CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOCIAL STATMENTS - BRETHREN

Capital Punishment

http://www.brethren.org/ac/ac_statements/87DeathPenalty.htm

Clearly, instances of vengeance can be witnessed throughout the Old Testament. We must be clear, however, about what we mean by "vengeance." The Hebrew root naqam, has olten been translated "vengeance," which some define as revenge, or a "paying back" of wrong. They point to instances in Old Testament history when God saved the faithful servant by destroying or punishing the opposition.1 But is the goal of vengeance the destruction of the opposition or the rescuing of the faithful which sometimes requires the destruction of punishment of the opposition? Certainly, it is clear in Psalm 18:46-48 that vengeance is defined as deliverance and the focus is on rescuing the people. The same can be seen in the story of Cain (Gen.4:15). God determines that Cain, having murdered Abel, shall forever be a fugitive but shall never be slain. If he is, God will deliver Cain by punishing the one who slayed him. "Vengeance" then meant God's restoration ofwholeness and integrity to the community, a restoration accomplished at times through human action. It was not vindictive, but rather sought to repay or provide restitution for the one violated.

Crime was seen as an act against a person, not the state. The Hebrew word for restitution or repayment is shalam: it has the same root as shalom which describes a community characterized by wholeness, justice, right relationships, and peace. Cries to God for "vengeance," therefore, are cries for a justice based on redemption, restoration, health, and healing. In Isaiah 6l:1-4, the "day of vengeance" (i.e. justice) is a day of relief and salvation.

Both the Old and New Testaments witness that God provides avenues for redemption. In the Old Testament, this provision comes in part through the judicial system, as well as through signs of grace such as the cities of refuge (Deut. 19). The New Testament witnesses to God's ultimate redemption. The Creator God, incarnate in Jesus Christ, takes upon himself the world's sins and is executed, thereby freeing us of the burden of the law.

Jesus Christ came with a message of redemption and compassion for life, while the death penalty carries a message of condemnation and death.

From Cain, who was marked as being under God's protection; to Moses, whom God called to lead the Israelites out of bondage; to King David, whose heart was renewed, and whose life cast the vision of the future messiah; to Paul, who carried the great mysteries or the gospel to the Gentiles, the message is always that of hope and light even in the most desperate among us. Each of these--Cain, Moses, David, and Paul--committed murder, and through each, God's kingdom was advanced. It is a very human story which is graced by the inspiration of God's loving call to justice, reconciliation, peace, repentance, faith, hope, redemption, new life, grace, mercy, and forgiveness seventy-times-seven. This is still God's call today. Our mission is still to seek and save. It is not to search and destroy.

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