For Christians who are Pro-life and support Capital Punishment?

Question

Firstly, I would like to apologive to anyone offended by a previous question of mine: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070914085515AAHipKh
Anyway, back to the question at hand:
Many Christian opponents of abortion say it is wrong because man shouldn't be allowed to 'play god' by aborting fetuses.
At the same time many Christians also say it is not for man to judge his fellow man, that is also God's job.
My question is how can you support capital punishment when it obviously contradicts those very things?
You're not only judging your fellow man, but more importantly, you are deciding his fate.
If God really wanted that person to die for his crime, would'nt He (God) have taken that person's life Himself?

imawatchman: If someone murdered my mother, killing them will not bring her back.

Answer 1

This is a good question to ask Humbert.

Being in the UK, we do not have the hypocrisy of capital punishment now, and that coincided with the reduction of religious activity within the UK, we far more secular now than we used to be - thank god (sic).

Capital punishment is usually only used as a punishment for particularly serious types of murder, but in some countries treason, types of fraud, adultery and rape are capital crimes.

The phrase 'capital punishment' comes from the Latin word for the head. A 'corporal' punishment, such as flogging, takes its name from the Latin word for the body.

Capital punishment is used in many countries around the world. According to Amnesty International figures as at May 2007, 68 countries and territories retain the death penalty, although many never actually use it. China executes the most people per year overall, with an estimated figure of 1,010 in 2006. Amnesty International also states that in 2006, Iran executed 177 people, Pakistan 82, Iraq and Sudan both at least 65 and that there were 53 executions in the USA.

However, where Amnesty International may estimated that at least 1,010 people were executed in China during the year [2006], - these figures are only the tip of the iceberg. Credible sources suggest that between 7,500 to 8,000 people were executed in 2006. The official statistics remain a state secret, making monitoring and analysis problematic.

The Roman Catechism, issued in 1566, stated that the power of life and death had been entrusted by God to the civil authorities. The use of this power did not embody the act of murder, but rather a supreme obedience to God's commandments.

But that is god's command as translated by them. In the high Middle Ages and later, the Holy See authorized that heretics be turned over to the secular authorities for execution. Most of the religious idiots who support Capital punishment would have been executed under these same rules!

Research done in the 1990s in the USA found that Protestants (who interpret the Bible to be the literal word of God) were more likely to be in favour of the death penalty than members of other religious factions and denominations.

The New Testament embodies what must be the most famous execution in history, that of Jesus on the cross. But paradoxically, although the tone of the whole of the New Testament is one of forgiveness, it seems to take the right of the state to execute offenders for granted.

Many Christians believe that God commanded "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 21:13), and that this is a clear instruction with no exceptions.

The Bible speaks in favour of the death penalty for murder. But it also prescribes it for 35 other crimes that we no longer regard as deserving the death penalty. In order to be consistent, humanity should remove the death penalty for murder.

Secondly, modern society has alternative punishments available which were not used in Biblical times, and these make the death penalty unnecessary.

Christianity is based on forgiveness and compassion
Capital punishment is incompatible with a teachings of Christ - that emphasises forgiveness and compassion.

Capital punishment is biased against the poor
Some Christians argue that in many countries the imposition of the death penalty is biased against the poor. Since Christian teaching is supposed to support the poor, Christians should therefore not support the death penalty.

Abolition is in line with support for life. As you have pointed out Capital punishment is inconsistent with the general Christian stand that life should always be supported. If Christians want to comment on abortion and euthanasia, then consistency requires that Christians also apply it across the board.

I am an not a believer in God, - I do not have black and white issues with abortion and euthinasia - but I feel that I would like to treat others as I would like to be treated myself. Thus when I look at the cost of convicting and executing Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City Bombing was over $13 million, I can see no benifits of this system for society.

In New York, since the death penalty was reinstated in 1995, costs for each person condemned to death were approximately $23 million. In countries with a less costly and lengthy appeals procedure capital punishment seems like a much cheaper option than long-term imprisonment, but I would not like to live in a society that treats its citizens with such little regard to thier civil rights!

