@kevin-eleven saidNo. Just relax. God's got this. No need to become as horrible as those we convict.
Should we try to find a way to collect the souls of convicts in bottles or some other container for further punishment guided by God but implemented by man (appropriate to the crimes, of course)?
@kevin-eleven saidNo - Crimes committed in this life should be punished in this life. What happens in the next life is someone else's responsibility.
Should we try to find a way to collect the souls of convicts in bottles or some other container for further punishment guided by God but implemented by man (appropriate to the crimes, of course)?
-Removed-Kellyjay has for years promoted the idea that we are all guilty of “crimes”, even thought crimes.
I agree. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28
Q: What “crimes” have you committed in this life which you feel you should be punished for? A: I don't know, like most, I committed a number of petty crimes, and probably deserve some sort of punishment for them, but don't know what they should be.
@kevin-eleven saidChristians are called upon to forgive. Vengeance is of the Lord, not mere man.
Should we try to find a way to collect the souls of convicts in bottles or some other container for further punishment guided by God but implemented by man (appropriate to the crimes, of course)?
@moonbus saidWe are called to forgive, and when we do that, does someone who murdered
Christians are called upon to forgive. Vengeance is of the Lord, not mere man.
not have to pay the price for their crimes? How about rape? Should the one
raped forgive and the rapist not pay the penalty for their crimes? Vengeance
of the Lord and punishment for the guilty were given in the law; do you see
any place in all scripture where that was changed? Grace is given for judgment
day and our standing before God, and we should forgive everyone who does
us harm or sins against us in any fashion. Still, if someone does a real evil to us
and could be doing it to others too, are they just ignored when we forgive and
not be brought to justice, even those we forgive?
Giving grace and forgiveness stops us from carrying hate in our hearts; it stops
us from continuing to be the victim and rise above the evil done to us. The
grace we are shown we are to show to others so that we don't have to be
perpetual victims of life door mats for the evil in this life. We are not to seek
vengeance, but the law is there for the lawless, remove that we are subject to
every man doing what is right in their own eyes, and the lawlessness that brings
has no justice, only vengeance for wrongs, real and imagined.
@suzianne saidThank you. I need to practice this more. That it's difficult is not an excuse.
No. Just relax. God's got this. No need to become as horrible as those we convict.
Of course the "souls in bottles" idea in the OP was a silly joke, but I do appreciate the sincere and helpful posts that followed.