Does the Value of Human Life Demand the Death Penalty?
Jul 05 '00
I have read several articles lately about the death penalty. In particular, I have seen arguments for and against it using God as the reason. Therefore, I felt led to write a theological debate on the death penalty. As such, the arguments used here draw from the authority of the Holy Bible.
On one hand, I want to say that the death penalty is always the right thing to do and that states are justified in administering it. On the other hand, I want to say, but Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. So what is the middle ground on the death penalty? What does the Bible really say about capital punishment? Does it mandate it, as some suggest? Does the Bible merely permit capital punishment? Or does the Bible prohibit capital punishment? Most Christians that I know agree that the Bible does not prohibit capital punishment, but there is disagreement on whether it is mandated or merely permitted.
Old Testament Law
The Old Testament law clearly has the death penalty prescribed for certain offenses. One argument for capital punishment is that it is established as a retribution to be handed out to the person who willfully takes the life of a fellow human being. This argument would say that the death penalty is necessitated by the divine image in man. This interpretation would require that the passages in the Old Testament must be taken prescriptively. Capital punishment was obviously permitted, and seemingly demanded for certain offenses in the Old Testament. However, in the book of Genesis, when Cain murdered Abel (the first murder), God’s first response was to protect the murder rather than demand his life.
New Testament Grace?
Modern Christianity discounts most of the legal requirements of the Old Testament as no longer applicable for the Church. Therefore, what does the New Testament have to say about the death penalty? We have the example of Jesus saying, “he who is without sin cast the first stone,” which would seem to override the death penalty law with grace. However, the sin of murder in the New Testament is just as serious as in the Old Testament. Murder as a sin is unique because the sinner cannot be reconciled to the person to whom he or she committed the sin. The New Testament also teaches that the civil magistrate has the authority to use the “sword” to carry out justice. However, it is clear that the ceremonial requirements of the Old Testament are no longer required because of the high-priestly sacrifice of Christ.
Teachings from both the Old and the New Testament, other than those directly related to capital punishment, must be researched prior to making a final decision on what the bible says about capital punishment. There are a number of ethical objections that are raised by some to capital punishment:
(1) The death penalty if final and if done by mistake cannot be reversed.
(2) The Old Testament law requires the death penalty for murder, kidnapping, incest, homosexual intercourse, and bestiality. How much of the Old Testament law should be enforced and how much should be set aside as no longer relevant?
(3) In order to be in full compliance with Old Testament law, the execution must be carried out by the victim’s kin and must be done so by public stoning. Again, how much is mandated by scripture and how much is to be set aside and who gets to make that decision?
What is the purpose of the death penalty? Is it to serve as a deterrent or is it a vengeful action against the murderer himself? Does the death penalty serve to restore a divine moral balance? Justice requires the punishment of the guilty and the sparing of the innocent. Innocent people may occasionally be mistakenly put to death, but such miscarriages of justice do not justify the abolition of the death penalty according to some. Ernest Van den Haag says that to punish a murderer by giving him the same penalty as a pickpocket or a thief cheapens the value of human life. Haag would agree that the death penalty is required because of the divine image in the victim.
The combination of Old Testament and New Testament scripture would seem to indicate that capital punishment is allowed by scripture. Grace and mercy that is shown by Jesus in the New Testament seem to indicate that the Bible falls short of mandating the death penalty. Although capital punishment involves the taking of a human life, it actually upholds and emphasizes the value of human life by providing a proper punishment for the taking of another human life. Government can and should impose the death penalty for deliberate pre-planned taking of human life. Families of the victims should show grace and mercy through giving forgiveness to the evildoer, especially if the evildoer is repentant. The death of another human being, even by capital punishment, should never be glorified or taken lightly.
My View
Why have I written a theological debate on the death penalty? Simply to demonstrate to the readers of the various opinions about the death penalty that it is not a simple issue by any means. Even within the Christian community, it is an issue that is debated from time to time. I have found myself on both sides of thinking on this complex issue. I certainly do not believe that God demands the death penalty nor do I believe that He condemns it. For me, the most important question is whether or not it is administered justly.
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