WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.960
 Okay, folks, good to see so many of you here.

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 My name's Tom Schmidt.

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 Welcome to Trinity Baptist Church's Adult Sunday School.

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 We are in the midst of a series talking about Christianity and life,

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 if I'm not mistaken, also after that.

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 Why don't we open in prayer, and then we'll begin.

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 Father in heaven, we thank you for this opportunity to come together,

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 to hear from your word, to hear from your wisdom.

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 Lord, we know that you commanded us, thou shalt not murder.

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 And Lord, we hold that command dearly,

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 and we ask that you would give us wisdom about what that means.

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 In all circumstances and in all ways,

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 in extreme circumstances and in everyday circumstances.

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 We pray that you would illuminate us, give us understanding,

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 and that you would guide us in our time this hour together.

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 And we pray this in the mighty name of Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So, like I said, today we'll be talking about capital punishment.

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 Capital punishment, it's the technical term for the death penalty.

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 This is when someone who's convicted of, in this day and age, a terrible crime,

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 is actually put to death legally by the state.

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 Most countries have abolished this practice.

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 The United States remains, though, a minority who still holds to the practice of capital punishment.

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 This used to be the norm.

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 You know, you go back even 100 years ago, 200 years ago,

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 and capital punishment was all over the place.

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 And sometimes people were executed for what we would consider extremely minor crimes.

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 But that's not really the case today, especially in the United States.

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 But still, I just wanted to give you some statistics.

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 I found in my quick internet research that since the 1970s, in the United States,

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 1,641 men and women have been executed in the United States.

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 Typically, it's a little bit less than 30 people a year.

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 Last year, it was about one every other week is being executed in the United States.

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 But this varies by state.

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 Connecticut does not have the death penalty.

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 There's some states that do have it but effectively don't use it.

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 And then there are a few states that use it quite a bit.

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 So most of these are coming from a handful of states.

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 This brings up a question, though, that I know you're all thinking about is,

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 what should Christians do regarding the death penalty and capital punishment?

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 What is our role?

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 What does the Bible have to say about it?

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 Is this something that is permissible but should be avoided at all costs?

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 Or is it something that's inherently immoral and wicked no matter the circumstance?

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 Or is this just retribution for a heinous crime?

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 Related questions.

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 Does it deter future crime?

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 Does it give respite and relief to the victims?

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 Or is this something that just glorifies violence, is always sinful, is just begetting wrong?

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 Is this something that was maybe allowed under the Old Covenant in the Old Testament?

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 But in the New Covenant, in the New Testament, should always be held as immoral.

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 This morning, I'm going to try to chart out as well as I can two different perspectives on capital punishment, on the death penalty.

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 So we'll be doing sort of like a dialectic point-counterpoint kind of thing.

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 This is in part because, this is a very hard question, Christians have traditionally, there's two main camps.

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 And these camps, and I don't want to say pro-death penalty because that means like people are rooting for it.

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 I guess what I mean is like it's permissible versus it's never permissible.

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 And these two camps go way back in the church.

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 Even to very, very early church times, there's been these two different ideas.

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 So I'm going to try to present these two sides as well as I can for you.

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 And we're going to first look at biblical passages and what the Bible has to say.

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 Then we'll consider some philosophical and theoretical objections to both sides.

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 Some things that people often bring up.

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 And then we will try and draw some lessons that we all can take, regardless of where we happen to fall.

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 Some lessons that we can draw from this debate over capital punishment and the value of a human life.

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 Sound good?

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 Okay.

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 Let's get started.

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 The first time God directly addresses, I guess I could say the second time.

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 We'll get to that first passage in a little bit.

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 But the first time that God directly addresses something that might be explicitly related to capital punishment is in Genesis 9, 6.

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 And this is after the flood of Noah.

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 Noah and God is giving Noah and his family permission to eat from the fruit of the earth and also from wild animals.

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 And God says this,

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 Whoever sheds the blood of man by man shall his blood be shed.

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 For God made man in his own image.

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 This feels like a very broad statement about the value of human life.

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 That if someone were to kill another person, that person is made in God's image.

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 And that the person who committed that crime should also have their blood shed.

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 At least that's how some people interpret the passage.

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 So for those who are on the sort of capital punishment is permissible,

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 they go to this verse as a foundational verse.

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 Because it's before the Mosaic Law.

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 Some people hold those kinds of commands in even higher esteem.

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 It's pre-Old Covenant.

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 And it seems to be sanctioning the taking of someone's life if they have taken another person's life unjustly.

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 There is, though, some pushback to this.

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 If you are familiar with Old Testament commands like this and discussions like this,

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 this also could just simply be read as a proverbial saying.

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 That, yeah, I mean, if you go around killing people, you're probably going to get killed.

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 That's how other people interpret this.

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 That this is what goes around comes around.

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 And there are biblical cases where there are statements like this that should be interpreted in a proverbial sense.

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 But there are some other passages that also help contextualize this.

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 One is controversial in its own, in a different way, which I'll talk about in a moment.

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 But some people point to John chapter 8.

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 This is a famous story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery.

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 And I just want to read it.

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 I'm sure you're familiar with it.

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 But I want to read this because it's so powerful.

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 This is in John chapter 8.

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 Early in the morning, Jesus came again to the temple and all the people came to him.

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 And he sat down and taught them.

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 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery.

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 And placing her in the midst, they said to him,

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 Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.

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 Now, in the law of Moses, he commanded us to stone such a woman.

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 What do you say?

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 This they said to test Jesus that they might have some ground to bring against him.

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 Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

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 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them,

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 Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.

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 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.

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 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones.

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 And Jesus was left alone with a woman.

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 And Jesus stood up and said to her,

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 Woman, where are they?

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 Has no one condemned you?

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 And she said, No one, Lord.

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 And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you.

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 Go, and from now on, sin no more.

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 Here we have a woman who is charged with a capital crime.

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 And Jesus seems to forgive her.

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 And he's even put on the spot where they're trying to get him to condemn her to death.

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 And he refuses.

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 He doesn't say that what she did was okay.

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 He says, Go and sin no more.

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 He clearly thinks that adultery is wrong.

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 So some people go to this verse to show that Jesus did not approve of the death penalty.

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 As I said, we're going to be going point, counterpoint, point, counterpoint throughout this class.

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 So there is some responses to this.

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 One is that this, of course, does not have to do with murder, like Genesis 9-6 spoke of.

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 It has to do with adultery.

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 And then secondly, there is also that question, as some of you might know,

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 of whether this story should be in the New Testament.

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 Usually in our Bibles, it's bracketed because some manuscripts omit it.

