There is no alternative to capital punishment for the sin of murder

Tue Nov 12, 2013

Editor: The subject of the death penalty for persons found guilty of murder comes into the public arena from time to time, as it did in an article in one of your recent issues.{{more}}

There is a tendency to becloud the issue by putting forward alternatives that appeal to human sentiment and sound plausibl;, but there is no alternative to capital punishment as a penalty for the sin of murder, because God specifically gave the law to Noah after the flood: “Whosoever sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Genesis 9:6). Genesis also tells us that “The Lord God formed man…..and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7). God is jealous, therefore, as to the life of every human.

As Christians, we are sympathetic with the complex difficulties that face the authorities as they deal with serious crime and it is clearly right to implement rehabilitation programmes for prisoners while they are incarcerated, as the article referred to calls for.

We would encourage the Government to do all it can to deal with the social problems that often underline the circumstances that lead to murder.

We must not, however, weaken in our firm commitment to moral principles and as we seek to stand by scriptural values then we can be assured of prosperity for our nation.

Stuart Ward & Bruce Barrow