I think of a Paul Bryant quote: "Act like you've been there before."

When I see this story, there is part of me that wants to go "Booyah!" But then this is not what we are about. Western Judaeo-Christian morality in my mind is that we treat people fairly regardless of their past indiscretions. If someone needs to be killed in the heat of battle, then they need to be killed; however once someone is captured then they become your charge and should be treated as fairly as possible and given a fair trial.

I think that once we resort to the same tactics as the enemy - as satisfying as it may seem - at the time we will lose a part of ourselves and in turn become no better then the enemy we fight.

It is true that the Old Testament is full of warfare and killing at God's direction. But when we look at the accounts closer it was God commanding His chosen people, Israel, to fight the wars that He commanded for His ultimate purposes. We can see now it was to establish and root deep the Jewish nation so that Christ could one day usher in a new covenant. These were 100% just wars because the Creator God and Author of Everything who is always just so willed it to be done.

In the New Testament we do not see a call to war. Why? Because the time span of recorded history is so short and the NT is focused on Christ...so the message changed with the new covenant of Christ. Not that Truth changed or God changed, but the Gospel message took the stage. Salvation was now offered to all through Christ. Jew and Gentile became one in Christ. We do see that Christ comments that when he returns he will return with the sword. He further comments that there will be battles raging on between nations, but in the end it will be a war of God vs. Satan ultimately---the real Good vs. Evil conflict.

Our part to play in the conflict? Love the Lord and obey him with a heart that is innocent and pure and full of love--yet ready to defend ourselves and the innocent and to fight the good fight with the Truth. If we look at one of the 10 Commandments we will see that a proper translation of the Hebrew says Do Not Murder (do not take life unjustly). It does not read "do not kill" (which means do not take a persons life period). God is just and since we are born in the image of God we are also called to be just. It is a heart issue, bottom line.

There are principles and lessons to be learned through Scripture when it comes to confrontation, battles and wars:

*There is a real war of Good vs. Evil being waged.
* We have nothing to fear as believers because Christ has already triumphed. We can rest easy in our hearts.
*We are called to love our enemies-not to hate, so that they may see Christ in us.
*We are called to live at peace as long as it depends on us--our ways should imitate Christ.
*We are called to defend ourselves and others as needed. The "turning the other cheek" passage is often misquoted and misunderstood.
*We are called to seek not only justice, but also mercy
*God establishes nations and governments and we are to submit to that authority. Yet not unjust or immoral dictates. Nations have the ability to declare war, sometimes in the right and sometimes unjustly or for immoral reasons thought.
*Jesus never did condemn a just war nor being a just soldier. But through his teaching and the fulness of Scripture we can follow that there is such a thing as a Just war: When a nation is justly defending itself or the innocent against an unjust or immoral adversary or aggressive nation. There is likewise a just person/citizen soldier who does his duty in a way that is honorable.
*Some of the disciples carried swords when they were with Jesus and Jesus did not condemn them or say they were wrong. Yet he further described that the Sword of the Spirit was more than enough for defense...reliance of the sword misses the point.
*The heart is the issue when at war: Justice against an enemy but tempered with appropriate mercy...Holding fast to Truth, Honor, Goodness even in battle.

We have a terrorist false-religion organized enemy at hand fighting a brutal war on unjust grounds and in immoral ways. The fight against ISIS is a just cause. If there is a beheading of an ISIS member fighting for the unjust side during battle...so be it. However, once a prisoner then to me things change. Beheading a captive to prove a point is not promoting justice, honor or truth...just blood thirst.

If I was in that mans shoes I would have killed him just like you kill an ant bed.With no thought of his family at home,his wife,his kids or how bad his mother and father might miss him.Those people and anything associated with theyrm are deceived by evil and need to be eradicated.I am a Christian and proud to be one but this WWJD frame of mind that people have today is weakness not meekness.I'm not sure who it was or exactly how it was worded but someone once said that true peace will only come after Jesus returns and until then you won't have peace unless you have the biggest gun.We were at one time THE BIGGEST GUN.

Beheading one ISIS fighter accomplishes very little. Overwhelming deadly force is the solution.

Beheading one ISIS fighter accomplishes very little. Overwhelming deadly force is the solution.