Capital Punishment, the Bible and the Constitution

Too often, individuals equate executions to murder.  This is patently false and incongruent with God's teaching.  Ultimate vengeance is in God's realm, and in His alone.  However, valid executions are neither a province of murder nor of vengeance.  The abysmal lack of understanding of this fact evidences false teaching and widespread ignorance.

Few Americans are conversant with the Bible's original languages.  The Hebrew and Greek - tongues in which the Old and New Testaments were written, respectively - employ more precision because of their extensive vocabulary than do later English translations.

The Bible condemns murder.  Whosoever sheddeth mans blood (here the original language translates murder), by man shall his blood be shed (the language here does not translate murder): for in the image of God made he man. [Genesis 9:6]  Capital punishment not only is authorized, it is commanded.  The Bible is NOT contradictory.  And of course, the import here is a fair trial based on sufficient and proper evidence. 

Please also note the New Testament warnings concerning lawbreakers.  Romans 13: (1) Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (2) Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. (3) For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: (4) For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Neither is self-defense a province of murder nor vengeance.  Rather this is an attempt to prevent the taking of innocent life before the actual act is committed.

On a grander scale, this is the very reason for just wars being prosecuted.  Many disagree as to what constitutes a just war.  No reasonable man wants war; however, it is preferable to tyranny.  The implication is that if society desires what is right and just; then reason, objectivity, and humility must prevail to learn, accept, and obey God's teachings.  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD… [Isaiah 1:18]  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. [Jeremiah 10:23] 

The rights of the innocent must prevail over those of the wicked.  The “stiff-necked” never will accept these "hard" teachings.

We hear the proclamation for peace -- even world peace.  But again, the unmodified word, "peace", in the English language is vague.  There is the "peace" of the grave, "peace" in a totalitarian country or even “peace” in a hospital ward full of the dying; no reasonable person desires these.  Decent, law-abiding citizens want the removal of murderers (especially politically-driven murderers) from society.

And prison, except to hold murderers until trial and execution, is not the answer.  Far too many murderers either are released to prey on society or remain incarcerated as a heavy burden on society (tax payers).  The Bible COMMANDS death to murderers and so it should be.

(In the physical sense, true peace is defined as the removal of hostilities at the hands of the wicked.  In the spiritual sense, it means being right with God thereby avoiding His terrible vengeance at the Final Judgment.  No one will be to escape or hide from the Lord.  Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess at that time.  Only for the lost, it will be too late.)

We all should adhere to the admonition and warnings of God to live peaceably among men or suffer the consequences now and in the hereafter.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  [2 Corinthians 5:10]

As a last point of capital punishment, the US Constitution (with few exceptions [i.e., treason]) does not grant this power (and therefore it is prohibited) to the central government.  That authority is not prohibited to (and thereby remains the prerogative of) the states; subject to their respective constitutions.