The recent execution of Saddam Hussein once again brings a controversial topic to the forefront: Capital Punishment. Many have seen the vivid pictures of Saddam with a noose around his neck being marched to the gallows. He was tried and convicted by an Iraqi court for crimes against humanity. Saddam was arrogant and defiant through much of the trial….and apparently remained so up until his death. His guilt is not questioned. He was an absolutely despicable creature who had multitudes of innocent people tortured and executed. In his younger days, he had murdered opponents with his own hands. He once even had his own son-in-law knocked off. Assuredly, he wasn’t the first father-in-law to consider that, but few actually go through with it. But that was Saddam…..an evil, violent, and barbaric legacy…..that ended last week when the tables were turned on him, and HE experienced a taste of his own medicine. But how should Christians view the death of Saddam, and the Death Penalty in general?
For Saddam Hussein, the eternal “weeping and gnashing of teeth” has only just begun. In his last words, while waiting for the floor to open, Saddam was reciting a prayer to Allah and his “prophet” Mohammed. It’s a well-known mantra to Muslims: “There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet.” The last word Saddam uttered before entering eternity was “Mohammed.” Unfortunately for Saddam, he was calling upon the WRONG PERSON for salvation. Speaking of Jesus, the Bible says, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 2:12 NASB) Saddam chose the wrong path, and he’s paying for it at this very moment. We should shudder to imagine what his soul is enduring RIGHT NOW. And it should motivate us to share the gospel with the lost we encounter daily----They’re not all evil dictators, but they are all “evil sinners” (Luke 11:13, Romans 3:10) who will perish apart from Christ. But here’s another thought concerning Saddam, and others who are executed for their crimes------JUSTICE WAS SERVED.
If you oppose the Death Penalty…..I can respect your opinion. I’m willing to debate it….I just happen to think the Death Penalty is just, it’s suitable, and it’s even Biblical. I once worked with a man who was a “far left liberal.” Needless to say, we didn’t agree on a lot of political issues, since I’m a “far right conservative.” I like to joke that I’m SO politically conservative that I make Rush Limbaugh look like a Kennedy. In all honesty most Republican politicians are too liberal for me, so the “far left liberal Democrat” seems like a Martian to me. When I encounter one, I tend to roll my eyes and scratch my head quite a bit, but that’s beside the point. Anyway, back to my former co-worker. He was a liberal, who opposed the Death Penalty (that’s common)….but he ALSO opposed abortion (that’s UN-common). His rationale was that taking life is always wrong, no matter who it is. I understood his logic. It made sense. And I really appreciated his stand on abortion. In fact, I think Bill O’Reilly holds the same position…..but here’s where it falls apart. There is a DRAMATIC difference between an innocent child minding his own business in his mother’s womb AND a ruthless, cold-blooded murderer. Whether we like it or not-----THERE ARE SOME CRIMES WORTHY OF DEATH….and governments are God’s appointed institutions to see justice served….at least that’s what the Bible says. Paul wrote about Christians living under Roman rule and said: “But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” (Romans 13:4 NASB)
When you live under a totalitarian government, you should cry out to God for justice from the evil that has authority over you. When you live under a “just government,” you should thank God for His blessings and delight in seeing justice served. America has a “just government” that executes those “worthy of death.” NOW, Iraq does too…and justice was served on Saddam Hussein. Of course there’s no guarantee that the “just government” will remain “just.” America is
Strangely enough, many liberals in our country want to do away with the Death Penalty completely. Every time a convicted killer is executed, there will be picketers outside the prison defending the convict. The picketers may think they’re sweet, and maybe they are……but they’re NOT just. Justice should be served.
Of course the greatest irony of all is that many of the people who oppose Capital Punishment also SUPPORT abortion. This has to be one of the most bizarre lapses of logic and decency. They defend guilty murderers……and support the execution of INNOCENT CHILDREN. That’s just warped!….There’s no other way to describe it. It’s just warped! But that type of “warped” thinking is prevalent in our country today, and is well represented in Washington D.C. God is handing us over to our depravity….but I’ve already addressed that in a previous blog (The Judgment Our Nation Deserves), so I won’t go there again.
But I do want to mention a few Bible verses that relate to Capital Punishment. Those who oppose Capital Punishment will often sight the Sixth Commandment, “Thou Shall Not Kill.” (Exodus 20) This is such a ridiculous argument it hardly needs defended, but I’ll defend it anyway. First of all, the Hebrew word translated “kill” is much more accurate when it’s translated “murder.” The commandment is not addressing irritated campers who swat mosquitoes to death. It’s addressing MURDERERS. Secondly, and this is the biggest argument against those who use this verse to oppose Capital Punishment-----READ THE REST OF THE BOOK!.....The Old Testament gives detailed instructions for Capital Punishment. The Israelites were frequently commanded by God to “purge the evil from their midst.” Old Testament law HEAVILY taught Capital Punishment for whole lot more than just murderers. Everything from homosexuals to kids who sassed their parents could be executed. So if you want to oppose the Death Penalty, DON’T go the Old Testament for support. But what about the New Testament?
