Rev. David Holwick K
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
March 22, 1992
Leviticus 24:17-21
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I. Snapshots of the death penalty.
A. At 8:30 p.m. on September 5, 1983, the small communion service
began in the state penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi.
Among the five men was Jimmy Lee Gray, convicted for the rape
and murder of a three-year-old girl.
Gray, 32, became a Christian in 1977 while awaiting trial.
"I was waiting for a lightning bolt of justice and was hit by
a lightning bolt of mercy."
In a prayer circle, Pastor Joe Ingle could not come up with words,
so he recited Romans 8:33-39.
"...neither death, nor life...will be able to separate us from
the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Rev. Ingle later remarked:
"Somehow the Spirit spoke through that prayer in a way that
reached all of us around the circle.
"Then they took Jimmy out and put him to death."
"Yes, people will do horrible things in their sinful state.
"The question is: How do we respond when they repent?
"Killing them is not the answer." #1969
B. Several murder trials are pending in Morris County.
1) Some of them may receive a sentence of death.
2) Across the United States, 2,356 inmates are on death row.
II. Debate over death penalty.
A. Society deeply divided.
1) Most countries outlaw it, especially in West.
a) Even Soviet Union is considering abolishing it.
b) United States is the only industrialized Western country
to practice it.
1> 143 executed since penalty reinstated in 1976.
2> Three states account for 40% of executions.
3> 79% of adults in America favor it. (only 42% in 1966)
2) Sometimes it is taken almost lightly.
In his column a few months back Donald Kaul quoted from
an actual murder trial in Alabama.
The prospector was interviewing prospective jurors, and
he wanted a jury that would be favorable disposed to
the death penalty.
He asked each one:
"Can you participate in an endeavor in which the ultimate
results might be death by lethal injection?"
One juror answered:
"They do that up in Huntsville, don't they?
Yeah, I guess I could do it if it was on a weekend."
#1653
3) At other times it is used as a vote-getting ploy.
During the Texas primary, former Gov. Mark White ran a
TV ad showing him walking a corridor lined with huge
photos of criminals executed during his term.
"Only a governor can make executions happen," he intoned.
"I did."
But, as columnist Richard Cohen dryly observed,
"These men, it seems, died in vain.
Mr. White was defeated in the primary." #1966
B. Arguments pro and con. (Richard Sigal in Daily Record, Feb 3)
1) It is the ultimate penalty for the ultimate crimes.
a) But it is too ultimate if innocent people are executed.
1> In last 100 years there have been 100+ mistakes.
2> Not uncommon for someone to get off death row when
real killer confesses.
b) Application of death penalty often seems unfair.
1> Murderers of whites much more likely to be executed
than murderers of blacks.
2> Individuals involved in the same crime may get
totally different sentences.
3> Sentences vary widely from state to state, and even
within states.
4> The poor can't afford same legal defense as the rich.
c) Doubt should always be resolved on the side of life.
2) The death penalty deters criminals.
a) One policeman recalls a robbery where the criminals
debated killing the store owners, but didn't because
of fear of electric chair.
b) But it is only a deterrence when it is widely used.
1> In New Jersey, something like 24 out of 26 death
sentences have been overturned.
2> Even in the peak year of 1933, the 199 who were
executed in the U.S. represented only 2% of all
murders convicted.
3) It satisfies society's need for retribution.
a) Families of murder victims need to feel justice is done.
b) But revenge is a poor motive. Anyone is redeemable.
1> Many whose sentences were commuted in 1972 were even
released from prison, and some have stayed clean.
2> Negative example: notorious Willy Horton.
C. What should a Christian think?
III. Death penalty in Old Testament.
A. Gen 9:5-6 - Man made in image of God, so murder is against God.
B. Leviticus demands death penalty for several crimes. 24:17
1) Disobeying parents. 20: 9
2) Adultery. 20:10
3) Homosexuality. 20:13
4) Occult activities. 20:27
5) Blaspheming God's name. 24:16
6) Murder. 24:17
C. Seven principles concerning death penalty. #1967
1) Proportionality. Lev 24:19-20
a) No more than eye for eye.
2) Intent. Num 35:22-24
a) Accidents aren't murder.
3) Due process. Deut 17:8-9
a) Special courts for difficult cases.
4) Individual responsibility. Deut 24:16
a) Fathers not executed for sons.
b) (Ugaritic - make an unsafe roof, your son is thrown off)
5) Fairness. Lev 19:15
a) Rich are not favored over poor, and vice-versa.
6) Certainty of guilt. Num 35:30
a) At least two eye-witnesses are required.
b) (This is more than United States requires)
7) Reluctance to execute. Ezek 33:11
a) God prefers life over death.
