Non-Christians certainly do dislike when a Christian offers the Bible in a political situation. If this describes you, take comfort. I am not basing my opinion entirely on the Bible. I will interpret the Bible, use it as a starting point and evolve my argument from there.
The laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy were presented clearly. These laws were essentially a pact pact between the king of Israel and God. Indeed in that era, capital punishment was justified and encouraged against capital crimes.
However, I do believe that through Jesus Christ, the people have a new pact with God. An evil man need not be simply destroyed; he is redeemed by the blood of Christ. Consider it in this manner. We are all criminals, and the wage of all of our crimes is death. Well, as Christians, we acknowledge that Jesus paid the debt of our sins.
Further, in John 8, Jesus blatantly rebukes the old law of capital punishment. A woman is meant to be put to death for her crimes. But He released her, despite that the wage of such a sin is death. From this, we can draw one of two conclusions.
1) Jesus condoned adultery.
2) Jesus did not condone capital punishment.
Alas, before she went on her way, He commanded that she not sin again. Therefore the only remaining option is that Jesus did not condone capital punishment.
In Matthew 7:3, Jesus commanded that we remove the log from our own eyes before inspecting our brothers' speck. It is not our place to render a judgment lest we are judged on the same basis. The essence of this teaching is that one sinner cannot condemn another sinner. Therefore, from a religious angle, capital punishment is wrong.
I do believe that the teachings of Jesus were meant to reflect not only Bible study, but throughout the world. The reasoning that He applied to sparing the adulterer can also be applied to the modern day, as moral truths are universally and eternally relevant.
It is wrong to kill people, plain and simple. If you view the world from a Christian perspective or a naturalistic perspective, this statement unavoidably, unchangeably renders true. We adhere to a standard of morality. If you disagree then I suggest you enter the prison and render the execution. Nobody relishes taking another mans life. It is wrong and unjustifiable.
It is often unjustifiable not necessarily in that capital punishment is wrong, but because the one being executed is innocent. Poor people cannot afford lawyers to match those which the state provides. If they are truly innocent, the truth may not be powerful enough to overwhelm the prosecution. Years later, if and when it is determined that they are innocent of these crimes, the state could offer a humbled apology and release them, or realize that an innocent man was put to death.
Further, even if the prosecution does condemn a guilty man, they still do not solve the problem; they only exact a grim revenge. The crime has already been committed. Executing a man does not solve anything.
It also does not send a proverbial message to potential criminals. People who commit heinous crimes are not unafraid of the prison system. They believe that they are too cunning to be apprehended by the police.
Often, when a guilty or innocent man is apprehended by police, the prosecution uses the capital penalty as a scare tactic to claim a false confession. (Anybody who watches television will agree with this!) Poor people who have not committed a crime are victim to this as their attorney lacks the aptitude to present the truth in a manner that is more convincing than a state's attorney.
This is an archaic interpretation of justice. Even over 2,000 years ago, it was objected to by the great Messiah. I do not think any Christian can read the New Testament and be in favor of such a practice. Further, I do not think any Christian or non-Christian can read their hearts and be in favor of such a practice.
I contend that it still exists because politicians are too afraid to speak against something that is so widely agreed upon. But government sanctioned murder can not bring peace to anybody - it can bring only destruction.
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