Off With His Head!

     Capital Punishment. A popular topic for banner-waving, cat-calling, pistol-waving hicks in Texas but something I think we should look at more seriously as Christians. This will be an argument from the viewpoint of a believer, so bear in mind it will be a moral argument not a purely logical one.

                                Romans 13

                                    (KJV)

13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

² Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
⁴ For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
⁵ Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
⁶ For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
⁷ Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
⁸ Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
⁹ For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
¹⁰ Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
¹¹ And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
¹³ Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
¹⁴ But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

     I know, that's almost as much reading as one of my posts, but its the de facto passage to defend Capitol Punishment, particularly verse 4: "for he beareth not the sword in vain." 

     Before I address that, let me present my position. I believe that the Law, or Government, is designed to do two things. 1 - defend the nation from foreign threats and 2 - protect the citizens from domestic threats. Therefore, when someone attempts to kill, both me (my just war theory) and the government have the right/duty to kill that person. BUT if that person has been arrested, placed in a prison and given no option of escape or return to society, why kill them? Why end a God-given life? Is murder unforgivable? Is it impossible for a murdered to be saved? It is once they've been executed. This is entirely from the perspective of a voter decided whether or not to support a candidate. Can God saved someone who the government is planning on executing? Of course. But as soon as death comes, salvation is not an option. At least, that's what my Bible seems to say. So why support the elimination of the possibility of salvation? Once again, I understand possibilities and God's Will are not congruent. But I do not know God's Will. Why support something that demonstrates such finality, even allowing the government to act as God and condemn not just a body but also a soul? I agree, God is executing mortal judgment through the government, but does it not make sense to allow for the most amount of time/opportunities as possible? Why are Pro-Life advocates in favor of electrocuting people? So, you answer with Romans 13:4. Consider this option. The verse says, he (government), "execute(s) wrath upon him that doeth evil." It doesn't say, "slices off evil's head" or "destroys evil's body" or anything else implicitly violent. The sword, in this case, could be a symbol of military might and suggest the right of a government to suppress revolts. 

     The other argument I've heard is this. God loves Justice, therefore He approves when justice is served. When someone kills they deserve to die. Really? When someone lies they deserve to die. When someone ignores God's leading in their life and chooses to disobey they deserve to die. God loves Justice, but its His love of Mercy that keeps us from being fried on the spot every single day. Why can't we exemplify God's love of Mercy in the way we vote?

What do you think?

Braves LOST, 12-2 but we are still perfect when we actually score a run. 1-0 against the Royals and former Brave Jeff Francoeur both drove in the winning run and threw out a runner at the plate to preserve it. If I hadn't loved him in Atlanta I'd be really ticked at him.