I’ve gone round and round about the morality and appropriateness of the Death Penalty for a long time. For me, the pendulum has swung back and forth numerous times. As I’ve gotten older and more tempered, I’ve become increasingly less comfortable with the State of Texas (or any other state) sanctioning and, in fact, carrying out the taking of human life. I’ve considered it on many levels and now I believe I have come to what will be my final conclusion on the matter.
I am, without exception, pro-life. I do not believe that abortion should be legal under any circumstance except when carrying a child to term would endanger the life of the mother. Even then it is not something I’m comfortable with. I’ve always thought that it might be a bit disingenuous of me to hold such a firm stance on abortion and not capitol punishment. After a lot of soul searching and searching my own conscience, I have determined that I can not.
I recognize that reasonable people can disagree on this. I understand that there are those who believe that capitol punishment is, in fact, not “murder” and therefore not covered under the Biblical prohibition. I understand that the Old Testament especially is replete with examples of the execution of criminals guilty of certain crimes. However, I believe that we now live in a new time — I think all Christians would agree on that. We live in a time when, although many people believe “our Faith” is under attack and siege, we do not face direct assaults on those of us who practice it. We are not living in a time when our very existence as believers is being immanently threatened as Israel’s was in the days of the Old Testament. In other words, their circumstances were quite different than ours.
We can not, as a civilized people, continue to tolerate the extinction of human life under any circumstance whether it is the abortion of an unborn child or the state-sanctioned murder of prisoners. We must reevaluate the way we view crime and punishment. We must rid ourselves of our seemingly voracious appetite for vengeance. Somehow, we have become convinced that “an eye for an eye” is a legitimate philosophy when it comes to punishing criminal offenders.
Some people claim that capitol punishment offers the victims of crime or their families some sort of closure. They claim that the death of a person who may have caused the death of their family member somehow consoles them in their grief. In truth, there is no consolation for the death of a close friend or family member. In fact, watching interviews of victim’s families following the execution of the killers guilty of the crimes frequently elicits an opposite response. Vengeance is not justice. Vengeance is not consolation.
I can not put it any more clearly than this – we must discontinue capitol punishment as acceptable. The maximum penatly for crimes of this nature should be life imprisonment without possibility of parole. But, we should never, as civilized people, sanction the taking of human life. We should take heed to the Father when He declares, “vengeance is mine.”
Disclaimer: I did not mention war in this post because war is a special circumstance. I will deal with war in a future post. Please keep any responses germane to this particular post. Thank you.
janthonywalker
Jason
I completely agree with what you have to say about the death penalty. I watched a program the other day about a man who used to be one of the worst drugdealers in canadian history. Several years ago he gave his life over to God. Now he is making it his life mission to reform prison systems. His point and I agree with him is that we need to have more chaplains and volunteers going into prisons to spread the word of God. I would think that it would give victims families far more healing if murderers became changed men then if they were put to death. Executing a murderer will not bring their loved one back.
Jennifer, thanks so much for your thoughts. Do you remember the name of the program you saw? I’d be very interested to see it. This subject is one I’ve been doing an awful lot of thinking and praying about very recently and I’d sure enjoy seeing that story in full. I would hope that victims’ families would find more healing in the conversion of the person who brought them so much pain. Unfortunately, I believe we live in a time when, as I said, vengeance seems to be much more inticing to them. I will admit I can understand the need for it, but I also know from my own past, that any revenge we as human beings can exact here on Earth does not even come close to something that helps in our consolation. My prayer would be that more people come to that understanding and that we cease this wretched practice! Blessings to you!!
Hey, Jason.
I’m also in complete agreement with you. It took years of searching for me to come to this conclusion, but I believe as you do that any civilized people should be capable of coming to a consensus that the death penalty is not an ideal way of punishing criminals.
But how much more so for the Christian? It seems to me that we of all people should be pleading with the courts to abolish the death penalty. Not only should the love of Christ compel us, but also the desire to allow every human being the opportunity to follow after Christ. The more time they have on this planet, the more opportunities they have to be changed by Christ.
I look forward to interacting with you on the war issue. That’s something else I’ve wrestled with for years and finally settled on.
Thanks, Josh.
Yeah, this one was a tough one for me and a rather long time in coming. But, I think the turning point for me was truly my own personal journey. Without being too hyperbolic, the life I was leading was, in some way, a death sentence for me and if I’d continued down that road it is likely that’s where I would have ended up. I think that my experiences began to shape how I feel about capitol punishment. Christians should not equivocate when it comes to the issue of life! We must be consistent in our desire to uphold its sanctity even when a person might not deserve it because he or she failed to respect life. After all, which of us truly deserves God’s Grace and Mercy. Because we have received it, however, we should be in the business of sharing it with others, even those who’s actions we hold in disdain. I’m glad you wrote about being compelled by the love of Christ. I don’t think enough Christians understand what that means.
The war post will take a while. I have a whole host of feelings on the subject, but I think you might be surprised to find that we have more in common on that than you think.
hey bro-
good to read your thoughts as always! I think everything has to come back to one single and encompassing matter- the matter of Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life. What is our way? Jesus Christ. What is the truth? Jesus Christ. What is life? Jesus Christ.
From your writings it seems you are actively participating in his discipleship of you! Looking to the example of Christ as recorded in Scriptures is, of course, beneficial to a high degree, but this is secondary to coming to know the Person indwelling our hearts, our older Brother, Bridegroom, & Counselor.
As we get to know Him and come to understand his heart experientially, we are moved to activism, but not to reform society but to participate in his colonization of this earth- his colonies are an alternative society. The society of Jesus Christ!
keep it real bro!
