Primghar said:
Was I ranting? It is funny to see how people take the written word. If I could have spoken my post to you, you would have gotten the sense that I was thinking out loud, and grappling with a difficult concept. The concept of genuine, true and total forgiveness. I was not able to put into words exactly what I was thinking, because it is such a difficult concept, and act. I was not really satisfied with my post and I almost deleted it. I am glad to see that you picked up on it, but no, I was not ranting.
So let me try again! If true forgivenes,s as shown by Jesus, means not executing murderers, it seems to me that it is "almost", and I stress almost, a nonissue to condemn, in any way, those who execute murderers.
Or here is the other way of looking at it. {Again I am thinking out loud} If the DP is wrong for murderers and life imprisonment is right? Then what should be the penalty for those who execute murderers, in the ideal world of a non DP advocate. Since they have taken a life, they "either" have to be punished, "or" they have to be allowed to teach Sunday school, and babysit your kids.
If murder is wrong and executing murderers is considered equivalently wrong, then the forgiveness for both must be equal, and the punishment must be equal.
I personally think that needs to be specifically stated. Perhaps you are correct that the dictum "forgive them all and let God sort them out" covers it. To me that dictum "almost" makes every wrong between people a nonissue!
