Is it morally and ethically wrong to support the death penalty?
Well what does the Bible say? And did he outline a method to protect the
innocent?
The penalty for murder was death.
Genesis 9:6 "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood
be shed: for in the image of God made he man."
The death decree was God's decree, and if we are to live in the Lord we are
to keep and walk in his ways.
Leviticus 18:4 "Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine
ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God. Ye shall therefore
keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in
them: I am the Lord."
Judges were authorized to decide the fate of the accused based on the facts
heard.
Deuteronomy 16:18 "Judges and officers shalt thou make thee
in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy
tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Thou
shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a
gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of
the righteous. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou
mayest live, and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
The law provided curbs against corruption just as it does today.
Deuteronomy 19:15 "One witness shall not rise up against a man
for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth
of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be
established. If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against
him that which is wrong; Then both the men, between whom the controversy is,
shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall
be in those days; And the judges shall make diligent inquisition:
and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely
against his brother; Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have
done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. And
those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more
any such evil among you.And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall
go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for
foot."
It was Paul who reminded Christians to be obedient to the authorities
Romans 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.
For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and
they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers (authorities)
are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be
afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of
the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do
that which is evil, be afraid; for he (authorities)beareth
not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to
execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."
Most importantly, judgment was to be carried out swiftly
Ezra 7:26 "And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and
the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it
be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to
imprisonment."