What Is the Proper Christian Stance on the Death Penalty?

Q: How should I, as a Christian, feel about the death penalty? Should we be able to decide if someone deserves death through the state?

A: I believe the Bible, in both the Hebrew and the Greek scriptures, permits the death penalty for murder and presents it as just and good.

Many early Christians were often against the death penalty, especially in a society like the ancient Roman world where life was cheap and violence was rampant. It made sense for Christians to be instinctively against the death penalty during that time. However, in the modern world, I think being pro-life can and should be understood as being pro-death penalty. This may sound contradictory, but if murderers are not properly punished, life is regarded as cheap. There is a connection between the practice of widespread abortion and the lack of capital punishment.

The Bible explains that the proper punishment for murder, confirmed by proper legal standards, is the death penalty. Genesis 9:6 states, 'Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God he made man.' This is a clear affirmation of the legitimacy of capital punishment under the right circumstances. The Old Testament makes a distinction between manslaughter and murder and requires that two or three independent eyewitnesses establish the guilt of a murder. Once guilt is established, the death penalty is appropriate.

In Romans 13, Paul describes the role of government as one that includes executing wrath on those who practice evil. The law in a civil society has three purposes: to pursue individual justice, to teach right and wrong to the culture, and to prevent or discourage sinful behavior. If the death penalty were applied justly and promptly, it could help achieve these goals. However, in the United States, the death penalty is often carried out poorly and slowly, failing to fulfill these objectives.

Most nations have eliminated the death penalty, which I believe is wrong. This approach suggests that every murderer deserves a full life paid for by taxpayers, regardless of their actions. This is not pro-life and is not obedient to the Bible. The guilt of unpunished murder defiles a land, as stated in Numbers 35.

There are legitimate objections to capital punishment that Christians can raise. One is that it gives too much power to the government. While this is a valid concern, I don't think it disqualifies the death penalty. Another objection is that it is unfairly applied, which needs to be addressed without eliminating it. Lastly, the modern system of capital punishment in places like the United States is broken. I agree with this concern, as potential murderers may not have a fair expectation of being executed for their crimes.

In summary, I believe the death penalty is scripturally appropriate, but it matters how it is carried out. It's fair for people to question its implementation today, but I have no doubt about its biblical legitimacy.