The Discomfort of Thought

After a few years now of few and far between blogs, I have had a few – exactly 2 – requests to return to the old habit. It’s hard to start back into a habit, right? Flossing, keeping that dusting schedule, making your bed, exercising regularly… all are easy when they become habit, but once you stop, well you know how it goes. Anyway, I recently saw a very provoking question posted to Facebook by a friend of mine, very simply put, “Do Christians believe in the death penalty?” Simple sounding question with no simple answer. I almost dismissed the thought and moved on, but then I remembered my very own favorite quote and decided I better think this one through; the quote is from JFK, “Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought”. So here goes, returning to the blog with some serious introspection...

My gut reaction to the question was something like this… well, that depends on who you ask. Not all Christians agree. I believe in the death penalty, I think. I don’t always agree with how it is implemented or enforced, but I have no problem with the idea in itself. Or do I? Some crimes deserve harsh punishment. Some deserve the ultimate punishment, I think, but on the other hand there is that whole sanctity of life argument. Hmmm.

So I have thought about this on and off for a few weeks now. And my thoughts have become slightly more sophisticated but still lack a certain clarity that I desire. This is not a simple yes or no question, because whether one says yes or no must be supported by reasoning, motive, and sound logic. Why? Because the answer one offers must be arrived at by weaving a matrix of opinions regarding many other important questions and issues. The death penalty in itself is a simplified (sort of) endpoint to a combination of supporting beliefs. For example, does one believe in the sanctity of life, that all life is sacred and should be protected? Is there any distinguishing factor that would lessen one life compared to another? What about social justice? Is justice something that can and should be carried out in our world, by each other and by our government? We do have a justice system, as do most governments in the world. Is it the right and duty of our government to enforce justice? If so, and if they make laws and clearly make known the consequences for breaking those laws, is it acceptable for them to then apply those consequences? Which consequences are appropriate for which crimes? A fine for speeding? Confinement for molesting? An eye for an eye? A life for a life? Now we are touching on decisions that must be made for each government, decisions made by people of varying backgrounds, worldviews, and beliefs. Regardless of the rules, though, every person living under the established guidelines has the same freedom to follow them or to suffer the consequences. Then, if this justice system is good and acceptable in theory, is the implementation of the system good and acceptable? Now we are involving more people who must interpret, judge, convict, and sentence an alleged breaker of the law. Now we are entering into very gray areas. The black and white are nowhere to be found.

As a Christian, saved by grace rather than my own goodness or any resemblance of goodness, I do not feel the freedom to answer this question simply based on my feelings or what seems fair. So, I will try to peel apart the question to determine what is acceptable to my God, which I will agree with because I believe He is good and trustworthy.

First, is it acceptable for the government to establish a system of justice? I turned to this passage from the Bible for some insight on this question:

1 Corinthians 13:1-7
“1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 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 you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

That’s kind of harsh sounding, but if I am a believer in Christ, the Word of God is my authority. It seems pretty plain that God has called me, through this message from Paul, to submit to the government under which I live, a government which might "bear swords". Does this mean that all governments are good? I don’t think so. That’s an entirely different topic. But I’m only trying to answer one question, sort of. So I think the answer to this first question is yes, it is acceptable for the government to establish a justice system.

Is it acceptable for one of the consequences of crime to be punishment by death? I can’t honestly find any source that says it is not an acceptable punishment. For what crimes? I can’t find any source that says what crimes deserve punishment by death. I do think it’s interesting that Jesus was crucified, yet he did not try to argue against the practice of this form of punishment. Two other men died with him for crimes they committed, and he died in their midst for the sins of all of God’s people. Despite this atrocity, Jesus did not discuss the idea of crucifixion that I am aware of (please advise if I am wrong), nor did his disciples argue the practice in itself. The great injustice in this scenario was that Jesus committed no crime that Pilate, the Roman governor, could discover. Pilate, however, allowed the Jewish crowd to convince him to sentence Jesus to death.

John 19: 4-16
“4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.”

I can’t find any indication that God is against the death penalty. Murder, yes. Penalty of death for crimes determined by the justice system, no. Do I sort of want to feel that God is against the death penalty? Yes, I kind of think it would be an easier opinion to have, one that would not well up in me a sense of injustice. I just choose to submit my feelings to the authority of God, not because it’s easy, but because I don’t know any other source of authority to which I should submit.

My answer to the question, then, is yes, I believe that the death penalty is acceptable. Would all Christians agree with me? Certainly not.

In light of the recent execution in Georgia, which I assume prompted the original question, I would ask a different question of myself. Do I believe that the implementation of the death penalty is acceptable? In short, no. In some cases, yes, in others, no. I really don’t know all of the details of the recent execution to pass judgment or have an opinion as to whether justice was indeed served properly. Just as with any institution of humanity, we have a distinct strength for making a royal mess of all things good. Do I believe in marriage? Absolutely. Do I believe in the implementation of marriage by all people? No. The list could go on…

I will have to agree with JKF that the “discomfort of thought” is indeed far too often avoided, especially by myself. So, I hope you’ve been discomforted for a few minutes, long enough to agree with me that easy answers are hard to find for complex questions.