KenVincent
Moderator
Registered: 12/19/07
Posts: 103
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The Big Questions 1. Is a prisoner's impending death from a natural cause sufficient reason to grant early release when the crime involved is especially heinous? What biblical principles are involved? 2. How are justice and mercy related to each other? What factors help you decide when to apply one over the other? 3. When, if ever, should international concerns between nations be permitted to override matters of justice toward individuals? What facts of international relationships should be considered, if any? 4. How far should the rewarding of rogue nations go when they move away from terrorism or human rights abuse? 5. What position should the church take in this particular case?
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Ken Vincent
Online Forum Moderator
St. Luke Lutheran Church
Albuquerque, NM |
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WillHoffman
Registered: 01/04/08
Posts: 98
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1. The Old Testament advocates mercy for those in prison, especially a general pardon in the jubilee year when the nation can accommodate the less fortunate. It apparently does not measure the heinousness of the "crime." I seea general distinction between enemies in battle who are slain or driven into exile and those who break Jewish law and therefore are criticized, shunned. As for those who break the last seven commandments, I think these are more a personal violation to be dealt with between individuals. Also, there is God's wrath for communities that break the covenant or live in sin and depravity.
2. Psalm 85 implores God's general favor and pardon during a time of abundance, to turn from anger and grant salvation, for God (verse 8) will "speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, but let them not turn again to folly." Verse 10: "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." In God's time, there is no dualistic human choice between justice and mercy. Now, in our profane time,our system of justice and individual rights seeks to secure these against and above the power (abuse) of the state, except where the general public welfare is at risk. I can find no principle in the Old Testament of civil punishment for deterrence or through vengeance.
3. This contemporary, non-biblical question creates a Gordian Knot or, perhaps a pinhead upon which to count a multitude of Angels. The only existing legal arenas are the World Court in the Hague and the United Nations. As for a secular Court of Public Opinion, there is no single voice. There exist general practices of human justice against communal, collective slavery, exploitation, and genocide. Regarding a nation's use of terror, punishment or retribution, I can find only special tribunals such as Nuernberg, Germany, after World War II.
4. I think a rogue nation is a failed state and has no legal standing which can be punished or sanctioned. As to the sovereign state of Lybia, it acquired legitimate status in the West through the actions of the United States and Great Britain during the administrations of George W. Bush and Tony Blair. They recognized Lybia to gain oil when Libia renounced its fabricated nuclear weapons system and agreed not to take further overt actions against Israel or its allies by abetting terrorism, as had been done leading to the Lockerbie tragedy. What webs we weave! Now, the chickens come home to roost.
5. Which church? Perhaps the Church of Public Opinion which stood mute when the original U.S./British-Lybia deal was struck. Was it a road to hell paved with good intentions? I would point out that in 1956, Britain and France, at the urging of the United States, ceded the Suez Canal to the Egyptians, in exchange for accepting Israel and letting the old colonial powers off the hook It seems to me the only "position" the churches can take is after the fact, to help alleviate the suffering and to work towards the future, not right all the wrongs. Where is the suffering of Lockerbie? I think the mass media has opened old wounds. Remember, the Scots lost people on the ground where the crime was committed and the punishment exacted. When will we move on with the larger questions of peace in the Middle East and stop trying to make logs out of splinters?
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BeverlyDavies
Registered: 08/21/09
Posts: 5
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1. Questions regarding justice, punishment and mercy are perhaps among the most perplexing and challenging questions for those of us who strive to live as Christians. I found these questions to be profoundly challenging. However, it is my belief that evil must be contained so that no further harm can be done to innocent people. Therefore, since I am unaware of any remorse or conversion on the part of the man involved in this particular crime, I would not have released him. Mercy could have been shown to him by allowing his family to visit him in jail. He was receiving medical care I believe in jail. There are natural consequences for having deliberately murdered people. While I do not believe in the death penalty, I do believe that someone capable of such evil should be kept apart from society for the duration of their lives. God, in his mercy reaches out to those who seek Him and His forgiveness even in the darkest prison cell. We, as society, have a right to protect ourselves from further harm. I do believe he should receive excellent medical care however.
2. As Christians, who seek to grow ever closer to our God, it is a worthy struggle to seek a balance between justice and mercy. It seems to me that the defining quality of God is mercy. So, as much as we are capable of showing mercy, we should strive for that. Justice is a human endeavor, and one that is constantly evolving. I believe justice involves protecting people from those who would deliberately do harm. It is our duty to protect the innocent from those who do not demonstrate conscience. These people should be separated from the innocent so that they can live out their lives free from harm as much as possible. Mercy comes in when a person who has done harm demonstrates true remorse and a changed persona. Many people in prison have sincere remorse, have grown in conscience and are no longer a danger to society. Discerning who has sincerely grown in this way is difficult, I am sure.
3. I am not qualified to answer this enormous question. It seems though to me, that Jesus told the parable of seeking the lost sheep, even leaving the herd to go after the one who was lost. Perhaps the answer lies there.
4. "Trust, but verify" is a quote I believe is attributable to Ronald Reagan. It seems oddly appropriate here.
5. It has become clear that the bomber involved here may have been released solely to assuage Libya in making a deal for oil with Great Britain. The noble reason for release, "Compassionate release" may have been a ruse, a manipulation and insincere. It seems to be tainted. However, if the man does no further harm, we can leave his fate to our Heavenly Father.
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