Death Penalty

[Guest man]

I'm for Capitol Punishment because I believe it's supported by the Bible. God was the one who instituted the death penalty for certain crimes in the Old Testament, and used government to carry it out.

And it's clear in the New Testament that God has given authority to government to carry out the death penalty to punish criminals.

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.The authorities that exist have been established by God.Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience." (Romans 13:1-5 NIV)

To "bear the sword" is to kill.

Those "governing authorities" are secular authorities. They are a part of what the Word refers to as "the world". We are instructed to not be a part of that world. The worlds laws and God's laws are not the same. Though they may parallel one another in certain areas, God's law is the one we should be concerned with.

The reason we are to be subject to the governing authorities is because we have to share the planet with these people. God says we are not to avenge ourselves and the death penalty clearly goes against that commandment.

Capital punishment is something the world uses to punish their own. Even though we have to live in this world, we are told not to conform to it.

Romans 12

² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I don't believe the bible supports the death penalty and here's why.

Romans 12

¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

²⁰ Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Vengeance belongs to God and no one else.

As always.......just my opinion.

[Guest LadyC]

i totally understand how wrong it is that americans can be given the death penalty but foreigners are exempt. but that doesn't mean that americans who have committed such heinous crimes should NOT be given the death penalty! that's like saying "if it's broke, smash it into a million more pieces!".

our justice system is definitely limping because of its double standard. but i'm still in favor of it. the death penalty is both biblical, and in many cases including this one, justified.

and MAN, just so you know, the death penalty was instituted by God. it was never about human vengeance, and is not now used as human vengeance. just as through out scripture, men were frequently the instruments used to carry out the death penalty that God required. not just any man, though. not then, not now. execution has never been personal for the executioner. so i'm just making sure you know my position before you respond to my post... i understand your position, and i do not believe it holds any biblical merit. therefore i ask that you and i agree to disagree.

[Guest man]

i totally understand how wrong it is that americans can be given the death penalty but foreigners are exempt. but that doesn't mean that americans who have committed such heinous crimes should NOT be given the death penalty! that's like saying "if it's broke, smash it into a million more pieces!".

our justice system is definitely limping because of its double standard. but i'm still in favor of it. the death penalty is both biblical, and in many cases including this one, justified.

and MAN, just so you know, the death penalty was instituted by God. it was never about human vengeance, and is not now used as human vengeance. just as through out scripture, men were frequently the instruments used to carry out the death penalty that God required. not just any man, though. not then, not now. execution has never been personal for the executioner. so i'm just making sure you know my position before you respond to my post... i understand your position, and i do not believe it holds any biblical merit. therefore i ask that you and i agree to disagree.

As always.......just my opinion.

[Willa]

The death penalty is not about personal vengeance. In fact many of the families of those heinously murdered have forgiven the perpetrator and expressed this at the sentencing. It is about justice in a court of law as supported by God's Word.

God believes in the death penalty.

If we make a mistake, it is to declare sociopaths to be insane and not give them the death penalty. They are the most deserving of it. The criminaly insane are too often released from mental institiutions to kill and maime again. Level 3 sex offenders need to be included. People who are so incorigable and hardened do not need to be supported by our states in a prison or released to reoffend.

Rom. 6:23 "the wages of sin is death." God did not abolish the death penalty at the cross. He reinforced the fact that we all deserve crucifixion for our sin. Jesus took our death penalty upon Himself for whomever will receive it, imparting eternal life. This does not negate the fact that sin deserves death here on earth. The God of the Old Testament has not changed. His grace is extended to those who will receive it but He is still a just and righteous God who destroys evildoers. He expects us to do the same.

[missmuffet]

The jury is still out for me.I used to support the death penalty but I don't know.

Genesis 9:6 makes me pro capital punishment.

“Whoever sheds human blood,

by humans shall their blood be shed;

for in the image of God

has God made mankind.

Romans 13 1-7 makes me think against capital punishment.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

[Guest HisG]

Wrong person executed?

Where does a Christian juror stand concerning that?

[Guest LadyC]

sadly, that does happen on occasion. those who bore false witness against the person executed will have to stand before God and be accountable. God does not hold the juror accountable who weighed the evidence and found a person guilty based on the evidence that was presented. nor should other christians. it doesn't change anything regarding the death penalty.

[Guest HisG]

The adulterous woman forgiven. Death was the punishment.

Jesus told the crowd that whoever had not sinned to cast the first stone.

Jesus was the only one left standing there and He was the only one without sin , therefore it was His right to stone her to death but He chose to forgive her.

Jesus also said to look at a woman with lustful thoughts was the same as committing the act.

He said the same about vengeful thoughts about another- it's the same as committing murder. Murder, adultery were all offenses met with the death penalty.

All those men surrounding the adulterous woman were probably all worthy of death by their lustful thoughts at one point.

[missmuffet]

Wrong person executed?

Where does a Christian juror stand concerning that?

Well,in todays world they have DNA.That is really helpful in finding the real culprit.But a long time ago lots were persecuted wrongly.

[Guest LadyC]

The adulterous woman forgiven. Death was the punishment.

Jesus told the crowd that whoever had not sinned to cast the first stone.

Jesus was the only one left standing there and He was the only one without sin , therefore it was His right to stone her to death but He chose to forgive her.

Jesus also said to look at a woman with lustful thoughts was the same as committing the act.

He said the same about vengeful thoughts about another- it's the same as committing murder. Murder, adultery were all offenses met with the death penalty.

All those men surrounding the adulterous woman were probably all worthy of death by their lustful thoughts at one point.

no, it wasn't His right to stone her. the men who brought her before Him were trying to trap Him within the law. HE was not the appropriate person to judge her. THEY should have taken her to the proper authorities, WITH the man she was committing adultery with... another glaring piece of evidence that they were trying to trap Jesus, since they caught her in the act and did not bring the man for judgment as well.

Jesus forgives. nobody disputes that. but Jesus does not excuse a person from the consequences of his or her actions.