Is this true?

[Apollo Celestio]

After religion class today, I learned that most conservative Christians support the Death penalty. Especially in America. Here, where the justice system isn't perfect and you have corruption within the government, yet we support the death penalty? I guess I could see if it were actually a just government, but not here. Is this really true? Do you really support this?

 

[Criada]

I don't.
But then, I'm not American...
But when we had it in Britain, there were several cases of the sentence being overturned too late.
Not something I think ever worth risking, even were it justifiable to take the life of another person in the first place!

 

[ReformedChapin]

This is an issue I actually struggled quiet a bit. I was raised in the good old US of A. And I do support the death penalty since I think its a good crime (especially murder) deteraint.

 

[Cromwe11]

I support the death penalty because it is mandated in scripture.

No government has ever been perfect, most haven't even been particularly good, but God still mandated it for the crime of murder.

On a side note, as many imperfections as we may point out in the US government and legal system it is still probably the best the world has ever seen.

the quest for perfection in government and society is extremely dangerous and in all cases that I'm aware of when it has been pursued it has lead to disaster.

 

[Nicki4Christ]

I support the death penalty.

Romans 13 Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. (2) So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and Punishment will follow.

I did not always feel this way, but after reading Romans I had a change of heart.

 

[Monica02]

Most Americans, not just conservative American Christians, support the death penalty. I do not, but I am in the minority in the USA.

 

[BelindaP]

I believe that the majority of evangelical conservatives do. Many other conservatives do not. Me, I go back and forth, but am working my way to being against it--especially as practiced here in the U.S.

 

[Lady Bug]

I have struggled with this issue for a long time. To be honest, I think I struggle with it because I seem to agree with both sides of this issue because I can empathize with both sides. It's weird.

 

[ContentInHim]

I struggle with it also.

It is biblical. To that extent I approve of it.

And since it's often 10-15 years between conviction and execution, there's plenty of opportunity for innocence to be proven before execution.

Sadly there are occurances of miscarriage of justice.

 

[BelindaP]

Ladybug, I think you and I are in the same boat.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

After religion class today, I learned that most conservative Christians support the Death penalty. Especially in America. Here, where the justice system isn't perfect and you have corruption within the government, yet we support the death penalty? I guess I could see if it were actually a just government, but not here. Is this really true? Do you really support this?

Yes, most American Christian political conservatives support it. I'm not so sure where theological conservatives who are not also political conservatives stand. (I'm a theological conservative who is politically libertarian).

I'm unsure about the death penalty. I think scripture allows it, even supports it, but I agree that our justice system is too corrupt for it to be fairly administered. And I would add, too slow and inefficient for it to be a good deterrent.

On net balance, I guess I'm more against it than not, under present circumstances at least.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Figured as much. "An eye for an eye", eh? I'm against it, especially here. Not that I feel for wrongdoers, but I thought we were supposed to be a little different. :/

 

[Criada]

Matthew 5
38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.


Not suggesting that this is a way to run a criminal justice system in a largely secular society... but it does imply that the old covenant has been overturned....

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

I support the death penalty because it is mandated in scripture.

No government has ever been perfect, most haven't even been particularly good, but God still mandated it for the crime of murder.

On a side note, as many imperfections as we may point out in the US government and legal system it is still probably the best the world has ever seen.

the quest for perfection in government and society is extremely dangerous and in all cases that I'm aware of when it has been pursued it has lead to disaster.

Very well put.

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

Matthew 5
38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.


Not suggesting that this is a way to run a criminal justice system in a largely secular society... but it does imply that the old covenant has been overturned....

This verse is for us personally. It doesn't mean government should stop capital punishment. One only needs to read Romans to see that.

 

[Criada]

The only time Jesus confronted this issue was in the case of the woman taken in adultery.... who should certainly have died according to the law...
His reaction tells us something, I think!

 

[IamRedeemed]

Me too. I believe it is Biblical and I also believe that if it were enforced by every state across the board and was a known automatic sentence, it would reduce violent crimes dramatically, and there would be FAR fewer instances. (as would some of the other somewhat barbaric consequences, such as cutting off fingers or hands of those who steal, or if we were to castrate men who rape or molest children.)

My two main concerns are

a) someone being convicted wrongfully
and
b) and dying without an opportunity to receive Christ.

I believe that it should be required that each one receiving the death penalty be afforded the opportunity to hear and receive the gospel. (with the Separation of Church and State, that probably cannot be mandated, however, as Christians, we should make it our personal responsibility to make sure that happens).

I struggle with it also.

It is biblical. To that extent I approve of it.

And since it's often 10-15 years between conviction and execution, there's plenty of opportunity for innocence to be proven before execution.

Sadly there are occurances of miscarriage of justice.

 

[sageoffools]

Absolutely I support the death penalty.
In fact, I think, instead of allowing the offenders to drift peacefully off to sleep, we should go back to the good old Bible and start stoning people again.
Now, when someone is given the death penalty, the only people that witness it are the immediate family of the victim. The problem is, whenever a crime is committed, there is not just one victim. When someone in a town is murdered, the whole town is paralyzed until that person is caught. Children can't play outside without their parents watching them every moment. Husbands don't want their wives out at night by themselves.
When God instituted stoning, He knew what He was doing.
Yes, it may seem barbaric, but that is because we are soft people.
In the Bible days, when a person was convicted of a crime worthy of death the whole town would gather for the stoning. The immediate family of the victim would be the first people to throw the stones, then it would progress outward until ever person in the town took part in the sentence. This did two things:
1. It showed that every person in the town was affected by the crime committed, in some way, so they were allowed to take some part in the sentence.
2. It allowed each person to see the punishment for certain crimes. When you have held a stone in your hand and thrown it at the head of someone convicted of murder, taking part in the punishment, you will be much less likely to do something worthy of death in the future.

 

[If Not For Grace]

My two main concerns are

a) someone being convicted wrongfully
and
b) and dying without an opportunity to receive Christ.

The one thing I have never heard of is someone on death row not having and opportunity to repent and receive Christ (in the USA).

The wages of sin is death.

Christianity is founded on the death penalty. There was no more "wrongful" death than that of Christ; and non is more honored or revered, nor was any more necessary that others be saved.

If we have a problem with the death penalty why not Judges/courts in general? Just forgive them all and set all offenders free? What is the alternative? Life in prison? What sort of life is that? How humane are we if we lock someone away for all their days? The death penalty is not about deterrents but about consequences for actions.

 

[Criada]

2. It allowed each person to see the punishment for certain crimes. When you have held a stone in your hand and thrown it at the head of someone convicted of murder, taking part in the punishment, you will be much less likely to do something worthy of death in the future.

Don't you think it may be hard to find any who meet the biblical requirements to carry out the sentence?

John 8:7
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.