How do Christians reconcile support for the death penalty with Jesus' teachings?

Question

Were we not taught that vengeance belongs to God alone?

Answer 1

The largest group of Christians, Roman Catholics cannot support the death penalty because it is against our teachings that all life is sacred.

Answer 2

That is a question I have often asked myself. I understand the whole separation of Church and State, Secular vs. Religious law.
I'm Pagan, and I don't support the death penalty. There is no changing the outcome if new information comes to light. How many innocent people have been put to death, I wonder???
Anyway, not being Christian, but knowing a little something about the Bible, I don't understand how Christians can embrace Jesus' teachings of love and forgiveness and still support the death penalty.
I'm not saying to let everyone go. There needs to be punishment, and for some that means permanent removal from society, but not from life.
Besides, I think life in prison would be a much harsher penalty than a relatively quick and painless death by lethal injection. Don't you?

Answer 3

Many people don't want to believe that there is accountability in God's economy. They want to believe (against scripture) that NO MATTER WHAT, God will always forgive you, and you'll be in heaven. The bible says that once a person dies, their destination has already been decided - either you accept Jesus before you die, or you end up in hell. Even many "religious" people put their hope (against scripture) that a person can be "good enough" to get to heaven, or that after someone dies, "we can pray enough" to get them to heaven. The bible says this isn't so.

The death penalty is an earthly example of "point of no return". People don't like to think in those terms. The use of the death penalty says that a person can ultimately be held accountable - today's society says that "nothing is your fault". How can a just government punish a person that society says is not to be held responsible for what they've done?

Lastly, for Christians and non-Christians who feel that the government should not "take vengeance" on criminals. Veangeance is not the only reason for, or element involved in the death penalty. There is also the element of prevention of other crime - both by that specific offender and by others in society. Jesus said for us to respect our government and pray for our leaders. VOTE PRAYERFULLY - if you won't, then we get who we get - still, scripture tells us that God establishes government over us - maybe our country as a whole gets what we get, because our countrymen as individuals have turned from God.

Answer 4

WHY grew to become into JOHN THE BAPTIST KILLED AND JESUS HELPLESS? Jesus grew to become into in the recent testomony, he grew to become into harmless, yet suffered the dying penalty of the Roman Empire, the 6th international Empire of Rev.17:10-14 [ of the 8, devil is down all the 8th, this is of the 7 ]; There are 2 forms of structures in the international, as there have been 2 varieties in time of Christ, the saints of Christ, his disciples and apostles, did not administration the international Empire [ John 18:36 ]; to resign the dying penalty. Jesus age 30 confronted devil, Matt.4:a million-11; what does devil very own, who has potential over dying? Heb.2:9,14; John 8:40 4; Luke 22:2; devil had Judas perceive Jesus to the enemies with a kiss, so Jesus grew to become into killed, yet another grew to become into killed with Jesus that pronounced, Jesus grew to become into harmless, Jesus made him a promise that day, he would be in paradise, Rev.2:7; whilst it comprises be. Jesus does wreck devil, Rev.20:7-10, after his one thousand 365 days reign, Jesus will wreck dying, 1Cor.15:26; whilst there isn't any devil or any like him, the saints [ holy ones ], are upon the breadth of the earth, 2Pet.3:13; Isa.sixty 5:17,25; 66:a million,22; joined by potential of the heavenly that come down from God out of heaven, Rev.21:a million-5, [ 8, the earth is cleansed ].

Answer 5

Vengance and justice are two separate things. The Vengance of god is the eternal punishment of presumed sinners. Taking the moral life of a criminal is not the same thing as passing eternal judgement.

Jesus never said that we were to abandon the laws set fort in the old testament., and these laws set fort the concept that capital punishment was to be used at certain times.

Then again, I'm not a Christian, so what do I know?

Answer 6

The vengeance you speak of is at a personal level, not at a state-sponsored activity. For instance, it is not murder to kill a state-designated enemy in wartime, despite the commandment to not murder. The audience is the individual, not the government.
You can forgive those on death row who repent and have sincere faith in Jesus; however, forgiveness does not necessarily absolve you of the consequences of your sin. For instance, Rom. 3:23 tell us that we are all sinners. Therefore, we all deserve death...and to every man is appointed a time to die [Ecc. 3:2], even though through faith in Christ some souls will be saved from the second death, i.e. lake of fire [Rev. 20:14].

Answer 7

He did command his followers to buy a sword, and if they could not well afford one to sell their clothing to buy one. Why would he want them to have swords if not to use it for some means?

And we do not support the death penalty as a spiritual act (i.e. since you broke the law of God you will be executed). We don't think that way. Christians only support the death penalty as a secular instrument, decided by secular courts. It is not done in the name of Christ.

Answer 8

you can forgive but God also says to obey the laws of the land. i do not believe in the death penalty but our laws include it as a punishment. you can go back and forth with thou shall not kill to an eye for an eye but you have to remember that most christains deal mostly with the new testement and try to follow the examples of Jesus. and the vengence you speak of is the day of judgement where everyone will have to justify their life. but the bottom line is to obey the laws of the land.

Answer 9

GOD tells us that some crimes are worthy of death / I think the punishment should fit the crime say a person steals a car they need to get the person a new one(esp. if they ruined it) or at least pay for repairs BUT if someone takes the life of another their life should be taken

Answer 10

Our Bishop speaks out against the death penalty as all Catholics should. He says the same thing you do. That it is up to God alone.