Romans 13: 1-5 Civil Law & The Death Penalty

[Lewis]

Ok lets see now, ok here is the deal, in Romans 13:1-5 God gives man the power to deal with man in civil matters, and it says that He ordained these powers, now if man has to put a man to death for a certain breaking of the law, like murder, God has ordained these powers. The Bible says that they are the ministers of God handing out wrath. So the death penalty still stands today. I myself am a Christian who believes in the death penalty, so does this make me less of a Christian ? And I also believe that the moral laws out of the 613 laws of Moses still stands. Jesus said that He would not change one jot or tittle of the law. But in this case we are talking about the moral laws. Even the secular judges are ordained of God weather they know it or not. Man cannot stamp out crime, man does not have that type of power, but he can keep crime down. Solomon said that if you do not hand out the wrath with speed, mans heart will be set to do the crime again. Secular man has abandoned how God wants crime handled that is why crime is so high. People go out and kill, and they know that they can live for years off of appeals.When Jesus returns, do you think that He is going to be Mr. nice guy ? Now if God does not want a killer to die he won't, and can't nobody kill him. But there are many in this world that needs to be put to death, like child killers and so on. And yes mercy can be given and then sometimes mercy will not be given.

Romans 13 (King James Version)

Romans 13: 1-5 KJV

1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

 

[Lewis]

So who on this board believes in the electric chair or the death penalty period ? If not tell me why, if so tell me why ?

 

[handy]

Theoretically, I believe in the death penalty for cases such as murder and child abuse. I just have a problem with the way it is dealt with in this country. Too many times, if the accused can afford a good lawyer, they get off and if they can't they don't. It doesn't have to do whether or not the accused was guilty or innocent, just whether they had a good lawyer. There have been too many times that the innocent spent years and years in prison for crimes they didn't commit and that the guilty have walked.

In cases where there is absolutely no chance that the wrong guy was convicted, then I have no problem with them being put to death. A good example is the case right here in Idaho of Joseph Duncan, a previously convicted child molester who killed a woman, her boyfriend and one of her sons, kidnapped her other son and daughter, sexually abused both, then sexually tortured and killed the little boy in front of his sister. He doesn't deny he did it, the girl was a quite capable explaining to the jury what he did, he even videotaped himself torturing and killing the little boy and he shows absolutly no remorse over what he did. In his case, fry him, fry him now and let God have mercy on him if He so choses.

Hey, if Joseph Duncan, when they are strapping him down and hooking him up, becomes convicted by the Holy Spirit and repents of his sins and seeks God's mercy, I'm sure that even he can be forgiven and spend eternity in heaven. But, he has lost his right to live on this earth as far as the Bible, 12 people on a jury, and the great state of Idaho are concerned. And I agree.

 

[Lewis]

Dora I remember that case, followed it for a while, and was very angry at Duncan.