The Christian & the Government

Capital Punishment— The beginning— Genesis 9.6 After the flood 1 st principle… Protect the innocent 2 nd principle… Punish the life-taker This legitimizes the 1 st

Question: If life is so precious, why take the life of the life-taker? 3 Answers: 1—God said so 2—It serves as a deterrent Deuteronomy —Afraid to break God’s law Job 19.29—Afraid of wrath of sword [death]

It Serves As A Deterrent Jeremiah 2.12—Afraid due to disobedience What made the people on Mt Carmel go from this… I Kings 18.21—“they answered not a word” To this… I Kings 18.39—“Jehovah, he is God! Jehovah he is God!”

3 rd Answer— It is necessary to remove evil from society & protect the innocent Though God requires “life for life”… He does so through agency: Government Capital punishment is never for personal vengeance Romans 12.19

Ordination Does Not Guarantee Perfection! True of elders, deacons, fathers, husbands… True of the Government

Romans 13.3,4— Speaks of fear of the power Respect and be afraid if you do wrongly The fear of death serves to Deter and repay Capital punishment is just and righteous

Back To Genesis 9.6 Why conclude this was temporary? Under patriarchy… Under the Law of Moses… Deuteronomy, Exodus, I Samuel 15 While Jesus was on the earth… John 19.10,11 Under Christianity… Acts 25.11

Unauthorized Killing Is Never Valid God has no pleasure in death Ezekiel 18.32; But He demands it for the life-taker How can we oppose this phase of God’s righteous wrath & justice?

So, What About Capital Punishment? Punishment must fit the crime Too light…no good Too heavy…tyranny Taking the life of the life-taker shows the value of human life

What Does The Bible Teach? Cain/Abel—how did Cain know others would seek his life? Genesis 4.13,14 Under the law of Moses 4 categories: Civil, religious, sexual, moral

What Does The Bible Teach? Under the law of Christ: Acts I Peter 2.14…4.15

At One Time… Civil and spiritual government were one Law of Moses

In 1 st century… Civil/spiritual government separated… But Christian is bound to both! Civil—the Government Spiritual—the church, local congregation, elders But both of these belong to Christ… Matthew 28.18

Question: How shall we bring a Christian & the Government together? Main text: Romans MAY a Christian be an agent of the state…take a life…be a soldier or policeman…be on a jury for capital crime…vote for death penalty…be a judge…as judge, sentence someone to death? [NOT that a Christian MUST serve so.]

A Simple Answer— All actions authorized as a ministry or agent of God are morally correct All morally correct actions may be [some must be] supported by Christians

An Important Syllogism— All institutions ordained by God are morally correct Government is an institution ordained by God Therefore, the Government is morally correct And is morally correct in all that it is authorized to do

Furthermore— All morally correct institutions may be participated in by Christians The Government is a morally correct institution Therefore, Christians may participate in the Government… And all that it is authorized by God to do

An Example: II Thessalonians Verse 4: persecutions and affliction Verse 5: God’s righteous judgment Verse 6: righteous thing; recompense affliction Verse 7: Jesus to be revealed… Rest & Fire!

II Thessalonians Verse 8: vengeance Verse 9: punishment and destruction Verse 10: glorified/marveled

On The One Hand… Persecution, afflictions, judgment, fire, vengeance, punishment, destruction And on the other… Righteous, righteousness, a righteous thing, rest, glory, marvel

Question: How do we reconcile these things? Answer: It is right for God to pay back evil… It is right for God to pay vengeance… Hell is a righteous judgment

Objection: “But this is God’s doing, not ours!” Answer: Such thinking denies the doctrine of agency God sometimes accomplishes His work through the agency of man

Illustration: Hebrews Note verse 9: “And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes”

It Is Sometimes Necessary… For some [Government] to take the life of another [life-taker] This is righteous work, ordained by God Thus, a moral action Christians are authorized to do anything moral Colossians 3.17

Another look: May a Christian be an agent of the state…take a life…be a soldier or policeman…be on a jury for capital crime…vote for death penalty…be a judge…as judge, sentence someone to death? Yes! The Christian is not exempt from this authorized work of Government from either direction!

Some Indeed Contend: “I am a Christian and I cannot be an agent of the Government; I cannot condone capital punishment; I cannot participate in taking the life of another…the Bible forbids it.” [Assertion, Not Yet Proved!]

However… The “argument/reasoning” that they put forth attempting to prove this… Should also prove that they could say: “I am a Christian and the Government has no control over me; it cannot punish me for capital crimes; it cannot take my life.” [False To The Core…And They Know It!] Romans 13 proves both of these statements to be false

To Deny Romans 13 As Authority To Execute… One of or all three of the following will happen: 1-conclude the law of Christ is not for all men [Does this mean there are two laws in force now?] Romans Romans 13 is not part of the law of Christ [How do we know what parts are and what parts are not?]

Number 3— 3-Punishing evil is not moral [This implies God is not moral!]

Fact: Sometimes people act like animals And are fit only to be destroyed! Not my words! II Peter 2.12

Summary: God authorizes capital punishment A Christian may participate in the Government and its works Such is righteous work, therefore moral If we choose to participate: It is not out of personal vengeance But duty as a citizen and desire for justice