No. That's something of a straw man; the difference is that one can free a wrongly convicted individual, whereas you can't resuscitate an innocent dead one.
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Why is life in prison more "Christian" than the death penalty ?
- Thread starter Bro. Curtis
- Start date
What about an innocent man whose wrongful conviction is never proven? He doesn't get his freedom back.
And even if an innocent man is eventually freed you still can't give back those lost years.
Also how many years do you give a convicted killer to prove that he was wrongfully convicted? Some sit on deathrow for twenty years.
So would you be in favor of, or opposed to, the dealth penalty for adultery, as long as it was carried out as you stated above?
a "life" sentence can mean anything from a few years to the rest of one's natural life.
A life sentence should be "for the rest of your natural life".
Assuring a true life sentence, open up a penal work colony on the North slope of Alaska for capital offenders - no fences (you want to run go right ahead).
However, have a preliminary "lock down" period for observation and a merit plan.
Then, if one does not work nether shall he eat.
Or some similar plan...
HankD
A life sentence should be "for the rest of your natural life".
Assuring a true life sentence, open up a penal work colony on the North slope of Alaska for capital offenders - no fences (you want to run go right ahead).
However, have a preliminary "lock down" period for observation and a merit plan.
Then, if one does not work nether shall he eat.
Or some similar plan...
HankD
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Just because we can't prevent all murders doesn't mean we should stop investigating armed robberies...
Americans are not executed for adultery. That question is irrelevant. It is only meant to detour away from the issue. The pharisees were going to murder a woman, completely outside of the judicial system set up in the Old Testament. That is what Christ stopped.
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It's not irrelevant. You put forth that Christ did not do away with the death penalty. Why then should we not put to death adulterers according to God's law?
I have no problem with the Word of God. I consider him smarter than me. So you may call me hateful, if you want to, but I have no problem with God's command for the Israelites to put to death both adulterous parties. (which the Pharisees ignored) Other than that, the question has no bearing on the incident in question.
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I haven't called you hateful, so I'm not sure where you are getting that.
So, if Jesus didn't do away with the death penalty, should we still be practicing the death penalty for adulterers today?
We also don't know whether they were going to put the man to death. It makes no mention of the man.
canadyjd
Well-Known Member
If Jesus followed the O.T. Law, the remedy would be to order the crowd to bring the man as well and stone them both. Jesus didn't do that.
There was no "issue with witnesses". They had caught the woman in the act. The witnesses were there. There is no issue with the woman being held "unlawfully". Where do you see that in the passage?
The fact is, the woman caught in adultery is the perfect example of why mankind does not have the wisdom nor the righteousness to implement the death penalty...
1. They exibited bias and partiality contrary to God's command found in scripture because they didn't bring the man.
2. They exibited impure motives as they were more concerned with entrapping Jesus than with justice or righteousness.
Jesus used this incident to change the conditions for implementing the death penalty. No longer do the "2 or 3" witnesses implement the death penalty...it is the "one without sin among you" that implements the death penalty.
I noticed you didn't address the passage in I Tim. 1:16 which clearly commands Christians to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and show mercy with perfect patience to the worst of sinners, even murderers like Paul.
peace to you
raying:
canadyjd
Well-Known Member
Are you challenging my salvation? To state that I am in "full rebellion against God" and I am "blinded by..rebellious heart..." and that I lack "faith to believe the God" I "claim" to follow and that I have not changed because my heart "remain in rebellion against His authority" is essentially saying that I am not saved because I oppose the death penalty. Is that what you are saying?
I don't believe you understand God's Word on this issue.
Col. 3:12 "And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion,....(14)...And beyond all these things put on love..."
Matt. 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall recieve mercy."
James 2:13 "For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."
I Tim. 1:16 "And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life."
My position on the death penalty embraces the clear teaching of scripture and applies it to my life. Christians are commanded to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and show mercy with perfect patience to the worst of sinners, even murderers like Paul. Support for the death penalty is contrary to that command.
I am not rebelliing against God's Word, I am embracing it.
peace to you
raying:
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Advocating for the destruction of life, even of a convict, is ignoring that person's status as an image-bearer. We don't need a specific quote from Jesus on this matter. We only need to think theologically about the death penalty.
I think arguing that life in prison is less "Christian" than the death penalty is similar to arguing that an underprivileged, neglected existence is less "Christian" than an abortion.
It doesn't make any sense.
I think arguing that life in prison is less "Christian" than the death penalty is similar to arguing that an underprivileged, neglected existence is less "Christian" than an abortion.
It doesn't make any sense.
I do not see where the death penalty was revoked. You can assign any situation you want to.
Actually, John 8;4 says the woman was taken in the act. The reason the man isn't mentioned is because he isn't there. They didn't ask him about the man, did they ? Quite a reach, there, Matt.
Why did they bring the woman to Jesus ? He had no authority over the Jews, at the time.
My position on the death penalty embraces the clear teaching of scripture and applies it to my life. Christians are commanded to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and show mercy with perfect patience to the worst of sinners, even murderers like Paul. Support for the death penalty is contrary to that command.
I am not rebelliing against God's Word, I am embracing it.
peace to you
You aren't embracing the bible. The death penalty is a command.
This cannot be true. David was an image-bearer.
That may be the most un-Christian thing I have ever read on this board.
You guys DO realize that Paul recieved the death penalty, right ?
Sure, feed the poor, help the sick, regardless of how you feel about them. Help folks in time of their need. Nothing even close to a death penalty recall.
Mercy. Sorry. That has nothing to do with capital punishment. You can be merciful, and obvey scripture at the same time. We don't taunt the condemned. We give the a comfortable place, and feed them. That is mercy.
So I'm guessing you think the people who are responsible for Willie Horton's release will be judged harshly ? I would agree. Not much mercy shown in letting dangerous killers roam the streets.
God did allow Paul to be put to death. The mercy in his case was salvation.
Edited to add.....and although I disagree with you, I do appreciate the specific scriptures you gave, and you sharing your thoughts behind them.
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You still haven't answered the question. Given that you say the death penalty was not revoked, should we execute adulterers today?
For all we know, the man ran and wasn't caught. Or another mob had the man a couple of streets over. The woman could have ran and they just caught up with here where Jesus was. There are many different possibilities. Neither you or I know what happened with the man.
If we are not to use the death penalty because Christ rescinded the "eye for an eye" command, then why is ANY punishment appropriate ?
Not unexpectedly, this response did not answer the question posed. DP opponents usually do not give the reason for another type of penalty, but why the death penalty should be opposed. One reason I cannot agree with them is that if I were one wrongly convicted of murder, I would prefer being put to death than being in prison for years-- or even months-- waiting for 'new technology', recanted testimony, or anything else to free me... which then makes it a matter of 'do to others as I would have them do to me.'
BTW if capital punishment is not a deterrent-- how many more buildings is Timothy McVeigh going to bomb?
Not unexpectedly, this response did not answer the question posed. DP opponents usually do not give the reason for another type of penalty, but why the death penalty should be opposed. One reason I cannot agree with them is that if I were one wrongly convicted of murder, I would prefer being put to death than being in prison for years-- or even months-- waiting for 'new technology', recanted testimony, or anything else to free me... which then makes it a matter of 'do to others as I would have them do to me.'
BTW if capital punishment is not a deterrent-- how many more buildings is Timothy McVeigh going to bomb?