Question: Should Christians uphold the death penalty?

Question: Whether to enforce the death penalty continues to be a controversial subject, not only among non-Christians but among Christians as well. Should a Christian president or attorney general uphold the death penalty?

Response: The death penalty very clearly was established by God from the beginning (subsequent to Cain): “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast…and at the hand of man…will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Genesis:9:5-6 [5] And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. [6] Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
See All...). “He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death…; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die” (Exodus:21:12-14 [12] He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. [13] And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. [14] But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
See All...). “And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death” (Leviticus:24:17And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
See All...). “So shall ye not pollute the land wherein ye are: for the blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it” (Numbers:35:30-33 [30] Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. [31] Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. [32] And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. [33] So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
See All...). “Thine eye shall not pity [a murderer], but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee” (Deuteronomy:19:11-13 [11] But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: [12] Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. [13] Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
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It is true that the above were directives given specifically to Israel. Yet the Ten Commandments (except for keeping the Sabbath), which were given to Israel, have been written by God in every human conscience (Romans:2:14-15 [14] For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [15] Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
See All...). “Thou shalt not commit murder” is one of these commandments. That fact would indicate that the death penalty for murder should be upheld today by those governing in human affairs, who are supposed to be “the minister[s] of God…to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans:13:4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
See All...). Even godless rulers are held responsible by God to execute His justice, as Romans 13 makes very clear.

Christians, however, are not part of this world but have been chosen out of the world (John 15, 17; 1 John 2, etc.). They are under the law of Christ as to their individual conduct and the affairs of the church. As to their civil duties, however, they are under the law of the land in which they live and are subject to “Caesar,” as Jesus himself declared: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things which are God’s” (Matthew:22:21They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
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Whether a true Christian should even aspire to the office of President is a question that each must answer before God in his own conscience. How much compromise must be entered into even to get to that office can only be imagined. Thereafter, the compromise can only get worse in working with the ungodly, in receiving and being friendly with godless rulers, as well as in attempting to apply righteousness to a populace that wants anything but to obey God and His laws.