d. Isn't the abolition of capital punishment necessary for civilized nations?

It depends on what you mean by civilized. Most "civilized" nations condemn capital punishment as "uncivilized barbarity". However, the same nations consider the abortion of babies as morally justified and civilized.

When abortion is legal it becomes a capital offence to be an unwanted baby! If euthanasia is legalized "medical assassins" will soon have the knives in the aged and incurable. Can we call a country civilized when pornography and homosexuality is protected by law but parents who give their children a loving Biblical hiding are found guilty of "child-abuse" because of a ban on corporal punishment?

Secular humanists will answer with a resounding "yes". Christians, who stand on God's unchangeable Word, answer with a firm "no".
Pagan man defies the absolute authority of God's Holy Law and ends up calling evil good and good evil. The result is the opposite of civilization. Consequently, "the earth is filled with violence through them" (Gene 5:13) and "because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Eccl 8:11).
http://www.acdp.org.za/index.php?page=issue4

c. What about the possibility of innocent people being wrongly sentenced to death?

Though the possibility of an innocent person being wrongly sentenced to death does exist, it does not make the Biblical principle of capital punishment invalid. It is the State's responsibility to ensure that an alleged killer is given as fair a trial as humanly possible and only executed if guilt is proved beyond all reasonable doubt.

Since courts are not perfect, mistakes may happen. Consolation can be taken in the knowledge that the accused will also stand before God's judgment seat where perfect justice will be dispensed on the basis of perfect knowledge. The innocent will be vindicated and the guilty condemned. On the other hand, the possibility of executing innocent persons in error is far more remote than the possibility of saving the innocent victims of criminals who may have been deterred by the prospect of capital punishment.
http://www.acdp.org.za/index.php?page=issue4

b. Isn't this Old Testament law?

Some may argue that this law is contained in the Old Testament and that the New Testament did away with the law. However, the death penalty instituted by God in Genesis 9:6 was before Mosaic law and was not meant for one dispensation but "for all generations to come" (Gen 9:12). Jesus said that He did not come to "abolish the law but to fulfill it" (Matt 5:17). The divine authority invested in the government is repeated in the New Testament where it says, in Romans 13, that the civil government "does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer ... to punish those who do wrong". Keep in mind that the sword is a weapon (and this was well understood in the Roman times) which is capable of inflicting all sorts of injury, including death.

In the story of the adulterous woman in John 8, Jesus did not say that the woman should not be executed for her crime, but rather, he challenged the morality of her accusers, i.e., if they were also guilty of the same crime, they could not lawfully put her to death without also bringing the same penalty upon themselves.

Israel, as a captive nation, was not living under Old Testament law. The right of "high justice" belonged only to the Roman government. Thus, by seeking to have Jesus commend the crowd's death penalty, the religious leaders were seeking to put Him in conflict with Rome as a revolutionary. On the other hand, they hoped to catch Him with the other extreme by making Him deny the Old Testament. Jesus saw the trap and resisted both extremes. Finally, the Old Testament requires two witnesses for a capital crime. Thus, when her accusers slunk away in shame (possibly because some of them had also committed adultery with the same woman) there were no witnesses, and therefore no case.

It is because God is a God of love that He provides the means to protect society form public evil. It is when the Divine commandment to "love your neighbour" breaks down in the heart of man, that the civil government's sword of the death penalty is designed to uphold and protect the sacredness of life.

The Lord is love personified but He is also a God of justice. Under His justice we are all sentenced to death for our personal sins. His love, which forgives the repentant sinner, is perfectly in harmony with His justice which insisted on capital punishment for His beloved Son, Who paid the penalty for sin by bearing the ultimate punishment - death and separation from God.
http://www.acdp.org.za/index.php?page=issue4

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).
http://www.acdp.org.za/index.php?page=issue4

ACDP SPEECH ON MOTION OF REMOVAL OF EXECUTIVE DEPUTY MAYOR, CLLR GRANT HASKIN, DELIVERED BY CLLR VINCENT BERGH

Mr Speaker, what should have been a great day for the MPG in the approval of our 4th budget today, has, in our minds, reached its lowest ebb. In the 20+ years that I have practised law, I have learned that, when someone needs to find a way out of a contract or an excuse to divorce where none exist, that they would clutch at any straw to justify their actions.

