CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

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”