Death Penalty

~Brandon James Scott Scholl

Capital punishment is a touchy subject not only among everyone throughout the world but also throughout Christianity. There are individuals who claim that the Death Penalty is wrong because you’re murdering, which is breaking one of the Ten Commandments? Others believe that the death penalty is wrong and that we shouldn’t have anything to do with it because we should not be the ones judging. However, regardless of the debates, what does the bible say about it? First, let’s see what each side holds to in their arguments.

Let’s start with the argument against the Death Penalty. In a Supreme Court case, Furman V. Georgia in 1972, the Death Penalty was viewed as going against the eighth and fourteenth Amendment as “Cruel and Unusual” punishment. However, four years later the case was looked over again and the Supreme Court put the Death Penalty back on the table. There are numerous states that do not have the Death Penalty but there are other states that have it. Various organizations such as the ACLU claim that it is not a deterrent to stop people from murder. The ACLU claims that we shouldn’t have the Death Penalty because it is disturbing to those who value human life. Other claims are that there is the possibility that the individuals working on the case can have errors in the case and convict someone who is innocent.

The case for the Death Penalty is a bit different. When you commit murder you do not do it because someone makes you. You, by your own will, commit the crime. The claim that innocent people will be executed has yet to ever happen. In all of the years that there have been executions not one has been an innocent victim to the Justice System. Also, people view life as a sacred thing, especially when it is their own. If the people who had the death penalty had used it appropriately there would be fewer problems with murder. The bible also believes in the Death Penalty. In fact, the Bible says the death penalty: “21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” ~Deuteronomy 19:21. Also, the Ten Commandments say not to commit murder. Otherwise, God is contradictory to Himself and when He told civilizations and armies to attack other cities and nations He was breaking His own code of conduct. Murder is seen as both a premediated action or an unlawfully sanctioned action of taking life. Killing, however is something that can be lawfully sanctioned such as war.

So, between the two I have to go with being for the Death Penalty. Regardless of what the ACLU says or claims the Bible tells us that if a life is taken, that life that took it should be taken as well. If you’re just going to put people in jail and they get out later then what is the point in the first place? If they understand that the only punishment that they’re going to get is some time spent in jail then they won’t be deterred all that much later. However, if you use the threat that you will take their life for a crime they’ll be less likely to do it. The other thing is, if you have the Death Penalty, USE IT! Otherwise, what is the point of having it? Bottom line is this: God is all for the Death Penalty.

There are Christians who will say that God is the only one that is allowed to judge and it’s not our place. Here’s something to consider: 1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ~Romans 13:1. This scripture speaks for itself. Everyone that is put in points of leadership were put there by God. So, with God putting them there he knows what choices they’re going to make in situations that will come up. Those of you who claim that God is the only one to judge then those in positions of authority, who were put there by God, are able to judge. Also the bible says something about this as well: “ 3”Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” ~Matthew 7: 3-5. This scripture would be brought up to people who make a claim about judging because it has before, but think about it. The speck is something that someone is dealing with, a fault. You can’t help them with that fault or problem until you get the log out of your own eye. That means you would be dealing with the same issue when telling them how to take care of the same problem you’re having in your own life. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t judge people because everybody has faults.So, if God is for it and you claim to be a Christian, what do you think?