The Scriptures condemn the shedding of innocent blood, and there is no exception, even in self-defense. We often see self-defense raised as an excuse for certain abortions, but it is wrong to kill an unborn child even in defense of the life of the mother.
One example of killing the innocent in self-defense is the nuclear doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction, which was based upon the idea that if another country used nuclear weapons against America, we would respond by murdering tens of millions of their innocent citizens.
This is a vile and wicked arrangement. To his credit, President Reagan tried to escape it by finding purely defensive methods ("Star Wars") which would stop a nuclear attack without loss of innocent life.
Some will point to Israel of the Old Testament, and God's commandment to exterminate the Canaanites, including little babies. But God has the right to put to death any person, even babies, because we are all guilty before Him. God explicitly ordered Israel to execute that judgment.
But He has not ordered any other nation to kill the innocent because they are guilty before Him. Rather, God judges the state for killing the innocent. This is seen in His sending the Babylonians to destroy Israel for the King's innocent bloodshedding.
God commands men and the state to protect the innocent, even though, before Him, we are all guilty.
When our Lord was crucified, God's will was accomplished, but the wicked men who carried it out were judged. That is Peter's message in Acts 2: you have committed murder and treason against the Messiah!
Praise God, there was forgiveness even for those murderers! God pardons those who trust in Jesus!
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John Pittman Hey was born in 1961 in Jackson, Mississippi, to Godly parents who from the beginning raised him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. With child-like faith he came to Christ on his fourth birthday at his mother's knee. He received his education at church...