GOD, DANNY ROLLING, AND CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

On the editorial page of yesterday's Gainesville Sun was a letter from a woman we'll call Ms. Smith. Ms. Smith begins by telling us what most of us already know.

"Danny Rolling will be killed on Oct. 25, finally receiving the ultimate legal payment for his heinous crimes. There's no doubt that he is guilty or that he deserves the maximum punishment the state can impose, even after his abusive childhood and personality disorder are taken into account."

Okay, she admits his guilt and that he deserves the maximum punishment (I prefer the word "penalty") for his crimes. The state of Florida recognizes the maximum penalty as death. This should be the end of the story. Unfortunately, it is not.

Ms. Smith continues, "There is also no doubt that the victims' families, the residents of Gainesville, and indeed the world, deserve closure and some sense of relief." So far, so good. But then she says, "Unfortunately, ending Rolling's existence will not comfort the families' grief or mollify their rage; only God and their own inner resources working through time can accomplish that."

It actually might comfort them to know the man that killed their loved one(s) will not kill again. It might even mollify their rage by the same reasoning. It is true that ultimately their only hope lies in God, so does God have anything to say about the death penalty, i.e., about capital punishment?

I. GOD DOESN'T JUST APPROVE OF THE DEATH PENALTY- HE INSTITUTED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT!

1. God instituted it along with human government before the law [Gn. 9:1-6]

2. God insisted upon it during the law albeit with certain provisions [Ex. 21:12-14, Nm. 35:30, Dt. 17:6]

3. God reiterated it after the law by the Apostle Paul [Rm. 13:1-10]

Ms. Smith voices her opinion further. "Danny Rolling's death will not relieve Gainesville or the world of his horrific brand of violence. Potential torturers and killers are not deterred by the execution of others. Rolling, of course, will not be committing murder again, but that would be the case if he were spending life in prison without parole."

II. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ADDRESSES ISSUES OTHER MEANS DO NOT

1. As a determination-the murdered will never murder again. Life without parole doesn't guarantee this (pardon, escape, in prison)

2. As a deterrant-when done speedily it does work [Eccl. 8:11]

3. As something deserved-Num. 35:3

Ms. Smith finishes her letter with her opinion as opposed to God's unalterable Word:
"Killing Danny Rolling can't satisfy our need for vengeance, because death is a woefully inadequate punishment for his crimes. It only shows the civilized world that our system of justice is unable to respond to violence without more violence.
The justice to be executed this month confirms and sanctions a violent society. Please join me outside the prison on Oct. 25 to protest the death penalty."

III. LESSONS LEARNED FROM CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

1. There is a penalty for doing wrong [Rm. 6:23]

2. There is an authority to whom we must answer [Rm. 3:4, Rev. 20:11-15]

3. There is a solution [Rev. 20:15, Rm. 6:23, 10:9ff]