Christian death penalty?

[BayGBM]

Can a Christian support the death penalty?  How?

If followers of Christ believe human life is sacred (even the life of a criminal) and life is created by god, how can they support the taking of human life to exact revenge or justice?

I’m all for holding bad guys accountable and locking them up--but death?  What about the inequality with which the death penalty is applied in terms of sex (more men get it than women) and race (more blacks than whites)  even when the crime committed is exactly the same?  What about people whom are wrongly convicted?

Do Christians supporting the death penalty really believe that no innocent person has ever been put to death or that it won’t happen again?

[OzmO]

Hell,  Moses had 3000 people (women 7 children Included)  killed on God's orders for being insecure.   so the death penalty is easy.

[BayGBM]

Hell,  Moses had 3000 people (women 7 children Included)  killed on God's orders for being insecure.   so the death penalty is easy.

Christians subscribe to the New Testament not the Hebrew Bible so the examples in the HB on a range of subjects scarcely apply to Christians... or so I've been told.

[OzmO]

Christians subscribe to the New Testament not the Hebrew Bible so the examples in the HB on a range of subjects scarcely apply to Christians... or so I've been told.

So true....  I sometimes wonder why they haven't "through GOD's inspiration" just do away with the OT and make the NT the BIBLE.

Because like it or not... the OT accoding to their definition IS the word of GOD.  And GOD is vengeful and Jealous in the OT. 

[Tre]

It's really quite simple.

The Old Testament was created as a way to help keep large masses of people under control:

"If you screw up, God will kill you."

Over time, though, people began to realize that was a bunch of bunk and didn't want to support the 'church' of someone who was just looking for a reason to kill them.

So, 'Jesus' and the New Testament were created and the fact that they represent a 180 from the OT is no mistake - it was a carefully crafted PR move that has paid huge dividends throughout time.

"God loves you so much that he killed his only son, just for you."

It still makes 'God' a murderer (or an accomplice at a minimum), but Christianity is a lot better for business than the Old Testament/Law of Moses/Abraham, etc was. 

[Deedee]

Actually, apparently Jesus was okay with capital punishment. The commandment "thou shalt not kill" should be translated as "thou shalt not murder."  When Jesus said "turn the other cheek" he was exhorting the people not to be passive, but to leave vengenance to the ruling government.  He makes several references to capital punishment in the NT as do Paul and Mathew.  So in essence, application of the death penalty is altogether kosher if you are a christian.

[Dos Equis]

Actually, apparently Jesus was okay with capital punishment. The commandment "thou shalt not kill" should be translated as "thou shalt not murder."  When Jesus said "turn the other cheek" he was exhorting the people not to be passive, but to leave vengenance to the ruling government.  He makes several references to capital punishment in the NT as do Paul and Mathew.  So in essence, application of the death penalty is altogether kosher if you are a christian.

Well said.  I agree.  Also, much of the NT quotes the OT. 

[Deedee]

Well said.  I agree.  Also, much of the NT quotes the OT. 

We like to have lively dinner conversations. This one has been the topic of a few of them.   I'm curious though, does the NT reference anything about homosexuality? Don't know, and have never thought to ask...

[Dos Equis]

We like to have lively dinner conversations. This one has been the topic of a few of them.   I'm curious though, does the NT reference anything about homosexuality? Don't know, and have never thought to ask...

Yes.  Romans 1:18-32 talks about, among other things, sexual immorality and specifically mentions homosexuality.  Here is an excerpt:

"Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.  For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
Likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due."

Romans 1:24-27.

This is consistent with the OT admonitions against homosexuality. 

[Deedee]

Thanks Beach! I'll go look it up and read more.