Capital Punishment

David Eldridge

On November 24, 2003 the jury of one of the Washington snipers, John Allen Muhammad, recommended the death sentence for his crimes. When the subject of capital punishment comes up many “religious” people complain that this is not the will of God. The Bible does speak on this subject. Let’s listen to what God has to say.

God’s view of the one who takes human life. In Genesis 9:6 God tells Noah how the one who has taken another’s life should be dealt with. God says, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.” We are God’s favored creation – made in His image. Hence, when one kills another God said He would require the life of the murderer.

Capital punishment in the Old Testament. God commanded the Israelites to practice capital punishment for various offences. In Leviticus chapters 20 and 24 you see that those who practiced adultery, incest, homosexuality, bestiality, blasphemy, and murder were to be put to death. God saw capital punishment as a need for His people.

Capital punishment in the New Testament. Paul spoke, in the New Law, concerning capital punishment. He said to Festus in Acts 25:11, “For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying.” Seems if Paul had thought it was wrong for the government to be able to put him to death he would have said so. Also, in Romans 1:32, he said that those guilty of certain practices were “worthy of death”. Furthermore, in speaking of government Paul said they do not “bear the sword in vain” (Romans 13:4). The sword, an instrument of death, is to be used by the government when one has committed a sin for which they deserve to die. Paul knew that capital punishment should be practiced even in this Christian dispensation.

Seeing this, don’t you think it strange that the pope and many other religious leaders run to jump on the bandwagon to have the death penalty disallowed? Christians should not stand against capital punishment but rather stand for it. If anything our government needs to practice it more frequently and with greater speed to deter others from committing crimes. Notice Ecclesiastes 8:11, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Let us be clear on God’s teaching concerning capital punishment.