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 We can talk more about that if you're interested.

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 I think the best way to interpret this story is that there is some evidence that Jesus actually did do something very much like this.

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 And regardless if it was in the Gospel of John or not, it's something Jesus actually did.

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 So we still can learn from this.

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 We could talk more about that.

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 But there's a second counterpoint to this Genesis 9-6 passage.

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 And that is even earlier in Genesis.

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 This is in Genesis chapter 4 with Cain and Abel.

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 And that terrible story.

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 Cain and Abel, they're the children of Adam and Eve.

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 And Cain is jealous of Abel and he kills him.

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 Matt.

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 I just wanted to say another counterpoint on the woman taken in adultery.

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 Is that just like Jesus said on another occasion,

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 who made me judge over you with regard to inheritance?

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 That Jesus was not in a judicial position.

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 And that often people were trying to push him.

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 That's good.

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 Yes.

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 In a way that he was told to do.

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 That's a good point.

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 We're going to touch on that later on.

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 That idea that some people will bring up is that there's a big difference between your role as a regular Christian in the world

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 compared to if you're appointed in a political office.

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 And Matt, you're getting at that.

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 That Jesus could have one interpretation of John 8 is that Jesus was not in a position of political power.

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 And so he was like, I don't have authority over this matter.

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 Okay.

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 So a counterpoint to Genesis 9-6 is that Cain murders his brother Abel unjustly.

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 And God, of course, knows about this.

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 And in Genesis 4, verse 9,

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 the Lord says to Cain,

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 Where is Abel your brother?

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 And Cain said,

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 I do not know.

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 Am I my brother's keeper?

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 And the Lord said,

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 What have you done?

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 The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.

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 So we have that blood was shed.

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 Genesis 9-6 says the blood of Cain should be shed.

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 What does God do?

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 Well, he says,

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 Cursed are you from the ground which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

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 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength.

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 You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.

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 And Cain said to the Lord,

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 My punishment is greater than I can bear.

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 You've driven me today away from the ground.

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 And from your face I shall be hidden.

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 I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.

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 And whoever finds me will kill me.

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 And then the Lord says,

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 Not so.

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 If anyone kills Cain,

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 vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.

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 And the Lord put a mark on Cain,

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 lest any who found him should attack him.

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 And Cain went away from the presence of the Lord

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 and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

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 God doesn't kill Cain.

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 He has mercy on him.

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 And Cain is actually worried other people will kill him.

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 And God says,

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 No, no, that's not going to happen.

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 I'm going to put this mark on you.

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 Sometimes we hear that term mark of Cain.

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 It's used in a very negative sense.

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 But it looks like it's a protective mark on Cain.

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 At least that's one way to interpret it.

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 So I hope you see the counterpoint going on here.

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 Is that an example of murder,

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 the first murder that's quite near the passage in Genesis,

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 the actual execution is not carried out.

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 We've got more verses to go through, folks.

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 Another one is Exodus chapter 21.

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 This is in the Mosaic law,

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 when Moses is giving commandments to the Israelites.

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 Exodus 21 verses 14 through 24.

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 The law, the Mosaic law says,

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 If a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning,

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 you shall take him from my altar that he may die.

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 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

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 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

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 That phrase, you shall take him from my altar,

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 what that meant is that in the ancient world,

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 people, altars, holy places,

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 sanctuaries were viewed as areas where you could go and receive reprieve,

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 where if you were convicted of a crime or if someone was hunting you,

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 you could go into this sanctuary and stay there,

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 and people couldn't harm you.

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 And people apparently would try to do this in God's temple.

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 And what God says here is that if someone willfully attacks another person

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 to kill that person by cunning,

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 then you are even allowed to drag him away from my altar

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 in order to put him to death.

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 That's what the purport of the law seems to be.

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 And then it emphasizes several verses later

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 that the standard of God's justice is this eye for eye,

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 tooth for tooth kind of manner,

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 that the punishment should fit the crime, so to speak.

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 If you murder someone, you should have your life taken.

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 Well, that does seem very clear

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 about how capital punishment is permissible.

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 But then we come to Jesus again.

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 Jesus shows up again.

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 This is the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapter 5.

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 If you have never read the Sermon on the Mount

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 with an eye towards the Ten Commandments

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 or to the Book of the Law, please do so

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 because you'll see Jesus constantly hearkening back

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 to the Ten Commandments and other policies in the Mosaic Law.

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 And he sort of expands upon these principles.

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 And in the Sermon on the Mount, he said this,

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 you have heard that it was said,

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 an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

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 He's quoting from that passage we just read.

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 But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil.

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 If anyone slaps you on the right cheek,

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 turn to him the other also.

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 If anyone would sue you and take your tunic,

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 let him have your cloak as well.

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 If anyone forces you to go one mile,

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 go with him two miles.

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 Give to the one who begs from you

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 and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

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 Those who oppose the death penalty

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 point to this verse as answering this one.

00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:17.579
 And they will often argue that this was part of the Old Covenant.

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:19.159
 It is not part of the New Covenant.

00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:23.880
 That Christians are called to surpass those things.

00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:27.259
 And in fact, if we keep reading what Jesus has to say,

00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:28.740
 he says, you've heard that it was said,

00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:31.580
 you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:35.080
 But I say to you, love your enemies

00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:36.920
 and pray for those who persecute you

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:39.680
 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:42.340
 For if you love those who love you,

00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.680
 what reward do you have?

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:46.180
 Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:51.440
 Now, Jesus was not talking about eye for eye

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.400
 or tooth for tooth here,

00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:55.120
 but we could apply that same logic and say,

00:17:55.600 --> 00:17:58.400
 doesn't the nations run after the death penalty?

00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:00.240
 Shouldn't Christians be beyond that?

00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:02.279
 Shouldn't we love people more than that

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:05.940
 and not put people to death

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:07.140
 because they're in God's image,

00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.320
 because we recognize that?

00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:12.440
 We're going to continue with our point

00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:13.720
 and counterpoint here.

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:16.860
 Thus far, we've been talking about

00:18:16.860 --> 00:18:18.960
 some Old Testament passages

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:23.960
 that appear, at least from some perspectives,

00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:25.819
 to support capital punishment,

00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.960
 to support the death penalty.

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.440
 And we've been looking at

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:30.700
 two New Testament passages from Jesus

00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:33.059
 that have some pushback to that

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:34.980
 and then another Old Testament passage

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:37.120
 that provides some pushback to this.

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:39.400
 Now we're going to switch things

00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:42.180
 and we're going to look at

00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:43.280
 a New Testament passage

00:18:43.280 --> 00:18:45.360
 that seems to support capital punishment

00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:46.519
 and then we'll look at

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.400
 an Old Testament passage

00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.240
 that seems to not.

