The ten commandments - I'd rather not use them this way

[PetrChelcicky]

Just found an article about people who counter the rise of homicides with placards:
https://wtop.com/dc/2023/01/thou-shalt- ... -violence/
(I found it via unz.com, one of my preferred sites about U.S. controversies)

I suppose that this is meant as a way to convert people. As such, I think it is a stupid attempt and basically a misuse of the Ten Commandments. Can't Christians do better? What do you think?

[PetrChelcicky]

I admit that it might stimulate a reaction of surprise in some people: "Well, there are really other people in the world who insist that one shall not kill"? (Surprise for people who never have heard such a thing in their whole life? Do those people exist?)

[Josh]

I admit that it might stimulate a reaction of surprise in some people: "Well, there are really other people in the world who insist that one shall not kill"? (Surprise for people who never have heard such a thing in their whole life? Do those people exist?)

Quite a few people in D.C. seem to think killing other people to get what they want is a good idea.

[MaxPC]

I wonder how they would react if they saw a sign on the other side of the street that says,
"Thou shalt not kill: abortion stops a beating heart".

Then there are the paid protestors who are employed by lobbyists. As to whether this person holding the sign is one of those, I cannot discern.

[Sudsy]

I didn't get from the article that these are Christians using a scripture to try to discourage killing.

I know and have used the way of leading people to Christ using 'the way of the Master' soul winning method that Ray Comfort uses and can be seen on various YouTube clips. Ray uses some of the 10 Commandments to get people to realize they are a sinner. Personally, I don't see this as the main way Jesus used to make people aware they are sinners. But along with other NT teachings it has had a measure of success in leading people to the Lord.

In my young adult days of door-to-door evangelism we mostly used another method asking people if they should die today and stood before God and God said 'why should I allow you into my heaven, what would you say ?' I think this was called the 'Coral Ridge' method originating from a Presbyterian church, James Kennedy pastor. This method quickly exposed whether a person was relying on their good works for salvation or in trusting in Jesus finished work at Calvary.

In my earlier days involved in street ministry we often used the Four Spiritual Laws outline or a tract called 'This Was Your Life' which focused much on hell.

This method of using one of the 10 Commandments, I would be surprised to know it had much impact to discourage killing someone. This to me, is not dealing with the main issue of a sinner needing a Saviour. Many who don't kill anyone are as lost as many who do.

[barnhart]

PetrC, how would you prefer to use the 10 commandments?

[Outsider]

I admit that it might stimulate a reaction of surprise in some people: "Well, there are really other people in the world who insist that one shall not kill"? (Surprise for people who never have heard such a thing in their whole life? Do those people exist?)

Quite a few people in D.C. seem to think killing other people to get what they want is a good idea.

It seems to me that politics- both sides of the aisle- seem to encourage mercilessness.

If you question the righteousness of “putting pedos through a wood chipper” you’re accused of advocating for the crime, or being one. And I don’t want anyone put through a wood chipper. But, equally, I can understand someone murdering a person who had harmed their child. As I’ve said before, I believe you should “neutralize the threat”, but use no more force than necessary to render the perpetuator harmless. I think anything more creates a merciless and unjust society.

I can think of a lot more examples of mercilessness on any number of issues favored by the left and the right. I will expand on my ideas later- but at the moment I’m using my phone at my mom’s house due to the tornados which have left my neighborhood without power since 5 pm yesterday.

[Josh]

I admit that it might stimulate a reaction of surprise in some people: "Well, there are really other people in the world who insist that one shall not kill"? (Surprise for people who never have heard such a thing in their whole life? Do those people exist?)

Quite a few people in D.C. seem to think killing other people to get what they want is a good idea.

It seems to me that politics- both sides of the aisle- seem to encourage mercilessness.

If you question the righteousness of “putting pedos through a wood chipper” you’re accused of advocating for the crime, or being one. And I don’t want anyone put through a wood chipper. But, equally, I can understand someone murdering a person who had harmed their child. As I’ve said before, I believe you should “neutralize the threat”, but use no more force than necessary to render the perpetuator harmless. I think anything more creates a merciless and unjust society..

I would support more humane methods of dealing with such people, such as a firing squad, lethal injection, or pushing them off a building.

[Ken]

Quite a few people in D.C. seem to think killing other people to get what they want is a good idea.

It seems to me that politics- both sides of the aisle- seem to encourage mercilessness.

If you question the righteousness of “putting pedos through a wood chipper” you’re accused of advocating for the crime, or being one. And I don’t want anyone put through a wood chipper. But, equally, I can understand someone murdering a person who had harmed their child. As I’ve said before, I believe you should “neutralize the threat”, but use no more force than necessary to render the perpetuator harmless. I think anything more creates a merciless and unjust society..

I would support more humane methods of dealing with such people, such as a firing squad, lethal injection, or pushing them off a building.

Really?

If, for example, Elon Musk chooses to put self driving cars on the road that he knows are not safe. And one of them runs over and kills a child because of known software errors that Elon was warned about. That is a form of child murder. Should we put Elon in front of a firing squad?

Or, if you want an actual pedophile example. If pedophiles are known to congregate on Twitter for things like exchanging child porn. And Elon knows this but deliberately fires all the staff in charge of content moderation and filtering out pedophiles as a cost-saving measure. And an increase in child porn and sexual exploitation of children results. Should Elon be hauled in front of a firing squad?

Both actions have the potential to harm many more children than a lone ordinary pedo guy.

[ken_sylvania]

Quite a few people in D.C. seem to think killing other people to get what they want is a good idea.

It seems to me that politics- both sides of the aisle- seem to encourage mercilessness.

If you question the righteousness of “putting pedos through a wood chipper” you’re accused of advocating for the crime, or being one. And I don’t want anyone put through a wood chipper. But, equally, I can understand someone murdering a person who had harmed their child. As I’ve said before, I believe you should “neutralize the threat”, but use no more force than necessary to render the perpetuator harmless. I think anything more creates a merciless and unjust society..

I would support more humane methods of dealing with such people, such as a firing squad, lethal injection, or pushing them off a building.

I can't imagine that Jesus would have supported such things.