Moonwood
Member
Yet, you have totally abandoned justice. What post did you advocate for justice in carrying out the execution of the TN prisoner sentenced to death identified in the OP?
You do gosh darn theoretical about it! Nothing to say about the practical aspect of carrying out justice in the case of the OP. Just lip service to the general idea then distract with ideas besides the point.
God loves justice. Ever hear him say that in your Bible? He doesn’t say he loves all these other ideas you keep talking about. Odd huh?
I don't think I've abandoned justice. I think we've disagreed from the beginning about what justice entails.
You seem to define justice exclusively as carrying out a prescribed punishment.
I agree that punishment can be part of justice.
What I disagree with is the idea that justice is exhausted by punishment.
Earlier, you agreed that repentance, transformation, suffering, and the state of the soul matter. If they matter, then they cannot be irrelevant to a Christian discussion of justice.
You keep asking whether I advocate executing Christina Pike. But that's not the question I've been focused on.
My question has been whether Christians should view a person solely through the lens of punishment, or whether they should also care about repentance, redemption, and salvation.
Christ consistently did the latter.
And regarding your statement that God loves justice but doesn't say He loves these other things, Scripture repeatedly emphasizes God's mercy, compassion, and desire for the salvation of sinners.
"I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." (Ezekiel 33:11)
"God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4)
"Mercy rejoiceth against judgment." (James 2:13)
God certainly loves justice. But the Bible does not portray Him as loving justice instead of mercy, repentance, and salvation.
In fact, Christ is the fullest revelation of God's heart, and Christ repeatedly directs His attention toward the redemption of sinners.
That's why I keep bringing up the adulterous woman, the thief on the cross, and even Christ's prayer for His executioners.
You ask me where I've advocated justice.
I've repeatedly acknowledged guilt, punishment, and the legitimacy of civil authority.
The question I've been asking is where you've made room for the things you yourself agreed matter: repentance, transformation, suffering, and the state of the soul.
If those things matter to God, then they cannot be "beside the point" for Christians.
That's the issue I've been raising from the beginning.