I’ve already cited Romans 13 above. Here’s a couple more verses. When Paul was defending himself before the Roman Governor Festus, he made this statement: "If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” (Acts 25:11 NASB) Paul is clearly saying that some crimes are “worthy of death.” In fact he says he’s willing to be executed, if he has committed any of those crimes.
When Peter tried to defend Jesus by attacking a Roman soldier with a sword, Jesus said, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.”--Matt 26:52 (NASB) This could be seen as a reference to one dying in battle, or when you consider what Paul said in Romans 13, this could be a reference to Capital Punishment. Peter was attacking a government official with a sword, and could face execution himself for such an act.
When a government executes a guilty murderer….justice is served. Justice is an attribute of God, and we should be glad to see anything remotely related to God coming from a government that so frequently opposes God. As a native Oklahoman, I was glad to see the Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh get executed. Justice was served. As an American, I would be glad to see Osama bin Laden executed. Justice would be served. And as a decent “earthling”….I was glad to see Saddam Hussein get executed. Justice was served. I don’t desire to see anyone go to Hell. I wish McVeigh and Hussein would have repented and turned to Christ……they would NOT. They remained unrepentant and defiant until the end. I also wish bin Laden would turn to Christ. Impossible? No. With God, “all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27) If Saul of Tarsus can become Paul the Apostle…..ANYTHING can happen. But regardless of what MIGHT happen. We would do well to support what SHOULD happen. Criminals should be arrested and prosecuted. And those worthy of death….should be executed. Then, and only then…..Justice will be served.
good job, your arguments are very biblical and i totally agree. but just to see where i stand on the conservative chart what do you think about those who get away with death deserving crimes because if "mental problem" i strongly believe they too deserve the death penalty.i also think that america is "too easy on criminals" these days. maybe we would have fewer if we use the death penalty more. i know, im being very judgemental.
Posted by: brian | January 02, 2007 at 07:43 PM
Good blog and amen.
Debi
Posted by: Debi U. | January 03, 2007 at 09:41 PM
Okay, I heartily disagree that the Bible provides that authorities will/can/should and have the authorization from God to put people to death. I do agree and understand that God has appointed all authorities on the earth, from the biggest to the least. But not all of those authorities know Jesus (over 50%, easily, do not, I would assert), and cannot, therefore, administer justice with Godly wisdom.
My flesh says that yes, I would like to see such monsters as child molesters, murders, etc. put to death, and would still pray and hope for their reconciliation to Jesus before that happens. However, I do not believe that God calls for us to destroy the lives HE ALONE CAN CREATE. Now I know that there are many "gray areas" including provisions for war, etc., but I"m talking about purposeful execution in this case.
In searching for the verses that support my view, I would allow that I found many, many verses about justice, in the Old and New Testaments, and that those who love the LOrd would mete it out fairly. However, looking at the verses I quoted below, how can we ignore "It is mine to avenge; I will repay..." Heb. 10:30?
I understand all of your other arguments, Pastor Shane, and I know there are plenty of verses that you can use to defend your line of thinking, but I cannot ignore "...it is mine to avenge, I will repay." And--appealing only to your "world view" here: what of those that we put to death who are innocent? We have seen several examples of this in the past 20 years...those who were on death row for 10+ years and then found to be innocent by some new DNA testing or a new witness who has come forward, etc. It is very dangerous to put the power of execution into the hands of evil men. Most men/women who make such decisions to excute their peers will not know Jesus as their personal Savior, statistically. Is that Godly justice? I know that God has appointed those men/women to be on that particular jury at that time for that person on the stand, but still... I am not questioning God's omnipotence, omniscience or omnipresence, but instead whether His Word truly supports the death pentalty. After all, we are not the ultimate "judge", HE IS.
(See the verses below.)
Proverbs 29:26 says "Many seek an audience with a ruler, BUT IT IS FROM THE LORD THAT MAN GETS JUSTICE." (caps mine)
Luke 18:8 says "And will not GOD bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?I tell you, HE will see that they get justice, and quickly." (caps mine)
Acts 17:31 "For he has set a day when he will judge the world WITH JUSTICE BY THE MAN HE HAS APPOINTED. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (caps mine)
Hebrews 10:30 "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people." --KJV (NIV version: "30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[a] and again, "The Lord will judge his people.")
Posted by: Audrey | January 04, 2007 at 09:15 PM
I could not add anything biblical to the argument Pastor Shane. Your point is very well defended. I would ask Audrey that if this was a wrong view point to take, why didn't Jesus clear up the issue himself. There was plenty of capital punishment going on in his day. No instead he upheld the law and said none of it would pass away. I respect the fact that we uphold human life, and that God clearly values it. He also made provision for those who take it, unlawfully. I know some would use the argument that "now we live in the days of grace." However, I think we should remember that grace started all the way back at Adam. God could have destroyed him and Eve right then. So every breath that has been drawn by a human since then has been by grace. However, God still exacted a price for murder evem at that point. God does make provision for JUSTICE, and that is the established government. The death penalty for most is just the begining of judgemnt. If the offender does not repent before execution he still has the last judgement to face when all offenders of God will be brought to justice.We should also remember that this is not a man made law. To do anything else, would be disobedience on our part.
