Issues: Crime and Punishment

FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness is an important key concept for Christians when looking at the issue of punishment.

Christians believe that all people are sinners and go against the will of God. All people fall short of God's standards. Christians believe that God became human, in the form of Jesus and died on the cross as a sacrifice for us (an atonement for our sins). It is because of Jesus' death and resurrection that Christians believe that humans can have their sins forgiven. Even the criminal can receive God's forgiveness if he/she is sorry and repents (admits he/she is wrong and intends to change). Christians believe if a person (even the most hardened criminal) allows the Holy Spirit into his/her life, he/she will be transformed to be more like Christ (see Romans chapter 12 verse 2). For the Christian, there is always hope that the criminal could be reformed or rehabilitated. Therefore the punishment meted out to criminals should allow for the possibility that they could reform.

Also, Christians note that Jesus mixed with people thought of as "sinners", for example prostitutes. Jesus didn't think it was important what people had done in the past. What was important to him was that people changed their ways. He says in Matthew chapter 9 verse 13: "I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough."

Many Christians believe that they should help criminals and get involved trying to help them in the same way as Jesus got involved with those on the outskirts of society.

In the Lord's Prayer, a prayer Christians say regularly today, Jesus taught His disciples to pray "for those who sin against us".

Christians are to forgive those who have wronged them. In another passage in the New Testament, Jesus tells his followers to "Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" (Matthew chapter 5 verse 44)

Christians believe they are called to forgive people whatever they have done. Bitterness and the inability to forgive can destroy a person from the inside. Christians believe we can forgive others because God has forgiven us.

So, Christians believe criminals can be forgiven and can change their life with the help of God's power. They also believe that they should forgive those who have wronged them.