Latest revision as of 22:59, 18 November 2018

The following lesson is intended to span roughly two weeks of instruction. The organizational principle of the lesson is that of an outline with suggested discussion question formatted as

• Question
  • Possible answer or points of discussion

The topics in this lesson are controversial topics and so some text from various denominations has also been included to help the teacher be familiar with perspectives that various students may have coming into the lesson.

Objectives

• Teens will take biblical perspective on war.
• Teens will take a biblical perspective on capital punishment.
• Teens will take a biblical perspective on civil disobedience.

Introduction

• Did Paul write the book of Romans to a group of individuals who were subject to a theocracy or a secular government?
  • (Note: Be prepared to define theocracy.) God wrote Romans to individuals who were subject to Roman rule, a secular government that knew virtually nothing of God. When we study the book of Romans we must understand that material in Romans is written to individuals who are subject to a secular government much like we today are subject to a secular government. In other words, Romans 13:1-7 applies to us today!
• What does Romans 13:1-7 say about government?
  • Every person is subject to government
  • Government is instituted by God
  • Those who resist government will incur judgement
  • Government serves to instill fear of punishment for bad behavior
  • One means of instilling fear is through the sword (physical punishment which may include capital punishment)
  • Taxes are a part of God's ordained government
  • We are required to respect and honor those God has appointed

• R.C. Sproul "once had a conversation with a United States senator who said to me, 'No government ever has the right to coerce its subjects to do anything.' ^[1]". How does this statement contradict Romans 13:1-7?
  • In fact, the whole point of government, from a biblical perspective is the ability to coerce people.

In summary, God has given government two basic rights that individuals do not possess. The right to levy taxes and the right to bear the sword.

Main Body

Capital Punishment

• What does the phrase "capital punishment" mean?
  • involving execution

• According to Genesis 2:17, what was the original punishment for sin?
  • God's initial punishment for any sin was capital punishment. God, in His mercy, chose to withhold this punishment immediately from Adam and Eve. However, it is important to remember that originally, all sin was a capital offense.

• God, in His mercy, has chosen to postpone capital punishment for most sins. However, He did set one standard in Genesis 9:6. What crime and punishment are discussed in Genesis 9:6?
  • God set up a standard that the punishment for murder was the death penalty.

Many times laws come with conditions on them. However, these conditions are not necessarily written next to every single law. For example, the Code of Federal Regulations, Federal Aviation Regulations is a massive document taking up several hundred pages. Toward the middle of the document at the beginning of the section regulating General Aviation pilots is a statement "In an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, the pilot in command may deviate from any rule of this part to the extent required to meet that emergency (14.91.3)." This allows a pilot to act with wisdom when it becomes necessary. However, if we pick out a particular regulation say 91.130.1 "Each person must establish two-way radio communications with the ATC facility providing air traffic services prior to entering that airspace and thereafter maintain those communications while within that airspace." and ignore all other regulations then we might believe that in an emergency situation where the radio has failed a pilot cannot land at the airport. Obviously, this is ridiculous.

• Read Exodus 20:13. Does this mean that the taking of life is not permitted in any circumstance?
  • This passage alone has no conditions placed upon it. However, we need to take the Bible as a whole. Do not pull one commandment without considering how God fits His standards together is irresponsible. In the study we will argue that the commandment "thou shalt not murder" is a commandment about the sanctify of human life and a principle suggesting that humanity should be very careful in life to prevent the taking of life. However, as discussed in the introduction, there is a difference between an individual and a government. The Ten Commandments are laws for individuals, not necessarily laws that apply to a governing body. R.C. Sproul States

    It is ironic that many have appealed to the Ten Commandments as a basis for repudiating capital punishment, taking the prohibition “You shall not murder” as a universal mandate. This comes from a superficial reading of the Sinaitic legislation and a failure to observe that within the context of the Sinai covenant the penalty for violating that commandment was death. The holiness code of Israel clearly called for the death penalty in the case of the murder of another human being. The murderer must forfeit his own life. The reason given for the special sanctity of human life was that man is created in the image of God. God is concerned with preserving the work of His creation, and at the top of His priorities is the preservation of the life of man. There is a sense in which the commission of murder is regarded by God as an indirect assault on Him. ^[2]

