Why I do not believe in the Death Penalty, Part One

Do I think Death is a God Ordained Punishment?

Hey folks,

Happy Sunday to ya. Do I? Yup. I do FULLY believe that anyone that is guilty, beyond a shadow of doubt, by the mouths of more than one Witness, of shedding innocent blood, they themselves should be put to death. No doubt about it.

But here in lies the problem. We do not follow God's plan. We follow OUR Criminal Justice System. Let's look at the difference.

First, there are THREE ways to take a Life. Premeditation, Accidental, Abortion. Yes, Abortion IS the taken of an Innocent life. We will discuss how God sees these things first.

Genesis 9: 5-6

5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.

6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

It is the Sixeth Cammandment. Thou shall not Murder. God is VERY serious about this. But God also understands that we ARE only Human, and can act stupidly. {Smile} So he set up a very clear formula.

Premeditation? Pretty much easy to understand. If you hate someone, or intend to kill them for whatever reason, you are a Murderer, and God says you shall die. Numbers 35

16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

17 And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

18 Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

19 The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

20 But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;

21 Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.

But it was in the heat of the moment. That's not Murder in the First, maybe Second Degree, or Third. Not according to God. Even if you got caught up in the Heat of the Moment, if it is true that you hate the person, you are a Murderer.

Accident? Numbers 35:

15 These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.

God knows Accidents happen. We allow ourselves to be put into situations that may allow for an Accidental Death to occur. SO?

22 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,

23 Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:

24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:

25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

So even if it was an Accident, God calls for you to leave. This way the Family of the one lost is not tempted to seek revenge on you. But you are Innocent in the eyes of God. So God set up the Jury System. Still Numbers 35

29 So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

31 Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

32 And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.

33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

So not by the mounth of one Witness. but more than one. A Jury of your Peers. A Final Jugdement. Guilt or Innocents.

Abortion? Exodus 21: 22-25

22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.

23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,

24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

In other words, if you accidentally cause a Women to have a miscarriage, you are STILL guilty to a degree, and you shall pay a price for your guilt. However, if you did it INTENTIONALLY, so that she looses her Child, YOU are guilty of Murder. If the Child dies, God calls for YOUR life. If the Child is deformed, than you will lose whatever the deformity. Quite literally an Eye for an Eye, ETC. In Pslams 139, it makes it clear that God knows you, and you are Formed in the Womb. This also answers the question how one whom believes in Life, can be FOR a Death Penalty.

So what is my problem with OUR system of Justice? We are not following God's Plan. We have created our own. We operate under VERY different system. One that is inherently flawed and one that continues to get further and further away from a more perfect system. Be right back to explain what I mean on that.
Peter

Sources:
King James Version of the Holy Bible.