Is Capital Punishment a Sin?

A great debate rages in our country over whether or not capital punishment should be practiced by our government. Most who object to capital punishment do so on religious grounds. They argue that the Bible says, “Thou shalt not kill”. This is obviously a quote from Exodus 20:13. This is also known as the sixth commandment. Therefore, they say that capital punishment is a sin. We are also told by opponents of capital punishment that to take a human life is to play God. Are these objections valid?

Does the Bible really say that it is always a sin to kill?

A better translation of the sixth commandment is, “Thou shall do no murder”. This is an important change. All murder is killing but not all killing is murder. To “murder” a person is to take their life unjustly. One may argue, “Is there ever a JUST reason to take a life?” Well, God says yes to that question. God commanded the death penalty for the following reasons: murder, adultery, incest, beastiality, sodomy, rape, kidnapping, witchcraft, striking or cursing parents, disobedience to parents, desecrating the Sabbath, prophesying falsely, idolatry, and others. God commanded that people who did these things be put to death. Was God commanding the people to break one of His Laws? Obviously not! It was not a sin to put a person to death for one of those reasons.

Today, we live under the New Testament and those old Testament laws are not binding on us. Today we are simply told to be subject to all civil authorities, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” (Romans 13:1). If our government chooses not to enforce the death penalty, so be it. However, if our government continues its use, it would not be wrong.

If it wasn’t inherently wrong during Moses’ time, then it is not inherently wrong today.

Notice Romans 13:4, “For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” The government does not “bear the sword in vain”. This is a plain New Testament endorsement of Capital punishment for civil authorities (not individual vigilantes).

Ralph Price

"Have You Heard" articles posted with permission.

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