The sixth commandment is "thou shall not kill." But some feel the word KILL is too vague and all-encompassing. What about instances of war, or capital punishment? What about self-defense, accidental deaths, or professional negligence? Is all killing in view here? Some prefer the word MURDER because it implies an act that's malicious, deliberate, unlawful, personal...
[We wouldn't say a doctor murdered his/her patient, we would say the doctor was "practicing medicine." Seriously, we'd never say "murder" unless something criminal, or intentional occurred. We'd never say a soldier murdered the enemy. We'd never say the homeowner murdered an intruder. We'd never say the judge sentenced a murderer to be murdered.]
And so this is what drives me crazy about commentaries. We start chasing technicalities and miss the bigger picture. What should we learn from this verse about what is GOOD and PLEASING to God? It's that our God is a lover of life. It's that not only is God a life-giving God, He is life itself. Promoting life honors our life-giving God. What did Jesus say? "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Also, "I am the resurrection and life."
The spirit of this commandment isn't that we should be looking for "exceptions" it's that for God, life is "exceptional" and ought to be loved, and protected, and cherished, even multiplied. God delights in life! I think as Christians we ought to be conversation changers. Instead of getting sucked into talking technicalities, let's get at the Spirit, at the heart of God's commandments, let's get to the deeper level.
[Symbol] Take the conversation about just war. The most prominent "war" we hear about is the "war on terrorism." I don't know a single person who doesn't think the war on terrorism is justified. Exhibit A: NYC, 911. Exhibit B: London. Exhibit C... D... E... F. Christians bang the war drums just as hard as the next guy. In fact theologians developed the whole doctrine of "just war." How do we know when killing is justified, and necessary and authorized by God? You can google "theory of just war" and read until your heart is content.
But in my opinion, the harder conversation isn't "when is war just." The harder conversation relates to mercy and justice. It's easier to talk about "killing" our enemy than showing "mercy" to our enemy. It's easier to enumerate all the reasons we feel its just to annihilate our enemies than it is to humbly understand (or even rectify) the injustices our enemies might have endured. It's easier to march down the war path than to search out the more redemptive path of reconciliation.
More Christians these days thirst for blood than thirst for reconciliation. More Christians feel justified to kill than seek true mercy and justice. I'm suggesting that maybe this commandment would be more meaningful to us if we'd realize that God is a lover of life... and that he doesn't delight on bit in the death of the wicked.
Could we do an Ezekiel 18:23 gut check right now? "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" We're not talking about "our" American standard of goodness here. We're talking about becoming good like God. God wants something different from the Christian, a different attitude about life, even that of our enemies.
Which question weighs more heavily on your mind? What's it going to take to kill our enemies? OR... "What's it going to take to redeem our enemies."
[Symbol] Take the conversation about mercy killing. Mercy killing may not be the best label, but it's the best I could find! Our culture believes killing is merciful in a number of circumstances. So there is the big "A" word, abortion. If a baby's life doesn't hold much promise (i.e. health defect, born into poverty), if a baby in anyway jeopardizes the health or well-being of the mother... abortion is "merciful." It's better the baby die, then the baby suffer in life, or a mother be set back/ burdened by responsibility...
Then there is the big "S" word, suicide. Our culture is very sympathetic toward those who end their own life. We explain, "Oh, they were depressed, mentally ill..." Some have the audacity to suggest, "It just as well they did what they did..." There is also the big "E" word, euthanasia. If a person has an incurable illness or injury, our culture feels it's "merciful" to alleviate suffering and help the person die!
How quick Christians are to put their finger in a person's face, and pronounce judgement on them, and quote the 6th commandment, because someone had an abortion, attempted suicide, or entertained euthanasia. But let me ask, what is the harder conversation? The harder conversation is about suffering itself.
It's easier to condemn abortion then to address the conditions that give rise to a young woman doing the unthinkable. It's easier to speculate about suicide, then to get into proximity with an emotionally troubled person, to help them. It's easier to denounce euthanasia, then to be near/extend hope to a person in final stages of life.
You see, we have a fine way of preaching the 6th commandment at people without ever obligating ourselves to help them in their struggle, their suffering, their agony. And after they choose the unthinkable we stand at a distance, acting morally superior, judging them, failing to acknowledge that maybe we the Church weren't there for them in their critical hour of need. You can't say for 6th commandment and not love.
Could we do a 1 Peter 3:15 gut check? "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." You see, extending hope is the harder conversation. Not shouting, "You are a murderer"... but extending the hope of life. Here is the hope for the baby, the mother, the emotional distraught, the person suffering pain and agony... Here is where you can find God...
[Symbol] Let's take the conversation about murder itself. It's pretty enlightening that nobody sees themselves as a murderer, not even the guy on death row. If the 6th commandment were only about the external, physical act of murder, its application would escape nearly all humanity! In fact I bet when you heard this commandment you patted yourself on the back and said, "Not me, doesn't apply to me." But this commandment applies to every human being.
You may recall how Jesus, rather remarkably, changed the conversation about murder from external, outward actions... to internal thoughts and attitudes. In the Sermon on the Mount he said, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,'is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." (Mt 5:21-22). GULP!!! Murder is about actions only, it's about the whole series of hateful, demeaning, vengeful, angry thoughts and attitudes and words that lead up to the act itself!
In Matthew 5:8 Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Could we have a Mark 7:20-23 gut check? Jesus says, "What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come--sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person."
This past week our staff did a one day retreat, and I found myself reading Psalm 139:19-22 where David prays, "If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies."
At first, I thought how noble it is, that David feels this way. He is filled with seething anger and rage! Anger gives us a sense of power... and what fuels our rage even more can be this sense that even God delights in our rage, and takes up mantle of our cause!
But then I noticed how important it is... what David prays in very next verses, "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
The angrier we become on the inside, the more critical it is that we ask God to sift the darkness of our hearts. Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven."
Do you see how were changing the conversation here? We're not asking who technically we're just to kill or not kill. We're asking, what's it going to take to redeem my enemy!
We're not asking, who goes to hell because they aborted their baby, or killed themselves, or assisted someone's suicide. Instead we're asking, how can we be present with people in their critical hour of need, holding out hope, so they never even consider death.
We're not saying, "look how righteous I am, I've never killed anyone, nor will I." We're saying, God searches the innermost thoughts and attitudes of my heart, and he wants to cleanse me of every evil and vile thought.
Let's let the 6th commandment actually mean something!
If I may, I want to mention one last way we need to change the conversation about the 6th commandment. We need to start having "gospel" conversations.
The 6th Command by itself isn't good news. We can't consider the 6th Commandment without considering the 1st Commandment... "I am the Lord your God. . . you shall not have any gods besides me." The 1st commandment is really the foundational ethic that out to govern our lives--it's a revolutionary way of looking at ourselves, and others, and God. There aren't many gods. There is "ONE" God. And this one God isn't "a" father... no, He the Father of us all. And all us humans, we're not some disparate clan. No, we're to be one family, brothers and sisters of one another. And it's the dream of God that we would all be "one" just as Father and Son are "one."
The Bible describes how God makes it is so, in Christ ... Read Ephesians 2:14-22
In a sentence... the 6th commandment is about changing the conversation from killing to redeeming, from killing to reconciling, from death to everlasting life.