Answer 2

First of all, abortion and capital punishment have nothing to do with one another. There is no inherent contradiction in being pro-choice and anti-death penalty OR vice-versa. These are both highly complex issues, and both deserve critical thought and constructive discussion.

Unfortunately, both debates all too often devolve into name calling and the citing of bumper sticker slogans.

As far as Christians supporting the death penalty, it is true that there are many Bible passages (especially in the OT) that support capital punishment, often for relatively mild offenses:

- Adultery (Leviticus 20:10)
- Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16)
- Breaking the Sabbath (Exodus 31:14 & 15)
- Disobedient children (Exodus 21:15 & 17; Leviticus 20:9)
- Homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13)
- Not being a virgin on your wedding night (but only if you're a woman - Deuteronomy 22:13-22)

But, there are many passages (esp. in the New Testament) that are ANTI-death penalty. For example, Matthew 5:38-39 insists that violence shall not beget violence. James 4:12 says that God is the only one who can take a life in the name of justice. Leviticus 19:18 warns against vengeance (which, really, is what the death penalty amounts to). In John 8:7, Jesus himself says, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

There are many, many practical problems with capital punishment (that I won't get into here), but purely from a moral standpoint, I can't imagine that Jesus would support it. True Christians shouldn't, either.

Answer 3

Many people, including pro lifers, support the death penalty because of fear that killers will be released into their communities. As a result of that fear they have not taken a serious look at the death penalty system itsel and at a viable alternative. They should.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched a campaign to end the death penalty and the campaign has begun to filter down to the parish level. Actually, the most devout Catholics are the least likely to support the death penalty.

You don't have to condone brutal crimes or want the criminals who commit them avoid a harsh punishment to ask whether the death penalty prevents or even reduces crime and whether it risks killing innocent people.

What about the risk of executing innocent people?
124 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence.

Doesn't DNA keep new cases like these from happening?
DNA is available in less than 10% of all homicides and can’t guarantee we won’t execute innocent people.

Doesn't the death penalty prevent others from committing murder?
No reputable study shows the death penalty to be a deterrent. To be a deterrent a punishment must be sure and swift. The death penalty is neither. Homicide rates are higher in states and regions that have it than in states that do not.

So, what are the alternatives?
Life without parole is now on the books in 48 states. It means what it says. It is sure and swift and rarely appealed. Life without parole is less expensive than the death penalty.

But isn't the death penalty cheaper than keeping criminals in prison?
The death penalty costs much more than life in prison, mostly because of the legal process. When the death penalty is a possible sentence, extra costs mount up even before trial, continuing through the uniquely complicated trial (actually 2 separate trials, one to decide guilt and the second to decide the punishment) in death penalty cases, and appeals.

What about the very worst crimes?
The death penalty isn’t reserved for the “worst of the worst,” but rather for defendants with the worst lawyers. When is the last time a wealthy person was sentenced to death, let alone executed??

Doesn't the death penalty help families of murder victims?
Not necessarily. Murder victim family members across the country argue that the drawn-out death penalty process is painful for them and that life without parole is an appropriate alternative.

So, why don't we speed up the process?
Over 50 of the innocent people released from death row had already served over a decade. If the process is speeded up we are sure to execute an innocent person.

Answer 4

That verse about judging is misused all the time. It doesnt teach to NOt judge. It teaches to not judge HYPOCRITICALLY. We do have the right to judge murderers and do so all the time.

We dont live in a perfect world where God regulates everything. He has shared with us his truth, shown us what is right, and sent us forth to reflect that truth in our lives and govt. Is a leader to make just or evil laws? Is justice and due process to be given to all or tyranny? Are our leaders going to back up the laws they make, or be corrupt? God has left us to do that which should be done and forbidden what ought not be done.

