The Washington Times reports that
“The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the death sentence of a murderer who sought to have it overturned because the jury was not properly instructed about weighing his jailhouse conversion to Christianity in their decision.”
So, the question is, should the courts have mercy on those who show remorse and demonstrate a changed behavior while in prison?
I have “flip-flopped” on my death-penalty position. Certainly there are Christians who both support and oppose the death penalty, and I’ve been in both camps at various points of my life.
Those who support the death penalty might cite Old Testament Scriptures of justice such as Exodus 21:23-25:
“But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”
Those who oppose the death penalty might cite Christ’s message of forgiveness and love. For instance, Jesus intervenes among a group getting ready to stone a prostitute for her wrongdoing. Scripture says in John 8:7:
“But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on 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.’”
So, does this mean that only God should judge? Paul says in Romans 13:1:
“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.”
When courts disallow information regarding a convict’s remorse or behavior, I think this is unfortunate. While I believe that our government should carry the burden of judgement, I believe that justice and mercy should go hand in hand.
Tags: [Bible, death penalty]