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:51.060
 So we'll start in Romans 13.

00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:54.420
 This is Paul's letter to the Romans,

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.420
 chapter 13.

00:18:57.300 --> 00:18:59.560
 This is such a wonderful epistle of Paul

00:18:59.560 --> 00:19:00.900
 and in chapter 13,

00:19:01.040 --> 00:19:04.380
 he starts dispensing some moral advice.

00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:07.680
 The whole letter up to this point

00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.960
 is theological.

00:19:09.320 --> 00:19:10.380
 It's sort of this systematic theology

00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:13.340
 of explaining our salvation in Christ.

00:19:13.620 --> 00:19:14.500
 But towards the end,

00:19:14.860 --> 00:19:18.380
 Paul starts giving some practical exhortations.

00:19:19.520 --> 00:19:20.700
 And he says this,

00:19:20.780 --> 00:19:21.160
 he says,

00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:23.220
 let every person be subject

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:25.380
 to the governing authorities

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:27.180
 for there is no authority

00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:28.200
 except from God

00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:29.640
 and those that exist

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:31.500
 have been instituted by God.

00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.140
 Therefore,

00:19:32.300 --> 00:19:33.600
 whoever resists the authorities

00:19:33.600 --> 00:19:34.980
 resists what God has appointed

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.980
 and those who resist

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:37.519
 will incur judgment.

00:19:38.540 --> 00:19:39.779
 If I pause here for a moment

00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.600
 before continuing,

00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:45.180
 this is an important theological claim,

00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:48.019
 especially when Christians

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.519
 are considering what the role

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:51.359
 of the government is in our lives.

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:53.160
 And Paul says that

00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:54.740
 in some way,

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.539
 human governing authorities

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:58.000
 have been appointed by God

00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:00.579
 and we are to submit to them

00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:02.559
 and not resist them.

00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.779
 Now, this brings up

00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:05.139
 all sorts of other questions

00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:06.740
 about unjust government

00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:08.099
 that we're not talking about

00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:08.700
 in this class,

00:20:08.879 --> 00:20:09.960
 but let's continue.

00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:12.019
 Paul explains,

00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:13.519
 for rulers are not a terror

00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.420
 to good conduct,

00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:15.440
 but to bad.

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:17.119
 Would you have no fear

00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:18.359
 of the one who is in authority?

00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.460
 Then do what is good.

00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:21.379
 And you will receive his approval.

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.539
 For he,

00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:24.019
 the governing authority,

00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:25.220
 is God's servant

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:26.539
 for your good.

00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:28.299
 But if you do wrong,

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.299
 be afraid.

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:31.859
 For he does not bear

00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:33.539
 the sword in vain.

00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:35.819
 For he is the servant of God,

00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:36.680
 an avenger,

00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:38.359
 who carries out God's wrath

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.460
 on the wrongdoer.

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.420
 Therefore,

00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:41.539
 one,

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.160
 the Christian,

00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.720
 must be in subjection

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.420
 to the government,

00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:46.440
 not only to avoid God's wrath,

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.420
 but also for the sake

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.119
 of conscience.

00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:49.579
 For because of this,

00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:50.679
 you also pay taxes.

00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.919
 For the authorities

00:20:51.919 --> 00:20:53.479
 are ministers of God,

00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:55.079
 attending to this very thing.

00:20:56.219 --> 00:20:57.000
 And he concludes,

00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:58.519
 pay to all what is owed to them,

00:20:58.639 --> 00:21:00.139
 taxes to whom taxes are owed,

00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:01.679
 revenue to whom revenue is owed,

00:21:02.219 --> 00:21:03.679
 respect to whom respect is owed,

00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:05.179
 honor to whom honor is owed.

00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:07.900
 This passage brings up

00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:08.759
 a lot of questions

00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:10.720
 about how we are to engage

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.360
 with the government.

00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:11.940
 What do we do

00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.980
 with an unjust government?

00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:13.539
 What do we do

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.420
 when we're in a democracy

00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:15.720
 where we somehow elect

00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.360
 our officials?

00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:17.400
 How does this all relate?

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.880
 These are great questions,

00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:19.980
 but they're beyond the scope

00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.940
 of our class today.

00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:22.600
 We are focusing

00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:24.340
 just on capital punishment.

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:25.920
 And this comes up

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.779
 in verse four,

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:28.100
 where Paul says,

00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:29.339
 the governing authority

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:30.359
 is God's servant

00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:31.500
 for your good,

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:33.159
 but if you do wrong,

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.819
 be afraid,

00:21:33.959 --> 00:21:35.659
 for he does not bear

00:21:35.659 --> 00:21:37.480
 the sword in vain.

00:21:38.639 --> 00:21:40.000
 That phrase,

00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.639
 bearing the sword in vain,

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.379
 is old time talk

00:21:43.379 --> 00:21:44.799
 for the death penalty.

00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:47.000
 That's what the Romans did.

00:21:47.419 --> 00:21:48.019
 And believe me,

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:48.959
 if you know ancient history,

00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:50.439
 the Romans loved killing people.

00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:52.379
 They killed a lot of people.

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.419
 They did it for fun.

00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:55.080
 They literally did it for fun

00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:56.560
 in the gladiatorial contests.

00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:58.200
 You could be executed

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.100
 for quite a bit of,

00:21:59.100 --> 00:22:00.560
 a lot of things.

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.360
 And Paul says,

00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:04.080
 they don't bear the sword in vain.

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:06.440
 People point to this passage.

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.600
 Those who argue

00:22:07.600 --> 00:22:08.900
 in favor of the death penalty

00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:10.740
 point to this passage

00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.660
 that Paul here

00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.759
 is sanctioning

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:15.900
 the use of capital punishment,

00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:17.960
 but only from

00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.920
 the civil authorities,

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.980
 not from the church,

00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:21.700
 not from personal vendettas,

00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:24.559
 not from a Christian perspective

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.380
 in the sense of you

00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:26.779
 acting in the name of Christ,

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:28.819
 but only if you are appointed

00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:30.880
 into some kind of

00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:32.500
 governing role

00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.360
 that gives you

00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:34.600
 that sort of permission.

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:36.799
 This gets at Matt's comment earlier,

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:39.120
 where there's some perspectives

00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:39.620
 on Jesus,

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.880
 is that Jesus was not

00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:42.559
 in that civil authority,

00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:43.880
 and that's why he eschewed,

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:45.799
 he eschewed the death penalty.

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.120
 Well,

00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:50.900
 interesting argument.

