Beloved Friends in Christ,
"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." We've heard that saying before. And although it's not explicitly stated, let's not forget to mention a life for a life.
While many people strongly oppose this kind of justice, I wonder if some of them would wish to make an exception in the case of Robert Pickton. After reading some of the gruesome details of the 49 murders which many suspect he committed, I must admit that I find myself joining the ranks of those who support capital punishment.
But, you might ask whether such a sentiment is consistent with the Christian faith. Are we as Christians not always to love and forgive? Indeed, we are. Personally we are never to bear a grudge or seek revenge.
The Lord Himself says "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," To accomplish this however, He sometimes uses an appointed servant, that is the government. Should the government, in its effort to carry out its duty to protect its citizens, choose to shed the blood of those who themselves have shed human blood, then, as Christians, it is our duty to support them in the carrying out of their God-given duty. That is what the Scripture verse above means. God's justice must be carried out.
But, let me shift the focus. It is relatively easy to talk about God's justice when it is directed at someone else. What about us? Let's admit that there are many times when we ourselves stand in the way of God's justice. Whether it is by the things we do or by the things we say or think, we ourselves commit injustices.
And these injustices–called sins–cry out for the shedding of blood. Did not God, already at the beginning of time, say this about the first sin and every subsequent sin: "In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die"? But here is the wonderful news. Though physical death remains a reality, sometimes even at the hand of an executioner for crimes committed in this world, the eternal death of which God spoke at the beginning of time has since been satisfied by the shedding of holy blood. God the Father sent His own Son, Christ Jesus, to shed His blood in our stead.
A life was demanded–ours. A life was given–His. A life for a life. Though totally innocent, Jesus suffered a gruesome death. The death He suffered was because of us. Therefore, because of His fulfilling of divine justice, what we shall receive from the Father when the final day of judgment arrives shall not be based on "an eye for an eye". That is the wonderful news we call the Gospel. And that news still remains today: "Eternal mercy, not justice, for all who place their trust in God's Son, Jesus Christ!"
In His service,
