CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND PRO LIFE
CAN A PERSON BE FOR BOTH????

In our society today, there is a debate going on concerning reinstituting capital punishment in all fifty states. Proponents say that we need to do something about the escalating violence that has been plaguing our nation for decades.

Violent crime, is on the rise, the perpetrators of it, seem to have no sense of caring about what they do. Some of them, have killed a person, for no more than the way the person looked at them. People get killed because they might bump in to another individual. They might get killed because they don't have any money on them when asked to give it up. They may get killed for the clothing they are wearing. It might be for their car. It could be for retaliation from an argument. Or it might be, as one young man said, "for kicks."

Either way, the frequency of, and the total asinine reasoning for killing, is something that boggles the mind.

One would think that these people, don't have a right to live among the general populace. However, in the midst of this nation, there are those that say 'putting these people to death, is revenge.' They say that putting them to death, is not a deterrent to crime. They say, 'it is immoral.' They come up with a myriad of statistics, that they say, proves that putting a person to death, in the states where it has been reinstituted, costs the taxpayers, hundreds of thousands of dollars, just to put one person to death.

One would think that these people would have some compassion on the victims' families. But, that doesn't appear to be the case.

Nowadays, if the family of a victim, seeks to have the person pay for their crime, with their life, they are made to feel like a criminal. 'You are no better than this person (talking about the killer), if you want to see them put to death.' And, the biggest slap in the face, comes from people that accuse the family of trying to play God.

The killer, more often than not, is looked on as being mentally ill, or a person that was raised wrong, or that has suffered some sort of trauma, in their lives that has affected their reasoning, where they can't be held accountable for their actions.

There are those that say 'taking a life is wrong, no matter what the circumstance.'

Well, excuse me while I say, your argument is all wet. That is because, man didn't institute the death penalty, God did.

That's right, GOD!!!

It seems that a lot of people, including some preachers, don't read their bibles. For. If they did, they would realize this. And, if God instituted it, He must have had a very good reason for it. God does not do things haphazardly. So, what could His reasoning be???

Well, first, let's look at when He first instituted it, and why,

(Ge 9:5) And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.

(Ge 9:6)        Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

There you have it. Not from me. Not from some preacher, or right wing religious nut, but from God Himself.

Notice in verse 5, how He says any animal that kills a man, should be put to death. Then He says the blood of every man will be required of that man's brother (fellow man). But to make it plain, in verse 6, He says, that any person that kills (murders) a man, then by man, shall his blood be shed. He is telling man to do it. He isn't saying that He will do it. He wants man to do it. Why?? Because, since all mankind is made in the image of God, then when a person murders another man, his is effectively destroying the image of God, in that person. By Him directing man to do it, He is making the point, that He is authorizing man to carry out His vengeance on the murderer. This scripture, is our authorization for capital punishment.

Now some of you might be saying, well then, how can we kill someone and not be breaking the commandment that says, thou shalt not kill???

The actual rendering of that verse is, thou shalt not commit murder. This is where most people that fight against capital punishment get confused. They lump thou shalt not kill, in with wars, punishment, and what we call murder. Even self defense, is sometimes looked at as being just as bad, if you kill a person. This is total ignorance on their part, because God clarifies what offenses He means to be cause for people to be put to death. Here are a few.

(Le 20:2)        Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.

Nu 35:16        And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Nu 35:17        And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Nu 35:18        Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Nu 35:19        The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

Nu 35:20        But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;

Nu 35:21        Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.

Nu 35:30        Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of
witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

Nu 35:31        Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

Le 24:17        And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.

These are but a few of many scriptures, that show just exactly what kind of offenses are grounds for a person to be put to death. Here, we are looking at, what is called first degree murder. That is, doing something to a person, to kill them.

Back then, the person that carried out the punishment, was known as the revenger of blood. Today he is called the executioner. He is a man.

Many people point to the fact that innocent people may be put to death, by being falsely accused. Notice Nu 35:30 above (the underlined part). Before a person is put to death, there has to be sworn testimony of two or more witnesses, who saw the person, commit the crime.

You might say, what if they all are lying??? Whether it is one or more, if they all are lying, knowing that the person will be put to death, and it is found out that they did lie, after the person's death, then they have committed murder, and should be put to death. Because they did something, knowing that the person would die.

Another thing. Notice Nu 35:31. God is warning us, not to take satisfaction in a murderer, to save their life. All these bleeding hearts out here, that campaign for the abolition of capital punishment, or holding vigils, to try to stop executions, are going against God's directive, I don't care who you are.