00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:52.840
 make some good points,

00:22:52.840 --> 00:22:54.580
 but let's go

00:22:54.580 --> 00:22:56.220
 to another passage.

00:22:56.320 --> 00:22:58.519
 This time in the Old Testament.

00:22:59.040 --> 00:23:00.019
 This is Isaiah

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:01.800
 chapter 2,

00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:05.040
 and this is a prophecy

00:23:05.040 --> 00:23:07.060
 about what is to come

00:23:07.060 --> 00:23:07.920
 in the latter days.

00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:09.860
 Isaiah says,

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:12.000
 It shall come to pass

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.859
 in the latter days

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:14.159
 that the mountain

00:23:14.159 --> 00:23:14.939
 of the house of the Lord

00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:15.719
 shall be established

00:23:15.719 --> 00:23:17.199
 as the highest of the hills,

00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.740
 and shall be lifted up

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.459
 above the hills,

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:21.240
 and all the nations

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.879
 shall flow to it,

00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:24.019
 and many peoples

00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.879
 shall come and say,

00:23:24.979 --> 00:23:25.219
 Come,

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.240
 let us go up

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.240
 to the mountain of the Lord,

00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:27.859
 to the house

00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.719
 of the God of Jacob,

00:23:28.719 --> 00:23:29.699
 that he may teach us

00:23:29.699 --> 00:23:30.219
 his ways,

00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.559
 and that we may walk

00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.379
 in his paths.

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.359
 For out of Zion

00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:35.259
 shall go forth

00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:35.919
 the law

00:23:35.919 --> 00:23:37.419
 and the word of the Lord

00:23:37.419 --> 00:23:38.199
 from Jerusalem.

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:40.059
 He shall judge

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.920
 between the nations

00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:42.700
 and shall decide disputes

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.500
 for many peoples,

00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:45.299
 and they shall beat

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:46.240
 their swords

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:48.620
 into plowshares

00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:50.519
 and their spears

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.900
 into pruning hooks.

00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:53.279
 And nations

00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.120
 shall not lift up

00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:55.240
 sword against nation,

00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:56.039
 neither shall they

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:58.080
 learn war anymore.

00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:01.860
 This is this

00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:03.400
 beautiful prophecy

00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:05.299
 of the end times

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:07.819
 when Christ returns,

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.360
 some people also

00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:09.900
 interpret this

00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:10.900
 as the age of the church

00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:11.640
 when all people

00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:12.140
 are streaming

00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:13.140
 towards the God of Israel

00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:14.160
 like we see today.

00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:16.600
 And it's a beautiful passage,

00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:18.380
 and what is the marker

00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:21.080
 of this end time

00:24:21.080 --> 00:24:21.840
 is when the law

00:24:21.840 --> 00:24:22.299
 of the Lord

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.059
 goes forth

00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:24.000
 and what happens?

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.900
 People beat their swords

00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.960
 into plowshares.

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:28.200
 They take their weapons

00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:28.860
 and they turn them

00:24:28.860 --> 00:24:29.480
 into implements

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.920
 for harvest

00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:32.580
 and for getting fruit

00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:33.299
 from the land.

00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:34.180
 Plowshares,

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.559
 of course,

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:37.259
 are those pieces

00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:37.740
 of metal

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.319
 and plows

00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.299
 that furrow

00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:39.779
 the land

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.960
 so you can plant crops

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.440
 and grow

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.399
 and feed people.

00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:45.559
 And people point

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.559
 to this saying,

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.159
 okay,

00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:49.399
 what we should be

00:24:49.399 --> 00:24:50.220
 aiming for

00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:52.019
 is not living

00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:53.299
 in this fallen world.

00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:55.159
 We should be aiming

00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:56.579
 for this kind of world

00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.179
 that Isaiah

00:24:57.179 --> 00:24:58.319
 is talking about.

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.220
 And that's what

00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.179
 Christians should be

00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:00.839
 living for

00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:01.519
 and living in

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:03.639
 because we live

00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:04.700
 in this sort of

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:06.200
 here but not yet

00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:07.619
 stage of life

00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:08.359
 where we should be

00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:09.279
 trying to bring

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.099
 the kingdom of God

00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:10.700
 on earth

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:12.420
 and a marker

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:13.279
 of that is beating

00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:13.819
 our swords

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.579
 into plowshares.

00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.940
 So we should not

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:17.019
 be party

00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:18.299
 to bearing the sword

00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:18.920
 in vengeance

00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:19.920
 against people

00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:21.759
 even if we are

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.440
 part of the civil

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.220
 authorities

00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:24.759
 is how the argument

00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:26.220
 goes.

00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.139
 Okay.

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:33.160
 Before I turn

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:34.579
 to some

00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:37.079
 thoughts,

00:25:38.139 --> 00:25:39.240
 philosophical

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:39.819
 reflections

00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.420
 and theological

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:40.879
 reflections

00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:41.900
 on these sort

00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.319
 of points

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:43.240
 and counterpoints,

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.480
 let me pause

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.240
 and just see

00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.819
 if there's any

00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:48.019
 questions

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:49.099
 before we turn

00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:49.559
 the page

00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:51.119
 and go.

00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:51.379
 Richard.

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:53.299
 So in a general

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.759
 way,

00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.980
 a more general

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.240
 way,

00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:55.639
 I think

00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:56.779
 the saying

00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.519
 of Jesus,

00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.839
 the one saying

00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:00.439
 apparently

00:26:00.439 --> 00:26:02.459
 that the liberals

00:26:02.459 --> 00:26:04.459
 think is authentic

00:26:04.459 --> 00:26:08.299
 give back to Caesar

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:09.279
 what belongs

00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:09.899
 to Caesar

00:26:09.899 --> 00:26:10.939
 and to God

00:26:10.939 --> 00:26:11.500
 what belongs

00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.079
 to God

00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:14.179
 has a bearing

00:26:14.179 --> 00:26:15.000
 on this subject

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.279
 too.

00:26:15.399 --> 00:26:16.199
 Though Jesus

00:26:16.199 --> 00:26:17.159
 is not talking

00:26:17.159 --> 00:26:18.859
 about the death

00:26:18.859 --> 00:26:19.379
 penalty,

00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.480
 he's talking

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.399
 about the next

00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:23.139
 thing worse

00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:24.119
 to death

00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:24.919
 and that's taxes.

