God vs. Capital Punishment

On the show this morning Buck started talking about the paper he is writing in school about Capital punishment and if it's right in the eyes of God. I havn't studied this subject before and I really didn't know how to answer it at the time. Well, the best way we can find out about what is right and wrong in God's eyes is to open up the word of God and see what it has to say.

The commandment that we find in the bible, "Thou shall not murder" Murder is taking someone's life in a selfish, unrighteous sort of way. There is also the idea of taking life in a righteous way, which is not frowned upon in scripture but is actually commended in scripture. In the book of ROMANS 13:1-4
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD. SINCE HE ALONE IS THE SOVEREIGN RULER OF THE UNIVERSE, HE HAS INSTITUTED 4 AUTHORITIES ON EARTH. 1.(THE GOVERNMENT OVER ALL CITIZENS. 2.(THE CHURCH OVER ALL BELIEVERS. 3.(THE PARENTS OVER ALL CHILDREN. 4.(THE MASTERS OVER ALL EMPLOYEES. HUMAN GOVERNMENTS AUTHORITY DERIVES FROM AND IS DEFINED BY GOD. HE INSTITUTED HUMAN GOVERNMENT TO REWARD GOOD AND TO RESTRAIN SIN IN AN EVIL, FALLEN WORLD. SINCE ALL GOVERNMENT IS GOD-ORDAINED, DISOBEDIENCE IS REBELLION AGAINST GOD. NOT GOD'S JUDGEMENT, BUT PUNISHMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR BREAKING THE LAW.


The death penalty was first instituted by God Himself in Genesis 9:6: "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."Man is the highest form of life on this earth, created in God's own image, and crowned with glory and honor (Psa. 8:5). God has given man the MORAL DUTY to execute those who choose to take the lives of others.



Another question we had this morning was "Can a christian serve in the armed forces?" When John the Baptist started his ministry there were a number of groups of individuals that came to him, that wanted to know what God required of them. And some of the individuals that came to him were soldiers. When they came to John the baptist they had this question for him. Luke 3:10-14 What should we do then?" the crowd asked. 11John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." 12Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" 13"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. 14Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay." John didn't tell the soldiers, "You evil men, you do violent things, drop your sword and start growing daises." He didn't say that. He said do your job and don't abuse your position and don't grumble about your pay all the time. We are to follow Christ as we serve in whatever He has for us to do.



Exodus 21:12 says, "He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death."
Someone says, "Well, that's just the Old Testament law. The New Testament doesn't support the death penalty." Read Acts 25:11? Have you read Roman 13:1-4? What about Revelation 13:10? God has never changed His law of Capital Punishment for murderers!


In Acts 25:11 the apostle Paul says, "For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. Paul admitted that some things were "worthy of death," and that he was willing to "die" if he was guilty of such an offense. If the death penalty is not for today, then why didn't Paul tell us?


Those in authority are ordained by God (just as in Genesis 9:6) to "execute" wrath upon evil doers. Paul said, "...he beareth not the sword in vain..."A sword is used for one thing: KILLING! Killers are to be killed, and God's will has not been fulfilled until our governing bodies have executed wrath upon those who have killed others.

This is what I found in the word of God "The Bible" about God's view on capital punishment. If anyone would like to respond to what I found in the bible I would love that. I am going to take what I found and send it over to some people that know more about the bible than I do. I will let you all know if I find anything else.

Dex