Sooooo, God and Jesus are against the death penalty?

Question

Remember one Jesus said in John 14:7 that "if you really knew me, you would know my father as well"? That means that God (the father) and Jesus work together as one. So, would somebody please read Genesis 9:6 and tell me why Christians are wrong about the death penalty? Guess what: the 6th commandment-you shall not kill-doesn't apply to the death penalty! This verse (Genesis 9:6) proves that! THE GOVERNMENT IS ALLOWED TO KILL THOSE WHO HAVE KILLED!!!

You people who claim that Jesus is against the death penalty obviously don't "know" Jesus like you claim to do! Jesus may have outlawed the "eye for an eye" part in Leviticus, but did he outlaw Genesis 9:6? NO WAY!!! NEVER!! NOT ONCE!!!

And how about this: read 2nd Timothy 3:16, and than read Ecclesiastes 3:3! Did you know that Ecclesiastes was wriiten by King Solomon-the same man who wrote Proverbs? Are you going to challenge the position that God gave him?

The bottom line: Christianity permits the death penalty!!

So now, lets get to the meat of the debate involving the death penalty, a debate that you liberals CAN’T win because you know that you’ll be exposed as a spineless coward!!

-Where's the "vengeance" in it?
-Where's the "unfairness" in it? Don't you understand that people like O.J can AFFORD top-of-the-line lawyers just like Magic can afford top health care?
-Why should we give a rat's *** about the criminals family? What about the victim’s family?
-How are criminals and the government on the same level as each other when it comes to "who has the right to kill"? Why shouldn't the government be allowed to kill heinous murders when they are an authority established by God to keep order and administer justice? It's like Jesus said: "Give to Caesars what is Caesars, and give to God what is God's." GOD ALLOWS GOVERNMENT TO KILL! PERIOD!
-Why does it matter if the death penalty is a deterrent or not? THE PUNISHMENT SHOULD FIT THE CRIME!

-And finally, why should we effin care if only 120 people out of the thousands put on death row are innocent? WE'RE HUMANS! WE MAKE MISTAKES! TO BAD!!!


Just because there's been 120 people proven innocent doesn't mean that we should abandon all methods of punishment-especially the death penalty! That argument is terrible-you might as well not put people in jail at all, because (sarcasm)"what if they're innocent?"(end sarcasm). THEY WERE CONVICTED DANG IT!!

And finally, if one of MY family members was put to death and later proven innocent, I would most certainly be hurt for a brief time, but I would gain the utmost comfort and security in these words: "To live is Christ, and to die is gain"-Philippians 1:21

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

And WHERE in that story did Jesus outlaw the death penalty?

"Christianity permits homosexuality."

WRONG!! WRONG!!! WRONG!!!!

