Should Christians support the death penalty?

Absolutely! Yes, Christians should support the death penalty.

Capital punishment is ultimately about valuing life. "Capital punishment is designed to maintain and to emphasize and to establish the sanctity of life." - Martyn Lloyd Jones. God instituted the civil government whose principal task and regards is to protect, maintain and sustain the sanctity of human life. Civil governments act as God’s agents of justice, and are to act on behalf of the good of all people (Rom. 13:4). The essence of the questions is - What does God command? And what does justice demand? The law requires life for life – When somebody deliberately takes another person’s life, that life also must be forfeited (Gen 9:6).

"In principle, capital punishment is not an option in case of murder, but it is a divine mandate God gives to the civil magistrate to carry out... Every human being (no matter how corrupt) bears the image of God. And when you murder an image-bearer of God, God takes that (by extension) as an assault against His own life... And He [God] is saying human life is so sacred that if you wilfully destroy another person's life, you subsequently forfeit any right for the continuity of your life itself... We have advantages over ancient people in terms of detection of crimes & establishment of degrees through forensic proofs for example that Israel didn't have. They didn't have DNA analysis, finger printing. They couldn't convict someone on the basis of the things we use today...I don’t know of any document in history that is more clearly in favour of capital punishment than sacred Scripture." – R.C Sproul

If we are to pray that God's will be done on earth, then we ought to do obey and align our will and thinking with HIS will as revealed in Scripture.

I don't support the death penalty as we are finding out that we have executed innocent people that were exonerated later on.

JohnB445 said:

This isn't about any certain flaws about the current death penalty in states that do still have them, flaws such as mistakes when innocent are executed.

Let's assume if there were no mistakes. And forget the cost, and if it even has any impact at deterring crime compared to states that have life imprisonment instead.

This will be about how God would want things done. And about giving justice and in what way will there be justice, what is the appropriate punishment?

Should a Christian support the death penalty or not?

The Old Testament had the death penalty, are we still to have it today?

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I personally do not and neither did Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Blessings

JohnB445 said:

Should a Christian support the death penalty or not?

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How does this fit in with the commandment we are to care for others as we would have them care for us in times of need. We all start off on equal footing and all have the same ability to murder within us. Did God execute Cain?

I believe murderers should get the death penalty.

On other things in the Old Testament that required the death penalty, I'm not sure about. I think if we had a God-centered government, it would be a good idea to pray to God about these things.

JohnB445 said:

This isn't about any certain flaws about the current death penalty in states that do still have them, flaws such as mistakes when innocent are executed.

Let's assume if there were no mistakes. And forget the cost, and if it even has any impact at deterring crime compared to states that have life imprisonment instead.

This will be about how God would want things done. And about giving justice and in what way will there be justice, what is the appropriate punishment?

Should a Christian support the death penalty or not?

The Old Testament had the death penalty, are we still to have it today?

Click to expand...

Christ opposed it, so do I.

I'm pro-life.

I support sinners burning in hell, if that's what you're asking.

PsaltiChrysostom said:

I don't support the death penalty as we are finding out that we have executed innocent people that were exonerated later on.

The Innocent and the Death Penalty - Innocence Project

innocenceproject.org

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The Death Row "Exonerated"/"Innocent" Frauds
71-83% Error Rate in Death Row "Innocent" Claims,
Well Known Since 2000
The Death Row "Exonerated"/"Innocent" Frauds

FenderTL5 said:

Christ opposed it, so do I.

I'm pro-life.

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Fender: Please review:

The Death Penalty: Mercy, Expiation, Redemption & Salvation
The Death Penalty: Mercy, Expiation, Redemption & Salvation

Jesus and the Death Penalty
Jesus and the death penalty

I see nothing wrong w/ executing mass shooters when it’s caught on film.

Aren't those most hurt who want justice able to have a say? As Christians, we believe in justice.

The “you may execute someone who wasn’t guilty” doesn’t fly in those cases

You see film of innocent victims demanding it. Yet we secluded from it say ‘no, b/c it’ll hurt my own feelings?’ That’s not justice.

The death penalty has largely gone away b/c mob rule was determining who gets it. We are past those days & have technology now that can catch actions on film.

Sanity in general within society has gone away after thousands of years where many believe in ten years we've made valid changes.

dudleysharp said:

The Death Row "Exonerated"/"Innocent" Frauds
71-83% Error Rate in Death Row "Innocent" Claims,
Well Known Since 2000
The Death Row "Exonerated"/"Innocent" Frauds

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So I'm supposed to believe some random blog written by some random guy who is simply "pro death penalty"?

Yeah, Ill pass.

You'd think that the people who support the death penalty for innocent babies would support the death penalty for those guilty of murder .

BurningBush84 said:

You'd think that the people who support the death penalty for innocent babies would support the death penalty for those guilty of murder .

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You'd think those who claim to be pro-life would not only consider abortion through the lens of life being sacred , but also consider capital punishment and euthanasia, plus this would also overlap into issues of poverty, health care, war, guns, immigration, and protection of minorities.
Life is sacred, all of it.

dudleysharp said:

Fender: Please review:

The Death Penalty: Mercy, Expiation, Redemption & Salvation
The Death Penalty: Mercy, Expiation, Redemption & Salvation

Jesus and the Death Penalty
Jesus and the death penalty

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When Jesus was asked directly, he answered directly.
I'll take that answer over a pro-death blogger.

Paul wrote that capital punishment was to be expected from God-appointed government in Romans 13:1-7.

dudleysharp said:

Fender: Please review:

The Death Penalty: Mercy, Expiation, Redemption & Salvation
The Death Penalty: Mercy, Expiation, Redemption & Salvation

Jesus and the Death Penalty
Jesus and the death penalty

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Wow. These were very well written blog posts by ProDPinNC. Thanks for sharing!

I'm pro-capital punishment, but I respect both sides and their opinions. I have nothing further to say.

At least they think of the well being of the condemned by injection and swab the site before inserting the needle