Posted by: snowman | January 05, 2007 at 08:11 AM
Audrey,
Thanks for your comments. As you know, I always welcome the opinions of those who disagree with me. And, as I mentioned in the blog, I am more than willing to debate this issue, particularly with someone like you who understands the inspiration and authority of Scripture. With that said….
I would first point out that you mentioned several Bible verses….but never addressed the verses I cited in the blog. Romans 13:4 easily stands alone for a Scriptural defense of Capital punishment meted out BY A NON-CHRISTIAN GOVERNMENT. Notice what Paul says: “But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it (the government) does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” (Romans 13:4 NASB)
Notice that Paul is speaking to Christians living under ROMAN RULE. The Roman government was hardly a group of born-again Christian Governors….in fact you would be hard pressed to find a more pagan and Godless group. YET, Paul calls them “ministers of God who bring wrath upon those who practice evil.”
You had mentioned that you cannot ignore Hebrews 10:30….what about Romans 13:4? You can’t ignore that one either because they’re both Scriptural…..and they go hand in hand. Vengeance DOES belong to the Lord….and He frequently uses men (including governments) to execute that vengeance. In fact, Hebrews 10:30, which is the main verse your case is built on, is actually a verse that SUPPORTS Capital Punishment…when you read it in context. Go back two verses to Hebrews 10:28 and read the whole thing: It says, “Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:28-31 (NASB)
The writer of Hebrews is pointing out the BIBLICAL and GOD-ORDAINED mandate for MEN to carry out the death penalty “without mercy” upon those who are convicted. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” is addressing the eternal judgment that these people will encounter on the other side when they “fall into the hands of the living God.” Rather than being a verse that opposes Capital Punishment, that passage is actually one of the biggest New Testament defenses of it.
You had mentioned that those who aren’t born again Christians are unable to provide Godly justice….and that’s simply not true. If the laws of the land are just, and the authorities are carrying them out….then they are (as Romans 13:4 says) “God’s appointed avengers” even though they themselves may be “Hell-bound” in an eternal sense because of their lostness. Even a cursory look at the Old Testament will provide MULTITUDES of examples where God used pagan, Godless, and evil empires to JUDGE Israel. Habakkuk 1 in only one example of this as God used the Chaldeans to judge (and kill) Judeans.
You mentioned your “flesh” wanted to see monsters (child molesters, murderers, etc.) put to death. Audrey, I want to suggest to you that that’s not your flesh, that’s your God-given conscience telling you they deserve to be put to death. And Scripture supports that. Ultimately, all judgment originates with God. But God does use people to execute the temporal judgments (such as Capital Punishment)….though He will eternally judge all who are not in Christ, in the end.
As for the DNA issue…..nobody wants to see innocent people put to death. But shall we “throw the baby out with the bathwater” and ignore the mandate to execute based upon the few who may have been executed wrongly? In fact, the DNA issue only strengthens the case for Capital Punishment. Now, we can know with even greater certainty, someone’s guilt, and carry out the laws of the land….or we can know their innocence and exonerate them. Either way, justice is served. But just because someone was put to death wrongly in the past, doesn’t mean cold-blooded killers should be spared, when their guilt is obvious, and their crime is worthy of death.
Once again, I encourage you to read Romans 13:4, and read Hebrews 10:28-31 again and see where it leads you. I certainly respect your stance….but ultimately I don’t think it holds water. Thanks again for your comments. I hope this clarification helps. If not, let me know.
God Bless,
Shane
Posted by: Shane | January 05, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Obviously I need to do some more Bible Study, I humbly admit.
Posted by: Audrey | January 09, 2007 at 09:09 PM
Shane, I say AMEN to it all, I am a little behind in my blog reading but I just had to say, I too think that the death penalty needs to be given to other criminals if they did then we wouldn't have so many 2nd and 3rd and 4th ect. offenders on our hands, it is like they just slap them on the wrist and say quit it. why don't they just give them a get out of jail free card for the next time (and it will)it happens. I feel that when Saddam Hussein was executed it was JUST and I to shudder to think what his tourment in hell is and will be for eternity. I just pray that our goverment will use it more and the perversions of this world will come to CHRIST and repent of their sins, before it is to late!! TODAY IS THE DAY
P.S. I AM SO GLAD THAT WE CHRISTIANS CAN HAVE THESE DEBATES AND NOT START A WAR OF WORDS, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SO RESPECTFUL TO OTHERS OPINIONS
Posted by: Annie | January 14, 2007 at 09:14 PM