They will create fairy tales from rumours, paving the way to cancel the agreement, building a case that does not exist, trying to prove that they are in the right and the other party is the culprit. This motion is a breach, by the DA, of the contract entered into between the MPF and the DA, as equal partners, to form the MPG.

After the March 2006 elections, when it was clear that no one party had a clear majority, the ACDP and others formed the MPF. Together, we decided to partner with the DA and not the ANC. Had we chosen not to, the DA would still be in opposition today and we would be governing with the ANC. The agreement we have signed with the DA allocates the post of Deputy Mayor, one Mayco seat and 2 Sub council seats to the ACDP. It allocates positions to all parties. When the MPG expelled the AMP in Jan 2007, it was the ACDP that offered our Deputy Mayors post to the ID to save this MPG, brought stability and a comfortable majority – a sacrifice we made, so that the DA and other partners could stay in power.

After the floor crossing in Sept 2007 the ACDP negotiated with the ID to get back the position of the EDM. The DA did not like that. They wanted the position for themselves and have said so on record and accused the ACDP of bad faith. They also tried to make it impossible for the ACDP to take up that position by rejecting all our candidates. Finally, and very reluctantly, the DA gave up their claim to our post. Now the DA is doing it again.

It was always the DA’s intention to take the position of the EDM so that they could hold the 4 most important positions in the City. They are now on record for saying that they want the position “as a national decision to be as effective as possible politically”.
These accusations of bad faith by the ACDP are based on rumours. I am being accused of publishing an inflammatory letter. I did write an Afrikaans letter, but someone, without my knowledge and consent, translated it into an English version, took what I have said out of context and added their own conclusions. Part of what I said in my letter was inaccurate and when it was brought to my attention I apologised and retracted it in writing twice, and apologised verbally to the former Mayor in person.

I am also now being accused of colluding with the ANC recently and Simon Grindrod previously, to the kick the DA out of City government. The latest ridiculous accusation is that 6 ACDP councillors abstained from voting for the current mayor. All ACDP councillors voted for our new Mayor on 13 May as per the original agreement. Those councillors who DID abstain will recognise this lie for what it is.
Mr Speaker I do not know who has started these rumours, but that person is a blatant liar. The DA has a snake in their midst who obviously has an axe to grind with the ACDP, but they need to be careful, that person will poison their whole caucus. We have no partnership agreement with the DA on provincial level, yet when Mrs Cupido abstained from voting, the ACDP was falsely accused of voting with the ANC. All these, and numerous other false rumours are being used maliciously as justification for taking our Deputy Mayors post. No proof, despite numerous requests, has been forthcoming. Colleagues by now you should understand that the actions of the DA are not based on the mala fides of the ACDP, it is the result of pure greed and opportunism. This motion reminds me so much of the time, and I think Alderman Nielson and many DA councillors will remember, when the NNP crossed the floor to the ANC and the DA shouted: “BETRAYAL!” This motion however is a worse case of betrayal, as the ACDP had put and kept the DA in power through all the onslaughts on this government. This motion shows the DA cannot be trusted as a coalition partner, and I hope that the electorate take note that the DA today has signed the death warrant of coalition governments across the Country because of their greed and breach of contract, trying to make the ACDP out as the culprit.

Mr Speaker, I want to appeal to those members in the DA caucus and in this house who belief in justice, not to support this motion. If you do support it, contrary to your conviction, you have betrayed the ACDP and your own conscience. I am interested to see if there are councillors who put their integrity above loyalty to the party and positions and if the DA has the guts to allow their members to vote according to their conscience. Councillor Pat Arendse often refers to the quote of Abraham Lincoln: “Right is right even if nobody agrees, wrong is wrong, even if everybody agrees.”

The ACDP has tried repeatedly to prevent this public embarrassment to the City government, yet the DA seems compelled to fight everyone all the time. Even if the DA wins this motion, they are the biggest losers in the process, having sold their credibility and their partners for one seat. The ACDP walks away from this having stood for the agreement we’ve signed, having defended our post out of principle. Today will go down in history as, instead of a great day, a day overshadowed by political manipulation and bully tactics of our so-called partners.

