Save sympathy for victims
Dear editor:
Recently there has been a great deal of discussion about whether the death penalty is right or wrong. Robert Freeman was certainly correct (Tuesday, April 25) in pointing out that in the Ten Commandments, God clearly says, “You shall not murder,” rather than saying you shall not kill.
The Webster’s Dictionary defines murder as “the unlawful and malicious or premeditated killing of one human being by another.” The word kill is a general description, whereas murder is much more specific.
There is unfortunately a lot of misunderstanding about what God teaches about this matter in the Bible. The Rev. Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, has pointed out that there is an important difference concerning how God applies His commandments to either an individual or to a whole nation. This is seen clearly in Romans, Chapter 13, concerning how God has established proper authorities in the form of government.
Romans 13:1 tells us that “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established … ” Verse 2, “Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted … ” Verse 4, “For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”
For those who have been found to be guilty, it is entirely correct for the governing authorities that God has put in place, to bring about the proper punishment upon them — even the death penalty. In contrast, it is certainly not right for an individual to kill another person unless it is in self-defense or in wars that are truly needed to combat evil and also in defending our nation.
God is not only a God of love and mercy, but He is also a holy and just God who hates lawlessness and disorder! He has given man his laws to obey and whenever we choose to disobey them, there are always consequences that follow sooner or later. Those punishments can come here on earth or after we die and go to the hereafter. It can also be both now and later.
He is the ultimate judge for whom we all must someday give an account of our lives. Oh, how we should deeply respect and fear our Almighty God! Psalm 111:10 reminds us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” We should realize that when we sin, it is always an offense to God, as well as to the person!
Many of us have really grown weary of how much sympathy is lavished upon those evildoers instead of upon the poor innocent victims, many whose lives have been ruined! If we could only experience firsthand the tragic hardships these poor people suffered from those wicked, criminal law breakers, perhaps we might begin to look at things with a far different perspective! Lloyd Hoffman Hot Springs