00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:30.080
 Yeah,

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.800
 so Jesus

00:26:30.800 --> 00:26:31.519
 has that

00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.060
 famous

00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:33.580
 passage

00:26:33.580 --> 00:26:34.980
 where he's

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.460
 asked if we

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:35.800
 should pay

00:26:35.800 --> 00:26:36.539
 taxes to Caesar

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:36.860
 and they're

00:26:36.860 --> 00:26:37.240
 trying to

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.660
 catch him

00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.140
 in this

00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:38.940
 because they

00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.300
 know that

00:26:39.300 --> 00:26:39.800
 if he says

00:26:39.800 --> 00:26:40.120
 no,

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:40.519
 they can

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:40.880
 charge him

00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:41.519
 with insurrection

00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.080
 against the

00:26:42.080 --> 00:26:42.320
 Romans.

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.080
 If he says

00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:43.440
 yes,

00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:43.759
 then they

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.560
 can go

00:26:44.560 --> 00:26:45.000
 to all

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.500
 the other

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.400
 common folks

00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:46.720
 and say,

00:26:46.800 --> 00:26:47.120
 look how much

00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:47.440
 he hates

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:47.539
 you,

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:47.860
 he wants

00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:48.019
 you to

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.300
 pay these

00:26:48.300 --> 00:26:48.660
 taxes.

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.080
 Aren't

00:26:49.080 --> 00:26:49.220
 they,

00:26:49.360 --> 00:26:49.700
 isn't he

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:49.980
 terrible?

00:26:50.340 --> 00:26:50.820
 So it's a

00:26:50.820 --> 00:26:51.160
 lose-lose

00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:51.700
 situation.

00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:52.539
 Jesus,

00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:53.480
 classic Jesus,

00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.019
 comes up

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:54.259
 with his

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:54.559
 genius

00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.079
 response

00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:55.599
 where he

00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.099
 has them

00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:56.480
 get a

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:56.839
 coin

00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:57.559
 that shows

00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:57.980
 Caesar's

00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.380
 face and

00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:58.700
 he says,

00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.160
 whose face

00:26:59.160 --> 00:26:59.579
 is this?

00:26:59.880 --> 00:26:59.980
 Well,

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.279
 then give

00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:00.700
 to Caesar

00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:00.980
 what is

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.420
 Caesar's

00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:01.980
 and give

00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.319
 to God

00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:02.539
 what is

00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:02.920
 God's.

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:03.799
 But the

00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.519
 principle

00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.420
 behind that

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.860
 could,

00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:08.279
 could be

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:09.200
 used to

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:09.779
 say,

00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:10.660
 yeah,

00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.140
 the civil

00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:11.500
 authorities

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:11.779
 are in

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.180
 charge of

00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.680
 life and

00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.180
 death and

00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:14.559
 Jesus is

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.240
 giving them

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.819
 that authority.

00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:16.660
 You could

00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.079
 make that

00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.460
 argument.

00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:18.819
 I'm sure

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.500
 people have.

00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:20.319
 This is why

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.740
 this is such

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.240
 a thorny,

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.680
 such a thorny

00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:23.099
 question.

00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:25.940
 Well,

00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:27.160
 let's

00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:28.500
 look at

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.559
 a few

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.019
 things here.

00:27:30.120 --> 00:27:30.759
 One is,

00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:31.380
 I want us

00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:32.000
 to remember

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.779
 that there

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.120
 is a

00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:34.640
 difference

00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:36.140
 between

00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:37.380
 thinking

00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:38.539
 that something

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:40.860
 is illegal

00:27:40.860 --> 00:27:43.019
 and immoral.

00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.079
 immoral.

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.379
 So,

00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:44.980
 it is

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.519
 possible

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.480
 for

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:48.440
 Christians

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:49.299
 to hold

00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:50.000
 a position

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.099
 where they

00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:51.519
 think that

00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.059
 something that

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.779
 is immoral

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:54.339
 should be,

00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.019
 in some

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.700
 circumstances,

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:57.079
 not illegal.

00:27:58.779 --> 00:27:59.539
 That's one

00:27:59.539 --> 00:27:59.839
 thing to

00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.240
 consider.

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:00.579
 So,

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.160
 for instance,

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.460
 lying,

00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.259
 Christians'

00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:03.680
 view is

00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.200
 wrong,

00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:04.960
 but,

00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:06.099
 you know,

00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.039
 do you think

00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.799
 the government

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.379
 should pass a

00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:08.859
 law saying

00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:09.559
 you can never

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:11.440
 lie to a

00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:11.920
 family member

00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:12.220
 or you go

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.779
 to jail,

00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:14.420
 that would,

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:15.860
 most Christians

00:28:15.860 --> 00:28:16.240
 would be like,

00:28:16.320 --> 00:28:16.680
 I don't know if

00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.019
 that should be

00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:17.380
 part of the

00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:17.880
 civil law.

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.799
 You can't lie

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.120
 to the

00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:21.480
 government,

00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:21.799
 though.

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:23.859
 it's true.

00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:25.839
 It's true.

00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:26.500
 So,

00:28:26.659 --> 00:28:29.240
 there is a

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.599
 difference between

00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.059
 something being

00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.559
 illegal and

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.099
 something being

00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:31.680
 immoral.

00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.339
 Those don't

00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:33.379
 necessarily,

00:28:34.419 --> 00:28:34.839
 they're not

00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:35.659
 necessarily

00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:36.619
 inherently linked.

00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.059
 Obviously,

00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.480
 there is a

00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:38.539
 connection between

00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:38.899
 those,

00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.339
 but it's not

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:43.359
 inherent that

00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:44.059
 one follows the

00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.259
 other.

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:47.559
 Another thing

00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:48.659
 to remember

00:28:48.659 --> 00:28:49.720
 is that there

00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.099
 is a difference

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:50.440
 between the

00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:50.859
 church and the

00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:51.159
 state.

00:28:51.840 --> 00:28:51.940
 So,

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.680
 just because

00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.779
 you think the

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.380
 state should be

00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:54.779
 able to do

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.460
 something doesn't

00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:55.980
 mean you think

00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.740
 the church should

00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.420
 be able to do

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.340
 something and

00:28:58.340 --> 00:28:59.680
 vice versa.

00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:00.820
 So,

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.660
 there are people

00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:02.000
 that,

00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:03.019
 and this is

00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.500
 fortunately very

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:04.840
 common,

00:29:05.080 --> 00:29:05.680
 where very few

00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.259
 people think the

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:06.779
 church should put

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.440
 people to death

00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:09.660
 and there are

00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:10.259
 people who think

00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:10.960
 the state should

00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:11.540
 be allowed to,

00:29:11.600 --> 00:29:12.180
 but there's many

00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:13.340
 instances like this

00:29:13.340 --> 00:29:15.140
 where people think

00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:16.100
 something is not

00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:16.940
 the state's business

00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.440
 but it's the

00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.200
 church's business

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:19.040
 and vice versa.

