…I would like to suggest that the underlying issue in the case of the lethal injection goes beyond the question of whether our most benevolent style of execution measures up to its claims. For it does not make a difference from an ethical, moral and spiritual standpoint whether execution is performed by crucifixion, drowning, burning at the stake, beheading, electrocution, firing squad, lethal injection, or even hugging or kissing. It still remains a forced, involuntary and imposed death: a cruel and ugly thing. Killing anyone softly, whatever the circumstances and reason, does not upgrade execution to a more advanced institution. The more gently it is administered, the more sinister it becomes, almost resonating the sadistic soothing voice of a Frankenstein doctor from the Balkans ­ “No worries mate, we’ll do it lovingly!”…

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Maybe your questions should have been asked differently: Isn’t the execution by lethal injection an easy way out for such a criminal? Would such a criminal deserve to die humane and painless death? Shouldn’t he/she be placed in a situation where he/she would experience at least a bit of what his/her victim/s experienced? Wouldn’t a more drastic and radical execution method serve as a deterrent for other potential hard-core criminals, which would consequentially lead to a fewer cases of serious criminal acts that necessitate a death penalty?

The question - “What would Jesus do?”, is irrelevant here. We do not know what would he do. We may only keep guessing and quarreling about it. Each case is different, and Jesus would probably treat each one of them in a different way. We could agree that principally Jesus was “for life”, but this could also mean that we are called to get rid of the junk that threatens life of another. How many lives have been ruined and destroyed thanks to such yeasts of evil?

For or against capital punishment? I am against because it is a too easy way out for hard-core criminals. I would take their freedom away and create conditions where they would be subjected to some hard work, instead of putting them into prisons where they are doing nothing at the expense of society.

It reminded me of the ode “Making footprints” where you see the follower learning to walk with Jesus, then walking very clearly in sync with Him. But then we see in the skit, where during the “Dance with Jesus” that the gal slips out of the arms of Jesus and falls into the arms of jerk satan, and truly how her life changes so drastically, so quickly from stability to “love of money”, alcohol, walking with the wrong kind of friends-those whose emphasis is their body not their soul, to the point of not wanting to live-to the actual act of trying to commit suicide-by knife, then gun!

But then we note the scene of Jesus dying on the cross, and then the part where Jesus comes again as the savior, to hold back the enemy while the young lady is able to regroup herself, and come back into the dance with Jesus. To walk again with Jesus. The blessing is that Jesus is so forgiving, so loving, so caring, and is always there for us.

In these difficult days we need any means possible to portray to the world the love of Jesus and the joy we have with HIM in our life and in our hearts.

First, it’s incredibly moving as everyone has noted. Second, I don’t think there is anything wrong with the theology when it’s understood correctly. Third, the camera missed a few things and I think that’s why it seems a little off. Finally, I’m disturbed by some of the peripheral things you see in the video.

I think most of us see ourselves and all our kind in this performance. I think it deals with our confusion: If I ask God to save me, why is everything still so hard?

Yes, Christ is strong enough to take care of all those evil influences in her life. That’s why HE’s not subject to them. But that’s not the point. It’s not him they are attacking, at least not directly. They have power over HER. They’ve seduced her. It’s her entire being that is under their power and simply removing the influences isn’t going to fix everything now. I think what the skit shows is Christ having to enter our existance and our experience in order to save us. I think it also shows that we have to want him more than anything.

Unfortunately you only glimpse the Christ-figure with his arms outstretched as on a cross for the breifest moment, almost too quick to recognize. This is when the girl has the gun to her head. At the moment he slumps down in death and then stands up again, she drops the gun and finds the strength to flee back towards him. As much as she tries however, he must still get in the fight, take the beating, and throw the enemies off of her before she’s completely free.

Yes, God is all-powerful but let’s not have too simplistic a view of how that plays out in the life of his free creatures.

What really disturbs me is the setting in which we see this beautiful story. Frankly, treating Christ like a celebrity instead of granting him the more thoughtful approach due to a Person of his Dignity is getting old. It wears on my spirit. The strobe lights, the clapping, the theatrical setting, all impaired this otherwise wonderful telling of the story of Mankind’s Salvation.