I was wondering if anyone thought it might be wrong for a Christian to support the Death Penalty. Wouldn't that be taking someone's life without knowing whether God wanted them to live or die? Playing God so-to-speak?
I understand the Christian argument that God can work through people and speak to people so therefore the person who did the crime could be justly punished. The thing is, if you support the Death Penalty, you're supporting christians and non-christians making the decision on whether they live or die. So is it best to hold them in jail for life? I mean, if you think God knows your heart, won't they be punished after they die if they really deserve it anyway? Or is it a waste of time and money to keep them there? If so, is it worth supporting the taking of another humans life?
2006-11-09 02:20:31 · 16 answers · asked by DrDoctor 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many of you have referenced an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. In Mathew they tell us that that was the old way. The new way, the way Jesus teaches, is to Love your enemy. To "turn the other cheek" (meant as if they strike one cheek let them strike another and NOT meant as to ignore the problem). So I don't beleive an eye for an eye is a valid argument...give me more, people. Do some more research. :-)
2006-11-09 03:12:01 · update #1
the bible does say
eye for eye tooth for tooth, but it also continues
so sayeth the lord
its Gods judgment not mans.
2006-11-09 02:34:01 · answer #1 · answered by Twilight_dreaming 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it is fine to support it as long as the person's crime is a severe enough one. I believe a life for a life. There is no since in a person sitting behind bars living off tax dollars if they went out and killed someone. I don't think it is playing God. You are entitled to your opinion of the way something should be handled and it should not matter what religion you are. Your beliefs are your beliefs!!
2006-11-09 10:25:27 · answer #2 · answered by cmsmith114 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It costs less to keep the criminals locked up in dollar terms, and If there is a mistake made they can be released. Mistakes have been made and innocent people executed in the past. In those cases it is impossible to even say sorry because the dead person is dead.
Most Xtians are not interested in justice and think of punishment in terms of revenge. They here of a crime and then they want somebody to pay for it, they don't care who pays.
2006-11-09 11:21:23 · answer #3 · answered by Barabas 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that, given the "Thou shalt not kill" thing and the fact that God is the only judge, to take such a judgment and action into one's own hands as a mere human would be against Christianity. As the church sign I drove by this morning says, "Only God is in a position to look down on anyone."
2006-11-09 10:26:32 · answer #4 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Answer the cliche question, would Jesus pull the switch.
A young rich man once asked Jesus what he needed to do to become his follower, Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give all the money to the poor. The young rich man couldn't bring himself to do it.
Show me a Christian that can forgive child killers, live a simple life, and don't try to beat up others with their beliefs and I'll show you real a "REAL" Christian. The others are just phoneys that use their religion to try and control others.
PS the real Christians described above are called "Amish"
2006-11-09 10:30:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Actually, God set the death penalty in place. Somewhere in one of the Books of the Law, it says: "At the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man". God says that murderers should receive the death penalty. And, it's not murder because God ordained it.
#1denverfan
2006-11-09 10:24:32 · answer #6 · answered by #1denverfan 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
True Christians remain neutral to the affairs of government. Jesus Christ said that his followers would be no part of this world. ( John 15:19) They support God's government in the hands of Jesus to solve all of mankind's problems.
2006-11-09 10:47:26 · answer #7 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am christian and I support the death penalty. If it is wrong then I guess it will be one more of the things I will answer for when I, myself, face judgement.
2006-11-09 10:27:20 · answer #8 · answered by mortgagegirl101 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since there has been growing Ministries that does prison ministry and bring the convicts and prionors to Christ. They change thier life I don't believe in the death penelty. However, there will be always a death penelty program even if we are against or for it.
2006-11-09 10:39:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i am not christian but generally speaking, if go didnt want that criminal to die then he wouldnt have been in that position in first place. i am sure go would want a sinner to be punished. and every action has consequences, may be god wanted that person to die that way by some one else's hand. we cant udo that.
2006-11-09 10:23:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