Death to those who take life or destroy life. The death penalty is as biblical as redemption. Forgiveness is just as required as either one BUT it must be based upon strict rules of compliance to God’s Mercy and not Man’s revenge!
The concept of the death penalty can be found in the Bible, which reflects the views and laws of ancient societies recorded in its texts. Capital punishment is a polarizing Bible topic. Yet, the Scriptures make it clear which conditions warrant the use of the death penalty.
Death Penalty in the Old Testament:
Capital punishment is explicitly mentioned several places in the Bible.
For example: Genesis 9:6 states, “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.”
This suggests a divine retribution for murder NOT KILLING but Murder which is premeditated uncaring taking of life. War is a little different but Murder can happen even in War; IF IT IS A JUST WAR AGAINST AN UNJUST ENEMY IT IS NOT MURDER but the carrying out of divine Justice.
Exodus 21:12 says, “Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.”
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy also prescribe the death penalty for crimes like murder, adultery, kidnapping, and other offenses deemed severe by the community standards at the time BUT WHY ARE THESE CRIMES NOT CONSIDERED SEVERE NOW? This question betrays our society as EVIL PROTECTORS of what God hates.
Death Penalty in the New Testament:
The approach to punishment and justice shifts with a focus on mercy, forgiveness, and redemption ALL THESE THINGS EXISTED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT BUT THE FOCUS WASN’T ON THAT BECAUSE SOME LIKE TO INTERPRET GOD AS BIG AND BAD rather the SAME YESTERDAY; TODAY AND FOREVER:
John 8:1-11 narrates the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery where he challenges those without sin to cast the first stone, suggesting a move away from the literal application of the old laws in some contexts.
However, the New Testament does not explicitly abolish the death penalty; it emphasizes personal transformation, forgiveness, and divine judgment.
When discussing whether the death penalty aligns with Christian ethics today:
Different Interpretations:
Christian denominations and theologians vary in their interpretation BUT REMEMBER SCRIPTURE IS NOT TO BE OF PRIVATE INTERPRETATION BUT UNDERSTOOD AS THE GOD WHO INSPIRED IT UNDERSTANDS IT.
Some view the Old Testament laws as part of a historical covenant no longer applicable under the New Testament’s grace BUT REMEMBER YESHUA DID NOT COME ABOLISH THE LAW AND PROPHETS BUT RATHER TO FULFILL IT SO THAT MEANS THAT JUSTICE NO LONGER RESIDES WITH THE LETTER OF THE LAW OF MOSES IT NOW RESTS SOLELY WITH YESHUA.
Therefore I see ‘Capital Punishment’ as still relevant in matters of justice AS LONG AS IT IS WIELDED BY ABSOLUTE JUSTICE (People who have God’s heart for what’s right for all involved) AND THROUGH A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THAT PLACES VALUE ON LIFE NOT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
Everything contained in the Law of Moses NOT MEN’S ADDITIONS BUT GOD’S OWN CONSIDERATIONS FROM HIS HEART CONCERNING OUR ACTIONS WERE IN THE 10 COMMANDMENTS he knew that if we consider NOT DOING THOSE THINGS BLESSING AND NOT CURSES HAPPEN TO US not only because their wrong but because once you taste any one of them it is addictive to the soul. God’s rules were written to provide you with an OUT for the curse not to take away your fun!
Ethical Considerations for Using the Death Penalty:
Modern Christian perspectives often debate the morality of capital punishment BASED UPON CHANGING SOCIETAL MORALS that do not align with God’s standards of morals in effect we are judging God’s just requirements according to our views, not his!
1.) focusing on themes like the sanctity of life BUT FAIL TO DO SO IN THE CASE OF ABORTION remember it was the Churches INACTION that made our children open game sport for the unrighteous
2.) the possibility of redemption BUT COMPLETELY IGNORE THAT SAME REDEMPTION STORY IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES EXCEPT ON SUNDAYS,
3.) The risk of judicial error which seems TO HAPPEN MOST OFTEN WITH THE LIBERALS WHO DO NOT RESPECT LAW AND ORDER so I ask why is this excuse even contemplated by Christians especially those who don’t vote in righteous leaders?
