Death Penalty- Church and State Distinction
Is the death penalty inconsistent with the Christian ethic?
Despite the overwhelming evidence of Biblical support, from Genesis 9, the Law of Moses, to Romans 13- many Christians struggle with the death penalty, and I believe it is because of a confusion of categories. Many struggle to resolve a seeming tension between the mercy and forgiveness of God they hear preached from the pulpit with the idea of actually carrying out justice in the real world as well.
I just saw a thread online where people were discussing the recent atrocity that has just been uncovered, wherein a “pastor” (using that term in the loosest possible sense) was charged with possession of child pornography, including incriminating images of himself abusing a minor; the brothers in this thread were discussing what our response ought to be if we were in the position of a chaplain ministering to this soul in prison.
In mental exercises, I have often placed myself in this position. Two things can be true simultaneously:
Jesus Christ can forgive any sinner.
Rape is a crime deserving of the death penalty (Deuteronomy 22:25–27).
Many would wonder how a pastor could preach the gospel of forgiveness and salvation while also believing, rather firmly, that the offending individual (based upon due process and the testimony of 2–3 witnesses; Deut. 17:6) should be put to death.
There is no tension here if we simply recognize that the responsibilities of the state and the church are not the same. Believe it or not, theonomists (such as myself) do in fact believe in a separation between the functions of the church and the functions of the state. The late Dr. Greg Bahnsen has written:
Kings were not priests in Old Testament Israel, and priests were not civil leaders (as in the pagan cultures around Israel). Indeed, when a king like Uzziah presumed to take upon himself the religious tasks of a priest, he was struck with leprosy from God for daring to break down the recognized separation of “church” and “state” (2 Chron. 26:16–21). There was a clear difference between the office and prerogatives of Moses and Aaron, between those of Nehemiah and Ezra (By This Standard: The Authority of God’s Law Today, Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen, Covenant Media Press, pg. 202)
When we understand this vital distinction in Biblical categories, we can then apply these principles to real life circumstances. God has given the state the sword (Romans 13:4) and ministers of the Gospel the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) to perform their particular duties. The pastor is not responsible for executing anyone, and thus ought to preach the law and gospel to the offender in such a way as to bring about conviction and repentance, with the prayer that God by His grace would grant these gifts along with the accompanying forgiveness. The state is not entrusted with this particular duty and is responsible before God to carry out “God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Rom. 13:4).
In all things, we are each called upon by God to serve and honor Him in the particular ways His Providence has determined for our lives. Let justice be done and the name of God be hallowed and glorified.