Should the death penalty be considered morally justifiable in cases of extreme crimes?

[CrossWalk]

the death penalty is not something that stops people from committing crimes

Actually it does. One of the biggest problems we are having in America right now is violent offenders being released to commit the exact same crimes they committed previously, and, for many, crimes they commit repeatedly. The death penalty stops this when handled properly.

as far as I can tell never has [stopped crimes].

Just looking at the history of the death penalty in centuries past, the crime rate was much lower and people were judged and executed swiftly for inexcusable crimes. It would help society more than words can express today if our system returned to that. Most cases languish in the courts for years before anything is done and then they are often under-punished in our current system. That's why repeat-offenders are epidemic today.

I do think that it is morally justified in some cases. But, that is not for an individual to decide if that is warranted, but a jury to decide.

If we used proper vetting methods for choosing our judges (clearly we are not doing that anymore), a judge would be able to make solid decisions about punishments that are best for all of society. That isn't possible today because judges are incompetent and are also guilty of conflicts of interest when they get money for sending people to specific prisons or punishment facilities, etc. Corruption abounds in our current society at every level.

Some people just deserve to die for their crimes.

100% And they should do so immediately, not after years of either being fed and housed by the taxpayers or running free and committing the same crimes until their court date arrives. Contrary to popular 'incorrect' opinion, God actually expects His faithful ones to be capable of making the judgment of whether someone should live or die. The Bible uses the terminology of "doing judgment and justice" in these matters.

Some believe the Old Testament is not for us today, but that is absolute nonsense. Most have heard of the commandments in the OT to stone an evil child. Why would God command such a thing? Because God is wise enough to know not only what that child will grow up and do to a society, but also that genetics do carry behavior and tendency patterns. Thus, it is all about ridding society of evil now and in the time to come.

God bless.

 

[fuddy]

Now I know what to do when my kid steps out of line...

 

[Gordon Zhao]

Currently based on my findings, 23 states including Washington D.C have abolished the death penalty entirely from being issued. Unfortunately, this doesn't stop such crimes capable attracting the death penalty being committed by people in the United States and other parts of the world.

Are you for the abolishment of the death penalty or should the death penalty be considered morally justifiable in cases of extreme crimes?

Death penalty is a type of killing, which should be considered against Christian morality of pacifism and forgiveness.

 

[Frankj]

Death penalty is a type of killing, which should be considered against Christian morality of pacifism and forgiveness.

The biblical injunction is against murder, not killing those who have violated the laws God presented as requiring the death penalty.

Still, it is a heavy burden to decide and what actually merits it and what does not, particularly in a secular justice system.

When Jesus told us to love God above all and love our neighbors as ourselves he placed a heavy responsibility on us as Christians today. when you speak of pacificism are you referring to avoiding conflict when possible or surrender to evil? Think about it.

But about forgiveness: When Jesus forgave the adulteress who was about to be stoned to death for her sin, did he give her a lesser penalty or tell her to go forth and quit sinning? Actual forgiveness mean that you will no longer hold the crime against them, that it is forgotten and the accused is free to go without penalty.

So when we 'forgive' the murderer by removing the death penalty is this what we are doing? Forgiveness is not simply changing the penalty for a crime from one form to another, it is dismissing penalty for the crime entirely and, so to speak, wiping the books clean.

How often do we, as Christians, actually do this when we 'forgive'?

 

[Gordon Zhao]

The biblical injunction is against murder, not killing those who have violated the laws God presented as requiring the death penalty.

Still, it is a heavy burden to decide and what actually merits it and what does not, particularly in a secular justice system.

When Jesus told us to love God above all and love our neighbors as ourselves he placed a heavy responsibility on us as Christians today. when you speak of pacificism are you referring to avoiding conflict when possible or surrender to evil? Think about it.

But about forgiveness: When Jesus forgave the adulteress who was about to be stoned to death for her sin, did he give her a lesser penalty or tell her to go forth and quit sinning? Actual forgiveness mean that you will no longer hold the crime against them, that it is forgotten and the accused is free to go without penalty.

So when we 'forgive' the murderer by removing the death penalty is this what we are doing? Forgiveness is not simply changing the penalty for a crime from one form to another, it is dismissing penalty for the crime entirely and, so to speak, wiping the books clean.

How often do we, as Christians, actually do this when we 'forgive'?

If the God wants to kill somebody, He will do it by himself, like punishing the Egyptians in the Red Sea. However, humans are not granted this power.

 

[Frankj]

If the God wants to kill somebody, He will do it by himself, like punishing the Egyptians in the Red Sea. However, humans are not granted this power.

Christians generally refer to God as God, not "the God", is there a reason you use that term?

As far as not being granted the power to kill, I think you may be in serious scriptural error, a reading of Geneses Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy might be of value.

Christianity is failing in today's world because it has chosen to make up an imaginary version of God and put that version in place of the Real God as revealed in the Bible.

But that is how it is prophesied for the end times, a period which I fully suspect is upon us.

May your day go well and bring you peace.

 

[CrossWalk]

Now I know what to do when my kid steps out of line...

God's words, not mine.

And when that command and event was taking place, Israel was much earlier on in their long-term intermingling, and genetic-muddying, with the surrounding nations. It was God's way of weeding out the impure individuals.

 

[Gordon Zhao]

Christians generally refer to God as God, not "the God", is there a reason you use that term?

As far as not being granted the power to kill, I think you may be in serious scriptural error, a reading of Geneses Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy might be of value.

Christianity is failing in today's world because it has chosen to make up an imaginary version of God and put that version in place of the Real God as revealed in the Bible.

But that is how it is prophesied for the end times, a period which I fully suspect is upon us.

May your day go well and bring you peace.

Thank you, I’m sorry for my false wording.

 

[The Jason]

Massive guilt with murder, so it seems like murderers would want and welcome their own death.

 

[FredVB]

I can't help but think of the very frequent circumstance of mistaken identity. I wonder if cases will be strong enough to justifiably convict with a death penalty. God of course is right to decide when it is time for anyone to die. In this fallen world there is necessarily death, we ourselves should not be promoting it, we do not have to do that.