AN EYE FOR AN EYE, Pt 1…5/12/08
by SteveUnless you’ve been living under a rock for the past several weeks, totally out of touch with what’s going on in our country, you will know that you cannot pick up a newspaper, watch the news on TV, or even listen to the radio without hearing talk about capital punishment…the death penalty. Politicians on both sides of the aisle are playing to popular opinion, which is overwhelmingly in favor of it, something on the order of 3 to 1. Almost 75% of the people in America, land of the free and the home of the brave, believe in the state’s right to take the life of a human being who has committed certain crimes. Even among professing Christians, support for the death penalty is high.
At a recent execution in own state, both supporters and opponents lined the street outside the prison. When the announcement was made that the execution had been completed, a loud, raucous cheer went up from the supporters, some of whom were waving signs that read “No mercy for killers,” “May he burn in hell,” as they laughed and congratulated each other that another criminal had gotten what he deserved. The other side of the street was silent, as opponents prayed, and raised their lit candles to the sky, in quiet horror that this could happen in America.
A few years ago at the beach with our MYF, I asked them one night, “Which side of the street would you have been standing on?” And another, perhaps more thought-provoking question, “And which side was Jesus standing on?” Can there be any doubt about that, at all?
The question I want you to consider for the next few days is…where do you stand? And where do you go to determine what to believe about capital punishment? Is it just a matter of private opinion? Is it a matter of your prejudices and feelings? Is it about following the majority? Do we have the luxury of sitting this one out? Leaving the discussion to the politicians and the lawyers and the courts? Or is this one of those issues that we need to dig into, research, study, get informed about, pray about, and try, to the best of our abilities, to determine what is the mind of Christ? I believe that it is that kind of issue, and I want to see if I can help you with that in a short series on the death penalty.
RSS
I just do not have any problem with my simple answer to the question regarding the death penality. I sometimes wonder if my answer isn’t well thought out, but then I know that I have thought it out, prayed about it, and mediated on it. No one has “told me what to think”!
My answer to the question is NO! There should not be a death penality.
Yes, I know there are horrible crimes that we can not understand how we as human beings can do to each other.
Yes, I have not personally been victim of a violent crime to someone close to me.
I think that violent, convicted criminals should be given life sentences with very simple lifestyles (no luxuries).
Do NOT release criminals who have been convicted of horrible crimes-those who otherwise would be given the dealth penality. Keep them in prision!
Here’s my thinking: By “releasing” someone by dealth, we are letting them off the hook! We are taking away the possibility that somewhere down the road they may feel guilt, sorry. Let them feel guilt and sorry the rest of their lives-don’t release them from their own suffering.
I also know that there are people who when given life in prison, they may have an awakening spiritually (that doesn’t mean let them out of prison), great-perhaps they can be an example to others in prison (not just to the inmates either).
Last, but not least, what about the mistakes in our “justice” system?? We know there are innocent people in prison.
God knows the truth. What a person does is between them and God. I don’t believe we as humans have the right to kill other humans other than perhaps in self defense (and that may be debated as well).
Yes, we as a society must protect ourselves. We must show examples of consequences for behavior.
Let’s consider removing convicted criminals from the freedom to do as they choose. That doesn’t mean we need to murder them as well.
Why does this seem so simple to me and not so many others?
L
Lori…a good, well-reasoned approach to the question. It seems simple to me as well. Watch for more on this for the next couple of days. sk
Steve,
For me it is not as simple as yes or no. I have had the unfortunate oppertunity to sit as a juror on a death penalty case and have had a brother murdered. I would not say at all that I am pro death penalty but I understand the issues on both sides. But if I had to choose I would be on the praying side for all parties involved. Thanks for providing thought provoking topics for discussion
Anthony…I never think about the death penalty without thinking of the incredible example you set when your brother was killed. And I often use your story when speaking about it. Thanks for being a regular reader, and I hope to see you guys sometime soon! Blessings…sk