were born, and called it a "spiritual" activity (example, Jeremiah 32:35). Today, they do it
before their screams can be heard (though the victim often goes through the motions of
painful screaming), and they appease their own consciences, by calling the victims "tissue." |
Just for Comparison |
This article contrasts the relatively few deaths
caused by foreign terrorists on 9/11/01, with the utterly horrific
number of murders done "by choice," by American citizens in
abortion clinics. |
HTML / PDF
(full size - 18 pages) / PDF
(1 page) |
Wicked As It Is... |
Abortion is merely a symptom. Until we deal with the
root causes, we will never eradicate it from the land.
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HTML / PDF |
Is WAR a Form of Murder? |
The Old Testament makes a distinction between the two. The same God who
said "Do not murder," in the Ten Commandments, also commanded his people to go to war (though
only for specific reasons). |
The Christian and War |
This article is located under the topic of
"JUDGMENT." It looks at various views about war, and examines what
the Bible says about the issue. |
The Christian and War |
Some of the ways Jesus "built up" other people ...
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to
proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to
deliver those who are crushed, ..." (Luke 4:18)
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