• Today we are not subject to the Old Testament Law. However, we can learn about God's standards from the Old Testament Law. What allowances for capital punishment are made in the following verses:
  • Exodus 21:15,17
  • Deuteronomy 21:18-21
  • Exodus 21:16
  • Exodus 21:28-29
  • Exodus 22:18
  • Leviticus 20:2-5
  • Leviticus 24:14
  • Deuteronomy 18:20

• • • Note we must realize that we are not under the law and we would be amiss to cite these verses as crimes worthy of capital punishment today. In fact, in John 8:7-11 Jesus stops the death penalty in a clear case deserving capital punishment under Leviticus 20:10. So how can we have a godly perspective on capital punishment?

In the New Testament Jesus emphasized mercy and Paul clearly taught that any fact of revenge was wrong in Romans 12:17-21 and 1 Thessalonians 5:15. Christ demonstrated mercy in John 8:7-11. This does not necessarily remove capital punishment as an option, but it does mean we need to exercise a great deal of wisdom in how we view capital punishment. It seems appropriate to return to the case of God's command to Noah in Genesis 9:6. It would seem that the sanctify of human life holds that one who takes human life be put to death.

Note: It may be helpful for the teacher to know some denominational stances on capital punishment.

Roman Catholic Church

• The Roman Catholic Church essentially removes capital punishment.
  • From 2267 of the Catechism

Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor. If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity to the dignity of the human person. Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically nonexistent.

United Methodist Church

• The United Methodist Church Stands Opposed to Capital Punishment in all Cases

We believe the death penalty denies the power of Christ to redeem, restore and transform all human beings. The United Methodist Church is deeply concerned about crime throughout the world and the value of any life taken by a murder or homicide. We believe all human life is sacred and created by God and therefore, we must see all human life as significant and valuable. When governments implement the death penalty (capital punishment), then the life of the convicted person is devalued and all possibility of change in that person’s life ends. We believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and that the possibility of reconciliation with Christ comes through repentance. This gift of reconciliation is offered to all individuals without exception and gives all life new dignity and sacredness. For this reason, we oppose the death penalty (capital punishment) and urge its elimination from all criminal codes. ^[3]

General Association of Regular Baptists

• The GARBC does not have an actual statement on capital punishment. However, in an FAQ section of the Baptist Bulletin they do state:

Capital punishment is biblical, and Bible-believing Christians must uphold it in prayer and let their voices be heard in opposition to attacks on it. God decreed capital punishment immediately after the worldwide flood of Noah’s day. Genesis 9:6 records this decree: “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.” One can search diligently, but there is no record whatsoever that God withdrew or abrogated His decree. This decree is to be carried out through the agency of human government, which has the God-given authority to try the accused, to determine guilt, and to punish the guilty (Acts 25:11; 1 Peter 2:13, 14). The “sword” in Romans 13:4 is synonymous with capital punishment; the government can use the maximum extent of the law for those who would take the life of another.^[4]

Evangelical Luther Church America

• The ELCA has a lengthy discussion of the death penalty. It appears that an overall summary of the view is given in the following quote:

  The Death Penalty stands in the Lutheran tradition recognizing that God entrusts the state with the power to take human life when failure to do so constitutes a clear danger to the common good. Never-the-less, it expresses ELCA opposition to the use of the death penalty, one that grows out of ministry with and to people affected by violent crime. The statement acknowledges the existence of different points of view within the church and society on this question and the need for continued deliberation, but it objects to the use of the death penalty because it is not used fairly and has failed to make society safer. The practice of using the death penalty in contemporary society undermines any possible alternate moral message since the primary message conveyed by an execution is one of brutality and violence. This social statement was adopted by the 1991 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. ^[5]

The Southern Baptist Convention

• The Southern Baptist Convention Supports the Death penalty and has adopted a resolution holding this position ^[6].

War

Stances

When it comes to war, people essentially fall into one of three categories: activism, pacifism, and selectivism.

• An activist essentially argues that all war is permissible if the war is sanctioned by a government. In other words, no matter the reason, if the country goes to war, then activist will support that war. Can you think of any circumstances that demonstrate activism is wrong?
  • The Germans in WWII should have opposed Hitler and his war. Hitler strove to eliminate an entire people something that is clearly in opposition to God.

