Ministries of Restoration Lutheran theological tradition has maintained that society is ruled by the Law and is influenced and nourished by the Gospel. For the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, following Jesus leads to a commitment to restorative justice. This commitment means addressing the hurt of each person whose life has been touched by violent crime. Restorative justice makes the community safer for all. Executions focus on the convicted murderer, providing very little for the victim's family or anyone else whose life has been touched by the crime.
Capital punishment focuses on retribution, sometimes reflecting a spirit of vengeance.
Executions do not restore broken society and can actually work counter to restoration. Our challenge is to incapacitate offenders in a manner that limits violence, and holds open the possibility of conversion and restoration. In the meantime, God holds governments accountable to ensure justice. In a democracy, where government is by the people, justice is the responsibility of all citizens. People often respond to violent crime as though it were exclusively a matter of the criminal's individual failure.