D. The death penalty was not always carried out in practice.
1) Cain was given a "life sentence" rather than death for
the murder of Abel. Gen 4:14-15
2) Moses committed "premeditated" murder, but God forgave. Ex 2:11
3) King David committed a "contract" killing, but when he
repented God forgave him and spared his life. 2 Sam 11-12
4) Joseph was kidnapped by brothers and sold into slavery.
a) He could legally have put them all to death.
b) His forgiveness of them is one of the most touching
stories in the Bible, and an example to Christians.
IV. Death penalty in New Testament.
A. Role of government according to apostle Paul. Romans 13:4
1) It bears the sword (death) to punish evildoers.
a) But this does not demand death penalty.
2) Ananias and Sapphira executed by God himself in Acts 5.
B. Examples of mercy over justice in New Testament:
1) Paul was an accessory to murder, and shown mercy by God.
2) The adulteress brought to Jesus should have been stoned, but
Jesus forgave her. John 8:1-11
3) Paul told the Corinthians to expel the man who had sex with
his father's wife, rather than execute him.
He made it clear that when the man repented of his evil deed
he should be received back into fellowship. 2 Cor 2
C. Jesus and forgiveness of enemies is more difficult.
1) Goes beyond OT? "Moses said, but I say..."
a) Turn the other cheek. Matt 5:38-39
b) Pray for enemies. Matt 5:43-45
2) Even Paul follows this teaching, on an individual level.
a) Leave vengeance to God. Rom 12:17-19
D. Ideal or realistic?
1) Many who have turned the other cheek are no longer with us.
2) But are Christians called to be realistic?
a) Jesus - take up your cross (=electric chair) and follow me.
V. Correlation of Old and New.
A. "Reconstructionism" and reapplication of OT laws.
1) Death penalty for homosexuality, for example.
B. But OT laws are not directly applicable to us.
1) God's kingdom is now supernatural, not national.
2) NT equivalent of OT death penalty is Second Death, or Hell.
C. NT stresses mercy over law.
1) Law leads to death, love and mercy leads to life. Rom 7:6
2) We are COMMANDED to love everyone, even sinners. Luke 6:35-36
VI. Good news - Jesus can change people.
A. All of us are under sentence of death, by God.
1) One sin breaks whole Law. James 2:10-13
a) Anger in heart, adultery.
2) Harsh system.
a) No appeals. (Bundy got 3 postponements)
b) No relief.
c) No end.
3) Penalty of sin is eternal, spiritual death. Rom 6:23
B. Only solution is a pardon from God.
1) God is more open to forgiveness than we are.
a) Thief on cross, apostle Paul. 1 Tim 1:13,15
2) Jesus saves us by taking death penalty we deserve.
a) Our death warrant is nailed to his cross. Col 2:14
b) He becomes our defense attorney. Rom 8:34, 1 John 2:1-2
Glenn West was a decent man.
Brought a drunk home one night so he wouldn't have to go to jail.
The day before Christmas he bought a friend a large-print Bible.
Unusual - Glenn wasn't a Christian.
His wife wasn't allowed to date him for a while because of it.
He looked forward to getting home with his family and began to
close up his gas station.
His wife Janice was going to pick him up in a few minutes.
It was then that he noticed the yellow van circling the station.
A teenager got out and came to the office.
He had a gun.
"Give me your money and open the safe."
Glenn gave him $45 and said, "I can't open the safe."
"Do it or I'll shoot you."
"Don't shoot. Believe me - I don't know how to open it."
The boy paused a moment and fired the gun.
Another in the van yelled, "Let's get out of here!" and they left.
The police pulled into the station just before his wife Janice.
She saw her husband on the floor with paramedics working on him.
Glenn was still conscious.
At the hospital Glenn asked for a minister and within five minutes
David Rowland, a friend of the family, was by his bedside.
"At a time like this I get right to the point. Glenn, are you saved?"
"No, but I want to be."
Rowland told Glenn how Jesus Christ had died for his sins.
Glenn nodded that he believed and prayed to receive Christ as his
Savior, something his wife Janice had prayed for for 10 years.
He turned to his wife and said, "I love you so much."
They took him into surgery and he got out five hours later.
It was Christmas day.
Ten minutes after the doctors gave an encouraging report, "code blue"
was announced on the P.A. system.
Glenn never regained consciousness.
Five men were found guilty and sentenced for the murder of Glenn West.
They did not receive the death penalty, but they stand under God's
judgment.
Glenn West, a decent guy, would have been under that same judgment.
But he had Jesus on his side. #509
Will you have Jesus?
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Articles:
"The Death Penalty: Two Sides," Marshall Shelley, CT, 3/2/84, p. 14.
"Looking at Death Penalty from Behind Bars," Peck..., CT, 3/2/84, p. 18.
"Punishable by Death," Daniel W. Van Ness, CT, 7/10/87, p. 25.
"Voting for the Executioner," Charles Colson, CT, 10/10/90, p. 112.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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