• A pacifist argues that war is wrong in all circumstances. What are some examples of God ordained wars in the Bible?
  • Against Midian in Numbers 31:2
  • Joshua's conquest of Canaan in Deuteronomy 20:16-17
  • Christ's war at the end of the tribulation in Revelation 19:11-21

• A selectivist will argue that some circumstances warrant going to war and are justified. What are some examples of wars that you believe were just wars?

Government or Church

The church is not the government and the government is not the church. Misunderstanding this fact has led people to all sorts of ideas that cause problems. In fact, most of the answers to the interpretation questions that follow in this section involve the difference between the government and the church.

What does the Bible say?

• What are we commanded to do in Matthew 5:44-45?
  • We are commanded to love our enemies.

• What should characterize a Christian according to Mark 10:42-43?
  • We should be servants and have a servant's attitude.

• According to Micah 4:1-4, what is the ultimate destiny for our weapons of war?

• How do James and John respond to a city that rejects Christ in Luke 9:51-54?
  • In response to rejection James and John ask Christ if they can call for the complete destruction of the city.

• How does Jesus respond to their request in verse 55?
  • Jesus rebuked the disciples for this request.

Interpreting the Bible

• If we summarize all the statements above we see that we are commanded to be loving individuals who are willing to sacrifice our rights looking forward to a day when we will no longer need weapons of war. Does this mean we should universally reject our government's wars?
  • No! These are commands given to Christians as part of the church. The Church should be loving and willing to serve but the Church is not the government. God, in His wisdom, established different entities for different purposes.

Conclusion

War is a horrible thing and a terrible experience for the people who have to go through war. God in His wisdom has entrusted the responsibility for war to the governments that He has established. When we consider war we must separate the role of government from the role of church.

Civil Disobedience

Civil disobedience is defined as "failure or refusal to cooperate specifically: refusal through civil disobedience of a people to cooperate with the government of a country" ^[7]

Two Ends of a Spectrum?

• One possible answer to the question of "should a Christian be involved in civil disobedience?" is that every Christians should completely remove themselves from any association with the government. In other words, separate completely. Is this a biblical perspective?
  • In Luke 3:12-14 two government employees approach Jesus and seek His direction. What is interesting is that Jesus does not ask either of them to leave their government post. It would seem that Christians are not required to completely separate themselves from the government.

• Does this mean that Christians should be involved in acts of civil disobedience?
  • This is the question we wish to pursue.

A Biblical Perspective

• What are Christians commanded to do in Romans 13:1-7?
  • Submit to all lawful authority

• Are there circumstances where a Christian should not follow the rules of the government?
  • In Acts 5:29 Peter and John clearly teach that "We ought to obey God rather than man."

• Are there any other instances where a Christian can stand against the government?
  • The Bible also provides another instance where a Christian can stand up against the government. In Acts 16:35-40 Paul and Silas are illegally beaten and imprisoned. The leaders of the city try to cover up their crime by asking Paul to leave silently. Paul insists that the rulers come themselves and essentially apologize. It appears that a Christian may have a recourse when the leaders themselves are committing a crime.

Applications

• What are some examples of real life situations in which a Christian should employ civil disobedience?

• Are there examples of real life situations in which a Christian should not employ civil disobedience even though others may be employing civil disobedience?

Decisions

• If I find myself in a position where civil disobedience is justified and I decide to disobey, what are the risks?
  • The Bible provides examples of when civil disobedience may be permitted. However, 1 Peter 4:12–19 clearly teaches that there may be punishment for the choice to disobey the government and the Christian must be willing to submit to that punishment.

1. ↑ R. C. Sproul, How Should I Live in This World?, vol. 5, The Crucial Questions Series (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2009), 71.
2. ↑ R. C. Sproul, How Should I Live in This World?, vol. 5, The Crucial Questions Series (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2009), 74–75.
3. ↑ http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/political-community
4. ↑ http://baptistbulletin.org/the-baptist-bulletin-magazine/questions-about-the-death-penalty/
5. ↑ https://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Statements/Death-Penalty
6. ↑ http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?Id=6002
7. ↑ Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).
8. ↑ Bauder K., Civic Responsibility and Civil Disobedience, Baptist Bulletin