THE EDITOR, Madam:
I HAVE been reading with great interest, but with a certain amount of apprehension, the views being expressed by different persons on the thorny
subject of capital punishment. Many of the persons who have expressed their opinions are persons whom I greatly admire and whose ability to think rationally I dare not criticise.
Nevertheless, I have been somewhat disappointed to see persons who are speaking from a "Christian" point of view fail to mention that the New Testament contains explicit teaching on the subject of capital punishment.
One may reject such teaching, but it would at least be fair to mention that such teaching does exist. This teaching is to be found in Romans 13: 3-4 which states,
"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. For he (the government) is the minister (servant) 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."
Here is clear Biblical support for the government of any country to take life (using the sword) to punish evil, in other words, for capital punishment. It may be asked, Why should this right be exercised in respect of murder and not any other offence? The answer is that it was God, not Moses or any of the prophets, who said in Genesis 9:6, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made He man." There seems to be a real danger that, for the best of reasons, some are advocating that the government should "bear the sword in vain."
It is significant that the Christian religion, according to the New Testament, does not remove the death penalty from life. Sin, says the Bible, carries the penalty of death. That penalty has never been removed. Far from it. Forgiveness has been made available to mankind because someone took that penalty for us - Jesus Christ. If He had not taken that penalty on the Cross, we could not have been forgiven. That is why those who reject what Christ has done for us are, regrettably, still under that penalty. God has not removed His capital punishment, much as we would like Him to. With due respect to many whose views I respect, neither should we.
I am, etc.,
REV. EARL THAMES
North Middlesex Learning Centre
Tower Isle P.O.
St. Mary