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.360
 So,

00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:19.779
 that's another

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.279
 thing to keep

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:20.620
 in mind.

00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:21.379
 There's a

00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:21.759
 difference between

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.419
 church and state,

00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:23.279
 there's a difference

00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:24.279
 between illegal and

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:24.699
 immoral.

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.099
 Another,

00:29:26.639 --> 00:29:28.719
 another thing to

00:29:28.719 --> 00:29:30.159
 keep in mind is

00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:32.419
 that there's a

00:29:32.419 --> 00:29:33.399
 difference between

00:29:33.399 --> 00:29:35.079
 something that is

00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:37.679
 technically permissible

00:29:37.679 --> 00:29:41.719
 and something that

00:29:41.719 --> 00:29:42.739
 you think should,

00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:45.079
 should just never

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.899
 happen in our day

00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:46.359
 and age.

00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:47.359
 change.

00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:47.559
 So,

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.379
 let me give you an

00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:48.699
 example.

00:29:49.399 --> 00:29:51.659
 It is not

00:29:51.659 --> 00:29:52.559
 contradictory to

00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:53.759
 argue that,

00:29:54.219 --> 00:29:54.439
 yes,

00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.399
 in theory,

00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:57.519
 the death penalty

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.479
 can,

00:29:58.619 --> 00:29:58.899
 there are

00:29:58.899 --> 00:29:59.619
 circumstances where

00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:00.219
 the death penalty

00:30:00.219 --> 00:30:01.699
 could be permissible,

00:30:02.199 --> 00:30:03.639
 but in practice,

00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.779
 it should be illegal

00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:06.519
 in the United States

00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.659
 or in whatever

00:30:07.659 --> 00:30:09.219
 country you have.

00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:13.759
 death penalty is not

00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.539
 a contradictory

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:15.000
 position.

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.839
 You can hold that

00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:16.660
 position where you

00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:17.019
 can think,

00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:17.240
 yes,

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:17.960
 it's not that it's

00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:19.259
 always in every

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.000
 single circumstance

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:21.799
 impermissible or

00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:22.200
 immoral,

00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:23.079
 but I just think it

00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:23.880
 should be illegal in

00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:24.319
 our country.

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:25.900
 So,

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.640
 this is sort of the

00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.519
 reverse of the first

00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.059
 thing I said,

00:30:28.100 --> 00:30:28.980
 that something might

00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:30.559
 be permissible morally,

00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.299
 but you just think it

00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.880
 should be illegal.

00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:32.840
 So,

00:30:33.020 --> 00:30:34.120
 you might think that,

00:30:34.660 --> 00:30:34.960
 yes,

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.460
 the death penalty is

00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.500
 not inherently wrong

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.420
 in all circumstances.

00:30:38.580 --> 00:30:39.740
 I can imagine some

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.700
 extreme circumstances

00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.520
 where it would be okay,

00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:43.020
 but I still think it

00:30:43.020 --> 00:30:43.700
 should be illegal in

00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.060
 this country.

00:30:45.580 --> 00:30:46.020
 That's,

00:30:46.080 --> 00:30:47.340
 that's another valid

00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:48.000
 position.

00:30:50.320 --> 00:30:51.180
 Are you following me

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:51.340
 here?

00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:52.200
 Okay.

00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:53.360
 So,

00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:55.380
 those are some things

00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:55.940
 to keep in mind.

00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:58.000
 What I want to do

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.200
 now,

00:30:58.260 --> 00:30:58.480
 though,

00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:59.980
 is go through

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:01.720
 issues that

00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:02.680
 people have

00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:03.240
 with capital

00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:03.660
 punishment,

00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:04.559
 objections that

00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.299
 they've brought up,

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.360
 and then I want to

00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:07.240
 go through

00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.440
 issues that people

00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:09.079
 have with not

00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:09.700
 having capital

00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.160
 punishment,

00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:10.880
 and issues they

00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:11.339
 have brought up,

00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:11.819
 and then we'll

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.880
 conclude with some

00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:13.740
 lessons for us

00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.559
 as followers of

00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:14.759
 Jesus.

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.059
 So,

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.740
 problems with

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.600
 capital punishment.

00:31:18.860 --> 00:31:19.779
 These are

00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.920
 frequent arguments

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:22.299
 that people make

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:22.660
 who want to

00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:23.380
 abolish the death

00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:23.660
 penalty.

00:31:24.360 --> 00:31:25.460
 One is that

00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:27.160
 it is not

00:31:27.160 --> 00:31:27.740
 an effective

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.319
 deterrent,

00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:29.799
 that many

00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.480
 arguments in

00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:30.880
 favor of the

00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:31.259
 death penalty

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:31.700
 argue that

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.500
 it deters

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.180
 crime,

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.160
 that it

00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:34.840
 frightens

00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:35.400
 criminals,

00:31:36.100 --> 00:31:37.500
 and there

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.440
 is evidence

00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.019
 that it

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.940
 doesn't,

00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:40.680
 and that it

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:41.240
 has no

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.059
 deterring effect,

00:31:42.140 --> 00:31:42.600
 that when people

00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:43.200
 commit crimes,

00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:43.519
 they're not

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.299
 thinking clearly,

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.680
 when they are

00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:46.360
 thinking clearly,

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:47.120
 they're so beyond

00:31:47.120 --> 00:31:47.779
 the pale that

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.380
 they don't care,

00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:49.460
 they're so arrogant

00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:49.960
 they think they'll

00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.799
 never be caught,

00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.100
 and that it's not

00:31:52.100 --> 00:31:52.500
 an effective

00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:53.019
 deterrent.

00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:54.100
 That's one

00:31:54.100 --> 00:31:54.920
 argument against

00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:55.140
 it.

00:31:55.620 --> 00:31:56.519
 Another is

00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:57.360
 inconsistent

00:31:57.360 --> 00:31:58.140
 application.

