Originally Posted by Ralph

If "I" had been suggesting anything, I would declare it as an opinion, Those words that you are declaring that I am suggesting are in fact there and they do read, VERBATIM, just as they were presented. Thus, it is the author of the scriptures that is suggesting that all governments are placed by and allowed to exist solely by the power and authority of God.

Does this include brutal governments like the Afghanistan's Taliban, or Pol Pot's Cambodia or Rwanda, who routinely abuse and murder their own citizens?

Are they doing God's will?

Or is the US govt for that matter?



Just as did Jesus Christ -- John 19:10-11. Notice also that these verses are spoken in relation to God declaring that vengeance does not belong to the individual Christian, but to God and God alone -- Romans 12:19. Then we are told "exactly" how God goes about exacting this vengeance for wrongful or evil actions in the very next Chapter (13). Now you are SUGGESTING that I AM SUGGESTING, when in reality it is GOD DECLARING?

Romans 12:19 says:
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
KJV

Clearly God is declaring that vengeance is HIS, where does he delegate that vengeance to us?








Notice in fact how God declares that man would be punished when he spills the blood of another man in an unrighteous manner -- Genesis 9:6, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, BY MAN SHALL HIS BLOOD BE SHED..."

As you point out, Jesus' New Covenant has superceded the Old Testament books of Law for the Jewish people.




It's amazing how some can not or will not simply accept the scriptures just as they are written, and then declare it is ok to INTERPRET THEM. Go Figure.

We are all trying to interpret the Bible according to our beliefs. There are so many passages that can have multiple meanings.

If it were as easy as you suggest then there wouldn't be so many different Christian churches!




But still, this does not explain away the scriptural fact that "capital punishment", which was first instituted by God Himself, is somehow done away by any of the teachings of Jesus. In fact, was not our very salvation a product of capital punishment, used by Jesus to offer himself as the ultimate sacrificial lamb of God? And even the Christ declares there is a time and place to bear the sword, as He instructs His apostles to sell their extra clothing and purchase a sword -- Luke 22:32-36. Notice also, how quickly these "swords" were actually produced when the Christ informed them they would in fact be in need of them when they went to evangelize the world -- Vs 38, "And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough." Apparently they were already "packin" and "strapped" when the Lord told them of the future need to be as such.

Thus it is true that Christianity is a religion of love, tolerance, and acceptance, and we are instructed not to bring physical harm to another simply because of anger or through an act of vengeance, but on the other hand, self protection of both life and property are not declared as an unjust or unrighteous action anywhere in the New Testament scriptures, as Jesus Himself declares, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." -- John 15:13. And as said, Capital punishment was in fact demonstrated as just when one conforms to the righteous judgments of God -- Acts 5. (R)