As Christians, should we support capital punishment? I have my answer, but I would like to hear what others think first.

-- David Ortiz (cyberpunk1986@hotmail.com), July 22, 2003

Answers

I know Kevin is for it, but the answer is No, Jesus didn't support it, neither should we.

-- David Ortiz (cyberpunk1986@hotmail.com), July 22, 2003.

David,

Thanks for answering for me, but you are correct, I do agree with using the death penalty as punishment.

-- Kevin Walker (kevinlwalker572@cs.com), July 22, 2003.

David,

Just curious, how you know that Jesus did NOT support capital punishment. Do you have any Scripture verses to support this allegation?

-- Kevin Walker (kevinlwalker572@cs.com), July 22, 2003.

In John 8, When Jesus is confronted with a woman who was guilty of a capital offense (adultry), Jesus shifted the whole question from who deserves to be executed to who deserves to execute.

Jesus stopped an execution of a guilty person by insisting that "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."

-- David Ortiz (cyberpunk1986@hotmail.com), July 22, 2003.

David,

Once again, you do not understand. Jesus did NOT come into this world the first time to CONDEMN [that is why He told the woman "neither do I condemn you" - but He did tell her to "sin no more"] the world, but that through Him, the world might be saved. (John 3:17).

Jesus had power on this earth to forgive sin (See Matt. 9:6, Mark 2:10, Lk. 5:24) and that is exactly what He did with this woman.

Jesus did NOT condone her sin, for He has said that adulterers [which is what this woman was] will NOT inherit the kingdom of God? (See 1 Cor. 6:9-11).

We [Gentiles} have been brought near [and are forgiven] by the blood of Christ. (See Eph. 2:13). The ONLY way we contact the cleansing blood of Jesus is to be BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH where His blood was shed. (See Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27).

Jesus will return a second time "apart from sin for salvation". (Heb. 9:28).

There is nothing wrong with capital punishment. The authorities that God has put in place on this earth have His authority to carry out justice. (See Rom. 13:1-7).

-- Kevin Walker (kevinlwalker572@cs.com), July 22, 2003.

So then, since the O.T. is irrevalent shouldn't we abolish capital punishment? So then your position on the death penalty is strictly a personal one?

-- David Ortiz (cyberpunk1986@hotmail.com), July 23, 2003.

David,

I did NOT say the OT was "irrelevant" so please stop trying to put words in my mouth.

Did you even read my last post? Go back and re-read the last line of my last post concerning justice.

-- Kevin Walker (kevinlwalker572@cs.com), July 23, 2003.