Now, the reason God has it like this is simple. If you start pardoning people for one thing, then you will begin to pardon others for other things, and will end up like we are today.

Crime is rampant. People are murdering people, for little or no reason at all. Our prisons are running over at the seams. Laws require them to let people out early if they get too crowded. Criminals are back on the street within a few years, because of this, and they are usually more violent.

The cost of putting a person to death has gotten out of hand. They have more chances at appeals than they should. One, is enough. If a person was caught in the act of murdering someone, then they should not get any appeals. Think of it like this. If a police officer, came upon this person attempting to kill someone, the officer could kill them, with no questions asked. The officer, is literally, judge, jury and executioner. But, if they go to trial, the murderer, is somehow looked on as being the victim, of an immoral law.

Tell me this. Is God immoral??? Well, to listen to some of you preachers and Christians, He must be. If He instituted this 'immoral law', then He has to be.

Lately, we have been seeing a lot of high speed chases, where police are pursuing criminals. In too many instances, the criminal, crashes in to an innocent person's car, and they or a passenger in their car gets killed. It is my belief, that this type of person, is a murderer, and should be put to death, if he survives the crash. Why?? They are fully aware of what will happen to a person, if they hit them. They know that someone will die. And, in many instances, that is what they hope will happen. Why?? Because they figure the public will be so against the police, that they will demand that police give up the high speed chases, so the innocent people will not be victims. And, you know, they may be right. Usually the families of these victims, go after the police or the city. The criminal gets off with a slap on the wrist.

People that get behind the wheel of a car, that are drunk, or under the influence of illegal drugs, should be considered murderers if they kill someone while driving.

I know it sounds hard and radical, but dealing with the devil, takes more than playing 'patty cake.' This is one of the main reasons we have the problems we have in this society today. We don't want to make the hard decisions. It's not 'politically correct.' Well 'hey', I'm politically incorrect, and proud of it. I'd rather be 'God correct', than 'politically correct', any day.

Now, in the midst of this push for capital punishment, comes, what appears to be a conflicting stance, by those that are for it, when they say they are 'pro life.' Those that are against

'capital punishment' scoff at people that are for it, but are also 'pro life.' They point to a conflict in their way of thinking. So the question becomes, can a person be for both and not be a hypocrite??? The answer is 'yes.'

Once again, let's go the bible.

(Ps 127:3) Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

From the offset, children are special to God. He places a very high value on them. Even today, we have little tolerance for anyone that harms a child. The younger the child, the more severe the punishment for those that abuse them. Well, the verse says that the child, is God's reward to mankind. He places His creation, in to our hands, for us to nurture and raise up.

[ISA. 49:1c]...THE LORD HAS CALLED ME FROM THE WOMB;...,[ISA. 49:5a] AND NOW, SAITH THE LORD THAT FORMED ME FROM ( IN) THE WOMB..., [JER. 1:5] BEFORE I FORMED THEE IN THE BELLY(WOMB), I KNEW THEE; AND BEFORE THOU CAMEST OUT, I SANCTIFIED THEE ...

These scriptures, let us know that it is God, that is forming that child in the womb. We can also see that God may have a special work for that child to do.

However, man, in all his twisted wisdom, has chosen to deny what God says, and has labeled the unborn child, a fetus. As a result of his actions, man has become, what God addressed in Le 20:2 above. Sacrificing the lives of their children, for their own selfish reasons. The younger the child, the better. If they could get one, coming out of the womb, that was a premium sacrifice. That's what we do today, murder them (babies) before they get out of the womb. We even interrupt God's process, and destroy the baby, as soon as it is starting to be formed. If you will notice, God says that they, those that perform, or take part in these things, should be put to death, because they are murderers.

As far as the special work that the child may have to do, it may not be a work of ministry, such as a prophet or the like. It may be that the child, was called to discover a cure for diseases like cancer, AIDS, or some other problem that no one has been able to find. And, rest assured, there have been many children that God sent to do that, but they got aborted before they were born. And as a result, thousands, maybe even millions have died of these diseases because of it. The pro choice crowd, never takes that in to consideration. Can you imagine where we would be today, if Mary, had been influenced by a women's group to have an abortion, because she was pregnant, and wasn't married???

That is the reason I am pro life.

Not only that, but, what harm has a baby done to anyone??? Have they raped, murdered, or committed some other heinous crime??? No. But, we execute them, and let murderers live.

Mankind, is indeed a foolish lot, if they don't have a clear vision of God, in their lives.

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DECEMBER 1998


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