Misuse of Bible blamed for US death penalty culture (Christian culture of death- ha)

ekklesia ^ | 12-04-05

[philled]

At the gym, I had the misfortune of watching a bit of CNN yesterday. During their "Save Tookie" programming, they stated that the US, Iran, Saudi Arabia, N. Korea, and China together are responsible for 97% of the world's executions. They implied that the 1,000 execution carried out in the US after nearly 30 years of it becoming legal was an huge number and that there had been a recent "flurry".
A few minutes later they commented that China is estimated to have carried out nearly 3,500 in the last year. Apparently, the viewer is supposed to remember adverbs and adjectives and not pay any attention to actual numbers. We've had a "flurry" (or approximately 0.09 a day over 30 years) while China's daily average may have been over 100 times that amount in the last year?
I guess this is how they approach economic news, as well. I mean, we are in "disappointing" economic times, aren't we?

[msnimje]

If everyone lived by Christan values there would be no need for the death penalty. How about we start a campaign to make murder a bad thing? Think that would get any support on the left?

[DesignerChick]

Does it never occur to the opponents of capital punishment that the people facing the death penalty didn't seem to mind carrying out executions on (multiple) innocents prior to their arrest and incarceration - which is how they end up on 'death row' to begin with?
Why is it okay for the inmates to have decided that the death penalty was the way to go for the citizenry EXCEPT... its not really good for them.....

Why should they- the convicted- get to live long lives when they couldn't extend the same courtesy to their victims?

[pierrem15]

They left Japan off the list.

[SDGOP]

Only 1000? We had over 2300 people killed here in california last year alone and how many of their killers will be executed?

[Mr. Keys]

Yep, it's that Bible that makes China execute their prisoners. That's it.

[Condor51]

1. "showing that the death penalty is no deterrent, say critics."

   Well the critics are full of shiite. The statistics show no such thing. The stats show how many convicted KILLERS are executed - period.

   Plus they are arguing a negative. There are NO stats as to say how many armed robbers never pull the trigger BECAUSE of the DP. Or how many people who DON'T go home and 'get a gun' when pi$$ed. I'd even guess that if the penalty was only like 7-10 years for killing someone, MORE people would be fatally shot.

2. "It is harder to prove that racism is involved, the researcher claimed, though statistics show black people are on death row in numbers far disproportionate to their population density of 14 per cent."

   Racism my butt you jackasses and let's DO talk stats. Yeah blacks comprise 14% of the population, but they commit 68% (IIRC) of the murders.

   And here's MORE stats - if the FBI didn't play with its crime reporting methods and include Hispanics as 'white', the percentage of white on black hate crimes would be about ZERO and the percentage of 'whites' committing murders would be about 8% (going by memory) - now that's racism.

And the Bible has nothing to do with any of it you heathen euro-weenies.

[TheDon]

But experts also say that “unwavering belief in retribution” based on the selective interpretation of biblical texts by Christian fundamentalists is part of what keeps the “state killing culture” alive

Retribution? That would be a misreading of the NT and Christianity. That's more of an OT belief.

The reason executing murderers is supported in the US is because we prefer to protect ourselves from murderers, and there is only one way to do so.

[Fiddlstix]

Click the Pic J
....in a few short weeks it will be spring. The snows of winter will flow away, the ice will vanish, the air will become soft and balmy.

The annual miracle of the years will awaken and come to pass.
The rivulet will run its soaring course to the sea.
The timid desert flowers will put fourth their tender shoots.
The glorious valleys of this imperial domain will blossom as the rose.
From every tree top, some wild songster will carol his mating song.
Butterflies will sport in the sunshine.

But you will not be here to enjoy it. Because I command the sheriff of the county to lead you away to some remote spot, swing you by the neck from a bough of some sturdy oak and let you hang until you are Dead, Dead, Dead!
You cold-blooded, blood-thirsty, throat-cutting, murdering son of a bitch.

.....Judge Roy Bean

I agree with Bean....

[Uri’el-2012]

Why did I not find a reference to G-d's Word?

Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his
shed; for in the image of God has God made man.

b'shem Y'shua

[joesnuffy]

The State, according to Romans 13, is "God's agent of wrath to punish evildoers and does not bear the sword in vain".

[webboy45]

Ted Bundy said that he would never have gone to Florida if he had know we have the death penalty. That's a pretty good case for deterrence.

[FreeRep]

General George S. Patton, my hero, said about "Thou shall not kill" types. He called them "pulpit killers!" "These pulpit killers that go around saying that the Bible says that man dare not kill...Damn little those pulpit killers know about the Bible. They know even less about the way God works. Don't talk to me about God not permitting man to kill. War means that we have to kill people. That's all there is to it. There is no other way to win. Wars must be won for God's sake. He has a part in every war! The quicker we can kill the enemy, the quicker we can go home and listen to the pulpit killers tell us what we did wrong. If it wasn't for us, those pulpit idiots would be shot for standing in their own pulpits. Our task is to kill the enemy before we are killed."...

