Death, Life, and Justice

Death Penalty: 2 Christian Views

DEFINITIONS:

Governments: rulers of people, principalities, a force that seeks control, influence, or regulate. Biblical usage: principalities, rulers of people that are not God often seeking to be like god.

Justice: True reconciliation and fairness in God’s eyes. Biblical usage: hurt people getting the mercy they deserve.

Death: physical and spiritual eternal death. A Christian cannot die, but still should avoid physical death.

Redemption: brought out of evil into the forgiveness of Christ. Biblical usage requires reconciliation.

View number one:

All death is evil

All people can be redeemed (here and now)

Forgiveness and grace cancel all rights to revenge

Governments wield “The sword” outside the perfection of Christ. Romans 13:1-7

Justice cannot be achieved by the Governments

Christians should allow the Governments to kill “the guilty”

The loose of life is sad but it is the way of the World

Summary: The death penalty is permitted in Romans as a tool of the government, Christians should not stand in the way.

View number two:

All death is evil

All people can be redeemed (here and now)

Forgiveness and grace cancel all rights to revenge

Governments wield “The sword” outside the perfection of Christ. Romans 13:1-7

Justice cannot be achieved by the Governments

Romans 13: 1-7 is describing a reality for the early Church not prescribing its goals.

The loose of life is sad and Followers are called to “love”, even going against the grain of the world.

Summary: Life belongs to God, not the Governments. Christians seek to Mercy and Justice in contrast to the Governments of the age.

View number three:

***This is view does not fall in the bounds of the Christian faith and belief in Jesus.***

All death is evil

Life is preferable

Some people MIGHT be too far gone to be redeemed (here and now).

Christians have a right to revenge.

God uses the Governments to unleashes His wrath (some within the perfection of Christ).

Justice can be archived by the end of a sword.

Summary: Revenge is permitted even unto death. Governments are permitted to seek revenge on the guilty. God uses death to achieve justice.

Diving into Romans 13:1-7

The NET Bible Chapter 13

13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 13:2 So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment 13:3 (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, 13:4 for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. 13:5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. 13:6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants devoted to governing. 13:7 Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Context

Paul is saying this to a partially persecuted Church

Paul is saying this to a people angry at their governments

Paul is saying this in a HEAVY REFLECTION on Jesus words (give to Ceaser what is Ceaser’s give to God what is God’s)

Back-up

The NET Bible Chapter 12

12:9 Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. 12:10 Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. 12:11 Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. 12:12 Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. 12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality. 12:14 Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited. 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. 12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 12:20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Are these two passages in conflict? why or why not?

Is there a way of understanding these passages to be union with each other and the life of Jesus?

let us go with that...

Build your doctrine on Christ and let the letters fortify that, not the other way around.

In conclusion:

All death is evil

we must recognize the authority the government naturally has over us.

We must seek the Kingdom of God first, even if it goes against the Governments.