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Originally Posted by Jzyehoshua  It always bugs me that the advocates of the Death Penalty try to use "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" to defend the Death Penalty. Didn't Jesus Himself say that it was once said that, but that we are called to love our enemies, bless those who persecute us, and generally return good for evil?
Didn't Jesus say we should be merciful as God has been merciful to us, and that if we don't show mercy our Father in Heaven won't show it to us? Yeah, the Old Testament Law did give lots of laws where the penalty for breaking them was death.
So the Pharisees were quite alright in trying to put the adulteress to death, right? Wrong. Jesus said unless we're without sin ourselves we can't execute those laws. Paul in Romans 3 says therefore anyone is guilty who condemns others according to the Law for they are guilty of the same things!
Paul makes his case all through Romans 3, pointing out that the WHOLE WORLD is guilty before God. None are justified by works, not one. Jesus is the only exception because He IS God, and therefore can't be guilty before Himself. It's like saying everybody is guilty before the Judge, but the possible exception is the Judge, therefore, only a human who was God, aka Jesus, could be sinless.
Therefore, the Law is indeed a just condemnation of what's wrong, but by it we're all guilty. We can't judge others according to it without being guiltless ourselves!
Human beings are fallible, and can't exact vengeance perfectly. That's why God says "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." I think we should leave the whole vengeance stuff up to him. Prison should be meant to protect society, not to punish wrongdoers.
The flaws from fallible people trying to execute perfect justice when God alone can do that are evident by all the people getting pardoned from Death Row thanks to DNA evidence. The bottom line is, if we can't ensure only guilty people will be on Death Row, then NO ONE should be on Death Row. |
To hear many talk today about how horrible and inhumane the death penalty is you would think it surely must have originated with some barbaric, savage people or tyrant. "Whosoever shedeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed," Because, God says, "for in the image of God made he man" -- Genesis 9:5-6. Thus, any man who commits murder, "sheddeth man's blood", man is then authorized by God to take his life. The New Testament makes it plain regarding civil government's right to take the life of the offender -- Romans 13
There have been 3 dispensations in the history of God's relationship and covenants with mankind. 1.) The Patriarchal -- Genesis 3 thru Ex. 20. 2.) The Mosaic -- Ex.20 thru Acts 2. 3.) The Gospel Age -- Acts 2 thru Judgment. God instituted the death penalty under or during the Patriarchal Age. -- Genesis 9:5-6. Take note on "why" the murderer's life is to be taken: "...for in the image of God made he man." Thus, the reason for the introduction of the death penalty is not to be considered as dispensational or dealing with a restriction due to a covenant that would end when the covenant changed. This will always be an abomination in the eyes of God -- Proverbs 6:16-19, "...hands that sheld innocent blood". Why? Because man will always remain made in the image of God.
The Mosaic Age is explicit in its teaching regarding the death penalty. Commandment number six of the Ten Commandments was, "Thou shat not kill", clearly meaning murder, The punishment for such was indeed Capital Punishment -- Ex. 21:12.
As much as some may disagree, the Death Penalty is taught under the "perfect law of liberty" or the Gospel Age as well. The Scriptures clearly and distinctly teach the right of the Civil Government to exist and demand Christian subjection -- Romans 13: 1-7, with exceptions as referenced by Acts 5:29, when man's law goes against the "transcendent" righteous laws of God, we are not to transgress God's righteous law, even if dictated so by an unrighteous man made law. But clearly the death penalty still exists as evidenced by God carrying out such a penalty himself -- Acts Chapter 5. Notice the actual words of the Scriptures, "For he (the government representative) is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; FOR HE BEARETH NOT THE SWORD IN VAIN; FOR HE IS THE MINISTER OF GOD, A "REVENGER TO EXECUTE WRATH" UPON HIM THAT DOETH EVIL." -- Romans 13:4.
Another thing that some might find interesting would be the information contained in "Blackstone's Commentaries on the Law", a cornerstone of American Jurisprudence from 1776 thru 1920 and considered the last word by the American Supreme Court with endorsement by such men as -- John Marshall, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, James Wilson, Charles Finney, and Abraham Lincoln.
This Law Book Taught......
1.) US Law could not contradict God's direct decrees: however
2.) If God made no decree, we as a nation could set our own policy of law.
SECTION TWO
To instance, in the case of murder: this is EXPRESSLY forbidden by the "Divine.." If any human law should allow or enjoin us to commit it, we are bound to transgress that human law.....But, with regard to matters that are not commanded or forbidden by {the Scriptures}, such as for instance, the exporting of wool into foreign countries, here the Legislature has scope and opportunity to interpose.... (R)