The attack was weak, but that doesn't mean that people won't be bowled over by it. An atheist was saying that he didn't think my Lord was the great example of virtue and morality many perceive Him to be. In fact he said that some of His teachings were downright immoral. It never ceases to amaze me how atheists like this always saw off the branch they're sitting on and yet never feel the bump when they hit the ground. They have a moral standard but it's suspended on a sky hook! By what standard do they judge the Lord? What rule was He breaking? What law did He violate? What is this morality of which an atheist speaks?
It may be an atheist wants to say that by Biblical standards He was acting immorally, but that isn't what this man was saying. He was judging the Bible by his own standard, but who does he think he is to say that his standards ought to be adhered to?
Anyway, the objection he raised was based on a parable the Lord told in Luke 19 v 12-27. The parable commences with a nobleman going into a far country to receive a kingdom. His citizens hated him and sent a message after him saying, "We will not have this man to reign over us." On his return he had those rebels brought out and killed before him. The atheist asserted that this scripture was a justification for killing apostates! Now, here is an example of closed-minded bias dictating an interpretation. Is his take on this passage likely or even possible? I would suggest the answer is no. I would be interested if one commentary could be produced to find such an interpretation on the parable. What is happening in this parable is a rejected king returning in judgment. Is it not more reasonable to suppose that this parable is teaching that the Lord Jesus is going to return to the scene of His rejection and judge those who rebelled against His authority? I think so. This is why Christians have borne persecution without retaliation, because they know judgment is in God's remit not theirs. And by the way, that day of judgment will come, which is why God commands everyone everywhere to repent (Acts 17 v 30, 31).
It is a good thing to notice that just prior to this parable the Lord says He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19 v 10), but if someone does not avail of the salvation now they will be exposed to the destruction then, (2Thessalonians 1 v 7-9).
