Should christians believe in the death penalty?

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Sept5SavedTeen

We're not a theocratic, nation-state like Israel was. GOD never called for the church to set up a political, national government. We have nothing in the NT that can draw up plans for this sort of system, punishments for crimes, a constitution or anything like that.
Israel had some of these things, and they were supposed to go by the book and stone certain criminals, but the NT doesn't have these things because GOD didn't intend for a Christian theocracy (and perhaps not for Christians to be involved in these forms of government).

-Bro. Alex

Agreed completely.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

He said they wee for the punishment of evil doers and the main punish at the time that was written was the death penalty.

1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using [your] liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
1Pe 2:17 Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

What it says, in context, is that we should submit ourselves to the ordinances and the leaderships of man...

Whether it be to the king AS supreme.

Or whether it be to governors AS unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers.

This is not a scriptural acceptance of any form of punishment.

This is a scriptural admonition to submit to the legal authorities that are in power.

If this does pertain to a Christians attitude toward the death penalty at all then the message would be one that... if you are brought before the governor to be punished then accept that punishment.

We do have several examples where brethren did just that. The only example we have where a punishment was not fully accepted and allowed to be carried out was when Peter was in jail and the people prayed...

Even then they submitted and God was the one who freed him.

This scripture is about our attitude and submission to the authorities of this world... possibly... even to the point of being wrongly put to death... at which time... having seen my brother put to death wrongfully by the governor... I would not find myself a big fan of the death penalty.

[Mercy]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Under Mosaic Law there was a death penalty. And it was under the same law that the verse you quoted was also written. Vengeance is mine saith the Lord. Deut. 32:35.

So using that statement certainly cannot nullify a need for the death penalty. If there is a need to remove it, it's just that this argument won't work.

I guess I wasn't clear in my intention. I didn't mean that as a way to say "God said we shouldn't have the death penalty". I meant that in the way (and in consideration of the Law) that since we are "post Calvary" believers we have a higher power that was not available to the Average Joe under the law. Now that the Holy Spirit, which leads and instructs, is within us always, we should understand that God is the only one that has the authority to say who lives and dies.

If we can rally against people/politicians that support a woman's right to choice because it is believed to be murder, we should rally against people/politicians that support the death penalty because it IS murder.

I believe God expects more from the people He chose to dwell in.

[Cindy]

I do not support the death penalty, too much human error involved in our system. I do however believe that if you live in society, and know that the death penalty would apply to a crime you commit, be prepared to be on death row.

[Sept5SavedTeen]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

I do not support the death penalty, too much human error involved in our system. I do however believe that if you live in society, and know that the death penalty would apply to a crime you commit, be prepared to be on death row.

Yes, exactly, consequences for actions.

-Bro. Alex

[Withdrawn]

Interesting conversation.

I think I'm still leaning more toward the pro-life side, believing that only God has the right to take a life.

I understand that if I commit a crime that is punishable by death according to civil law, then I must submit myself to that punishment. But, as Christians, should we support such laws or policies in our government - especially in the USA? I know how far we have really gotten away from an actual constitutional republic, but isn't the basis of our government still, technically, "of the people and by the people"? Bro. Alex, I don't believe it's okay for us to just say, "well, that's the law" if we feel the law is unjust or sinful. I believe it's our responsibility (and in the US, our right) to speak out and try to change that.

I've seen a few post about how the death penalty is biblical, but I've still not seen any scripture posted, in the context of the grace that God extends to us, that supports that position. And to echo what has already been stated, if we are to believe that God's Word supports a penalty of death for certain crimes, do we also make adultery and rebellion punishable by death?

I'm still morally conflicted here - given the peaceful death that Richard Cooey was given 22 years after he raped, tortured and killed two 19-year old girls. He lived in prison longer than they were even alive. Their deaths were not peaceful. And he was defiant and unrepentant even until the very end. But now his options are gone: not because God decided it was enough, but because we (society) made that decision. Now, Richard Cooey has no more space for repentance, no more opportunity to meet his Savior at the cross and experience the freedom of living a life more abundantly. Instead, he'll very likely meet Jesus as his Judge - and with a very unhappy ending.

[ronharvey]

Originally Posted by George

I didn't say "canning" but "caning" as in beating like some asian countries do.

Sorry, it just struck me as funny, I read it several times too!

Ron

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by jaamez

Interesting conversation.

I think I'm still leaning more toward the pro-life side, believing that only God has the right to take a life.

I understand that if I commit a crime that is punishable by death according to civil law, then I must submit myself to that punishment. But, as Christians, should we support such laws or policies in our government - especially in the USA? I know how far we have really gotten away from an actual constitutional republic, but isn't the basis of our government still, technically, "of the people and by the people"? Bro. Alex, I don't believe it's okay for us to just say, "well, that's the law" if we feel the law is unjust or sinful. I believe it's our responsibility (and in the US, our right) to speak out and try to change that.

I've seen a few post about how the death penalty is biblical, but I've still not seen any scripture posted, in the context of the grace that God extends to us, that supports that position. And to echo what has already been stated, if we are to believe that God's Word supports a penalty of death for certain crimes, do we also make adultery and rebellion punishable by death?

I'm still morally conflicted here - given the peaceful death that Richard Cooey was given 22 years after he raped, tortured and killed two 19-year old girls. He lived in prison longer than they were even alive. Their deaths were not peaceful. And he was defiant and unrepentant even until the very end. But now his options are gone: not because God decided it was enough, but because we (society) made that decision. Now, Richard Cooey has no more space for repentance, no more opportunity to meet his Savior at the cross and experience the freedom of living a life more abundantly. Instead, he'll very likely meet Jesus as his Judge - and with a very unhappy ending.

Wow... what an excellent post.

Thanks for sharing your very soul with us.

[Timmy]

Here's a NT scripture for ya:

Acts 5:1-11

Let God be the executioner, as He sees fit.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Here's a NT scripture for ya:

Acts 5:1-11

Let God be the executioner, as He sees fit.

Amen...