Does The Death Penalty Deter?By Steven F. Deaton |
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An Associated Press article reported that some studies show the deterrent effect of the death penalty. Various research shows that between five to 18 innocent lives are saved by each execution. The speed of enacting the death penalty also has an impact. “For every 2.75 years cut from time spent on death row, one murder would be prevented” according to one study. The lack of executions brings more murders. “The Illinois moratorium on executions in 200 led to 150 additional homicides over four years following, according to a 2006 study by professors at the University of Houston.” Read the full article here. What does the Bible say? Is the death penalty moral? Aren’t we just murdering a murderer? That is what many professors and teachers would want us to believe. If that logic is true, then the arrest and imprisonment of a kidnapper is just kidnapping; fines imposed on a thief are simply stealing. The Bible teaches that criminal activity (sin) should be punished. The death penalty is specifically authorized—even required—by the New Testament. Paul discusses a Christian’s relationship to civil government in Romans 13:1-7. In it he says that the authorities are appointed to suppress evil and uphold good (Rom. 13:3). Governments do “not bear the sword in vain” (Rom. 13:4). This is an explicit reference to capital punishment. Rulers, then, have a responsibility to execute certain criminals. When they do, evil is impeded. When they don’t, evil spreads. The wise man said, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecc. 8:11). Thus, we not only need a death penalty, we need one that is carried out regularly and in a timely manner. Funny, isn’t it, how the Bible knew this 3,000 years ago, but some men are just now seeing it? |
To everything there is a season, |