4.) and the broader implications for society. DON’T WORRY ABOUT THIS ONE CHURCH YOU GAVE ‘carte blanche’ to the enemy of God to have unlimited discretionary power to act; unrestricted authority to do as he pleased and did nothing to stop him!
All good Moral sounding excuses but lacking proper placement to the argument at hand maybe we should look at where these WOKE UNDERSTANDINGS lead us if we ignore how God sees the acts committed Yeshua did not die in order to allow MURDERERS
This is why we misunderstand God in the first place we attempt to FILTER him through our views which nullify biblical teaching and cloud our understanding of it!
The Bible says in James 1:17 that…..
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].”
The DEATH PENALTY, understood from the point of view of a righteous Judge like God, is justice fulfilled in that it is an equal payment for wrongs committed against the innocent. NOW, if an unjust Judge uses this same method IT IS NOT JUSTICE BUT REVENGE WHICH GOD SAYS IS HIS ALONE.
All Punishments MUST FIT THE CRIME in order to Detour those wanting to commit those crimes among the people- giving them a ‘Taxpayer funded life’ does not bring justice it only prolongs the pain of the families of those they harm!
Our current justice system is broken beyond measure because we reward criminals with carpeted cells; T.V., and visits for sex in prison since; when do murderers, rapists, and child molesters deserve better than their victims?
Those who complain about the death penalty for a death they caused have never lost someone they love, and if they have their sense of real justice is misplaced.
YES Forgive the killers that’s your spiritual duty as a believer but do not stand between God’s Justice and God’s mercy as an arborator; God requires payment for crime from the forgiven and the unforgiven equally.
BUT you say Yeshua has forgiven everyone’s sin by the Cross; yes he has BUT ONE MUST RECEIVE IT OR HELL IS STILL YOUR PORTION. At-onement must be received to mean anything those who KILL (Murder) owe God a life for taking a life it is the universe’s way of Balance.
In summary, while the Bible does contain provisions for the death penalty, especially in the Old Testament, contemporary interpretations differ widely BECAUSE WE HAVE PLACE UNDUE IMPRESSIONS UPON THE BIBLE’S CLEAR MANDATES THROUGH MISUNDERSTANDING HOW GOD DOES JUSTICE.
Christians today might support or oppose the death penalty based on their reading of scripture, their understanding of justice, mercy, and the teachings of Jesus on forgiveness and redemption. You must consider who wrote the Bible and God’s inspiration. MAKE CERTAIN YOU UNDERSTAND GOD’S VIEW OF JUSTICE NOT YOUR OWN PERCEPTION OF IT!
God’s justice encompasses several key ideas:
Divine Fairness:
God is just, meaning He administers justice with equity. This involves rewarding good deeds and punishing evil, ensuring that everyone gets what they deserve according to divine law or moral standards.
Moral Order:
God’s justice establishes and maintains a moral order in the universe. This implies that there are universal standards of right and wrong set by God, which humans are expected to follow. Justice, therefore, involves alignment with these divine morals.
Restorative Justice:
Beyond mere punishment, God’s justice often includes restoration. The concept of salvation through Jesus Christ is seen as an act of divine justice where humans are restored to a right relationship with God, balancing the scales that were tipped by ORIGINAL sin.
Eschatological Justice:
Many religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, believe in an ultimate judgment where God’s justice will be fully realized ASIDE FROM THE BROKEN SYSTEM LETTING THEM GO FREE WITHOUT CONSQUENCE THEY WILL GET WHAT’S COMING TO THEM IN ETERNITY. This includes the final judgment where all actions are weighed, and justice is dispensed comprehensively.