Romans 1:24-32

Answer 1

You're right, the death penalty for murder is still in force in the New Testament (see Matt. 26:52; Romans 13:1-5). I was once against it, until I discovered the above verses. Jesus Himself talks about what our response to murderers should be, when He asked the religious leaders what would happen to those who murdered the landowner's son in the parable (Matt. 21:33-41; Mk. 12:1-12; Lke 20:9-19). Many cite Jesus' admonition to 'turn the other cheek': yet this same Jesus made a whip of cords to drive the moneylenders from the temple, a stone building. How do you think He would have reacted had He come across someone murdering another, someone made in the image of God, and intended to be a temple of the Holy Spirit? If you think He would've legged it, then you don't follow the God of the Bible.
It is worth considering some facts: in States where the death penalty is enforced, most murderers -- perhaps the vast majority -- turn to Christ before their execution. I'll cite the case of murderer and gang leader 'Tookie' Williams for a good benchmark. 'Tookie' was responsible for at least three murders, and ordered many others. While in a California prison, he led a reign of teror over the other inmates. After one incident, he was placed in solitary confinement; there he came across a Bible, and proceeded to read it. According to Williams' own testimony, 'I didn't become a Christian, but I discovered the power of words.' Williams became a man who, from prison, led many campaigns to halt the spread of gangs in LA and other cities; he wrote books and did interviews in which he castigated his former lifestyle, and exhorted teens to channel their energies into education and sport instead of drugs and violence. He was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In his final appeal against the death sentence, his lawyers argued he should be spared as he was now a good influence on the ghettoes of the US, and that his sentence should be commuted to life. In an interview conducted during this period, Williams repeated that he was not a Christian, and stated that he wouldn't become one even if he were to be executed. Governor Schwarzenegger refused the appeal for commutation, and Williams was executed. It made headlines in my country (Britain) because it appeared the execution was botched.
What caught my eye, though, was a throwaway line by a reporter from the British Daily Mail newspaper: 'While the preparations went ahead, Williams prayed.' Now I don't know if Williams was genuinely saved, or if he were just hedging his bets: I DO know that without the death penalty he probably would have remained an unrepentant thug until his death, either from natural causes or at the hands of a rival in prison. And now we see one of the reasons God gave the death penalty for murder in the first place; a criminal knowing he or she is about to enter eternity confronts the enormity of what -- and Who -- they are going to encounter. And God uses this time to bring many of them into a saving faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Don't forget, God desires ALL to be saved (Is. 55:7; Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11; 2 Tim. 2:4; Titus 2:11, 12; 2 Pet. 3:9).
As for 'judge not, so you will not be judged', didn't Peter judge Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)? Didn't Paul judge, when he withstood Peter to his face (Gal. 2:11-21), or when he 'delivered' Hymenaeus and alexander to Satan (1 Tim. 1:20)? Are we not to rebuke (2 Tim. 3:16)? are we not to reject a heretic after two warnings (Titus 3:10, 11)? If we are not to do any of these things, then it's no wonder the church is in such a dire state! Instead of concentrating on one or two verses, read the Bible as a whole: for the best interpreter of Scripture is other, relevant Scripture.

Answer 2

Did King Solomon write Proverbs? Even that is up to interpretation. Religion is an odd thing, mainly because it is completely left to personal interpretation and understanding...and faith. Two people can recite the same verses of the Bible and come up with two distinct teachings. As with other doctrines or beliefs, the death penalty is one of debate. So, in the end, all you can do is come to your own conclusion, be certain of it, and respect others as you want to be respected, despite differences of opinion or belief.

Answer 3

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Find me a totally innocent government and I'll allow it the death penalty. No wait, I won't. The death penalty is a gruesome relic from medieval times.

The fact that you don't care about the hundreds of innocent people killed by the death penalty is disgusting. I don't care if Christianity permits the death penalty, it's still abhorrent. You could not believe the universal revulsion at the death penalty held in enlightened countries where it is banned.

Please don't come to the religion section, we don't want to hear this advocation of murder.

Answer 4

the death penalty is the "best" option at this point.

til the U.S. follows china's lead, and uses that pent up energy(labor), or allows maybe "medical" testing, or some other creative form of punishment (YES, frigging punishment!!!!!), the death penalty is the way to go...........

violent criminals should be treated as such........

Answer 5

The bible is a horrible source for morals. Why do people look so deep into it. It's a 2000 year old fiction novel. Grow up for crying out loud!

I do believe in the death penalty. I have no sympathy for someone who has killed.

Bush would eligible for the death penalty if he was tried, right? Yeah, I'm for it.

Answer 6

I disagree completely. Ministries are growing in prisons. I believe we should make them work but let them live.

Many people are converted in prisons.

You are right, mistakes are rare, but i would rather release a person 20 years later than find out after i killed them.

Answer 7

And where did Christ say homosexuality was a sin? Bottom line: No where. Christianity permits homosexuality.

Answer 8

Thou shalt not kill and then a thousand other places where it's okay. Just one of the many contradictions in the bible and yet one more reason why it should never be used to justify anything.

Answer 9

' let he who has not sinned cast the first stone'

apparently jesus doesn't like the death penalty too much- or he wouldn't have interviened

Answer 10

Anyone can find any justification they wish in the bibble. For instance, your father could sell you as a sex slave to anyone he wants. If you dishonor him by disagreeing, you should be stoned to death.