January 23,1998
Dear Br. John:
When I write to a brother, I first form a mental picture of what he looks like. When I remember you, the first impression that comes to mind is of a smiling face. Your smile was infectious and probably brightens the lives of many of the people who visit your office. We little realize the influence we have over others for good or bad, testifying for or against Christ. You are probably acquainted with the case of the woman in a Texas prison who was convicted of a brutal ax murder and condemned to die. (I think they execute prisoners in the gas chamber in Texas but they may use lethal injections.)
Her case seems to have garnered considerable publicity because
she is the first woman scheduled to be executed in Texas since
the imposition of the death penalty. 143 men have been put to
death, but not a single woman. Much of the anti-death punishment
agitation in the country concerns putting a woman to death, but,
recently another dimension to this case has arisen.
Apparently, and I say this only from the knowledge I gained through
news stories I heard, while in prison, Christ found her and she
was converted. Some Christians are using this singular occurrence
as justification for commuting her death sentence to life in prison.
Is this Biblical?
When a person responds to the invitation of the Holy Spirit, they
become a new creature in Christ Jesus, but what happens to the
old life and the former sins? Transgression, of course, is forgiven
by Christ upon conversion and confession, but what about civil
society? Here is a simple illustration that may shed some light
on this dilemma. You are driving along the road, enjoying your
carnal condition when you are stopped by a police man who issues
you a ticket for speeding.
Before you can appear in court and pay your fine, you are converted
and make full and complete repentance, including confession for
violating the speed law. Standing before the judge, your acknowledge
the infraction of the speeding law but plead, as the reason why
you shouldn’t have to pay the ticket, that you have been
converted in the mean time. Would this excuse fly or have any
merit with the judge.?
Perhaps you heard of the Steven Merin case that occurred several
years ago, also in Texas. Steven was a serial killer of women
who was finally apprehended, tried, and sentenced to death. The
last woman he abducted was a Christian who presented the gospel
to him in such a way that God was able to use her testimony to
convict him. He become a Christian. Did he use his Christianity
as a defense against the death penalty? No! Acknowledging his
sins and the right of the state to execute justice upon his body,
he stopped the appeals process and willingly submitted to the
death punishment which was by lethal injection.
All of us want to live and certainly Steven Merin wanted to live
as much as any one, yet he realized he could not escape the earthly
penalties for his sins. If Christianity were a defense to crimes,
prisons would be filled with Christians. Criminals seek every
way to evade the just punishment for their sins and would gladly
believe on Christ if, through this means, they could avoid the
just recompense for their sins.
May I remind you of the case of another criminal condemned to
die, Jesus Christ. God laid upon him the sins of the entire world.
If anyone could claim a just excuse for not being executed, it
certainly was Christ, yet he accepted the death sentence, as unjust
as it was, and paid the price for our sins. Is a servant greater
then his Lord?
If Christ willingly accepted death for his sins, ought this woman
to accept her fate without complaint? Parenthetically speaking,
when Christ accepted the penalty for our sins, they became his
sins. While he never sinned, he accepted the punishment the unrepentant
sinner must meet in order that he might bestow upon us the free
gift of righteousness.
If I owed you $100.00 and desired to be forgiven of this debt,
it isn’t a breach of Christianity to refuse and initiate
the collection process. While you may choose to forgive the debt,
it is not in the power of the state to forgive the sin of murder.
The civil authorities are given, by Christ, the power to frame
and execute the laws and enforce the penalties for their violation
that they may be an instruction and terror to evil doers. Just
and quick punishment for crimes committed, does have a deterrent
effect upon others who would commit similar crimes. It is a travesty
of God’s authority that the appeals process is allowed to
be dragged out for almost 14 years in her case. There is no deterrent
in this process, nor does the anti-death penalty agitation deter
criminals who realize that, if caught, they stand a very good
chance of never paying the just penalty for their crimes.
It is soft hearted sentimentalism that allows criminals, including
women, to escape without being punished for their crimes. Often,
in the recounting of the experiences of the Israelites in the
Old Testament, the Bible indicates that God punished the entire
nation for their infractions of his laws. He did this not out
of meanness but that later generations might learn through their
example and obey God.
We punish our children for the same reason. It is not wise for
a parent to neglect this method of instruction, for the spoiled
child will grow up believing they are beyond punishment. Based
on the information I can glean about this case, it is her sex,
not her Christianity that is the real issue. Should women, in
our society, be held to the same standard as men concerning punishment
for their crimes? The answer is, of course, yes!
It may come as an unpleasant shock to many Christians, that women,
as well as men, will burn in hell. Let us put away sentimental
foolishness when considering such matters for God does not distinguish
between sinners on the basis of sex, for he is no respecter of
persons, and neither should we.
Just a few thoughts on the contemporary seen. May the Lord bless
you, my brother, and may he smile upon all your works done for
him in faith.
Allen A. Benson