Dear Lin

It was lovely to have coffee with you last week. You were asking me whether I thought capital punishment was 'Christian'. I didn't answer you very well at the time but have thought a lot about it since thought and decided to send you my thoughts on paper. I think capital punishment is not Christian.

In the Old Testament, in the teachings that the Jews followed before Jesus, it does say 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth' (look it up in Leviticus chapter 24 verse 20 if you wish - or read Exodus chapter 21 verses 12-26). The principle was a life for a life, no more, no less. Capital punishment was the sentence for certain crimes. However, in the New Testament, Jesus gave us some new guidelines that override the old principles of the Old Testament. In Matthew chapter 5 verses 38-48 Jesus suggests that we should not retaliate when someone wrongs us. Matthew chapter 5 verse 43 says 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.' Loving our enemies can never involve killing them even as a punishment.

Jesus died and rose again so that all our sins can be forgiven. The possibility of forgiveness, I believe is there for all people, even those who have committed the very worst crimes. In John chapter 8 verses 1-11, a woman was brought to Jesus who was just about to be killed by stoning for committing adultery. Jesus told the crowd 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.' Everyone realised that they too had fallen short of God's requirements and the woman was not stoned. Jesus then told the woman 'Go and sin no more.' He made it clear that what she had done was wrong but obviously believed she had the capacity for reforming herself. As Christians, we should follow Jesus' example. Reforming the criminal should be central to any punishment. Capital Punishment takes away the possibility of the criminal reforming and receiving God's forgiveness.

Also, it is only God who has the right to give and take life. When we make that decision we are playing God and that is wrong.

Life imprisonment means that society is protected, the criminal is being punished and it allows for the reform of the criminal. I encourage you to vote for the abolition of capital punishment.

Yours,

Give M. Chance