How Should Christians View The Death Penalty?

We must look within ourselves for the answer.

At one point in my life I was very troubled about whether or not a soldier, in time of war, was guilty of "murder" when an enemy soldier was killed in battle. At that particular time I could not make a sound decision in my own mind as to whether this action was actually a "sin". It was not until after I had contacted three ministers of three different religious beliefs that I finally found my own peace on this issue.

I was immediately reminded about the parting of the Red Sea, David and Goliath, Cain and Abel and many other accounts of "murder or killing" mentioned in the Bible and how the circumstances surrounding each of these events were totally different. Some acts of murder were committed out of anger and revenge, while others were necessary to protect a nation or for self-preservation.

When we look for answers to our questions about "killing" and "murder" in the Bible, our answer will be determined by which version of the Bible we use. Let's look at one Bible verse and see it in different translations.

Here is Matthew 5:21:
King James Version

"Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:"

New Living Translation

"You have heard that our ancestors were told, You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.'"

Holman Christian Standard Version

"You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, 'Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.'"

English Standard Version

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'

So, basically these different versions say just about the same thing, but with one very important difference, one uses the word "kill", while the other uses the word "murder".

The men and women who serve in our military are sworn to an oath to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic". So when our soldiers are placed in a situation where "killing" the enemy is necessary, it is not "murder". This "killing" is for not only self-defense, but also to protect a nation and its laws that provide the freedoms we all enjoy each and every day.

When we exercise the death penalty and execute someone who has been convicted of some heinous crime, like murder, it is true we are "killing" that person, but it is not "murder". We are protecting and defending the laws of our states and our country.

Even though most of the oaths in our government are taken while resting one hand on the Holy Bible, our Supreme Court will never use it as a reference to agree or disagree on any issue before them, including the death penalty.

Anyone could use the Bible as the reason to continue to use the death penalty as punishment in criminal cases or they could use it as a reference to abolish the death penalty. I personally think the Bible is neutral on this issue.

Christian beliefs should probably not enter into our decision as to whether we oppose or support the death penalty, but as concerned American citizens, we must make the decision as to whether or not the death penalty actually deters crime, whether or not it is the proper punishment for the offense, whether it is or is not cruel and unusual punishment, and whether or not it is the most cost effective means of punishing someone convicted of a capital offense.

The Bible is just not going to answer these questions for us, we must look within ourselves.

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