It is God that owns human life, not men. Even the Declaration of independence states that inalienable rights begin with God and not at some arbitrary age set by the courts. Abortion is simply a reliving of black slavery in our attempt to assign a segment of the population we look down on as property.

Answer 5

abortion is the killing of an innocent baby, that cannot speak for him/her self. A woman decides because she is not ready to parent, that the child will be aborted- and the baby's heart is beating at 3 weeks after conception by the way.
Capital punishment is the law of the land, and besides it is a punishment for someone who has committed murder. Total difference. I am not saying that I like seeing anyone killed, however I am saying the 2 are totally different - one is first degree murder, the other is a punishment for a crime. What did that poor innocent baby do?

Answer 6

We can make a judgement of what is right and what is wrong. What we cannot judge is whether someone goes to heaven or hell. Eternal salvation is the Judgement left only to God.

You cannot compare abortion to Capital Punishment. Apples and Oranges. Why? Abortion is murder of an innocent being. Capital Punishment is the law of the land and the person being put to death is not innocent. They have murdered.

Paul in Romans teaches that we are also to respect and live under the government and laws. If we don't like the laws, we should take steps to have them changed. Bible teaching is telling us that governments have been put in place by God for our benefit. Jesus even told Pilate that he only had what authority that had been given to him from above, when Pilate told Jesus he had the power to free him or crucify him.

Answer 7

The Bible isn't againt Capital Punishment. It is in opposition to homicide, and there in lies the change. examples If a person commits adultery with one more guy's spouse, each the person and the girl need to be placed to dying. (Leviticus 20:10 NLT) If a person lies with a male as with a ladies, either one of them will probably be placed to dying for his or her abominable deed; they have got forfeited their lives. (Leviticus 20:thirteen NAB) Whoever sacrifices to any god, besides the Lord on my own, will probably be doomed. (Exodus 22:19 NAB) Bible additionally believes in magic. You must no longer allow a sorceress reside. (Exodus 22:17 NAB) should you appear up Numbers 35, there's a one more huge record of crimes valued at of Capital Punishment. Now, so far as being Pro-Life is involved, that's a time period so much more often than not utilized in connection with men and women who think abortion is homicide, and could find it irresistible dealt with as such. As you'll see, there's a change among the "killing of an blameless unborn baby" and "killing a character for breaking Gods Law". For the list. I am no longer a Christian. I am additionally Pro-Choice. Murder is the illegal killing, with malice aforethought, of one more human, and normally this state of brain distinguishes homicide from different types of illegal murder (similar to manslaughter). To kill is to deprive of existence. So homicide is a variety of killing, however killing isn't constantly homicide. Much like several medicinal drugs are medicinal drugs, however no longer all medicinal drugs are regarded medicinal drugs.

Answer 8

Death penalty in the Bible requried two witnesses (to the crime)....

Judging has more than one meaning based on different words translated that way....one means to condemn, one means to discern...

we are to 'judge' between right and wrong behavior all the time... we are not to condemn to self righteously or with a 'log in our own eye'.

Either view of the death penalty doesn't bother me, I'm not looking for justice here or from the government; we all answer to the King eventually anyway

Answer 9

Again; God does not intervene into the affairs of man unless it suits His Devine Plan for man and the earth.
As far as, capital punishment goes. Logically, society has to be protected from those, who have decided for themselves, that other people in society need to be executed [murdered]. Capital punishment done is FOR the murderer not TO him or her. Although God claims ownership over this world, Satan still runs it. God has allowed Satan to run it. When Jesus comes back to the earth, Jesus will take the reigns from Satan and change everything for the good.

Answer 10

"Many Christian opponents of abortion say it is wrong because man shouldn't be allowed to 'play god' by aborting fetuses."

I don't know any Christians who say that. The Christians that I know say that an innocent life shouldn't be snuffed out because someone else would be inconvenienced by it continuing to exist. In the case of rape or incest an innocent human life shouldn't be terminated because of the crime of another person.

As to capital punishment, God has ordained it.

Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

There is a difference between killing an innocent baby and killing a convicted felon.