“Kill Or Be Killed”

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

If "thou shalt not kill", then does that mean that most American (or any) soldiers that have fought in wars are going to hell?  Or police officers that have had to shoot a suspect to protect their own life are doomed?  The commandment doesn't have an "except for this situation" addition to it.

Can you explain this to me please? Thank you.  Please don't reply with, "Well, they will be okay as long as they ask for forgiveness".  Murder is murder, and the sixth commandment says nothing about it being "okay" as long as you ask for forgiveness.

Sincerely,
Curious Agnostic

Dear Curious Agnostic,

The Hebrew word used for ‘kill’ in the Ten Commandments literally means ‘murder’.  There is a difference between killing someone in self-defense and pre-meditated, intentional murder of another human being.  The Bible has plenty of examples of faithful people going to war (David killed Goliath in battle – 1 Sam 17:49-50).  The Bible is also full of examples of capital punishment for certain crimes (Num 15:35).  Num 35:15-16 makes a distinction between accidentally killing someone and premeditated murder.  A police officer may have to kill someone while serving the community, but that isn’t murder.  There is a difference.

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