[Who dat?]

But experts also say that “unwavering belief in retribution” based on the selective interpretation of biblical texts by Christian fundamentalists is part of what keeps the “state killing culture” alive.

Has nothing to do with “retribution.” Has to do with JUSTICE. Also has to do with OBEDIENCE and being able to follow directions.

The murdered person’s soul is already with God. That soul waits with God for the arrival of the murderer’s soul so JUDGMENT can be properly rendered. Not “human” judgment – the Real Deal.

It’s pretty simple but goes right over a lot of heads… especially “experts” and the like. It also tends to suggest that your physical existence isn't the be-all end-all.

That sort of thing tends to upset their little apple cart. Forces them to address (at some point) their insignificance and mortality.

[Jaysun]

(homicide rate) "While the American rate is down from recent years, it is still among the highest in the world, showing that the death penalty is no deterrent, say critics."

The purpose of the death penalty is punishment, not to serve as a "deterrent". Besides, at least one killer is disposed of even if it's true that it doesn't deter others.

I'd also like to point out that we execute a very small number of people. Perhaps we'll go NUTS one day and kill 100 criminals in a single year!

[popdonnelly]

The death penalty has existed in cultures which never knew the Bible.

[familyop]

No, China executes many more people than the USA.

[wita]

I do believe Indonesia is still in the business, having hung an Australian drug dealer just recently.

[usslsm51]

105 countries would like to have the standard of living that is enjoyed in the United States!

[RaceBannon]

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
What Does the Bible Teach
on this Vital Subject?

 

1. Instituted by God Himself

Capital punishment was instituted by God Himself after the worldwide flood.  We learn of this 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."   This verse speaks of a murderer, one who knowingly and violently sheds another man's blood, resulting in death.   God here gives man the authority and the right and the duty to put to death the murderer:  "by man shall his blood be shed."   The reason given for this is based upon the value and sacredness of human life:  "for in the image of God made he man."   In this case we have justice being carried out according to the rule:  "life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Exodus 21:23-24).  The penalty should fit the crime.  In this case the crime is murder and the penalty is death.   Notice that Genesis 9:6 was given to man even before the law of Moses was given.

2. "Thou Shalt Not Kill"?

Capital punishment is not a violation of the sixth commandment which says, "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13).  The proper translation of this verb is "Thou shalt not murder."  See modern translations (such as the NASB, the NIV and the NKJV) and also see Matthew 19:18 in the KJV. All murder is killing but not all killing is murder.  Some examples of killing that would not be considered as murder are as follows:  a) killing the enemy in war (Bible examples:  David killing Goliath, Joshua and the Israelites when they conquered the land);  b) a husband, discovering a man about to kill his wife and/or children, protects and defends his family by having to kill the attacker;  c) a policeman who kills in the line of duty in order to protect innocent life; d) the person carrying out capital punishment, such as the man who must pull the switch for the electric chair;  e) accidental killing, when the killer never intended to take someone's life.  We should also note that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself will "judge and make war" at His second coming resulting in countless numbers of deaths (Rev. 19:11-20).

3. Crimes Punishable By Death

We are assured that capital punishment is not a violation of the 10 Commandments.   This is evident when on  Exodus chapter 21 (the 10 Commandments are found in chapter 20).   In chapter 21 we learn that God in His law demanded the death penalty for a number of crimes such as murder, kidnapping, cursing parents, etc.  See Exodus 21:12,15,16,17. See also Leviticus 20:10-17 for other crimes punishable by death in the law of Moses.

4. The Executioner As God's Servant

In New Testament times we find that capital punishment was still being practiced.   In Romans 13:4 we learn that God has given human governments the authority to execute wrath upon evildoers by means of a sword (a common instrument of capital punishment in New Testament days).  The Apostle Paul was living in a day when capital punishment w commonly practiced in the Roman empire (quite unlike our day), and yet he does not condemn this practice.  On the contrary he describes the person who bears the sword as being God's servant.  Thus the one punishing the person who does evil does so in the exercise of God's delegated authority.

5. An Effective Deterrent

Capital punishment, when consistently practiced, is a very effective deterrent to crime.  This is because the fear of death is the greatest fear that man has (see Hebrews 2:14-15).  Because death is the king of fears, a man will think twice about committing a crime if he knows it will cost him his life.  He will be much less reluctant to murder someone if he knows that the worst that could happen to him is to stay in jail the rest of his life with meals provided, television to watch, etc.  When swift justice is carried out then "those who remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil" (Deut.19:20).  When the right penalty is not executed speedily, then this is an encouragement to crime (see Eccles. 8:11).

