“Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”
In my last job I rarely sat down for a cup of tea during my 13 hour shift. One morning I did manage to sit down and was accompanied by a junior nurse. We chatted and something came up about a murderer. I voiced my belief that those who kill should be put to death quickly. The other nurse (who claimed to be a Christian) looked shocked and said “How can you call for the death penalty when you are a Christian?”
My words were not mere opinion I told her – it is from God, Who said that first-degree murderers MUST be put to death. She remained shocked, and thought she held the high ground. The death penalty is still applicable today, even if a killer in prison says he or she has genuinely been saved by grace following the murder. They would be forgiven by God, but the penalty by law still has to be enforced. Why? Because otherwise the guilt will fall upon the entire nation and encourages more murders!
“…the (first-degree) murderer shall surely be put to death.” (Numbers 35:16). This killing of a murderer was swift (Ecc.8:11) – no spending years in prison going through many appeals. If deliberate murder was not planned, the killer was not guilty of murder, but of manslaughter. To put a murderer to death required solid evidence – two witnesses (Numbers 35:30). Today, a witness could include, say, DNA. When deliberate killers are allowed to live, they pollute the land (v33). The New Testament confirms the death penalty (James 2:8-11). And nothing can save a murderer from the death penalty (Numbers 35:30,31). There is no excuse.
If we do not put a deliberate murderer to death, when he has been found guilty, then the guilt of his crime is placed on the whole nation. This is why no nation may allow murderers to live. Furthermore, in God’s eyes, having hatred and thought of murder are equally deserving of death. Nothing in the New Testament removes God’s demand.
© 20 July 2024
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Published on www.christiandoctrine.com
Bible Theology Ministries
Swansea
Wales
United Kingdom