ISSUES IN FOCUS – a. Capital punishment

The Bible is very clear on the matter of capital punishment. In view of fallen mankind's wickedness and for the well-being of the human race, God instituted civil government as the visible manifestation of the justice of God in human society. He invested the government with the authority to judicially wield the sword of execution on the murderer.

The penalty for violating the sanctity of life is stated in Genesis 9:6. "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed". Why? "For in the image of God He made man". God so highly estimates human life that He will not suffer murder to go unavenged. Though justice belongs only to God, He delegates it to institutions He sets up among men.

God created man in His image and clothed him with His authority to judicially enact the death penalty upon the sin of murder after the due process of law, because it is the only way in which a land can be purged from the guilt of such an atrocious public crime: "Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses ... bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed except by the blood of the one who shed it" (Num 35:30 & 33).

The Hebrew word in the sixth commandment is rightly translated "murder" not kill: i.e. murder is the unlawful taking of life. Capital punishment is the lawful, God-ordained taking of a life. We must remember that the State, and only the State, has the right to bear the sword in vengeance, no matter how derelict it may be. While citizens have their right to self-defense (Ex 22:2), they do not have the right of vengeance, neither against child molesters, rapists, abortionists, etc. Even when wickedness abounds, men do not have their right to take justice in their own hands since it belongs only to God Who delegates it through His lawful representative, the State.

The solution is not more lawlessness (i.e. revolution) but reformation and repentance. Let us follow the example of the ancient city of Nineveh, and "call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may turn and relent, and withdraw His burning anger so that we shall not perish?" (Jonah 3:8).
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