6. Cruel and Inhumane?

Isn't capital punishment very cruel and inhumane?  Death is usually not pleasant to witness, and certainly those responsible for putting a criminal to death do not have an enviable task.  Nevertheless we need to be careful that we do not focus on the criminal and forget about the victim of the crime.  Cold-blooded murder is very cruel and inhumane. Forcible rape is very cruel and inhumane.  Hijacking an airplane and endangering the lives of many innocent people is very cruel and inhumane. Pushing life-destroying drugs is very cruel and inhumane.  In our zeal to protect the criminal we have lost sight of the terribleness of the crime.  Regardless of a person's position on capital punishment, all would have to agree that if a murderer is put to death, he will never murder again.  It is remarkable that those people who decry capital punishment as being a cruel and inhumane method of destroying people's lives are often the same people who are strongly in favor of abortion rights.  Why does a guilty murderer have a greater right to life than an unborn child?

7. Paul's Own Testimony

What did the Apostle Paul think of capital punishment?  Did he consider it to be unfair and cruel and inhumane?  We have already considered Paul's teaching in Romans 13, but we should also make note of what the Apostle said in Acts 25:11:  "If I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die."   Paul knew that there were certain crimes that were worthy of death, and he knew that those guilty of such crimes must be executed.  If he was guilty of such, then he would not refuse to die.  He would submit to capital punishment if he had done deeds worthy of such.  Of course, Paul was innocent of any such crimes, and yet he was eventually executed under Nero.  For what crime?  For preaching the gospel of the grace of God!

8. Bright Barbarians

Even uncultured men know deep down in their hearts that certain crimes demand the deat  This is illustrated in Acts 28 when Paul was shipwrecked upon the island of Melita (Malta) where he met a group of kindly barbarians (v.1-2).   As Paul was gathering sticks for the fire, a deadly venomous snake bit him on the hand.  Normally such a bite would be fatal in a matter of minutes.  When the natives saw this they said, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet justice alloweth not to live" (v.4).  These natives saw what they thought was the penalty (death) and thus they assumed the crime (he must be a murderer).  They soon learned that they were mistaken, but the point is that these barbarians had a built in sense of justice and they knew that murderers should pay for their crime by death.

9. The Testimony of a Thief (Robber)

In Luke chapter 23 we have the honest testimony of a man who was being put to death for crimes he had done.  This was capital punishment by means of Roman crucifixion.   This man was an evildoer, he was arrested, and he was found guilty of crimes worthy of death.  Modern methods of execution are generally very mild and painless as compared to Roman crucifixion.  What did this man think of capital punishment?   Was he opposed to it?  Did he consider it to be cruel and inhumane?  Did he think it to be unfair and unjust?  Here is his testimony (his words to the other condemned criminal):  "Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds" (Luke 23:40-41).  In other words, he was saying, "We are getting exactly what we deserve:  death by crucifixion.  What we have done is worthy of death!"    Before men and before human government most of us are not guilty of crimes worthy of death.  However, before a Holy God every one of us needs to recognize that we have done certain things that are worthy of death (see Romans 1:29-32; 6:23a).  As the Old Testament says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). How thankful we should be that our Lord Jesus Christ suffered the death penalty for us:   "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).

10. The Death of an Innocent Man

If capital punishment is practiced, would not there be times when an innocent man is pronounced guilty and put to death?  Yes, this is true. Our judicial system is far from perfect and there are times when the guilty are justified and the innocent are condemned (compare Deut. 25:1). Even without the death penalty, it is true that occasionally some innocent men are sent to prison even for life.  We must remember that there is in heaven a true and righteous Judge who sees all and who knows all and who someday will make right all that is wrong and will straighten out all that is crooked.   In eternity, all will be corrected (see Luke 16:25 for an example of this).   The greatest example of an innocent man being put to death is that of the Lord Jesus Himself, "who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (1 Pet. 2:22).  The only sinless Man who ever lived was condemned to death by crucifixion!   As we think about Christ's death, we must remember that it was for our sins that He suffered and bled and died (1 Cor. 15:3; Rom. 5:8).  "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just (the Righteous One) for the unjust (the unrighteous ones), that he might bring us to God" (1 Pet. 3:18).  We are the guilty ones who deserved the death penalty (Rom. 6:23), but Jesus paid it all!  He died so that we might live (John 5:24)!

                        --George Zeller

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The Middletown Bible Church 349 East Street Middletown, CT 06457 (860) 346-0907

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