Mercy and Justice:
God’s justice is balanced with mercy. This duality suggests that while God judges sin, He also offers forgiveness and mercy, allowing for redemption. This balance is crucial in understanding God’s justice, as it shows a compassionate aspect of divine law EVEN FOR THOSE ON DEATH ROW.
Human Responsibility:
God’s justice also implies human responsibility. Individuals are expected to act justly themselves, reflecting divine justice in their actions towards others, which is often encapsulated in religious directives to pursue justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.
From an outside perspective on humanity, these concepts of divine justice provide a framework for moral behavior, societal laws, and personal ethics, offering both comfort and accountability to believers.
They encourage individuals and communities to strive for fairness, equity, and righteousness in their lives, underpinned by the belief that ultimate justice for any wrong done to us lies in the hands of GOD through his just systems instituted under his rule.
What America HAS HAD IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF GOD’S JUSTICE BUT MAN’S IGNORENCE GONE TO SEED AS A ‘WOKE MIND VIRUS’!
We must start to fix the broken system of Justice focusing on biblical justice and allow God to eradicate the elements that are causing issues in our system and repair the breaches of trust it produces!
This view on God’s justice can be seen as both a guiding principle for living and a promise of ultimate fairness on the cosmic scale, where every act is eventually accounted for, fostering hope in an otherwise often unfair world.
Capital Punishment is not a fix-all but a tool of many to show those in society that evil will not be simply tolerated and given forgiveness without consequences that’s a mentally invalid result of perverted justice Which views crime as a normal function surrounded by a myriad of excuses like family upbringing; mental states of mind; just feelings because of treatment etc…. but it does not take into account the damages done to others nor the massive costs to tax payers taking care of the guilty rather than giving consequences for their crimes!
THE BASIC UNDERSTANDING HERE IS THAT THOSE SENTENCED to physical death CAN STILL REPENT OF THEIR SINS AND GO TO BE WITH GOD IN HEAVEN BUT THEY STILL OWE THEIR PHYSICAL LIFE FOR TAKING A LIFE BUT WILL INHERET A GREATER LIFE FOREVER!
ETERNITY IS FOREVER SO ITS UP TO EVERYONE here Victim or Criminal TO DECIDE HOW THEY WISH TO SPEND IT!
And no it is not at all easy to forgive on our end BUT IT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS AN ALL CONSUMING FIRE THAT BURNS AWAY ALL EXCUSES; ALL WRONGS in a way no human forgiveness could ever do. And also it has got to be fully grasped that when we forgive we are not only healing them by releasing them of the wrong but we are in turn releasing ourselves from THEIR WRONG AGAINST US.
What we get wrong is “We think once we forgive God no longer requires justice but that is not true the requirements of justice for those crimes do not go away the person we forgive is still under God’s curse until THEY ASK FORGIVENESS AND EVEN THEN THE CRIMES REQUIRE PUNISHMENT LEGALLY THEY STILL MUST PAY SOCIETY FOR THE CRIMES regardless of our forgiveness or of their acceptance of Christ.
CAN GOD CHANGE CIRCUMSTANCES? YES, HE CAN but only if both sides in the offence agree and decide that change is good for society.
CLEARLY, SOME CASES ARE IN GRAY AREAS AND DNA EVIDENCE MUST BE USED TO PROVE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. FAIRNESS IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND BASIC BALANCES IN JURIES MUST BE HELD TO HIGH STANDARDS.
In the end, the rights of all involved must be meticulously followed so that all get a fair shake this is going to require a complete overhaul of the current justice system to make certain those rights on both sides are never trampled upon.
This subject is not an easy one to approach on either side of the argument since both sides have good reasoning ATTACHED TO THEM so it’s going to take a lot of Critical thinking and good basic common sense to work this out going forward.
BUT I DO THINK OVER TIME OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL BECOME A BEACON OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE IF WE AGREE TO WORK OUT THE INJUSTICES AND STOP JUMPING ON BANDWAGONS RATHER THAN THINKING THROUGH DECISIONS.