Strange, Speaker, that the DA seeks to punish the ACDP for talking to the ID, UDM and FF but they reward the ID with a provincial cabinet post, and retain the UDM in Mayco. None of the DA’s partners have broken the agreement, yet they are punishing the ACDP. This is not consistent.
Also interesting Speaker, before the national and provincial elections the DA could not kick the ACDP out because they did not know if they would need us to govern the province but as soon as it became clear that they did not need us they now kick us out. In the words of Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar, I want to say to those who will support the DA in this motion: “Et tu Brute”

ACDP says ICASA’s sudden about-turn is damaging South Africa as rand depreciates and further jobs are lost.

ACDP MP and Whip, Cheryllyn Dudley says:

The ACDP welcomes last night’s judgment in the South Gauteng High Court that dismissed the urgent application by ICASA and COSATU to prevent this morning’s listing of Vodacom on the Stock Exchange.

Both government and ICASA gave the listing the go-ahead a long time ago; this sudden about-turn has caused huge damage to South Africa in the eyes of foreign investors. These investors are watching South Africa very closely following the installation of the new administration under President Jacob Zuma.

We already have a global economic crisis and cannot afford these knee-jerk reactions as international markets will impact drastically on us.

Foreign investors require consistency and predictability from governments and regulators. We immediately saw a 3% drop of the Rand against the US Dollar following the High Court application. This we cannot afford as it will cause a further loss of jobs deepening poverty levels.

While ACDP recognizes the value of public input, this could have been done a long time ago. The ACDP will call on ICASA to account for this about-turn which smacks of political interference.

The ACDP will forward questions to the Minister of Communications and call for ICASA to account to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on the issue.

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For further information contact:
Cheryllyn Dudley, MP and Whip, ACDP Parliament, 082 890 6520

Libby Norton, Media Attaché, ACDP, Parliament.
Tel: 021 851 9554 Cell: 07 25 70 6361
lnorton@parliament.gov.za

The ACDP stands for leadership by Christian principles, freedom of religion, a free market economy with a social conscience, family values, community empowerment and human rights in a federal system. Read the ACDP Manifesto at www.acdp.org.za

USA - Parents Fight Homosexual Indoctrination of pre school children

A California school district seems intent on teaching pre-school children to accept the homosexual lifestyle. The Alameda Unified School District announced it was considering a supplemental curriculum to eradicate "homophobia" in kindergarten children. Brad Dacus, founder of the Pacific Justice Institute said an attorney spoke before the board meeting. "And [the attorney] made it very clear that this is an abridgement and an affront to the neutral role that school districts are supposed to play in respecting the rights of parents and not to engage in such overt and open indoctrination and mandatory acceptance of such controversial, immoral lifestyles," he concludes. Parents cannot opt their children out of the curriculum. Dacus says it is important to remember that the children are kindergarten age, and many cannot even write their names -- yet they are being taught that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=529992

South Africa - Drug Barons Target 2010

A top detective has revealed how drug barons are increasingly targeting the region by concealing illicit narcotics in everyday items like surfboards and cricket bats and smuggling them in at poorly policed ports, harbours and on inter-city buses. Researchers say drug lords have begun an aggressive campaign to increase their clientele ahead of next year‘s FIFA World Cup and they fear the problem could spiral out of control as drug lords stock up ahead of 2010. Previous tournaments have seen a sharp rise in drug abuse, prostitution and human trafficking in host nations. Teenagers are being targeted more aggressively, according to police. Monitoring unsuspecting teens, the drug peddlers approach them and offer “tasters” or “demo packs” to hook them. Once addicted, the teens typically go on to sell drugs to their friends at school. Teenagers from upmarket areas now use their parent‘s petrol cards to fill dealer‘s cars in exchange for drugs. Researchers also say the country has one of the world‘s fastest-growing drug markets.
http://www.weekendpost.co.za/article.aspx?id=422966

ACDP concerned no legislation to contain spread of bee killing disease threat to South Africa’s produce.

ACDP MP and Whip, Cheryllyn Dudley says the ACDP is concerned about the seriousness of the new killer disease of bees that is threatening pollination:

The ACDP notes with concern reports of a bee disease in the Western Cape that is very contagious and could wipe out the bee colonies of the nation as has happened in other parts of the world. No quarantine regulations are in place to halt the movement of honey or commercial hives in dealing with this potentially disastrous disease.

