Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 8/13/2011

Question
Hello, I am a Baptist christian and have recently noted divergant perspectives within christianity towards captial punishemt. On one hand there is the sanctity of life and teachings emphasizing forgiveness and compassion. Yet In my reasurch i have found paul does not condem capital punishemnt on these principal he condones it. In the name of justice and the common good. Paul speaks of not “bearing the sword in vein” Romans (13 :3-5) .(which is a reference to the death penalty according to several interpretations i have read. (Similar attitude seen in acts 25:11)  
Jesus spoke of turning the other cheek and acting not in revenge during his sermon on the mount.
Yet he acknoleges pillates right to take his life for law and order, even thouhg to punish Jesus was clearly not just,(i understand its not as simple as that)
New International Version (©1984) John 19:11
Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
The punishment of innocents (Jesus or anyother human) like this horifies me .God has sanctified captial punishement ,sancitioning it as lawful punishemt for several crimes in the old testament.
But what if the civil authority does not reflect Gods justice?
God has the right to take life, but when is it our “justice” not Gods ?
IS it the death penalty still relavent to a modern context?
Are these teachings a call to response, if we act upone these teachings, what would it looks like ? As an Australian do I condem or condone ?
Can you help me reconsile an understanding, what do you believe on the issue and why?
With all due respect,
Jeremy Hutton.

Answer
Thanks for writing, Mr. Hutton.  
You are right about Jesus teaching us to be kind to those who insult us (Unless you are left handed, you don't strike someone on the "right cheek," as in Matt. 5:39, except as a back handed insult.)  A violent punch by a normal, right-handed person, would land on someone else's left cheek.  The last part of Romans 12 also speaks of kindness, not vengeance--heap coals of fire (kindness) on your enemy's head.

The Biblical reason for capital punishment is not vengeance, but is an act of civil government to protect the lives of citizens from murderers.  Genesis 9:6 "Whoso sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man."  Government should give the ultimate punishment to those who hate God's special creation, humans, enough to murder.  So capital punishment teaches that human life is sacred--anything less diminishes the value of human life.

Capital punishment also underscores the principle necessary to understand in order to be saved for eternity.  The wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23, so we are all born spiritually dead (separated from God, our Source of life) and will all die physically.  It is because of our sins that Jesus died physically and spiritually (Our sins separated Him from His Father), offering the only perfect Sacrifice that can allow us into a perfect heaven.

People often have difficulty understanding that everything bad (death, sorrow, pain, etc.) stems from sin, even though in this temporary life, God allows some bad things to encourage people to turn from sin before facing an eternity of only bad things all the time.  The contrast of bad and good in this life should remind us to choose God, the Source of life and everything good. James 1:17

As Christians, we should not condone or condemn according to our own opinions, but according to what the whole Word of God teaches.  Punishment by Christians should always be to encourage the offender to realize the error of his ways and turn to God with repentance for eternal life.

Pilate didn't take the life of Jesus.  No one could have taken the life of the Source of Life (John 1:1-4, Matt.26:53).  Jesus GAVE His life willingly as the only Way to save us sinners.

No doubt there are people "innocent" of the murder charge for which they are given the capital punishment sentence, but at this time in history, most non-Communist/Muslim societies are very lax about capital punishment, using it very rarely, and only after extended time, appeals, etc.  

We all die eventually, and we all actually deserve to die because we are all sinners, so capital punishment can be a blessing if it encourages a sinner to get serious with God and receive eternal life before time is up.

To act upon God's teaching about capital punishment with your emotional concern about this issue, might mean God wants you to encourage someone on death row to accept the eternal life God went to such an expense to offer (the life of His only begotten Son).

May the Lord lead you to reflect His image for His glory!
Mrs. Lyons