Death Penalty

Heard on the radio this morning the funeral for someone in Georgia who was executed recently.  So what is my opinion on this.  First thing is setting aside the political agenda - not others agenda but my own.  Its too easy to label others as liberal or conservative or fundamentalist or whatever - the question should not be at that level for a follower of Jesus.  I have been in war zones and know what it takes for soldiers to be part of that - so do not come to this agenda with a theoretical perspective.  Where it comes down to for me are two things.  One, what does it mean to defend the innocent and two what does it mean to be a Christian. On the first question, while I see war as a failure, I can see the logic of defending the innocent.  Some may say that means I see war as just in certain circumstances - justified is not the way I speak of it - I can understand that logic.  The logic does not hold up for executions by the state.  The individual is already in a place where they cannot hurt others, so defense of the innocent does not apply. And there are the innocent who suffer whether or not someone is guilty - their families, others - one death does not balance another.  Christians are followers of Jesus because we are open about being sinners.  The Bible says the wages of sin is death and I believe that is what we are entitled to by the fact we are sinners.  Grace, forgiveness and healing come by accepting the gift of Jesus, and when I accept that gift I then become part of the effort to share that gift with others.  I cannot on that basis see how to support the death penalty - the gift is open to everyone and by pointing my finger at someone else I am saying you are a worse sinner than me - if we are all sinners how does one sinner condemn another?  Any thots?

Cost of Following Jesus

This past Sunday we heard about the cost of following Jesus - adopting a different worldview than what is around us and being willing to give up everything in that following of Jesus.  I was personally challenged by that - what do I not want to give up - investment in a home, close to family, style of dress during the week and on Sunday, issues that are dear to me, things that I think identify me.  Seems like it is the little things that are the hardest to let go - not that Jesus removes them - its letting him make the choice of what should be there.  I have been wondering what that means in my life - last Spring I told the church I was going to try and work from the question "what would Jesus do" and I find that more of a challenge than I thought it would be.