Americans who believe in Jesus but support the death penalty, please explain this?

@HermannFegelein Do some research and tell me how many have died in religious strife simply because they’re Jewish, or they’re Sunni, or they’re any other religion than the one holding the gun. Check out the crusades. The list is endless and so is this argument. I didn’t mean to offend anyone, but am offended myself by self righteous individuals always wanting to point the finger at others as if they have no faults. I’m also offended at someone calling me ignorant because my belief is different from yours. And yes, I know I’m wasting my time. Have an awesome day.

The idea of Christians supporting any kind of criminal justice system is silly in itself, given how often Jesus preached absolute pacifism. The idea of arresting people for assault, murder, larceny, etc. is in no way compatible with the principle of turning the other cheek or leaving the weeds until the harvest.

Actually, he said if anyone harms the head of a child it would be better for a millstone around their neck, and thrown into the depths of the sea.

So he too believed in capital punishment.

And the reason the death penalty is not a deterrent, is because it is rarely if ever, enforced. Most criminals realize they can be on a waiting list for a death penalty for 25 years before it even going into effect. Many dying from natural causes before even dying from a penalty of death.

Appeals etc. often delaying the effects of the legal process.

Take for instance the serial killer night stalker. He was sentenced to die but came nowhere close to dying under the actual death penalty laws. He instead died from natural causes awaiting a death sentence for 23 years. The death penalty is 95% equivalent to life in prison in the US. With maybe only 5% of deaths being carried out from an order of a judge speeding up the process.

There was a case where three gang leaders killed I believe it was a seven year old boy for his Halloween candy. They had been so used to the judicial system never doing anything that at their own trial they openly mocked the boy in front of the grieving mother, and made jokes and laughed about the way they killed him. This offended everyone at their trial, with showing no remorse and believing they were untouchable by the law. They were obviously found guilty and sentenced to death. And I believe it was nothing but deserving for such atrocities.

Covid has killed almost 5 million people. Where is Jesus? Please explain this

Reading your post, i see a lot of misconceptions and it is clear there are things you don't fully understand about American culture, guns and the death penalty in general. I am not saying this to be insulting, argumentative or anything bad, just stating the facts.

First of all, it is a popular misconception that Christians aren't supposed to judge. People read the passage "Judge not, lest ye be judged yourself", and think Jesus is saying not to judge at all. Not true. He is saying that whatever standard you use to judge others, He will hold you to and use to judge you. So, if you are fair in how you judge, He will be too. If you judge without all the facts, you will be treated the same way.

Second, there is murder in every single country on Earth. Feeling safe is a relative term. I feel safer here in America than I would in many many other countries. Some of them banned guns decades ago.

Third, the death penalty has never really been meant as a deterrent. It's main function above all others, is to remove the most dangerous from our society and insure that they can [i]never[/i] harm anyone else again. In this job, it is 100% effective. No one that has ever been executed has ever committed another murder.

Now the one thing you didn't mention but i am sure someone will, the 6th Commandment says "Thou shall not kill." This Commandment is soeaking of murder, which is an illegal act of ending a life. Execution is the legal process of ending a life as punishment. The two are distinct, even within the Bible.

You asked, here it is in Romans:

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. (Romans 13:1, NASB)

You intentionally take a life as in murder, and it is premeditated murder, you should be subject to the death penalty. So a serial murderer doesn’t deserve the death penalty?

These types of questions are always such a can of worms. I refuse to become engaged, but I would offer that it's like they say, "you just can't not look at a train wreck."

The Apostle Paul encouraged those who read his postings to "submit to authority." "if you do wrong, be afraid, for he [the authority] does not bear the sword for nothing." In its ultimate use, the word [i]sword[/i] implies execution under the New Testament.
Under the Old Testament, individuals guilty of manslaughter or accidentally causing another's death were exempted from the death penalty, unlike those who, you might say premeditated murder, or committed other serious offenses under Old Testament law. Their's was a death sentence.

But your question is so much broader in interpretation and response than, this website is worthy of. I almost surmise that you already knew the answers before asking the question.

Do with it as you wish. I just know that tthere's a host on this website with limited knowledge who make fools of themselves trying to quote their limited knowledge or projectile vomit half-truths in order to pidgeon-hole the author in order to fit a defensive narrative.

As in all posts on this shaky raft.....mileages vary.

Cognitive dissonance

Jesus' own words at Mark 7:9-13:

“You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

some people dont deserve to live

Almost half the state’s have either banned the death penalty or have moratoriums. They’re not executing people in California or New York, the two states you mentioned.

I always find it ironic when pro life champions support the death penalty and refuse to wear a mask or get vaccinated. And that’s just me observing my relatives

[b]Our plan of action should be based on what results in the least total amount of suffering- and not on having guessed what a specific dead guy might have wanted.[/b]

I am not for the deathpenalty, but the Bible says that its ok for governments to enforce laws with death penalty.

I am willing to trade ... we stop all abortion and eliminate the death penalty ... a win win!

No idea, but I would like to point out that crime actually varies in NYC by neighbourhood. Not everywhere in NYC has a high crime, there are neighbourhoods with a fairly low crime rate.

Just look at Sodom & Gamorrah, has that explained it adequately