How do we decide whether or not capital punishment is right or wrong? Some argue that this practice, even in response to a capital crime, is uncivilized, cruel, and barbaric. The deontological argument would contend that the death penalty is a justly retributive measure which addresses the guilt factor. The utilitarian would even argue that it is a deterrent measure and should be imposed. I think both are correct. One valid issue that deontology recognizes is that we do not apply the death penalty in our society equitably. Often, the death penalty seems to be disproportionately determined by one’s social, economic or racial status. I am sure most would find this an unacceptable application of capital punishment. If capital punishment is an issue of fairness where a life is demanded for a life, why is it not applied fairly across the board? Still, how does one justify the taking of a life under any circumstance?
One popular argument says that taking a person’s life is a devaluation of the individual. If the life is taken, there no longer remains an opportunity for rehabilitation or redemption. This argument misses the point. Justice is not satisfied by the rehabilitation of the murderer but by taking of his life. Failure to exercise the death penalty in the case of a capital crime is not intended to recognize the dignity of the guilty. It is intended to exact retribution. Failure on our part to uphold the death penalty is instead a failure to recognize the terrible nature of the crime. This brings up the question of who should determine the magnitude of the crime. Since God is the rightful giver and taker of life, perhaps we should allow revelation to influence the decision. The revealed standard demands that a life be taken for a life. "Of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed", (Gen.9:5,6). This law was given to Noah before the nation of Israel was even born. This law was given as a divine mandate for man to punish the manslayer and was not given to a select group of people as was the Law of Moses. This is a divine mandate to reveal how man should represent the undue taking of a life. We need to see the seriousness of murder from the eyes of the Creator, not through any human value system. Rationalization for not observing the mandate is a rejection of the revealed standard. Observance of this mandate is predicated upon the understanding that man is created in the image of God. Murder then becomes an affront to the image of God. As far as God is concerned, this cannot go unchallenged. The arguments of rehabilitation and possible redemption call into question the validity of the revelation. These considerations have absolutely no value to the mandate of God and do not even figure into it from the vantage point of revelation.
Can the Christian support the death penalty? I believe there are actually two questions here. One is a matter of support while the other is a matter of involvement. I believe that God has granted this judicial mandate of capital punishment to be exercised by world governments. This is a matter appointed to the world powers that God has installed. If a Christian is functioning in a capacity of social authority such as a judge perhaps, then he must carry out the functions of the office he holds. God has assigned this power to such offices and the fact that one is a Christian does not relieve him of this responsibility.
By Glen Rogers
