Our Hearts and Submission to Government

Personally, I am against death penalty, biblically, I support the death penalty if a person clearly did the crime of killing another person (without any reasonable doubt). Studying government biblically for many years, I have learned so much in each topic in the bible. Romans 13:4 In KJV: For 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. NIV: For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. In humanism term, death penalty is wrong. In Christian reasoning, death penalty is wrong. The Bible says differently. I do believe very much in being a responsible Christian citizen. But that responsibility is defined for the Christian by the Bible but no humanism reasoning. Christ have not given us a political agenda, but a spiritual mandate to proclaim the Gospel and disciple the nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Christians can work with non-Christians (& government) in attempting to promote justice and civic peace because it is good for all people, not just Christians (Galatians 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:15). As I said earlier, as Christians, we are to focus on the social and punishment system when we seem fit. Christ taught us to love our enemies. We all can think of helping the criminals to avoid harsh punishment like death penalty. We often forget the victims of the cimes. The victims are aways invisibile in this situation. No one speaks for them. Especially children when sexual predators are out there abusing and killing kids for their sexual pleasures. So, I am sitting here seeing so much advocacy for the criminals and little advocacy for the victims. Our laws are so relaxed that they do not cause fear in the criminals' minds. Criminals usually do not have a conscience to respect other human beings. Romans 13:1-7 In verse 3 says: "Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you." Verse 4 says: "if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Verse 5 says: Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 1 Peter 2:13-17 Verse 14 says: "submit to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." Verse 15-16 says: "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." There is a balance view of respecting God's creation and how we ought to protect the innocents who would be a victim of future crimes that may kill them. If God says: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." I will abide His law. I have not seen on clear passage from the New Testament that He removed this law. I may be harsh but I am looking at the victims more than I am looking at the criminals. This is why we have victims ministry as well as prision ministry. There are more prision ministries than there are victims ministries. We are to bear one another (victimes) as Galatians 6:2 says "Bear one another's burdens" This goes back to biblical foundation of Christ's intentions for His death on the Cross. Christ have not given us a political agenda, but a spiritual mandate to proclaim the Gospel and disciple the nations (Matthew 28:19-20). God never commanded the governments to "spread the Gospels" because God dictated governments to "govern" the people and live in a civilized world. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 where the Christian is referred to as an ambassador - "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ" which means God dictated to CHRISTIANS to spread the gospel. God's clear message (without even trying to interpret to our own human reasoning) that He ordained capital punishment. There is a balance view of respecting God's creation and how we ought to protect the innocents who would be a victim of future crimes that may kill them. If God says: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." I will abide His law. I have not seen on clear passage from the New Testament that He removed this law. Christ came to FULFILL the law, not destroy the law. Moral laws are God's laws for His followers while Civil laws are for His followers that Governments are ordained by Him. Jesus said "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36). After Christ died on the Cross, many many Christians were sentenced to death for petty crimes such as "disobeying" the government or simply just being a "Christian". We are not here to preach the gospel to save people from temporal death but rather from eternal death and give them opportunity to have eternal life where God in heaven will pardon their crimes through Jesus Christ. Regarding God's laws in the Bible, you have to ask God because its in the Bible. What I normally do is study each law from God's perspectives as moral sin of serious nature from HIS VIEW. Reading Psalms 119 helps alot. Psalms revealed by the structure of the psalm itself as the importance of God’s Word for life and godliness. LAW is the primary word used in this psalm to refer to God’s Word. In a sense, “law” refers to any instruction revealed by God as the basis for life and action. In its more narrow sense “law” can refer to the Mosaic Law, the Pentateuch, or the Deuteronomic Law. Psalm 119 presents the Law of God as His overall instruction and direction whereby His people may find life, blessing, and success. Statutes speaks to the permanence and the binding nature of God’s Word. God’s statutes have been written down and preserved because God’s desires His people to obey them always and without exception. God’s words are always valid. God’s statutes are binding because they are His commandments and as such, are backed by His authority as the supreme, sovereign, and moral Law-giver. We need to look at things from God's perspective rather than our hearts.