Go get your bible, this is gonna make you wonder.....

Death Penalty: Agree or Disagree?

In reading Dead Man Walking, I was pretty much blown away by the way that the nun that worked with this death row inmate, Matthew Poncelet. Poncelet's character is based on the real person, Robert Lee Willie. The nun's name is Sister Helen Prejean.
If you have seen this movie, don't think that you know the story. In the movie, he is killed by lethal injection. In reality, he was electrocuted.
And even though I have read the book, AND seen the movie, there are still sites like this one that presents question of whether or not Prejean was simply naive. Regardless of your take on the story of Willie, there's no question that he committed a horrible and brutal crime that deserved severe punishment.
If I was the parent of these victims, or others, like Jessica Lunsford , I honestly cannot tell you that I would not want to see the person die that did that to my child.

Here is the quote from the movie & book that made me dig deeper on biblical teaching regarding this issue

Prison guard: Tell me something sister, what is nun doing in a place like this. Shouldn't you be teaching children? Didn't you know what this man has done? How he killed them kids?

Sister Helen Prejean: What he was involved with was evil. I don't condone it. I just don't see the sense of killing people to say that killing people's wrong.

Prison guard: You know what the Bible say, 'An eye for an eye'.

Sister Helen Prejean: You know what else the Bible ask for death as a punishment? For adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, trespass upon sacred grounds, profane in a sabbath and contempt to parents.

Prison guard: I ain't gonna get no Bible quote from no nun cause I'm gonna loose.

So, from reading this, and wondering about it, because I am a “see it for myself” type person. I go get my bible. In looking for answers to this, I read my bible for almost three hours straight. My notes and thoughts are below.

God's Covenant With Noah:
Genesis 9:5-6 "And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of a man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has god made man." The reason murderers deserve the death penalty, as indicated here, is the supreme value of human life. Right? Or not? Is this only applicable to THIS situation?

God speaking to Moses:
Leviticus 24:17-21 "If anyone takes the life of a human being, he must be put to death. Anyone who takes the life of someone's animal must make restitution - life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured. Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death." Some would argue this is exactly what they want to back up continuing to administer capital punishment. But try seeing it this way. Jesus, speaking of this law in Matthew 5:38, told his followers to resist evil people. Apparently people had been taking "an eye for an eye" to mean do whatever you want on a daily basis to get revenge as some do today. The verse’s original intent, however, seems it was to set a standard for punishment in court. It limited vengeance and made certain that both rich and poor, would pay the same price for their crimes. Sort of a punishment equality rule? So, "An eye for an eye" does not condone personal vengeance, or the death penalty, but it is meant to make all people pay the same price for the same crime. Maybe?

The Lord talking to Ezekiel:
Ezekiel 33:11 "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live."

Paul teaching Romans:
Romans 13:1-5 "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience."
Here it looks like if governing authorities decide capital punishment is the answer for certain crimes, then we are to submit to their decision, because they are God's servants, having been established in their positions by Him. Right? Or not. I kept looking, and kept reading…..

Jesus speaks to the Pharisees:
John 8:3-11 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?'
They were using this question as entrapment, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept questioning him, He straightened up and said to them, If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' (Can’t you just hear the crowd go silent?) Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' No one, sir, ' she said. Then neither do I condemn you, ' Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin.'"
Hmmm, now if that isn’t thought provoking, what is?
Notice that the law of the governing authorities required death for this crime, but Jesus did not allow the sentence to be carried out. Jesus is the ultimate judge in that case, so why isn’t he the judge in EVERY case?

The death penalty is always going to be questioned. I am not writing this in order to have you comment on your personal belief. I wrote it to make you pick up your bible and look, really look, really dig, and find what the scripture says to you. Chances are, when looking for the “answer” to this, you will find more than you ever bargained for.