How many of us Conservative Christians believe in Capital Punishment?

[JimfromOhio]

I would have to vote yes in this poll, though I'm no particular fan of capital punishment.

I am not particular fan of taxes either, but well...

As an "Anabaptist" in me, personally, I am against death penalty, biblically (reformed or Calvinist), I support the death penalty.

I am not a fan of taxes either but Christ said we are to pay our taxes.

 

[JimfromOhio]

Jim,
God did not set up capital punishment no more than He set up slavery. Both laws, no, all three, divorce, slavery, and capital punishment were set up to control what man had already invented for themselves. I have done an extensive study on this due to my chats with the atheists. Try explaining how a loving God can order men, women, children, and even animals to be killed. Slavery, CP, and divorce are easy in comparison.

BTW, if anyone is interested, the explanation of how God can order a nation down to every living creature killed can be found under The Laws of Warfare in Deuteronomy 20.

To continue, slavery was mentioned for the first time by Noah who cursed one of his sons with slavery. Not an invention of God. We were created free. We chose to sin and chose bondage. Slavery to each other was just a natural result of sin.

Divorce was written into the law as Jesus said due to the hardness of men's hearts. It was not so from the beginning. God's perfect will is that a husband love his wife as Christ loves the church.

Capital Punishment, I will have to look up the earliest occurance of that, but I do know that very early in Genesis, we are told that a man who hangs on a tree is cursed. God does not curse people lightly. Indeed, one can read that this is even condemnation of hanging a man on a tree as punishment.

Further, we know that God did not kill Adam and Eve for their sin, not immediately anyway, nor was Cain put to death for his capital crime.

Captial Punishment as found in the law is decreed and ordained to CONTROL the use. It is a warning against vigilantism. In fact, there are provisions in which the charged may escape to various safe spots in the land of Israel to avoid Capital Punishment.

Lisa

This is God's law on Capital Punishment many years after Abel and Cain. In Genesis 9:6: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made He man.” Because of the sanctity of man, because he is created in the image of God, God instituted a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, etc. Murder is a crime against God in whose image man is made—it defiles God—so capital punishment is required. God instituted capital punishment. Therefore, ONLY GOD can remove the capital punishment. In the Old Testament laws are discussed into three general categories: moral, ceremonial, and civil. Civil and Moral laws have not been touched by Christ because there is no need to change because they are considered timeless, eternal, and universal, based on God's own character. Christ came to FULFILL the law, not destroy the law. Moral laws are God's laws for His followers while Civil laws are for His followers that Governments are ordained by Him. One of the example of the Civil law is Judges and jurors selected by human criteria, rather than by God's standards. (See Exodus 18:21-22).

Regarding slavery, I find nothing from God that allows us to have slaves but God simply allows corrupted sinners to have slavery.

Regarding divorce, God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Divorce in the Scripture is permitted as an accommodation to man's sin for the protection of the innocent party. In Matthew 19:5-9, Christ taught that divorce is an accommodation to man's sin and is in violation of God's purpose for the intimate unity of the marriage bond (see Gen. 2:24).

Biblically, grounds for divorce are
(1) fornication (any sinful sexual activity, including adultery--unfaithfulness of a marriage partner)

(2) a nonbelieving partner who initiates the divorce due to incompatibility with a Christian.

I am divorced because of BOTH (my ex had affairs and not a believer).

 

[mont974x4]

The only issue I have is it takes to long and denies people the right to swift justice.


It isn't supposed to be a detereant, it's punishment and it is just. If I didn't beleive it to be just then I would have a real problem with God.

 

[Albion]

As Jim pointed out, there are exceptions to the no divorce policy and they are explicit. Capital punishment is spoken of as just, even if we may hold out that it is not required. But slavery is never described in scripture as just in itself, merely as existing.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

I didn't vote, because I'm not quite sure. I do believe that God has given our governing authorities the right/responsibility to use the death penalty for the safety and peace of their citizens.

However, I could never, as as Christian, sentence someone to a death penalty. It is wrong for me to decide to take someone else's life, no matter the circumstance. And as a couple of other posters mentioned, we should not cut short the time for sinners to repent.

Mary

 

[Hishandmaiden]

I am in a hesitation with regard to this question.
I think laws have the purpose of detering criminals from commiting the same crime, again. Therefore, laws can help to protect the majority of the good citizens in a country from the harm of the minority who chooses to do bad things.

