April 2005 - Tower - Page 7
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Church and Society
Russell Fox, Captain
The recent United States Supreme Court decision that capital punishment for persons under the age of 18 years constituted cruel and inhuman punishment, has once again raised much discussion of the whole issue of capital punishment. This is an issue that has long been a source of contention. Arguments have been advanced that retributive justice, that is an "eye for an eye," etc. carried over to a "life for a life" will be more effective in holding down capital crimes, i.e., murder, than restorative justice, i.e., reconciliation. However, statistics have indicated that capital punishment has not been effective in holding down violent crimes. As a result, many countries have abolished the death penalty entirely.
In the United States some 18 states have abandoned the death penalty and some have abandoned the death penalty for persons under 18 years of age. In Virginia, we still use the death penalty for anyone over the age of 16. A bill was introduced in 2004 which would raise the age limit from 16 to 18. This bill was summarily defeated. Now the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional what our State Legislature could not do. Of course, the Supreme Court ruling has questioned the death penalty at any age.
The United Methodist Church has a long history and tradition of opposing the death penalty. Jesus speaking in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:21-26, states that we should settle matters quickly by means of reconciliation. Of course, we all recognize that some people act so depraved and inhuman, that it is hard for society to treat them humanely.
It would seen to me that the Supreme Court's decision was not reached on a constitutional matter but rather on the increasing abolishment of the death penalty at the state level. It is well recognized that we do not have a particularly effective restorative justice system. Furthermore, the more recent use of DNA evidence has uncovered a number of instances where innocent people have been convicted. So sentiment is developing that rather than have one innocent person put to death, perhaps we should not put anyone to death.
Many times a pink prayer card placed in the offering plate on Sunday morning will read, "Pray for good test results." Sweating out medical or lab tests can be a trying time.
When a physician suddenly orders a crucial test, one's world comes crashing down. My daughter recently called from Chicago to tell me that an unexpected biopsy had resulted in the need for a second biopsy. Test results can be the fork in the road.
Can we now feel relieved and free to return to our normal activities? Or has life abruptly taken a new and strange direction, mercifully with a minimum of expensive treatments or further testing.
Thanks to a loving Father, we always have the blessed privilege of praying, "Let this cup pass from me." Yet we must follow that prayer with, "Yet not what I want but what you want." (Matthew 26:39)
We'd prefer not ever having to undergo medical tests. But if and when we do, please, dear Lord Jesus, bless us with your love and grace so we can continue to live victorious lives.
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1
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Last update: April 2, 2005
