What does God’s word say about killing?
There is much misunderstanding on this subject; God is Love and perfect in every way! He cannot sin or lie. He allows evil (Cannot do evil, is long suffering towards us and will bring perfect justice according to his own will and time-frame) and through evil he always brings good. Samson’s Riddle revealed this fact; So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” But they could not tell the riddle in three days Judges 14:14 NASB.
Samson was attacked by a young lion which he tore in two. The lion represents the evil that comes at the believer through Satan, honeybees built a nest in the carcass. In this Samson saw the Lord turning around Satan’s attacks in order to strengthen his faith and give him spiritual food. The Lord does the same for us today through our trials in which we are more than conquerors. But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us Romans 8:37 NASB.
Did you know that there is an incorrect translation in the King James Version of one of the Ten Commandments? The King James says; Thou shall not kill but the true translation is found in the New King James version which correctly says; “Thou shall not MURDER”.
If kill was the correct word then we could not kill anything according to God’s word. God directed David’s armies to kill the enemies of Israel, in the Bible we see God allowing Armies to kill not murder.*
In Romans Chapter 13 we read that all Authority is set up by God for our good, those who break the Law suffer the consequences. I must note that fallen man hates the rule of Law. Today we see the evidence of what the Lord calls; “Lawlessness” in our Nation at the highest level. The Lord warns those in authority that to whom much is given, much is required! Some men’s sins are evident, some follow after (In the Great White Throne Judgment of the lost) And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. Revelation 20:12 NASB.
Soldiers asked Jesus a question- Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” Luke 3:14 NASB.
Jesus confirms God’s word that it is lawful to serve in the Military.
To kill when ordered to do so, but he added that even as a Soldier they were to be moral, serving with honor. (It is my belief that these Soldiers had faith in Jesus, this is why they came to him asking what to do) We have seen throughout History those in Armies who have been immoral and have murdered prisoners and civilians thumbing their noses at the Geneva Convention’s rules. The moral Soldiers in these Armies refused orders to murder innocent civilians or prisoners, they honored God over their own lives.
*God kills, only man murders, fallen man is under the power of the evil one Satan, who is a murderer from the beginning. He caused Cain to murder Able, and he is behind all those who take up the sword against those at peace in the world. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one 1-John 5:19 NIV.
God is the one who defeats those who take up the sword, they are defeated by the sword through the Armies he blesses and helps to obtain victory. The evil sword is repelled by God’s righteous sword! “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed”, For in the image of God He made man. Genesis 9:6 NASB. This is God’s warning to all murderers, it is God’s will that they be killed. That is not always carried out by those who reject God’s word. Fallen mankind has substituted their own commandments over Gods. Jesus mentioned this when he rebuked the unrighteous Pharisees, even saying that Satan was their Father. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 NASB.
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword Matthew 26:52 NASB.
Author Ken
October 2012