On the other hand, I believe in forgiving criminals and giving them a second chance in life. If I can have my way, I will vote Yes for unrepentant criminal and NO for criminals, who, in the process, of their jail terms, reflect a GENUINE repentance for their crime and sins, and GENUINELY turn over a new leaf.

In the end, I guess I just leave it to my government to decide. And pray and work through whatever system my government comes up with.

 

[LutheranChick]

I voted yes because I believe that Capital Punishment is Scriptural. "Ordained by God' may be a bit strong - I believe that the Bible give the government the Authority to administer capital punishment, but God does not command governments that it be done.

 

[mont974x4]

Although He did command it in the OT.

 

[Albion]

I didn't vote, because I'm not quite sure. I do believe that God has given our governing authorities the right/responsibility to use the death penalty for the safety and peace of their citizens.

However, I could never, as as Christian, sentence someone to a death penalty. It is wrong for me to decide to take someone else's life, no matter the circumstance. And as a couple of other posters mentioned, we should not cut short the time for sinners to repent.

Mary

I think I feel as you and handmaiden do, but I see the question only as authorizing capital punishment, not that it has to be used. I personally would reserve it for only the most serious crimes such as serial murder.

BTW, you notice that most of those who oppose the death penalty actually feel the same. They say it is barbaric, etc. and shouldn't be allowed, but when Timothy McVeigh was executed, there were no candlelight vigils, people writing to the governor protesting the death penalty, and the usual outpouring when some more sympathetic criminal (such as Karla Faye Tucker) is executed.

 

[LutheranChick]

I didn't vote, because I'm not quite sure. I do believe that God has given our governing authorities the right/responsibility to use the death penalty for the safety and peace of their citizens.

However, I could never, as as Christian, sentence someone to a death penalty. It is wrong for me to decide to take someone else's life, no matter the circumstance. And as a couple of other posters mentioned, we should not cut short the time for sinners to repent.

Mary

(in reference to your last sentence): However, people do spend a long time on death row before they are acually executed. Many years, in fact. It's not like they are sentenced one day and executed the next. I believe that God gives everyone plenty of time to repent of their sins and be saved. Even if they are on death row, they still can be saved. I don't mean to debate, but I just wanted to point that out. So, just curious - do you believe that if a judge is a Christian, he should not sentence someone to death? Even if he/she is acting on behalf of the government?

 

[nyj]

Although He did command it in the OT.

Genesis 4:13-15
Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me this day away from the ground; and from thy face I shall be hidden; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will slay me." Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If any one slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who came upon him should kill him.

 

[JimfromOhio]

Genesis 4:13-15
Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me this day away from the ground; and from thy face I shall be hidden; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will slay me." Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If any one slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who came upon him should kill him.

About 5 chapters later in Genesis 9:6: “Whoso ever sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made He man.” In the New Testament, Matthew 26:52 and Acts 25:11, the sword means kill. The "Sword" was not used to spank someone, but to kill them. Jesus was referring sword as "shall perish with the sword." Perish means death.

Romans 13:4
In KJV: 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.

 

[nyj]

Did God contradict Himself?

 

[JimfromOhio]

Did God contradict Himself?

In Chapter 4, the Government was not formed (yet). People keep forgetting the difference between that individual cannot kill but government can.

God did not want to establish personal retribution, personal vengeance, as a means of dealing with criminals. God says: "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." God is the avenger. God places that vengeance in the hands of a duly constituted government, court. But no personal vengeance like Rambo or of that sort.

 

[mont974x4]

There is a diference between and individual commiting murder and the state, with authority given by God, doing its duty to protect it's citizens and administer justice.

 

[Brennin]

I am of two minds on the subject. Some crimes are so heinous that I want to see the perpetrators executed. However, I also recognize that innocent people are sometimes convicted and there is the possibility of redemption for the guilty.

 

[mont974x4]

Spiritual redemption does not free us from the earthly consequences of our actions.

 

[Iosias]

Yes Capital Punishment is God's ordained and has not changed.

 

[Iosias]

Genesis 9:6 "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."

 

[Miss Shelby]

I am of the frame of mind that if Paul would have been rightfully executed for his crimes, we would not have the Bible as we know it today. I believe repentance and redeption should be held in higher regard than vengeance, which belongs to the Lord.