Today I read about the first natural disaster recorded in Scripture, the Flood, the first mention of an altar for worship through sacrifice, the first mention of a distinction between clean and unclean animals (though neither attributes of demarcation are described nor distinction given concerning eating them, all are fair "game!"), and the first mentioned covenant (Noahic, mentioned in Gen 6, established in Gen 9) with its seal/sign (the bow in the sky).
But something else is first addressed here, capital punishment. As I read in Genesis 9, it once again stuck out to me.
Recently a youth came to me and asked me for my stance on the issue of capital punishment. She was involved in a debate at school and had either chosen or been placed on the side opposing its use in society. She was coming to me for more "ammo" with which to debate the topic. Her research had lead her to the conclusion that the death penalty was indeed wrong and even worthless as a deterrent providing no real benefit to the improvement and furtherment of society at large.
But I challenged her stance. What if the system is indeed flawed? What if we have killed innocent people by mistake? What if the way we handle an execution does not serve our community as a deterrent? Should we throw out the system?
Just five days ago, in Iraq, Saddam Hussein was hung for crimes against humanity; his country and countrymen. The event was broadcast all around the Arab world. It is probably quite accessible on the web if I really wanted to see it. But in America we decided to show only the noose around his neck as he stood ready for the punishment. Not seeing the moment of death, some people had already begun conspiracy theories. But those in the Arab countries saw with their eyes the death of an evil, strong-handed dictator. They saw judgment executed quickly. In the States we would probably have seven to 15 years of appeals before the process would move towards execution. Does that mean that the death penalty is any more of a deterrent in Iraq than here, or even any more morally sound in Iraq than here?
There is something in all of us that desires justice. Many people wanted to see Saddam hung. Some did not even see his single death as enough retribution for the crimes committed (sadly, I believe Saddam is only now beginning his true punishment for his deeds). But is it wrong to have these emotions? Here is where I believe Genesis 9 can help us sort this out.
Genesis 9 holds the key and explanation for the death penalty. In the first half of the verse God clearly states that if a man kills another man, then by man shall his blood be shed. It is interesting that God doesn't say here, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." Rather, He places in our hands the responsibly of executing this judgment. Later in Scripture, He will further outline who is responsible for executing this justice, "the blood avenger," and how they are to pursue the accused. This responsibility is confirmed also in the NT in Rom 13, the government does not bare the sword for nothing.
But why man? Why doesn't God just swallow them up or something like that? I think the answer lies somewhat in the second half of the verse. "For in the image of God, He made man." Why is murder so heinous? Because it is a direct assault against the image of God, hence against God's creative work and value inherent in every living person. When a murderer kills it is not just against the murdered that he has acted, it is against God Himself. And even more it is against humanity itself. It is an attack against our God-given value and position in creation. When we lessen or remove altogether the command of capital punishment we lightly esteem human life and its worth and preciousness before God, and ourselves. When we, as humans, execute a murderer we stand together proclaiming and reaffirming our unique worth in creation. If we do not, we dismiss the gravity of the offense and devalue life.
And when we devalue life, the consequences become obvious. Look at our culture. Active euthanasia, abortion, embryonic stem cell research, selective childbirth and others have become more and more widely accepted and often embraced by members of our culture. The unique image of God and His creative and sustaining work within humanity is being denied and rejected.
I am not saying that a strong capital punishment policy would fix any of these moral injustices, but surely our lack of resolve to honor life is symptomatic of our devalument of God's special image with which He has created man. When we honor life, we honor the God in whose likeness He has created us. And this must be our primary goal always.
6 comments:
I think it is so cool and amazing that Genesis speaks to us today, now, this very moment in time. The issue of capital punishment that happened this week speaks to that. His Word never ceases to minister to us if we will only open our heart and mind to Him. I am looking forward to what God has to say to me personally as I read through the Bible this year. DJD
I have always had a lot of the same feelings toward this subject - and similarly to war. But I've been challenged lately with new thoughts regarding what Jesus would do. Do you think Jesus would hang someone or drop a bomb on a country?
In the NT, civil authority, which includes capital punishment, is not given to an individual, but to the government for the sake of controling and punishing sin.
Would Jesus do it? I think it is too cliche to argue that He would rather forgive and let them walk away. There still remains consequences for actions, whether forgiven or not.
Jesus never speaks to the issue of capital punishment. Yes, he lets the women caught in adultery go free without death, but this was not murder (nor did the Jews have the authority to put her to death, nor do I know if the Romans considered this act worthy of death). Even so, I believe there is a huge difference between the two. Jesus lived under a government, over which He had no perceived earthly authority.
Also, God accepted and even called for the capital punishment of His Son to pay for sin. It gave us forgiveness from the penalty of sin, but we again are not necessarily freed from the consequences thereof, Col 3:25 (speaking to believers).
No where in the NT is the command in Gen 9:6 replaced. Rather Rom 13 seems to be quite clear that this responsibility still exists and should be feared as an expectant judgment.
As to war, well that's a different subject. I am not sure I am ready at this point to offer a solid argument either way. Arguing a passivist position is quite scary in light of WWI and WWII. Had a Christian Americanot stood up and gone to war, what would this world look like? Is it true that it be better for one man(nation) to die that the nation (world) not perish also? I don't know yet.
According to Romans 13, didn't God put Saddam in a position of power?
yep, but he also put Pharoah in a position of power too. So that by Egypt's fall, He might be gloried, that the whole earth might know that there is a God in Israel.
Did He put Saddam there so that the world would finally rise against him and open the country once again to the gospel after his fall? Or for other reasons? I think so. God never calls us to deny the gospel when submitting to the governments He ordains. Peter is a good example of that in Acts.
It is hard to understand Rom. 13 in light of such leaders like Pharaoh, Stalin, Hitler, Saddam, etc. That God would allow hundreds of thousands of people to die so that many years later He can be glorified. But I know He does...
I don't think it's ever too cliche though to think about how Jesus would respond to a situation. I don't know if He would hang someone or not. I agree that the sanctity of life must be protected and I wish we had harsher penalties for many things (like stealing, child abuse, etc.) but my question remains personally about how Jesus wants us to think about violence.
Obviously Jesus never spoke much regarding governments, but how should we respond? Should we not intervene if our government is making bad choices or is corrupt?
And if Jesus said to turn the other cheek, how would He have responded if someone broke into His house and wanted to hurt His kids (I'm not trying to say He had kids, just putting Him in my position).
It's hard to mesh the Old Testament pattern of God sending Israel into other countries to wipe out everyone and everything and Jesus' view of peace at all costs.
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