Hey, Grant…thanks for commenting! I really like what you said about us participating in His colonization of this earth. That’s good stuff and I’d never really heard it put that way before, but I think you’re absolutely right. Understanding the heart of Jesus does move us to activism; not, as you said, to reform society, but to TRANSFORM the hearts and minds of people. Ultimately, of course, when hearts and minds are changed, society is changed with them; but, the change affected by the “transforming of minds” (Rom. 12) is real and eternal, unlike political reform which always only lasts as long as it is beneficial.
Good stuff, man. You’ve spurred a thought in me that may develop into another post! ….lol…you’re my muse!!
Happy weekend!
jason-
while i’m not sure if i agree with your stance on this subject at this point in my life (pendulum swinging)…i do appreciate your humble and vulnerable approach to the subject…. it enables me to examine my own heart and think about how i may apply this in the future… thanks for sharing your journey here….
Thank you for your thoughts. I don’t know how old you are, but I can tell you that for most of my twenties I was vehemently pro-capitol punishment. I viewed the Death Penalty as the ultimate deterent to criminals. Unfortunately, the facts just don’t back that up. But, as I stated in my post, the real turning point for me has been viewing my own experience and realizing that God is the final arbitor of judgment and that He alone holds life and death in His hands.
well said. the threat of death hasn’t really deterred us from doing our own thing… even dating back to the garden, has it? interesting things to think about… thanks!!
Good point. No, death doesn’t seem to have ever been much of a deterent. You’re welcome and feel free to comment any time!
Alright, now I know why I was thinking about Jason Walker today: God’s sovereignty! This morning a student handed me a paper to fill out for one of his classes. Question #1: “Do you support capital punishment?” I hate that question. Like you, I have struggled with it all of my life. However, I put “yes” for the following reasons:
1. Acts 25:11 – Paul, in defending himself, stated that if he had done “anything worthy of death,” he would not refuse to die.
2. Rom. 13:4b – I think this verse clearly gives government the right use the death penalty.
Two other verses of some relevance to this topic are (1) Gen. 9:6 and (2) Matt. 26:52. Of course, many will not accept the OT passage as relevant. But Matt. 26:52 can easily be interpreted as Jesus telling Peter that those who kill with the sword will be judge by the sword (death).
I know… many will not accept these verses as biblical support for the death penalty. Of course, to deny them, ALL of them must be clarified in such a way that does not support capital punishment. Personally, I found this task too difficult. I wrote this because too often people think Christians are uncompassionate and not Christlike if they support CP. I am not bloodthirsty. I sincerely want all too live in peace, love, and unity; but I think there is a place for capital punishment. Thanks for the thoughtful post. It took courage to post it. And let’s be honest… a lot of people who support it, don’t have a clue why.
Grace and Peace to You,
Jared
Hey Brother…thanks for your thoughts.
As I said, this issue is such a touchy one for me and I did go back and forth on it for many years. I totally understand where you’re coming from and I can honestly see your point. So, far be it from me to question your reasoning on the issue. Personally, I think this may be one that honest Christians can simply disagree on honestly. I don’t think we’ll ever figure this one out this side of Heaven. I don’t think you (or anyone else) who supports capitol punishment is bloodthirsty at all. I think there is a legitimate argument on both sides of the issue. I waited so long to post on this topic because I wanted to make sure I had a clue. You’re right — far too many people espouse a viewpoint on issues without having a single idea why.
Bless you, brother. I miss talkin’ with you!
Jason,
Very, very well said. It is almost exactly my thoughts on this subject. I have always thought that it is a contradiction to be pro-life and pro-death penalty (or vice versa).
Another interesting tidbit I found when researching this subject in school:
It is more expensive to execute someone than to imprison them for life. (I forget the exact term they used when using “life” but I want to say it was like 40 years).
In the end, I always shudder to think that by executing “vengeance,” is it not possible that we are exterminating a life that God could have used to His purpose?
Anyway, very thought-provoking piece Jason.
M
Michael,
Thanks for your thoughts and support! Also, for the information on the cost of executing an inmate versus housing them for life. That was new to me and absolutely fascinating. It is just one more piece in the puzzle confirming my current position on this.
As I said, I fought with myself on this issue for a long, long time! But, ultimately, I just couldn’t justify the two positions existing simultaneously in my mind. There are so many examples of people who spent their lives committing crime and then being redeemed by the power of Christ and being a powerful example of his love. Even behind bars, Christ’s power is not dimished.
Thanks again for your thoughts and thanks for reading!
J
Hey brother my arguement from the Christian perspective is found in Romans 12 near the end of the Chapter. Not to mention Jesus’ commands to love our enemies. If we ignore these imperatives why not ignore the rest of them when we are inconvenienced. As a believer, regardless of the crime against me or someone I love, I am to never to seek vengance. I think we should follow the road of our Mennonite and Quacker brothers on this one.
Thanks for the reply, Lionel. I certainly agree with you for the most part. I would still stand by my conviction that if I were being attacked, or if my family were being attacked I would defend myself to whatever point necessary. God bless you, brother!! Keep reading.
Jason- I read this and thought about it, and have to say I agree with you. The only thing that I have a problem with is how well our prisoners are treated in prison. I feel that if the prisoners were only limited to two meals a day, and either had to work, or sit in a cell w/o anything except a toilet, I would be ok with never killing another person via the death penalty. There’s just something that irkes (really angers) me about cable TV, internet and phone use when you murdered someone. What do you think?
Hey Jen! Thanks for reading and for the comment. I certainly agree with your point. Punishment is not punishment when it includes all the creature comforts of the “outside world”. I’m not sure that allowing convicted murderers to watch Jerry Springer whenever they choose or watch porn on the internet at will really teaches them anything about receiving the consequences for their actions!!