The Canadian Reformed Church of Aldergrove

Death Penalty?

Less than one generation ago Canada still enforced capital punishment for the crime of murder. From time to time since then, we hear of a public outcry for its reinstatement. When criminals such as Clifford Olson, Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka appear in society, or whenever heinous murders or other crimes have been committed, there is often a visceral reaction calling for the death penalty to be brought back. What does the Bible say about the death penalty?

Before speaking about taking a person’s life, we must understand who gave that life in the first place, namely God. Life does not exist by chance but by God’s creative hand as we read in Genesis, “the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”¹ Job later comments on God’s complete and sovereign control over all of life, “In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”² Life comes from God as His gift to mankind.

It stands to reason, therefore, that mankind is to use that life for God’s purpose. And that purpose is implied clearly by God in the special way that He created man different from the animals: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”³ Human life is the pinnacle of God’s creating work because it alone was created in God’s image. That means, it was created to reflect God’s characteristics of holiness and righteousness.⁴ Human life is precious and has a high purpose: to show to all creatures something of the character of God as we rule over the earth on God’s behalf.

So human life has a very high value in God’s eyes – but not an absolute value. It is not above punishment, and the God who has given life is free to also take it away again.⁵ Already in Eden He stated that if Adam and Eve disobeyed His commandment not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, “you will surely die.”⁶ And since the fall into sin, humans have been succumbing to death.

But God remains interested in protecting human life. In fact, having promised to send His Son to save people from their sins and from death, God shows that He wants people to live, and to live with Him in harmony again. It’s for this reason that the LORD calls for the most severe punishment for all those who destroy the life He has created. God demands the death penalty as a deterrent to murder, as a way to protect human life, as He said to Noah already, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.”⁷ A murderer strikes out against the image of God, and this God does not tolerate. God’s intention with capital punishment is to preserve the life He created in His own image.

The New Testament teaches the same thing. The Apostle Paul writes, “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 he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”⁸ God, who instituted all governing authority, also gives them the “sword” to punish evil-doers. The sword is a weapon used to end a person’s life, so Paul is advocating the use of the death penalty by the governing authorities. Those who with evil intent take a person’s life are to be justly punished with having their own life taken away.

But, you may ask, what if a murderer repents of his sin? There certainly is forgiveness upon true repentance, even for heinous murders. With a genuine sorrow for their sin and a true faith in Christ, even convicted murderers can enter into eternal life.⁹ But there remain also consequences for our actions in this life. Otherwise God would have given a separate rule for how government should treat those who repent of their actions. Just like a thief, even if he repents, must be justly punished, so a murderer even upon repentance must also be justly punished. Far from being barbaric and cruel, capital punishment is the way God protects human life in a fallen world.

Biblical quotations on this page are from: 1) Genesis 2:7; 2) Job 12:10 ; 3) Genesis 1:27 ; 4) Ephesians 4:24; 5) Job 1:21; 6) Genesis 2:17; 7) Genesis 9:6; 8) Romans 13:4,5; 9) Compare Luke 23:39-43 & Acts 26:10 & 1 Timothy 1:12-16

All Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version (NIV)

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Questions and Answers:

1. How shall we liive?
2. Rebel or Respect?
3. Dare to Discipline?
4. Fetus or Baby?
5. Death Penalty?
6. Should Sex be Free ?
7. Same-Sex Marriage?
8. Christian Divorce?
9. Roll the Dice?
10. White Lies?
11. What is Truth?
12. How is Your Heart?

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