If the Bible says, “Thou shalt not
kill,” is capital punishment contrary to the word of God?
Scripture tells us that human government is ordained and
set up by God. It is very clear in Romans 13:1, “For there is
no power but of God: and the powers that be are ordained of
God.” And the powers that be are to act for God in the
administration of human affairs.
While no individual is allowed to take vengeance for
himself (Rom. 12:19), government is ordained of God to act for
God as a minister to take vengeance. The Bible says in Romans
13:4, “For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if
thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the
sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to
execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
The government is ordained of God and one thing that the
government does is to bear the sword. Look if you will in Rom.
13:4, “he beareth not the sword in vain.” He is talking about
the instrument of death. Is capital punishment, therefore,
ordained of God? May I say it is.
Some have the idea that capital punishment would contradict
the Ten Commandments. But it does not. Exodus 20:13 says,
“Thou shalt not kill.” But Genesis 21:12 says, “He that
smiteth a man so that he die, shall surely be put to death.”
When the Bible says, “Thou shalt not kill,” it is literally
translated, thou shalt do no murder. It does not mean that you
should not execute a murderer. The Bible is quite clear on
this point. We need to understand that the Bible does not
forbid capital punishment. As a matter of fact, God has
ordained capital punishment because He loves us.
Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be without dissimulation.” That
means real love is without hypocrisy. God is a god of love,
but not of weak sentiment. God realizes there must be a
restraint upon sin. Softness to the criminal is cruelty to the
community. God loves people and because God loves people, God
hates sin and God hates crime. God is too good not to punish
crime. If God ceased to punish sin, God would cease to be
holy. And God would cease to be good. Because God is love and
because of the welfare of society, God has ordained capital
punishment.
Taken from Adrian Rogers' weekly
newspaper column. Used by permission. © 2001, The Commercial
Appeal.