E.g. . . .
Vince's highlighted text. . .
"My Lords," he cried, "I do not dispute the facts this harlot claims, nor do I regret any of my acts! I say only that I neither desired nor ordered Reverend Hanks' death, and that no man can prove against me, for I never even knew he would be present. But yes—yes, My Lords!—I did each and every other thing this foreign-born whore claims, and I would do them again—do them a thousand times again!—before I let an infidel fornicator and this traitor who calls himself Protector pollute and poison a world sacred to God!"
Cthia's highlighted text . . .
"My Lords," he cried, "I do not dispute the facts this harlot claims, nor do I regret any of my acts! I say only that I neither desired nor ordered Reverend Hanks' death, and that no man can prove against me, for I never even knew he would be present. But yes—yes, My Lords!—I did each and every other thing this foreign-born whore claims, and I would do them again—do them a thousand times again!—before I let an infidel fornicator and this traitor who calls himself Protector pollute and poison a world sacred to God!"
This is a man of convictions! Seeking to pass the Doctrine of his Test against the spineless jellyfish who refuse to act.
Vince wrote:Burdette wasn't, by his own admission, righteous. God answered his prayer, preserving the righteous and striking down the unrighteous. The idea of God forgiving sin is directly dependent on the sinner acknowledging their sins, and repenting those sins. Burdette was defiant, not repentant, and would commit his sins again.
There is the stumbling block. Burdette never claimed to be unrighteous. He claimed to be guilty of man's charges - in the pursuit of what he thinks is right in the eyes of Tester for the preservation of Grayson. Burdette's fear was not of man but of God. Where it should be.
Burdette did not acknowledge a sin, if that which is thought to be a sin by man is what Tester required.
Do understand this: If man's law goes against God where should the Christian stand?
If it wasn't for Christians and their convictions, black people may still be slaves. Jews may still be murdered. Slaves were legal under man's law. Exterminating Jews was legal under man's law. If in either case a man of God disagrees and decides to face the Doctrine of his Test, then it is for the Glory of God that he acts. Man can take away his life, but not his everlasting life. He will not be killed permanently.
Burdette, Mueller and many others truly felt the Protector and his Restoration was unrighteous in Tester's eyes and that Grayson was fornicating with a sinful whore.
Vince wrote:I think Burdette forfeited any right to know when he acknowledged his guilt to the entire planet:
Burdette acknowledged being guilty of the charges of man. He did not admit guilt of breaking any of Tester's laws.
Another stickler: Burdette did not forfeit his right to challenge.
"I reject your right to condemn me to death in order to silence God's voice of opposition to your corrupt abuse of power! As is my ancient right before God, the law, and this Conclave, I challenge your decree! . . .
- Let your Champion stand forth and prove the true will of God sword-to-sword, in the ancient way of our fathers,
- and may God preserve the righteous!"
Neither of the two happened. One and two were rigged in such a way that both nullified God's vote. The entire matter was decided by tainting the preponderance of evidence. God did not preserve the righteous. The unrighteous was preserved by deceit. There are times satan and his harlot wins. As would be argued by Burdette's family.
Grayson's dueling system is no different than the Manticorans in as much as, there are rules involved. Breaking these rules forfeits your life and that is why Pavel Young was shot. Just as someone would be shot by smuggling a secret weapon that would not simply rig the odds, but in this case . . . blow them out of the water.
Honor's ability is a specific weapon that can flawlessly detect "the crease" that which is thought to be a matter of life and death and victory in this duel.
So tell me again how God's intent to preserve the righteous was carried out. Except by the unrighteous justifications of ungodly men.
Remember, Grayson is a religious planet. That isn't just a poignant point regarding Grayson. But crucial. That is part and parcel why Benjamin decided never to deceive his constituents.
Benjamin decided long ago that deceit is a slippery slope.
Subterfuge and deceit are not hallmarks of God's judgment.