Capital Punishment
Is it Scriptural?
What should the Christian’s attitude be toward it?
Does “being humane” have any merit?
Guillotine
Gallows
Injection Gurney
Timothy McVeigh’s Last Words
Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from
pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be for my
unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the
bludgeoning of chance my head is bloody, but
unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears looms
but the horror of the shade, and yet the menace of
the years finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters
not how strait the gate, how charged with
punishments the scroll, I am the master of my soul.
Timothy McVeigh – Unbowed, Unconquered?
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever
commits sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8:34).
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves
to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of
sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
(Romans 6:16).
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse,
deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13).
For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall
bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then
each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Rom. 14:11-12).
Sin Hardens the Heart
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who
judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn
yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we
know that the judgment of God is according to truth against
those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man,
you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the
same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you
despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and
longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you
to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your
impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the
day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God
(Romans 2:1-5).
Captain of His Soul???
Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the
spirit will return to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be
required of you; then whose will those things be which you
have provided?” (Luke 12:20).
But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who,
after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to
you, fear Him! (Luke 12:5).
Theories of Men Fail
Truth Is Relative. Was McVeigh’s action True for him?
We Should Not Judge. Should we not Judge this man’s
actions? Evil? Good? Neutral?
Barbaric Practice. Europe condemns USA practice of it.
Capital Punishment will not deter crime.
The wise men are put to shame, They are dismayed
and caught; Behold, they have rejected the word of
the LORD, And what kind of wisdom do they have?
(Jeremiah 8:9)
Capital Punishment - Commanded
Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed,
For in the image of God He made man. (Genesis 9:6).
Then the LORD said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put
to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones
outside the camp.” So all the congregation brought him
outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, just as
the LORD had commanded Moses. (Numbers 15:35-36).
It shall be that the one who is taken with the things under the
ban shall be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him,
because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and
because he has committed a disgraceful thing in Israel.
(Joshua 7:15).
Capital Punishment – Practiced by God
And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and
consumed them, and they died before the LORD (Lev. 10:2).
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God
struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there
by the ark of God (2 Sam. 6:7).
When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy
objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the
camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to
carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects and
die…(Num. 4:15).
Capital Punishment – Practiced by God
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie
to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the
land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own?
And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it
that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not
lied to men but to God.” And as he heard these words,
Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came
over all who heard of it….Then Peter said to her, “Why is it
that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to
the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your
husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”
And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last…
And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who
heard of these things (Acts 5:3-11).
Capital Punishment – Authorized by God
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.
For there is no authority except from God, and those which
exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists
authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who
have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for
evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good
and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of
God to you for good. 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 13:1-4).
Capital Punishment – Endorsed by Paul
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).
The Cross
Symbol of Love to Many
Cruel Method of Capital Punishment
For when we were still without strength, in
due time Christ died for the ungodly. For
scarcely for a righteous man will one die;
yet perhaps for a good man someone would
even dare to die. But God demonstrates His
own love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:6-8).
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the
flesh but made alive by the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18).
Capital Punishment
Is it Scriptural?
What should the Christian’s attitude be toward it?
Does “being humane” have any merit?