Many States now have abolished the death penalty and others never
demand it though it is still on the statue of books.
The question of the abolition of capital punishment has been
before the Canadian parliament for several years.
Open forums in social media, newspapers both secular and
religious have debated this controversial issue for some time.
One Canadian columnist says, “Not one authenticated case
is known of a person being deterred from murder from fear of the consequences”;
the columnist continues by saying, “The gallows are guilty monster that should
be obliterated from Canadian Society forever.”
ARGUMENTS OF THOSE FAVOURING ABOLITION OF THE DEATH
PENALTY
Capital punishment is immoral; it is repulsive to modern
concepts of society.
Progressive nation like Great Britain practically abolish
the death penalty (except probably for treason).
The death penalty is expensive for the country for it
involves endless appeals even when the individual is undeniably guilty, hoping
to find technicalities in the law to delay the execution or obtain a new trial.
Actually records show that only 2% of convicted cases are
actually executed; many with money or friends escape the death penalty via “insanity”
or similar excuse.
The 2% who die are the poor and friendless and not
necessarily the most vile or wanton.
Up to 5% of those convicted are actually innocent; they have
been convicted on mistaken identity, circumstantial evidence, prejudiced juries
or over-powerful appeals by lawyers.
Capital punishment brutalizes society by cheapening life.
Capital punishment is morally indefensible; it is not a
deterrent to murder.
Capital punishment makes it impossible to rehabilitate
criminals.
Those favouring capital punishment are stigmatized as
heartless, vengeful and lacking in mercy.
ARGUMENTS OF THOSE UPHOLDING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Capital punishment is based on Scripture and must be upheld.
Gen. 9:6; Rom. 13:4.
Civil arguments are instituted by God and are duty bound to
execute murderers.
The government must consider the protection of society, not
only the welfare of the criminal.
Justice must be maintained and this will instill standards
of right and wrong among the people.
Government based on the Bible is to maintain high moral and
ethical standards.
The opposition is based on modern philosophical systems;
sociological studies.
Capital punishment is not a social evil like segregation,
racketeering, the liquor traffic or gambling.
Capital punishment is a matter of jurisprudence established
for the common good and benefit of society.
OLD TESTAMENT TEACHINGS ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Gen. 9:4-6, “. . . who so sheddeth man’s blood, by man
shall his blood be shed . . .”
Ex. 20:13, God’s law, “Thou shalt not kill.”
The warden who performs the execution does not commit murder
in the taking of life according to Num. 35:27, for he is the Lord’s appointed “revenger
of blood.”
Num. 35:27, “. . . and the revengers of blood kill the
slayer: he shall not be guilty of blood.”
Num. 35:31, “Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for
the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall surely be put to
death.”
Death penalty only given after the evidence has been
confirmed by more than one witness -
Num. 35:30, “Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by
the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to
cause him to die.”
The Bible makes a distinction between premeditated murder
and an accidental killing- Ex. 21:12-17; no death penalty for an accidental
killing.
Lev. 24:14-17, capital punishment for blasphemy, cursing and
murder.
Num. 35:15-34, cities
of refuge for the murderers who committed murder accidentally.
Num. 35:16, 17, 18, 21, 30, 31, – the murderer to be killed.
Deut. 17:6,7,
testimony of two or more witness essential to give death penalty.
Deut. 19:11-13, authority to take the individual guilty of
first degree murder from the City of
Retuge and slay him.
The Old Testament gave the death penalty for:
Outright, premeditated murder, Num. 35:16
Stealing and selling people, Ex. 21:16.
Cursing father mother, Ex. 21:17.
Ox and owner to be killed if owner knew of the tendency of
the animal to kill and didn’t curb it, Ex. 21:29.
Witches, Ex. 22:18.
Those sacrificing to false god, Ex. 22:20
Adultery, Lev. 20:10 Harlot and whoremonger both to die,
Deut. 22:24.
Blasphemy, Lev. 24:10-14.
Breaking the Sabbath, Num. 15:32
NEW TESTAMENT TEACHINGS ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law, Matt. 5:17-20; He did
not change or abrogate the law.
Matt. 5:21, 22, men are liable “to the judgment”
which would include capital punishment.
Some argue that the New Testament is based on love even to
loving one’s enemies, Matt. 5:44.
They say that we are to love our neighbors (even criminals)
as ourselves; therefore, we ought not to execute them.
The opponents of capital punishment quote the story in John
8:1-11, where the woman was taken in adultery and brought to Jesus for passing
of judgment. The Law demanded the death penalty but Jesus forgave the woman.
Why didn’t Jesus demand justice? If a woman were actually taken in adultery
then both she and the man should be stoned together. Jesus said that the one without sin was to
cast the first stone: perhaps they were all guilty in this affair and the woman
the least guilty.
Others quote the story of Paul requesting leniency for
Onesimus the runaway slave, who deserved the death penalty according to Roman
law. Paul pleads for leniency because of Onesimus’ conversion.
Rom. 13:1-4, establishes the right of government to use the
sword if necessary to revenge evil. The sword would certainly include the death
penalty.
Rom. 12:19-21, the grieved individuals were not to take
revenge as they did in the Old Testament but allow the constituted authorities
to execute proper judgment.
Rom. 13:1, “Let
every soul be subject unto the higher powers”. We are to obey them.
Some feel that a definite conclusion is not possible but
continue to wait for the mind of Christ to better understand the problem.
Personally I feel that capital punishment is God’s divine
order for today; this principle antedates the giving the law by 800 years. The
argument that capital punishment rules out the possibility of repentance for
crime is ridiculous. If man does not repent with a death sentence over his head
I doubt if he ever will under a “life sentence.”
Physical life less important than eternal life: a man has to
die sometime. Heb.9:27, “It is appointed unto men (every man) once to die .
. .”
No one can deny that the execution of a murderer is a
terrible spectacle but we must not forget the murder is certainly far more
horrible.
If one accepts the authority of the Scriptures, the issue is
clear—capital punishment is essential to a safe community.
Let us not be led astray by modern concepts of naturalistic
ideas of sociology and penology.
Let us study the Bible and obey it completely, remembering
that the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of New Testament: the
basic principles of God and His government will never change. Heb. 13:8.
Taken from various source:
John Howard Yoder; C. S. Milligan G. H. Clark, including articles by
Jacob J. Vellenga, writing in
“Christianity
Today”
