Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-05-29
2 g sfHB' AfR' penalty
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fBy CASTOR r. Coyner)

cali themselves NH1iStLdIS VIM i1Ahc
one think they are more nearly saw
ages to hear them speak Of punish
ing criminals. No doubt they are
sincere in what they believe, but if
they would only study the New Tes-
lament more closely they would come
to the conclusion that they. have not
the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Men who are Christians, or at least
claim to be say that it is right to put
men to death for crime. Where do
they get such an idea? 1t is easy e
ough to answer this question. They
get it from the Old Testament, from
such passages as these: Whose she'd
deth mans blood, BY man shall his
blood be shed, Gen. 9:6 Eye for eye,
tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot
for foot, Burning for burning, wound
for wound, stripe for stripe, Exc.
21:24,25; And thine eye shall not
pity; but life shall go for life, eye
for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for
hand, foot. for foot, Deu. 1921; and
many others that might be given.
Then, someone says, 1T is right to
put to death, or the Bible, says so.,,
But don't be too hasty. You must
consider just little. 1t is true that
the Old Testament says that men
shall be put to death for certain
crimes, but what does Jesus say!
We must remember that we are liv-'
ing under the Christian dispensation,
and have as our Leader, Jesus Christ.
Who is the ultimate Word of all d..
vine revelation. What did He teach?
He taught that there were certain
things permitted in Old Testament
times because Of the hardness Of
mems hearts. We who are Christians
are now to interpret the Old Testa-
nent in the light Of the New. No
man can find capital punishment san
toned in the New Testament.
In the eighth chapter Of St. John
we read about the woman who was
taken in adultery. The scribes and
Pharisees told Jesus that in the law
Moses commanded that such persons
! should be stoned and asked Him what
He had to say about it. At first
Jesus did not answer but stopped
down an dwrote ON the ground with
His finger. But when they eontinu-
| ed to ask Him he finally said to them
"He that is without sin among you
cast a stone at herr They threw no
stones, but left. The old law had
been to stone such woman to, death
| but Jesus had no such spirit.
| Some would point out passages in
| the New Testament that refer to war
and try to make them support capi-
tai punishment, such as the follow
ing: For all they that take the
sword shall perish with the sword,
Matt. 1852; and He that killeth with
the sword must be killed with the
sword Rev. 1910, Some win tell
You that this last quot ton proves BE-
yond doubt, That capital punishment IS
right. But did you ever notice that
these persons only quote half Of this
verse; If you win turn t. Reyela-
ton 1910, what. you will read il
exactly as follows: s'He that leadeth
into captivity shall go into captivity;
he that killeth with the sword must
be killed with the sword Is it not
plain enough that this verse is to,
show what will appen to any that be-
gin wars, and has nothing to do with
proving the death penalty right?
The death penalty is unchristian
Some one has said.
Gurus kind O. Christian dooty,
This ere cuttin' eolks's throats.'
Was it not an awf,l thing when six
men were put to death the other
day in the state of Louisiana They
had been robbing place and in do
ing so one of them killed man. All
six were put to death even though
the Italian ambassador pleaded for
the lives Of his countrymen, as they
were italians. Four of them left
widows and orphans. Will you think
that over while? Think how many
persons were caused terrible suffer
ing by this barbaric act done in a
country that calls itself Christian
Is it not enough to cause our hearts
to bleed
If you are one that believes in the
death penalty, remember the teach
ings of Jesus. And also these words
found in the nineteeth verse Of the
twelfth chapter of Romans, 'Venge-
ance is mine; will repay, saith the
Lord
More about Jesus let me learn,
More Of His holy will DISCERN;
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