Humbly I would take into consideration that as a believer you have a dual citizenship.So while God can forgive a convicted murder for committing a homicide (s), there is still civil law here that can result in capital punishment of the death penalty. The law is meant to protect and provide justice.The bible says the following in regard to authorities below. The taking of the life of unborn is totally seperate issue clearly,in comparison that a child's life is
taken without any transgression of the law except conception, while a person of death row is
supposed to have been found guilty without reasonable doubt. :
So you do not believe that God can convert the sinner or is it only the not so bad in society's eye sinners? Let me ask you this. What about the innocent people who were wrongly accused and received the death penalty? They weren't murderers just black men used as scapegoats. A life sentence would have spared them from dying over someone elses sin. NO innocent life is worth losing.
David sinned against God by raping Bathsheba. There was a baby before Solomon, remember? What happened to that baby? That INNOCENT baby who in your own words concerning aborted babies was "taken without any trangression of the law except conception" was taken by who? Yep, God. God killed that innocent baby. What should we have done to stop Him? Would you like to explain to God how He should have taken the life of an innocent baby? Oh I forgot only unborn babies should be spared death because only they are innocent and worthy of life.
Romans 13
1LET EVERY person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God's appointment.(A)
2Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them].
3For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation.
Ok so explain slavery, Jim Crow laws and segregation in the U.S. to me please. Are you saying that God believes that NO civil authorities are a terror to people of good conduct? Should we have remained subject to the "civil" authorities because those were the laws?
4For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.
5Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience.
6For this same reason you pay taxes, for [the civil authorities] are official servants under God, devoting themselves to attending to this very service.
7Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.
These are some of the same scriptures that were also taken out of context as you have done here to justify killing death row inmates that the government used to justify the enslavement, rape and murder of black people for over 400 years. Oh and it was pushed and preached by the church through the pulpit then too
Again with dual citizenship a believer has the protection and authority in God, also as american you the right to bear arms and to practice self defense. God is not mad if protect yourself. The Lord did not correct his servants, but clearly instructed them in the passage below to get swords.
Luke22:36
36Then He said to them, But now let him who has a purse take it, and also [his provision] bag; and let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy a sword.
37For I tell you that this Scripture must yet be fulfilled in Me: And He was counted and classed among the wicked (the outlaws, the criminals); for what is written about Me has its fulfillment [has reached its end and is finally settled].(E)
38And they said, Look, Lord! Here are two swords. And He said to them, It is enough.
Don't stop there hon, tell the WHOLE STORY. Jesus told them NOT to use them to defend themselves or Him.
John18:10-11
10:Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priests servant, and cut off his right ear. The servants name was Malchus.
11:then Jesus said unto Peter, PUT UP THY SWORD(put away your sword)into thy sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
As a believer it is important to look at scripture in its proper context and ask God for understanding and wisdom to truely discern that which is good and evil, maturing from milk to meat.
Yes let's use proper context. Now the wages of ALL sin is death right? The Lord also said in the OT that it is justice for fornicators to be stoned to death. Would you be ok with a law that states that fornicators will now receive the death penalty. It is what God says to do. If you weren't a virgin on your wedding night shall we start with you or one of your loved ones? I know I wasn't and neither were many folks that I know.
Hebrew 5:14
14But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.
Also i think in keeping along some of your points,i do not know that the bible states that God does no longer judge nations for the sins of the people? Within the bible it is clear that God will intervene to take his hand off a nation, chastise a nation, and also i have seen were He even destoryed some of them, because of the sins of the people.
That is the OLD TESTAMENT!!!! Oh and the OT is a schoolmaster. It's meant to show us the extremes of God's love and wrath. We are NEW Testament saints right? Where in the NEW TESTAMENT can you justify destroying a life. ALL life is precious to the Lord not just babies. He died for the sinner to receive salvation. Does that not include ALL sinners? Does that not include murderers because man( which makes up the government) has decided that they aren't worthy to live? That's vengence honey, not justice. They can be punished other than by death, let's be real.
Just wished to share that...