Expert: Marvin Howard - 4/6/2006

Question
Hi, okay i have two questions....
I am at my wits end and hope that i can find SOMEONE to help me here....
I am a Christian, and very proud of it, i was raised Baptist, however in later years have realized that i dont want to put my God in the "religion" box so to speak.
First.... as a Baptist happily married, my husband is more "non denominational" so to speak, i would like to know the main differences in our believes as i have considered the Church of Christ, my husband has been called by God to evangelize, actually over 10 years ago, when he was 18, however, financial situations have NEVER allowed him to attend college, and it seems whenever we head in that direction we are pushed back, He feels strongly that college is not where he is supposed to go.. and the Church of Christ from what i can tell is the only church that allows for non-umm, degreed preachers..... so again, just the differences if any in our believes? of course i am mainly concerened about difference in the main believes, of once saved always saved, the Trinity,  and of course our church doesnt speak in tongue and the one place i have been in that did sorta of made me feel like people were faking it to BE what they were supposed to be.
I have also in the last year become stronly ANTI Death Penalty. My believe lies in several verses in the bible, the fact that Mosaic law was changed with Jesus, the statements Jesus himself made and of course the 10 Commandments help.
Turn the other cheek, THOU shalt not kill, etc. One of my favorites is Vengence is mine sayeth the Lord.
At any rate, i have contacted a Baptist preacher regarding my question, but as most Baptists seem to do, he reworded the scriptures to suit the pro death penalty view point.
What is your take on the Death Penalty and God's stand? It wont change my viewpoint, but maybe my argument?
I want to know if you interpret the Bible to state the because God give us authority figures they should be able to enforce the "eye for an eye"
I will seriously look into any answers you provide, even if its the one i dont want!! lol.. i just want someone to give me a starting point..with scriptures I do know that many SBC Pastors use verses in Romans to support the Death Penalty, however i interpret those same verses another way, which is possibly because I want to see them that way, however i just do not believe the God i love would support the taking of a life, as i stated the Ten commandants state THOU Shalt Not Kill, and i dont see an "ie" after it...
Thank you
Lin Carl

Answer
Hi!

Lin, thank you for the opportunity to answer. You are to be commended in searching for the truth.

There are several differences between us and the Baptists. The main difference is that we do not approach the Bible as a document that can be taken "cafeteria style," as they do. This difference in approach is shown in many Biblical topics. When the Bible says six different things on a topic, we do not stop at 4, but we differ by speaking all 6. Rather than make this post so long, I am going to point you to several works I have posted online through a couple of branches of my online ministry. You can mark them as favorites, and study them at your convenience. After these, I will speak specifically to the death penalty issue, as I have nothing online on that topic as yet. Maybe it is time I did so.

"Gifts of the Spirit"
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive3.html

"The Kingdom, the Rapture, the Millineum, and the Tribulation (Part 1)"
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive5.html

"The End Time Prophecies; to What Do They Refer? (Part 2)"
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive6.html

"The T.U.L.I.P."
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive9.html

"Church Government and Organization"
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive10.html

"Christmas"
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive1.html

"Christmas Revisited"
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive13.html

"I Want You to Find a Man"
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive2.html

"All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go"
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive14.html

"Election Day"
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive25.html

"Inauguration Day"
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive26.html

"Walking Together, With Both Jesus and Man"
http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive24.html

"In a Pickle"
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-epjVoQIhaaMlzt_TlaGJyQ58PoC8f5ml?p=244

"Interview With a False Teacher"
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-epjVoQIhaaMlzt_TlaGJyQ58PoC8f5ml?p=177

"Happy Easter?"
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-epjVoQIhaaMlzt_TlaGJyQ58PoC8f5ml?p=130

"Goosebumps"
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-epjVoQIhaaMlzt_TlaGJyQ58PoC8f5ml?p=140

"The Church in Prophecy"
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-epjVoQIhaaMlzt_TlaGJyQ58PoC8f5ml?p=4

You see, the church recognizes that for there to be authority for any religious practice, we must be able to Biblically point to a specific command, an example approved by an apostle or the Lord, or an inference that is necessary to complete a thought without contradicting a more plain passage of Scripture. This is commonly called the "CENI hermeneutic." To do anything else is to add too, or take away from, the Word of God. Such is expressly condemned in Galatians 1:8-9 and other places.

Now, we will get to the death penalty. You have already said you will not like my answer, but I will give it anyway, because you asked, and I am obliged to do so.

