Death penalty?

Question

I know that there is some debate in christian circles about whether the death penalty is biblical endorsed. I know the old testament prescribed the death penalty for an extensive list of crimes. BUt what does the New testament say?

Jesus came to fulfill the old testament so does that mean that capitol punishment is still a viable option? Or do should we follow the "let he who has no sins cast the first stone" saying.?

Im opposed but Im curious what other people think.

Answer 1

This is a very controversial question. Jesus said he came to fulfill the law, he never said he did away with the law. But putting all religion aside for a moment I will tell you how I feel as a christian.
I believe that some crimes are still worthy of death. A foster parent in my state was arresting for molesting children. He had been a foster parent for 20 years. God only knows why the system didn't catch on sooner to what was going on. When I picked up my morning paper and read this, I cried and began praying for the children. They were in his home seeking protection. This is the vilest most evil of crimes as far as I am concerned. I believe in the rehabilitation process, but a person like this can not be rehabilitated.
I own a Pitt bull. He is a beautiful, gentle animal. If he attacked a child, I would not hesitate to put a gun to his head and end his life.
This man and those like him are no better than a mad dog, in fact they are worse, so why would a so called intelligent society allow someone like this to live.

I pray about the way I feel everyday. I am a christian and I try to live as close to God as I can, but I believe in my heart that someone must protect our children. I believe if these people knew the punishment you would see much less of the crime.

May God forgive me if I am wrong in my beliefs.

Answer 2

Well, after the flood, God announced a covenant between himself and "every living creature on Earth" (in other words, with everyone, not just with the Jews, since Abraham had not been born yet). This covenant is NOT part of the Old Testament covenant that God made with Abraham, since it predates the birth of Abraham by a few hundred years. Apparently this particular covenant was to last as long as there were rainbows in the sky (Gen. 9:12-17). In short, forever. What most people do NOT seem to recall about this covenant is that it mandates the death penalty for murder (Gen. 9:6).

The New Testament covenant apparently does away with the Law of Moses only (Acts 15:1-23; Gal. 3:1-5:26), which itself was an amendment to the Old Testament covenant God made with Abraham (Gal. 3:15-25). It is the Law of Moses that mandated the death penalty for other things (like adultery). Since Jesus apparently did away with the Law of Moses (Heb.8:1-13) then we don't follow Moses anymore.

Note, however, that the NT says nothing about abolishing the covenant that God announced to Noah.

Sounds a little far fetched? Note that both Paul (Romans 13:1-4) and Peter (1 Peter 2:13-14 & 4:15) seemed to imply that the government has the right to use deadly force to enforce justice and punish criminals. I know that Paul said in Romans that we should not take personal vengeance, but we should leave it to the Lord. But in the same book of Romans, Paul also stated that the government has the right to use the sword to enforce justice.

I don't see anything in the NT that abolishes the death penalty for murder, since the covenant that God announced to Noah was never lifted.

Answer 3

I do not believe in the death penelty. Most civilized countries have abolished it. The last execution here in Canada was 1960.In order for a nation to join the European Union, they must first abolish it. The 4 most notorious for the death penalty are : China, Saudi Arabia, Iran & the USA. Cuba has a moratorium on it with a view of abolishing it in the near future. In the USA there is no equality under the law. A poor black man in Alabama will not get the same defence as O.J.Simpson, or Ted Kennedy. So, at least put a morotorium in place until you can make sure everyone will be treated equally

Answer 4

In Islam we do have the death penalty, as well as other forms of punishment, and we do carry out these punishments whenever they are needed. We make no apologies for doing so, however, it is imperative to understand that we do have a justice system complete with courts and juries. These laws and punishments are for both our personal as well as the community's benefit. When carried out as intended, a truly Islamic State will rarely witness a repeat offender, which not only ensures the peace and harmony of the community by stopping potential tragedies, but also saves that community billions of tax dollars. Think of these laws as preventative measures. If you know that if you murder a person, you too will die, this makes that person think twice. in America, if you murder a person, you get a gauranteed place of residence, an excercise yard, AND access to a library. The actual punishment of execution may not come for eight to twelve years if at all. Besides the billions of dollars that law abiding citizens must shell out to provide these comforts (comforts that millions in the world will never know) where's the incentive NOT to commit a crime? Recidivism (repeat offenders) show that America's penal system does not work. In fact, America is the number one murder capitol in the ENTIRE WORLD, but you won't find that on the tourist brochures. Many Christians, but not all, will cry out that this is unjust and barbaric





After all, this is the message of the All-Wise and all-knowing God whose wisdom and knowledge are far beyond the ultimate in human thought and progress.

Answer 5

I am also opposed to the death penalty. Being from a country where the death penalty was abolished hundreds of years ago, i find it abhorent that a country so great as the USA can condone such merciless acts. The goverment and the people who decide that a person is sentenced to death are no better than the person who who committed the crime. Who are we to sit in judgement and decides whether a person lives or dies. Only the Lord has the right to give and take life. What ever happened to 'turn the other cheek' and 'forgive those who tresspass against us?'

Answer 6

the old testament did proscribe the death penalty for certain crimes but it also gave a system of law so strict that it was extremely unlikely to actually give the death penalty in reality.

one example is, the death penalty was allowed to be given only if there were at least 2 witnesses to the crime and at least one of them had to have warned the criminal that the punishment for the crime was the death penalty.

and another interesting tidbit of old testament law is that if the accused person was found guilty by every juror they were automatically acquitted of the crime and there would be no punishment to them

the general idea of old testament law is "divine law tempered by human mercy"

generally though i do not believe in the death penalty because i dont believe that its morally right to require humans to kill another human being

Answer 7

God prescribed the death penalty in the OT to protect people from those who would do them harm. Since there are still people like that, I think there is still a need for it. Try as we may, we cannot force some people to behave.
I believe that the death penalty should include pedophiles. They are the worst kind of offender!

Answer 8

Christ did not change one iota (Iota is a symbol over a letter to change the sound of the letter).

The death penalty is still good.

Know this:
A murder can not receive salvation in the flesh!

Answer 9

Murder a murderer for murder? Not only barbaric but hypocritical.

Thank God Europe, Canada and Australia have seen the Light and have done away with this Draconian punishment.

Answer 10

Ummm... If we followed the biblical list of things worthy of execution, anyone who disobeys their parents repeatedly's up for a stoning.

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