00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.620
 If you go and

00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:00.080
 you look at

00:32:00.080 --> 00:32:00.600
 death penalty

00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:01.199
 cases,

00:32:01.679 --> 00:32:02.679
 you'll probably

00:32:02.679 --> 00:32:03.439
 be horrified

00:32:03.439 --> 00:32:04.839
 at sometimes

00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:05.599
 when person

00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:06.379
 A gets

00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:06.980
 sentenced to

00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.559
 death for

00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:08.419
 some crime,

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.480
 like they're

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:09.879
 part of a

00:32:09.879 --> 00:32:10.399
 bank robbery

00:32:10.399 --> 00:32:11.199
 that goes bad

00:32:11.199 --> 00:32:11.539
 and their

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.179
 partner kills

00:32:12.179 --> 00:32:12.519
 someone,

00:32:12.619 --> 00:32:13.339
 but then they

00:32:13.339 --> 00:32:13.919
 get sentenced

00:32:13.919 --> 00:32:14.419
 to death

00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:15.039
 because they

00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:16.019
 were considered

00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:16.740
 part of this

00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.419
 murder,

00:32:17.419 --> 00:32:18.240
 versus someone

00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:18.619
 who does

00:32:18.619 --> 00:32:19.299
 something so

00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:19.879
 much worse

00:32:19.879 --> 00:32:20.519
 and gets 20

00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:20.980
 years in prison.

00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:22.460
 And this

00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:24.000
 feels unjust.

00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:24.960
 It feels

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.579
 that it is

00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.000
 not,

00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:27.480
 the weight

00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.440
 of this

00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.360
 is inconsistent

00:32:29.360 --> 00:32:30.460
 and that in

00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:30.819
 order for

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.220
 something to

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:31.720
 be just,

00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.180
 we have to

00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:32.920
 have consistency.

00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:34.940
 So a second

00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.519
 argument is

00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:36.059
 inconsistent

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.880
 application.

00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:39.220
 A third

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:40.460
 argument is

00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:42.460
 racism.

00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:43.759
 That the

00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.339
 United States

00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:45.559
 has a history

00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:46.700
 of racism

00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.400
 and of

00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:47.740
 racist

00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.380
 application

00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:49.200
 of laws

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:50.539
 and you

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:50.900
 can look

00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:51.220
 at the

00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.000
 death penalty

00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.400
 and make

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.140
 arguments that

00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:54.140
 this is still

00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:55.080
 affecting our

00:32:55.080 --> 00:32:55.779
 sentencing of

00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.180
 criminals,

00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:57.620
 that white

00:32:57.620 --> 00:32:58.259
 people get

00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:59.220
 off more

00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.480
 frequently than

00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:02.039
 someone convicted

00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:02.539
 of a similar

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:03.460
 crime who's of

00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:03.860
 a different

00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:04.779
 ethnic group,

00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:05.400
 especially

00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:06.140
 African Americans.

00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:07.620
 So we've

00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:08.180
 got not

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:08.480
 effective

00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:08.960
 deterrent,

00:33:09.319 --> 00:33:09.700
 inconsistent

00:33:09.700 --> 00:33:10.440
 application.

00:33:11.580 --> 00:33:12.319
 We have

00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:13.840
 the racist

00:33:13.840 --> 00:33:14.519
 implications,

00:33:14.840 --> 00:33:15.240
 especially in

00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:15.759
 our country,

00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:17.500
 there's more

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:17.779
 though.

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.599
 One is

00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:19.720
 financial cost.

00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:20.779
 It costs a

00:33:20.779 --> 00:33:21.400
 huge amount

00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:21.839
 of money to

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.180
 put someone

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:22.640
 to death

00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:24.059
 and it's

00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.680
 cheaper to

00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.000
 give them

00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:25.480
 life in

00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:26.900
 prison and

00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:28.839
 that saved

00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:29.480
 money can

00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.000
 go to

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.660
 preventing

00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.539
 further crime

00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:33.160
 or rehabilitating

00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:34.240
 criminals or

00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:35.200
 to the families

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.740
 of victims.

00:33:36.579 --> 00:33:37.420
 That's another

00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:38.619
 argument.

00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:41.220
 Yet another

00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:41.900
 one, that

00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:42.400
 the death

00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:42.920
 penalty

00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:43.819
 inherently

00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:45.079
 glorifies

00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:45.619
 violence.

00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:46.119
 violence.

00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:47.480
 If you

00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:47.819
 have a

00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.220
 violence

00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:49.680
 problem in

00:33:49.680 --> 00:33:50.359
 your society,

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.359
 this argument

00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:51.879
 would say

00:33:51.879 --> 00:33:52.720
 the wrong

00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.480
 solution is

00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:54.220
 more violence.

00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.460
 The better

00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:56.180
 solution is to

00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:57.000
 end violence,

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.099
 to stop

00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:58.839
 doing that.

00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.160
 Notice that

00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:01.839
 this argument

00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:03.099
 is beyond

00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:05.680
 circumstances.

00:34:06.119 --> 00:34:06.680
 This kind

00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.039
 of argument

00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.819
 applies sort

00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.440
 of everywhere

00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.059
 in every

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:09.659
 context.

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.860
 Here's another

00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:13.119
 one, wrong

00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:13.659
 convictions.

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.460
 You can't

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:15.239
 undo a

00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:15.759
 death penalty.

00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:17.139
 Once it's

00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:17.699
 carried out,

00:34:17.799 --> 00:34:18.460
 it's over.

00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:21.659
 And this

00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:22.759
 means that

00:34:22.759 --> 00:34:23.239
 if someone is

00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:23.659
 wrongfully

00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:24.139
 convicted,

00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:24.980
 there is no

00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:25.659
 possible, and

00:34:25.659 --> 00:34:26.039
 then that

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.519
 sentence is

00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:27.139
 carried out,

00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:27.980
 there is no

00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:30.179
 possible retribution

00:34:30.179 --> 00:34:31.199
 or restitution

00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:31.879
 that can be

00:34:31.879 --> 00:34:33.299
 given to that

00:34:33.299 --> 00:34:33.859
 person who

00:34:33.859 --> 00:34:34.379
 suffered that

00:34:34.379 --> 00:34:35.019
 wrong conviction.

00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:35.899
 Typically,

00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:36.559
 people who are

00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:37.239
 wrongly convicted

00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:37.799
 are the most

00:34:37.799 --> 00:34:38.339
 vulnerable,

00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:40.199
 they're disabled,

00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:41.039
 or they don't

00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:41.599
 have financial

00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:42.219
 means to

00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:42.899
 defend their

00:34:42.899 --> 00:34:43.119
 crime.

00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:43.399
 So they're

00:34:43.399 --> 00:34:43.739
 the ones

00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:44.000
 that are

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:44.500
 the most

00:34:44.500 --> 00:34:45.199
 at risk

00:34:45.199 --> 00:34:45.739
 of this

00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:48.679
 kind of wrong

00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:49.199
 done to

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:49.500
 them.

00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:50.699
 And there

00:34:50.699 --> 00:34:51.339
 are cases

00:34:51.339 --> 00:34:51.919
 of this.

