You shall not murder

Genesis 4: 1-16

The Reformer's Fire
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Exposition by Max A Forsythe

Question 67:
Which is the sixth commandment?
Answer 67:
The sixth commandment is Thous shalt not kill.

Recently the Governor of Texas found himself the center of a controversial media storm. Were it not for the providential greater mess in the White House, the whole of the world's indignation may well have fallen upon his simple carrying out of the state laws of Texas. When interviewed on the last day before justice was metted out, he was asked about this execution of a "christian" woman who was converted after she committed an extremely brutal stabbing murder. Governor Bush's correct analysis upheld a far greater principle of justice, than the mere emotions of a moment. He did so in order that the laws of Texas, the United States and even biblical principles might continue to stand.

Now I realize that far too many within the Evangelical community have lost an appreciation for the rightful wielding of the government's power of the sword. We well understand that certain of the ceremonial, dietary and state laws of Israel have been overturned in the administration of the New Covenant. However, to the chagrin of much of the church, we believe and teach that the only change to the lawful execution of criminals is revealed in Jesus' setting aside of the death penalty for adultery

A British law which provides for the death of adulter's involved with the wives of royalty is still on the books. I understand that a certain British Captain may have left England quickly when his escapades were exposed. Of course it quickly became evident that that British law would not be prosecuted. While we could rightfully condemn this particular law as being outside of the New Covenant revelation, the British might see it as a threat to the lawful succession to the throne! And there were provisions in the application of that law, which outlined charges of treason against the state. Those charges should give us more than passing interest as we consider the meaning of the sixth commandment.

The prohibition here, rightly understood, is to prevent the brutal whims, emotions, desires and anger of individuals from being carried out against other humans. This commandment does not indicate that all of animal or even plant life is sacred and that we should refrain from killing any species, sentient or not. In many other texts within the Bible, this commandment is understood to allow the correct and lawful authorities to carry out executions in the name of justice, when the blood of victims cries out for God's just reward. As I understand the biblical principles here, execution for a crime should only be carried out in the following cases: murder, rape, treason and witchcraft.

And within the freedom of religion now enjoyed in this country, the inclusion of witchcraft should come into play only when human sacrifice, extermination or ritual rape has become part of the occultic practices. Mere sympathetic magic is just as harmless and ineffectual as it always has been, and those blind guides may be left to stumble into hell as freely as they wish, as long as they remain on the fringes of society. What happened at Salem, Massachusetts was a miscarriage of the judicial process, which was even realized at the time. Down on the Mexican border, a group of drug smugglers concocted a recipe to wash their car and dip themselves into, so that they could be invisible. The particular recipe required a human sacrifice. Imagine their indignation when the Border Police not only saw them in their car, but gave chase. The druggies ended up crashing and dying rightfully for their crimes. Again, when American agents invaded and destroyed a drug Cartel's headquarters deep inside Columbia, they discovered a close relationship between the occult, nazism and drugs. Such a close combination of these should come as no surprise, since these particular sins of prejudice, devil worship and drugs have always run in the same pack.

For the sake of our discussion this morning, we need to realize that the Older English word "kill" specifically meant "murder" when the King James Version was translated. Some of the early English translations even used the word "Slay" to catch the proper nuance of the Hebrew text. Now let us look at the text which describes the first murder in the biblical record. Many might suppose that this text supports a life sentence rather than the penalty of death for taking the life of another human. But let us remember, God's punishment here is far greater than the sentence of death. It is evident that Cain has some knowledge of God's presence and in his argument with the Divine edict, he fully realizes that he is to be shut out from God's presence. As an act of charity, Cain is allowed a protected life before experiencing the eternal condemnation. He is to be cut off from the love of God and the pleasures of his home and property. What we see here is the Lord's excommunication of Cain, an act more dreadful than the end of physical life.

The Apostle John passes along the New Covenant revelation that: Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. (1 John 3: 15)

Also in Galations, Paul tells us that: The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galtians 5: 19-21)

God will indeed judge the peoples and individuals rightly. In the wider spiritual application of this commandment, everyone who has ever been angry with another is guilty and in desperate need of grace.

In a day and age when the majority of the population does not personalize or even institutionalize the application and necessity of any of the commandments, it should come as no surprise that grace is not welcomed either! Just this week, in the cartoon strip The Wizard of Id, the short King of Id reads the week's sermon title at the Chapel entrance. Immediately, like the world around us, he dismisses "Grace" as just "another mean-spirited, religious right agenda ...".

Forgiveness for murder? That very idea of the necessity of forgiveness is a novel thought in our day! The taking of human life is all too common, as thirty-five million dead unborn would cry out to heaven. But, forgiveness for that crime as well as the forgiveness of even cold-blooded murderers is allowable by the grace of God. Just as the lady in Texas, understood her new found birth, forgiveness is possible, and even desirable, otherwise we would all perish for our anger against others. But, for the good of us all, the law of God must be upheld and wherever the courts find within the biblical principle of two witnesses, those guilty of murder must forfeit their life.

If we as a society come to the point of never ever taking a human life for the sake of justice, we will find it all the more difficult to understand the spiritual charges which may be laid against us at the end of time. Yes, the Tucker woman in Texas, may indeed be forgiven if her sincerity and relationship with Christ were real, but like Billy Budd in Herman Melville's greatest story, she must understand that the Law of God has to be enforced as well as appreciated.

You shall not murder , says the Lord God Creator of the universe. This commandment should not be taken lightly and if certain humans would persist in exercising their options to ignore it, no one would be safe. I am reminded of an institution where at least two of the individuals involved have stated publicly there desire to know how it feels to kill another human being! In spite of regular social conflicts on the part of both individuals, no authority wants nor desires to address the situation. Sadly, someone will eventually pay the price, because these particular individuals have not been punished for lesser offenses. Sadder still, in both cases the pre-criminals in question will be allowed to go on and pursue their heart's desire. Then one day, the God of heaven will have His final court and they will be led away to eternity in hell.

In spite of rules, regulations and politically correct denials of responsibility, at least one of the two has been warned about the fires of hell and being separate from God for eternity. Would that that person and the population at large took the judgment of God more seriously! Amen.

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