Capitol Punishment

post 080

A reader has made a very good and deeply controversial question that should be answered.
How do we reconcile; “vengeance is mine…says the LORD” with “an eye for an eye”?
This post then is an attempt to answer in a small way, that very big concept;

Regarding Capitol Punishment.
If we recognize the original intent of our nation’s system of law was based upon the concepts found in the Holy Scriptures, then we can evaluate what the founders had in mind, by understanding what the scriptures have to say on the topic.

“an eye for an eye” is a concept of Old Testament law found in the body of Leviticus 24 establishing a foundational concept of justice;

Leviticus 24:20-21 “Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.”

This establishes the proper judgment for a crime.
This proper judgment is Just. And this Just "payment" actually protects the criminal from abuse beyond what is Just, while at the same time establishes what Justice is to be expected for the harmed. This is the Scriptural principle on which our founders established the 8th Amendment;

"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."

It is the very next verse of this scripture, which establishes the concept of Blind Justice,
Leviticus 24:22 “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.”
This topic was covered in the previous post, Justice is no longer blind

So how does this Capital Punishment concept, fit with “turn the other cheek”?
First let me make clear that Jesus, as the Son of God did not come to change the principles of God.

Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

One of the foundational values of scripture is its unchangeable perfection.
Unlike documents of other religions, the Holy Scriptures are flawless and unchangeable.
So Jesus could not have come to change the values or concepts found in the old testament, but what he came to do was show us the actual intent of the original laws.
It was this more complete “Christian understanding” of scripture through combining the Old and New Testaments which our founders used to establish this government.

In Matthew 5:28 Jesus said;
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: But whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also….” And the concept continues for several verses.

So according to the foundational law of none contradiction, and according to Jesus' own words, we must understand this New Testament concept through the principle presented in the Old Testament established law.
Justice says a guilty man must pay a Just penalty for his evil.
But Jesus is not dealing with the Justice issue here, he is dealing with the heart of the one injured.
Hatred, Revenge, and Bitterness are internal poison that destroy ones life from within, And Jesus was talking to a generation of people who had taken the Law of Justice, and used it to feed the internal poison.
Jesus wisely used the wording; “Ye have heard…” he was saying; you really don’t understand the concepts of this law, and it was not written to support your hatred.
Jesus was saying we should act from the heart of benevolence, be willing to be wronged, and go willingly even further than the forced wrong to ensure you are on right ground.
His concept he was presenting is summed up in Matthew 5:44;
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you:…” And his reasoning is so that we can be the children of God, or as it were, “on the same page as God.”

This does not eliminate Justice.
Jesus' concept does not suggest the rapist be allowed to rape, or the murderer to murder. Again, his topic was not about justice.
His concept only fixes the heart so that justice can be honorable and the evil does not infect you.
If the heart of the one dealing Justice, is gleeful for the punishment given, the evil has already taken root.
If the heart dealing Justice is broken because of the high cost of Justice, Justice is still carried out because it must be, but the heart is protected and remains unaffected by the evil of Bitterness and Hatred or the Spirit of Vengeance.

It is for this reason I can recommend a government established DMZ at the Mexican border, and a government established Militia with orders to shoot to kill all persons within that DMZ.
Not because I want to see people killed. On the contrary, it would break my heart. But because Justice must be done for the protection of our nation against invasion, and for the protection of our children against drugs etc.
I would greatly promote signs and loudspeakers warning of the intent in an effort to encourage the Mexicans to stay home, but once on our soil, the evil has become too great to cast off Justice.

And it is for this reason that I can at the same time, have great compassion on the poor and hopeless Mexican who would love to come to America to find a better life.
I would see great programs, even at the expense of American tax payers, which would make the lawful reception and immigration and naturalization of well meaning Mexicans more successful and expedient.

My two views are not in conflict, but united in the protection and betterment of America. As in my previous post, I can warmly welcome someone through my front door in the day, and shoot the same individual coming through my window at night.

God's declaration; "an eye for an eye"
Is not in conflict with; "Vengeance is mine"
It is established by it!
Justice is not vengeance, and the establishment of "Justice by government" is a necessary principle laid out in Scripture to avoid vengeance.
Regarding man's role: Justice keeps our nation healthy. Vengeance destroys it.

Our founders understood all this.
Or present government does not.