God promises that the death penalty is a reliable deterrent:
- "So you shall put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act presumptuously." Deut. 17:12-13
- "So all Israel shall hear and fear, and not again do such wickedness as this among you." Deut. 13:11
Yet, the death penalty as executed through American courts is not much of a deterrent.
Wise King Solomon 2,900 years ago explained why this is so:
- Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Eccl. 8:11
When a murderer is executed, three appeals and 12 years after his crime, society has largely forgotten about him.
His death has almost no deterrent effect on crime.
Further, a life sentence cannot be executed speedily.
The swift death penalty deters crime and aids evangelism.
Thus Christians, in obedience to God, should support the death penalty.