Why Do Christians Support Capital Punishment?

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Capital punishment has been a piece of human culture and the legal system for an extended period of time. It is viewed as an important deterrent to perilous crimes and the simplest way to liberate the public from lawbreakers who are dangerous. Many people are confused whether or not capital punishment – the death penalty – should still be appropriate to be used today. Should Christians support capital punishment – the death penalty? Some Christians think the Bible tells all about this issue in both the New and Old Testament, however there are others that oppose this idea and believe the ethics of love in the New Testament takes the place of the law of the Old Testament (Lee 1). Let’s explore some of the ideas of how capital punishment …show more content…

Matthew 7:12 tells us, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (C. Miller). I take this to mean that everyone should be treated equally and punishment should be equal. K. McAlpin stated in the article Death Penalty a Difficult Dilemma, “The New Testament clearly teaches that capital punishment is God’s will for human civilization” (McAlpin 2). In Acts 25:11 Paul says, “For if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die” (C. Miller). David Miller, a writer for Apologetics Press, said “Paul was acknowledging that the state properly possesses the power of life and death in the administration of civil justice” (McAlpin 2). Miller also says, “Every individual deserves the opportunity to understand Christ’s sacrifice, and none are beyond God’s grace, but the Bible is clear that taking others’ lives is punishable by death” (McAlpin …show more content…

These Christians think Christ’s law of love rules out divine endorsement of the death penalty. Many think that God’s laws tell us not to kill and many think that the death penalty is cruel, atrocious, and barbaric. In James 8, God does not call for the adulterous women to be put to death by being stoned. Verse 7 states, “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (C. Miller). Many think this was used to reject capital punishment because God did not have her stoned. Matthew 5:38-39 states, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (C. Miller). Here some believe God is telling you to turn the other cheek and resist revenge on the other person. These people believe that individuals should not look for revenge; that we are to love one another, and that Christ commands us Christians to forgive as Christ did. Another verse that opposes the death penalty us is Romans 12:21, which tells us to “overcome evil with good” (C. Miller). Many use these verses to refute the death

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