Romans 13:1-7, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." (KJV)

Most denominationalists hate this passage; at least those against the death penalty. I know the holiness movement thinks this is refering to elders in the church, and that since Peter was told to put away his sword in Gethsemane, that the elders should, as well. Here is one place where the Baptists agree with the church. Examine the same passage from a couple of different versions.

Romans 13:1-7, "Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn't been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God. Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves. People who do what is right don't have to be afraid of the government. But people who do what is wrong should be afraid of it. Would you like to live without being afraid of the government? Do what is right, and it will praise you. The government is God's servant working for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid. The government has the right to carry out the death sentence. It is God's servant, an avenger to execute God's anger on anyone who does what is wrong. Therefore, it is necessary for you to obey, not only because you're afraid of God's anger but also because of your own conscience. That is also why you pay your taxes. People in the government are God's servants while they do the work he has given them. Pay everyone whatever you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe tolls, pay them. If you owe someone respect, respect that person. If you owe someone honor, honor that person." (God's Word)

Romans 13:1-7 "Let every soul be submitting to higher [or, governing] authorities, for [there] is no authority except from God, but the existing authorities have been appointed by God. Accordingly, the one setting himself in opposition to the [governing] authority has resisted God's ordinance, and the ones having resisted will receive judgment to themselves. For the ones ruling are not a terror of good works, _but_ of evil [works]. So do you want to not be fearing the [governing] authority? Be doing good, and you will have praise [or, approval] from it [i.e. the ruling authority]. For it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you are doing evil, be fearing, for it does not bear the sword without reason. For it is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to the one doing evil. For this reason, it is necessary to be subjecting oneself, not only because of wrath, _but_ also because of your conscience. Then, for this reason, you* also pay taxes, for they are public servants of God attending continually [or, devoting themselves] to this very thing. Therefore, pay to all the [things] due [to them]: to the one the tax the tax, to the one the custom [or, tribute] the custom, to the one the fear the fear, to the one the honor the honor." (Analytical Literal Translation)

Romans 13:1-7, "Every person must be subject to the governing authorities, for no authority exists except by God's permission. The existing authorities have been established by God, so that whoever resists the authorities opposes what God has established, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For the authorities are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you like to live without being afraid of the authorities? Then do what is right, and you will receive their approval. For they are God's servants working for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are God's servants to execute wrath on anyone who does wrong. Therefore, it is necessary for you to be subject, not only because of God's wrath but also because of your own conscience. This is also why you pay taxes. For rulers are God's servants faithfully devoting themselves to their work. Pay everyone whatever you owe them-taxes to whom taxes are due, tolls to whom tolls are due, fear to whom fear is due, honor to whom honor is due." (ISV)

Romans 13:1-7, "Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, so that he who is setting himself against the authority, against God's ordinance hath resisted; and those resisting, to themselves shall receive judgment. For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? that which is good be doing, and thou shalt have praise from it, for of God it is a ministrant to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing, for not in vain doth it bear the sword; for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil. Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience, for because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually; render, therefore, to all their dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honour, the honour." (Young's Literal Translation)

Even the Greek supports this translation. From the KJV, the Greek for "higher powers" defines as follows:

"Superior, superiority: - better, excellency, higher, pass, supreme." (higher)

"Concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control, delegated influence: - authority, jurisdiction,  power, right, strength." (powers)

Romans is clearly speaking of the government in this passage. It is clear that the government is given the right to bear the sword. It is so clear that the "God's Word" version translates it as "death sentence."

The Greek for "beareth sword" defines as follows:

"To have a burden, that is, (by analogy) to wear as clothing or a constant accompaniment: - bear, wear." (beareth)

"A knife, that is, dirk; figuratively war, judicial punishment: - sword." (sword)

God has always required that man's blood be shed for the shedding of man's blood (Genesis 9:5-6). This was BEFORE the edict of "an eye for an eye" contained in the Mosaical Law. That Law allowed for the death penalty for many things, including adultery and disobedient children. Those parts didn't get carried over into the New Law, but the original offense did. This is not the only thing brought in from the Patriarichal Age through the Mosaical age. The prohibition of women speaking in worship is another. I will leave that one with you to research.

Today, as Christians, we are not to take the personal vengeance. However, our individual prohibition in no way transfers to government. The government is not just to use the sword, but they are to keep it handy, if you will allow that expression from the definitions in the Greek.

I hope I have cleared up the Biblical stance on these matters for you. If you need further clarification, please don't hesitate to ask.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard
"Preach"
preacherman_1962@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/preacherman_1962
http://profiles.yahoo.com/preacherman_1962