Shedding the Blood

This week, a young man with a rifle assassinated Charlie Kirk while Mr. Kirk was holding a public discussion/debate on the campus of a university in Utah. In the followup to this tragic event, the Governor of Utah offered condolences to the Kirk family, expressed outrage at the murder, vowed that the murderer would be found, and reminded everyone that the State of Utah still has the death penalty.

As I heard his comments, I was silently glad to hear that, and thought, “Good! The assassin deserves to die. I’m glad this didn’t happen in a state like California, where there has not been an execution since January of 2006.” Even though there are currently 587 inmates on “death row,” lawyers, the courts, and the governor have appealed, delayed, and stopped all executions of any condemned prisoners.

You must think I am a cold, compassionless person, and wonder how I could ever have been a pastor. After all, doesn’t the Bible tell me to forgive, turn the other cheek, and show mercy to those who sin? Since Charlie Kirk was himself a devout Christian, doesn’t the principle apply even more in this case?

Well, since Charlie was murdered, he is no longer able to forgive or turn the other cheek. So should we, in his stead, forgive for him? Does the death penalty, as some people argue, violate the commandment against killing? Does taking the assassin’s life make us no better than him?

As a person, and yes as a pastor, I believe that the death penalty is not only biblically warranted, but at times even required to be carried out. I base this on both Scriptural and practical grounds.

1. The first reference to the death penalty appears in Genesis 9:5-6. Following the Great Flood, God gave this command to Noah and his descendants (i.e., all of us): “And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” Note that there is no reference to the death penalty as either a punishment or a deterrent; the penalty is because man or beast has killed someone made in God’s image. To kill a human, man or woman, is to strike against God himself.

2. The commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” is often used against the death penalty, but the word translated “kill” (ratsach) is actually a verb that means to murder, literally “to lie in wait, to commit premeditated murder.” Scripture makes a distinction between executing criminals and personal revenge killing or murder. When God condemned King Manasseh, it was because he had shed innocent blood (2 Kings 24:3-5).

3. God gave guidelines for preventing abuse of the death penalty. In Numbers 35, he established cities of refuge, to which anyone who killed someone “without intent” (accidentally) could flee for protection until the congregation shall hear his case and judge what should happen to him. In other words, a fair trial. In the case of someone who intentionally kills another, “If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.” (35:30). The passage ends with the requirement that the murderer be put to death, because his evil action has defiled the land, and that no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. (35:33).

4. Even in the New Testament, the government (not the individual) is given the power to punish evil, even to the extent of putting those who do evil to death. Romans 13:3-4 warns, “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer (ESV).” As I have mentioned previously, a number of Sacramento sheriff’s deputies bought t-shirts with “be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain” and wore them under their uniforms. Governments are charged by God with securing the peace and restraining evil; that is government’s primary responsibility, and to do so it “bears the sword.”

5. Unfortunately, throughout history, governments have used executions as a political tool to hold onto power and oppress their enemies. Therefore, there must be guards against that power being misused. The US Constitution gives the death penalty as the punishment for treason, but like the Bible, requires “No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act” (Article III: Section 3, Clause 2). Then, the Fourteenth Amendment states: “nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” State laws provide jury trials, appeals processes, and limitations on death sentences to especially horrid crimes, such as multiple victims. An important limit on potentially wrongful convictions is the improvement of forensic evidence, such as DNA, to convict or clear suspects. To execute the wrong person would be as grievous as was the original crime.

6. Practically, there are crimes, such as killing children and first responders, and serial murders, that are so evil, they demand the ultimate punishment. Not only are the costs of incarcerating someone for life (50-plus years) a burden on society, but when justice is swift and deadly, criminals are forced to hesitate before killing in the first place.

A number of years ago, I watched the 1957 film, “12 Angry Men.” In it, a jury of men is deliberating the fate of a teenager charged with murder. At first, they all vote for conviction – except for one juror – who rightfully says that with the defendant’s life on the line, their decision shouldn’t be too hasty. So far so good. But then during their arguing over the case, they get into matters of society’s guilt for the conditions that led to the crime. Finally, they all voted for acquittal, based on society’s failures. This was my first experience with the view that “the perpetrator is the real victim” mentality, which in recent years has set criminals free and increased crime and danger to society.

When God gave his commandments, he knew what restrictions we needed to live at peace with each other. He forbade the things that turn us against each other: “Do not lie, cheat, commit adultery, steal, or kill.” If we break those laws, it is right that we are punished for doing so – in this life. But thanks be to God,  we know that in Christ, there is forgiveness in the life to come. For Christ has taken our divine punishment upon himself, so if we recognize our sin and repent of it, he will forgive us.

Regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassin, I don’t know where he will spend eternity. Will he truly repent of his sins and ask for God’s forgiveness in Christ? We should pray for his repentance, just as we pray for consolation for Charlie Kirk’s family. But that’s a separate issue; for he has murdered a man created in God’s image, and for that, God requires his blood. But for us, let us not resort to hate or vengeance, lest we also become evil in our hearts.

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

Read: Matthew 5:21-22.