We are relieved that this poses no threat whatsoever to humans from bees, honey or bee products, but since the pollination of almost all vegetable and fruit crops is undertaken by bees, their loss could do incalculable harm to the supply of produce. It could spread rapidly from the Western Cape throughout the country threatening South Africa’s food supply.

The ACDP calls on the Ministry of Agriculture to act urgently to contain this threat to South Africa’s horticulture.
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For further information contact:
Cheryllyn Dudley, MP and Whip, ACDP Parliament, 082 890 6520

Libby Norton, Media Attaché, ACDP, Parliament.
Tel: 021 851 9554 Cell: 07 25 70 6361
lnorton@parliament.gov.za
This release is sent from a 'sending only' e-mail address. To subscribe or unsubscribe please communicate with lndalana@parliament.gov.za

The ACDP stands for leadership by Christian principles, freedom of religion, a free market economy with a social conscience, family values, community empowerment and human rights in a federal system. Read the ACDP Manifesto at www.acdp.org.za

TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE BIBLE

Is Revival the desire of your heart? Do you long to see the churches and communities in South Africa revived and restored to a God honouring condition?
“Restore us, O God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” Psalm 80:7
Are you praying for a great spiritual awakening that will change our cities and our country? Is it your prayer that God may be honoured and glorified in all areas of life?
“Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down,. . . come down to make Your Name known to Your enemies and cause the nations to quake before You!” Isaiah 64:1-2
Duncan Campbell of the Hebrides revival observed that: “Revival is not churches filled with people, but people filled with God.” Jonathan Edwards described revival as “a special season of mercy.”
Revival is a sovereign move of God initiated by the Holy Spirit working through consecrated men. A study of revivals in the Bible and in history reveals that all revivals begin with a deeper appreciation for the holiness of God and a realization of how offensive our sin must be in the sight of our holy God.
“Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” Isaiah 55:7
When the Book of the Law (the first five books of the Bible) was read to King Josiah of Judah, he tore his robes in anguish and exclaimed: “Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us . . .” 2 Kings 22:13. He called all the elders together to hear the Law of God and to repent together for the wickedness that they had allowed to flourish in the land.
“The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord – to follow the Lord and keep His commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul . . . Then all the people pledged themselves to the Covenant.” 2 Kings 23:3
This repentance was then followed by vigorous action to remove or destroy everything contrary to the Law of God – including the pornographic Asherah poles, the Baal altars where babies were sacrificed, and the prostitutes and false prophets who had corrupted the people (2 Kings 23:4-10).
The Bible records that Josiah “. . . turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.” 2 Kings 23:25. God sent a prophet to declare to Josiah: “Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken . . . I have heard you, declares the Lord.” 2 Kings 22:19
Conviction of sin is the first step towards a Biblical Transformation. This includes focusing on the Law of God, mourning over our sin, confessing that sin and undertaking whatever steps of restitution or obedience are necessary.
“If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by deceiving his neighbour about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him, or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin . . . he must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner . . .” Leviticus 6:2-5
Those who claim to want revival, but are unwilling to thoroughly repent of every known sin and make full restitution cannot be serious.
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” Revelation 3:19
Like Josiah, we need to take a careful look at the Law of God. The Ten Commandments reflect the unchanging character of God. It summarizes our responsibilities to God, to our parents and to other people.
“. . . The Law was our tutor, to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24
“The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul...” Psalm 19:7
Martin Luther declared: “The first duty of the Gospel preacher is to declare God’s Law and show the nature of sin.”
John Bunyan said: “The man who does not know the nature of the Law cannot know the nature of sin.”
John Wesley suggested that evangelists should preach 90% Law and 10% Grace.
Charles Finney wrote: “Failure to use the Law is almost certain to result in false hope, the introduction of a false standard of Christian experience, and to fill the church with false converts.”
Charles Spurgeon declared: “They will never accept Grace until they tremble before a just and Holy Law.”
As our Lord taught: “Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until Heaven and Earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law . . . Anyone who” breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5:17-19
We want God to bless South Africa, so we need to evaluate our nation in the light of God’s Word. As we seek a Biblical Transformation of our country we need to start by confessing our national sins. As we look at the Ten Commandments we must confess that:
Our leaders are too proud to bow before God in prayer at the beginning of Parliament or to acknowledge a source of authority above themselves.
At state events our leaders have committed idolatry, worshipping other ’gods’ who are not God at all.
God’s Name is routinely taken in vain on national television and at cinemas and this blasphemy is constitutionally protected and regarded as ’entertainment.’
The Lord’s Day is desecrated every week. What God ordained as a Day of rest and a Day of worship is being commercialized and abused for the worship of pleasure.
Respect for our parents and elders is being undermined everywhere by the laws, the entertainment industry and the explosion of violent crimes against the elderly.
Every year over 20 000 people are murdered in South Africa and our Justice system is failing to protect the citizens of this land. Most of the murderers who terrorize our people escape being brought to justice. In fact our laws seem to favour the rights of the criminals – and all too often criminalize the victims.
Selfishness, greed, covetousness and deception are pervasive and we have become a nation infested with corruption and theft. Our Constitution entrenches the rights of pornographers to exploit for profit people made in the image of God – to take what God has made to be holy and pervert it; to take what God designed to be special and make it sordid; to distort what God intended to be private and develop it into a multi-million rand exploitative industry.
We must admit that it is hypocritical to claim to be a “human rights society” while denying the right to life to pre-born babies. Our government interprets the ’Right to Life’ as a means to protecting guilty murderers from execution, but not to protect innocent babies from receiving the death penalty through abortion. Our society has become so calloused, careless and cruel that it allows little babies to be dismembered, smothered or strangled through abortion – legally – and with tax payers’ money. How can we expect God to bless a nation that kills babies?
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.” We must confess that most of us, even in the Church, have shamefully done nothing to protest and work against the legalized slaughter of pre-born babies in South Africa.
God’s Word declares that “Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.” Matthew 25:45. “Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:17.
We have not loved God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, nor have we loved our neighbours as ourselves. We have not done unto others as we would have others do unto us. We have been thoughtless and careless. We have been self-centered and preoccupied with less important things. We have thought so much of ourselves and so little of God and of our neighbours. We have wasted too much time watching television. And we have too often spent more time reading the newspaper than reading the Bible.
In the Bible, national transformations always involved a return to studying and obeying God’s Word.
The Bible is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105); it is “sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” Hebrews 4:12. It is like a fire that burns within our heart, it is like a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces (Jeremiah 23:29). “It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” Romans 1:16. It is the Truth (John 17:17) that sets us free (John 8:32). It is sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103) and more precious than gold or silver (Psalm 119:72). It is “radiant, giving light to the eyes” and “joy to the heart” Psalm 19:8.
Therefore Asa expelled the prostitutes and destroyed pornographic idols (2 Kings 15:12). Jehu demolished the temple of Baal where child-sacrifice had taken place and turned it into a latrine (2 Kings 10:27). Jehoiada led the people in the destruction of the temple of Baal, smashing the perverse idols and blood stained altars (2 Kings 11:18). Josiah ordered idols, charms and other articles of false religion removed from the temple of the Lord (2 Kings 23:4).
“Let those who love the Lord hate evil . . . .” Psalm 97:10
Jehoshaphat rid the land of Asherah poles and set his heart on seeking God (2 Chron 19:3), Hezekiah also removed offensive materials that were not in accordance with God’s Law from the land (2 Chron 31:1; 33:15). Ezra required the people to bring their marriages into obedience to God’s Law (Ezra 10:3). Nehemiah enforced Sabbath observance in honour of the Lord (Nehemiah 13:19). The people of Ephesus destroyed their occultist books (Acts 19:17-20).
“Who will rise up for Me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for Me against evildoers?” Psalm 94:16
We cannot achieve anything of eternal value, unless God’s Word is foundational and central, and if we think that we can take a short cut to Revival, avoiding repentance, restitution and obedience then we are only fooling ourselves. Every Revival and national transformation in the Bible involved decisive action to bring society into obedience to the Law of God!
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
The above article is a chapter in Biblical Principles for Africa.
Dr. Peter Hammond
Africa Christian Action
P.O. Box 23632
Claremont, 7735
Cape Town
Tel: (021) 689-4481
Fax: (021) 685-5884
E-mail: info@christianaction.org.za
Website: www.christianaction.org.za