Should Christian’s Be In Favor Of The Death Penalty?

 

Should a Christian be pro-life or pro-killing?  We Christians quickly come to the aid of a fetus and claim that it is not right to kill this innocent life.  We must see that all life is precious and we are not to aid in any killing.  Should a Christian be for the death penalty or against it?  Being in favor of the death penalty (pro-killing) is to deny the power and message of the Gospel.  To be against the death penalty (pro-life) is to understand the Gospel and the ways of God.  Should Saul (Paul) have been killed for his actions and persecution of the Christians that resulted in their murders?  No, he was allowed to experience the grace and transformation of the Gospel.  It was God’s plan!  I guess some would think he should have been killed.  But God has a different way  – Grace!  There is a saying about the power of the Gospel and repentance, “it can make a virgin out of adulterers.”  What can it make of a killer?  It produced St. Paul.

 

We Christians understand that all sin is punishable by death (the wages of sin is death).  Doing any sin, be it murder or anything that we are all guilty of makes us transgressor of the law.  But the letter (of the Law) kills, but the Spirit gives life.  In the Mosaic law the death penalty was inflicted for murder, adultery, sodomy, perjury, kidnapping, witchcraft, for striking or cursing father or mother, disobedience to parents, theft, blasphemy, for Sabbath desecration, for prophesying falsely, or propagating false doctrines, refusing to abide by the decision of court, for treason….   Do we still kill people, under the Mosaic Law, for these offenses?  Do you think we should?  Who decides which offense deserves death?  Why do only murderers deserve death?  Why not adulterers?  Why not teachers of false doctrines? 

 

Who deserves death?  We all do?  Who does God wish to give grace to?  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (not killed).  God wishes to give grace to all.  You might not like it, but even to the ones that have murdered. 

 

How many Christians have been put to death at the hands of governments?  How many righteous were killed at the hands of the Crusades?  How many Jews were killed at the hands of the German government?  The very act that most Christians support (Capital Punishment) has been used to kill those who follow Christ.  Christ said, “the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.” (John 16:2).

The fact is, “thou shall not kill”.  Killing human life is wrong be it abortion, murder or capital punishment.  What is happening in this world when most Christians are for government sponsored murders and killings?  Well, we shouldn’t be surprised:  “Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.”  (Revelation 6:4)

 

St. Augustine wrote regarding killing of a soul: “’Do not take away his life; leave him the possibility of repentance.  Do not kill so that he can correct himself.’”  St. Augustine also wrote: “’God made man; man made himself sinner.  So destroy what man made but save what God made.  Thus do not go so far as to kill the criminal, for in the wishing to punish the sin, you are destroying the man.’”  In giving a life sentence we can give men time to reflect and perhaps repent.  This is the desired punishment that is morally just and righteous in the eyes of God.  We Christians know of the power of repentance.  This is the message of our gospel. "Oh! repentance, thou has made a virgin out of adulterers!"  (St. Youhanon Saba)  If they have the opportunity, “Oh! repentance, thou have made a gentle forgiven man out of a murder.

 

I continue to be pro-life.  I am even more convinced and am still for grace, mercy and forgiveness.  I will leave vengeance to God   I recognize the power of the Gospel & repentance and will pray that killers will turn to Christ during their imprisonment.  Here’s a thought - besides killing them (repaying evil with evil), let’s minister to them, pray for them, and preach the Gospel to them and perhaps they, like St. Paul, will be transformed!  Then God will say well-done good and faithful servant!

 

It is the responsibility of Christians to help the persons incarcerated for serious crimes not to condemn them.  Jesus reaffirmed this in His parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25.  He said that when we invite strangers in, visit those in prisons and those sick, clothe those without clothes, feed the hungry and activities like these “inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)  The book of Jeremiah says: "He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; then it was well.  Is not that what it means to know Me? Declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 22:16)  We Christians should not demand justice by way of the death of another, but we should minister to them and pled their cause.  St. Basil wrote, "Christianity is nothing more than the imitation of Christ."  Christ came to save the lost, to give grace, to die for others.  We should imitate Him.