Ye Shall Know Them By Their Fruits
A little while back, while the fires were raging in Southern California, I was listening to hate radio and the host was posing the question of whether arsonists should be executed. I suppose he had run out of ways to defend the current administration’s crimes and wanted to focus on other crimes, so he chose this topic.
Of course, this “Christian” host was all for executing arsonists, but he wanted his listeners to weigh in on whether mentally ill people who start fires should also be executed.
I sent an e-mail telling the host of my opposition to killing people based upon my Christian beliefs. He replied on the air almost immediately that we had a God-given right to protect ourselves from people who wish to do us harm. I agree. As an individual, I see nothing wrong with using deadly force to protect me and my loved ones in a situation that might warrant it.
However, as a society, that is what we have prisons for.
True, prisons are expensive, but only because of corruption and stupidity. As it is, prison is a far cheaper alternative to the death penalty, with trials alone costing the equivalent of 100 years of incarceration. Add in the appeals and, well, you get the point.
As I listened to yet another so-called Christian explain how he could justify the killing of another human being by invoking the name of God, I went to BibleGateway.com, and tried to find God’s spin on the subject.
I could not find anything specific on the death penalty but I did find the Sermon on the Mount. Right there in the gospel of Matthew, chapter seven, verse sixteen, I found the title of this essay.
What does that passage mean? In verse eighteen, when Christ says, “A good tree cannot produce bad fruits,” What is He telling us? Are those who favor the death penalty “good trees?” If your “fruits” are vengeance and death to others, then the answer is obvious:
You cannot be a Christian.
Comments
Thanks for your good writing and to point discussions. I worry that the blog asks for my URL but alas the government gets all are logs anyways. I'd like to hear your perspective on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act s 3880--I know mine, a severe form of repression and suppression of are first amendment.
Posted by: Phil | November 8, 2007 10:16 PM
Quentin,
You bring up an important topic but I think maybe you're painting with too broad of a brush.
First, let's not get into talk radio.
There are a lot of average american christians out there who do not always live up to the teachings of Christ. This possibly includes those who favor the death penalty. I'm sure it would also include people who lie, steal, drink excessively, or committ adultery. But Christ's forgiveness applies to them as well.
If you are against the death penalty because you believe it goes against Christ's word, I salute you for that. But to say someone who holds a different viewpoint is any less christian than you is an unfair statement.
Crime is a scary thing for most people. It is terrifying to know that there are people out there who are willing to rape and murder us and our families. Punishment of criminals is one way that we as a society lash out and fight back against those who would harm us.
As christians, yes, we should be more forgiving, but that is easier said than done if you have lost a loved one to a murderer.
There was a durham woman who was forcibly raped and stabbed by a homeless psycho a couple years ago. Her husband told the press that he wouldn't seek the death penalty and instead would pray for the man's soul. That husband in my opinion has tremendous faith and I commend him, but I couldn't do that myself. If someone killed or terribly hurt my wife or children, I would probably want their blood. It would not bring them back or make me feel any better, but I would want revenge all the same. In this sense, I do recognize this as my own failing and one that I hope I would be forgiven for, just as I ask and hope for forgiveness with any of my failings.
Try to remember, with christians, we never view ourselves as perfect, only, hopefully, forgiven.
There's another side to your arguments and it's this. The death penalty is not carried out by individuals, but by government. Our government is mostly secular (separation of church and state) so letting christians stop the death penalty would cross that separation, would it not? Government, as an entity, has a responsibility to protect citizens from evil doers and malcontents.
I think perhaps you're going down this path to point out the hypocrisy of christians, which is really another way of discrediting them. I could be wrong, but before you start feeding christians to the lions, try viewing them as people first, not just a collective.
Dane
=========================================================================
As always, Dane, your point is well-made.
I do not agree with you that I am unfair calling someone less of a Christian. Indeed, it would be unfair of me to judge them--how could I--but I feel I am only stating the obvious. And perhaps, to make people think.
In truth, I did bring this up to point out the hypocrisy of Christians, but by no means was I referring to all of them. Frankly, I am fed up with talk-show hosts--and Presidents--who wave the Christian banner to garner support for their evil causes. Like you, I have a vengeful streak. I'd like to believe what Matthew writes in 7:23, but I pray they will be forgiven.
Thank you for writing!
Posted by: Dane Langston | November 16, 2007 02:02 PM
Why do you listen to *hate radio*? Some people think Savage does hate stuff, but he is not Christian, he is Jewish. I don*t know who you listen to because his show is the only one I tune in to. I used to listen to Hannity, but he and O*Reilly are frauds and pimps for the neocons. I can tolerate Michael*s shouting in anger, rants and the NY accent(!), because it comes from his heart and soul and it strikes a chord with those of us who feel such helpless rage at this corrupt-beyond=belief government.
========================================================================
Excellent question! Thank you for asking. I listen to hate radio for the same reason that George Patton studied Erwin Rommel: Know your enemy.
When I hear a person speaking in ignorance, it's good to know where they're coming from.
I love Savage!
Quentin
Posted by: alma | January 14, 2008 11:42 AM