00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:53.739
 I'm an

00:34:53.739 --> 00:34:54.379
 ancient historian,

00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.559
 so there's

00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:56.179
 a terrible

00:34:56.179 --> 00:34:57.379
 story that

00:34:57.379 --> 00:34:58.319
 Constantine,

00:34:58.559 --> 00:34:59.139
 the first

00:34:59.139 --> 00:34:59.879
 Christian emperor,

00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:00.879
 his son

00:35:00.879 --> 00:35:01.819
 betrayed him

00:35:01.819 --> 00:35:03.500
 and did

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.519
 something horrible,

00:35:04.779 --> 00:35:05.079
 and so

00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:05.859
 Constantine had

00:35:05.859 --> 00:35:06.719
 his own son

00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:07.679
 executed and

00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:08.299
 then found out

00:35:08.299 --> 00:35:08.899
 later that his

00:35:08.899 --> 00:35:09.299
 son was

00:35:09.299 --> 00:35:09.739
 innocent.

00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:11.719
 Horrible,

00:35:11.859 --> 00:35:12.299
 horrible thing.

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:14.000
 And that

00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:14.639
 has happened

00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:16.019
 in modern

00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:16.980
 times.

00:35:18.339 --> 00:35:19.139
 Okay,

00:35:19.419 --> 00:35:20.079
 another argument.

00:35:21.399 --> 00:35:22.399
 The death

00:35:22.399 --> 00:35:24.579
 penalty does

00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:26.579
 not allow

00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:27.739
 for the chance

00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:28.319
 of repentance.

00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:28.939
 It cuts

00:35:28.939 --> 00:35:30.159
 short the

00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:31.159
 ability for

00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:32.599
 the criminal

00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:33.460
 to repent

00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:33.980
 of their

00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:34.460
 wrong.

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:35.919
 And,

00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:37.219
 of course,

00:35:37.359 --> 00:35:37.719
 in the United

00:35:37.719 --> 00:35:38.319
 States,

00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:40.059
 typically,

00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:40.739
 it takes

00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:41.439
 decades,

00:35:41.859 --> 00:35:42.219
 certainly

00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:42.659
 years,

00:35:42.779 --> 00:35:43.279
 but even

00:35:43.279 --> 00:35:43.699
 more than

00:35:43.699 --> 00:35:44.019
 a decade

00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:45.439
 for a

00:35:45.439 --> 00:35:45.899
 death sentence

00:35:45.899 --> 00:35:46.419
 to be carried

00:35:46.419 --> 00:35:46.699
 out.

00:35:46.799 --> 00:35:47.099
 But in

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.619
 other countries,

00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.079
 like in

00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:48.359
 China,

00:35:48.359 --> 00:35:48.799
 it's very

00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:49.079
 quick.

00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:51.379
 And this

00:35:51.379 --> 00:35:51.799
 does not

00:35:51.799 --> 00:35:52.639
 allow for

00:35:52.639 --> 00:35:53.619
 repentance.

00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:54.759
 final argument,

00:35:54.759 --> 00:35:56.819
 final argument,

00:35:57.359 --> 00:35:58.059
 there's a

00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:59.400
 lack of a

00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:00.099
 chance for

00:36:00.099 --> 00:36:00.920
 reconciliation.

00:36:01.299 --> 00:36:01.420
 You're

00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:02.400
 cutting short

00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:03.940
 the ability

00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.639
 for this

00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:05.239
 person to

00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:06.079
 repent of

00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:07.400
 their crime

00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.139
 and to be

00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:09.139
 reconciled with

00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:09.880
 the families

00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:10.539
 of the

00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:10.900
 victim.

00:36:11.900 --> 00:36:12.699
 And there

00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:13.559
 are stories

00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.839
 of the

00:36:14.839 --> 00:36:15.119
 opposite

00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:15.579
 happening.

00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:16.319
 For instance,

00:36:17.099 --> 00:36:18.219
 that serial

00:36:18.219 --> 00:36:18.579
 killer,

00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:19.380
 son of Sam,

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:19.779
 he was like

00:36:19.779 --> 00:36:20.199
 New York City

00:36:20.199 --> 00:36:20.639
 or New Jersey

00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.199
 serial killer,

00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:22.419
 he's in

00:36:22.419 --> 00:36:23.599
 prison for

00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:24.019
 life,

00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:24.599
 he's been in

00:36:24.599 --> 00:36:24.919
 prison for

00:36:24.919 --> 00:36:25.239
 quite some

00:36:25.239 --> 00:36:25.480
 time,

00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:26.299
 apparently has

00:36:26.299 --> 00:36:26.699
 become a

00:36:26.699 --> 00:36:27.019
 Christian.

00:36:28.119 --> 00:36:28.679
 I don't,

00:36:28.939 --> 00:36:29.139
 you know,

00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:29.719
 we can't see

00:36:29.719 --> 00:36:30.359
 people's hearts,

00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.639
 but he

00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:32.480
 apparently has

00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:33.139
 become a

00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:34.719
 Christian and

00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:36.419
 has been

00:36:36.419 --> 00:36:37.099
 reconciled with

00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:38.059
 one of the

00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:38.619
 mothers of

00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.179
 his victims,

00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:41.519
 in large

00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:42.059
 part due to

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:42.960
 his conversion

00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:43.299
 and his

00:36:43.299 --> 00:36:43.599
 repentance.

00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.279
 And that's a

00:36:45.279 --> 00:36:46.039
 beautiful thing.

00:36:46.359 --> 00:36:46.559
 I mean,

00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:47.219
 if that is

00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:47.579
 true,

00:36:47.739 --> 00:36:48.199
 the angels

00:36:48.199 --> 00:36:48.679
 are singing

00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:49.059
 in heaven

00:36:49.059 --> 00:36:49.859
 over that.

00:36:50.439 --> 00:36:51.179
 But if

00:36:51.179 --> 00:36:51.500
 he had

00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.259
 been executed

00:36:52.259 --> 00:36:53.319
 right after

00:36:53.319 --> 00:36:54.619
 he was

00:36:54.619 --> 00:36:55.099
 convicted,

00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:56.379
 that never

00:36:56.379 --> 00:36:56.559
 would have

00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:56.779
 happened.

00:36:58.039 --> 00:36:58.500
 And it

00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:58.639
 would have

00:36:58.639 --> 00:36:58.919
 been gone.

00:36:59.019 --> 00:36:59.319
 So those

00:36:59.319 --> 00:36:59.899
 are arguments

00:36:59.899 --> 00:37:02.159
 against capital

00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:02.819
 punishment that

00:37:02.819 --> 00:37:03.639
 you get in

00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:04.719
 both Christian

00:37:04.719 --> 00:37:05.419
 and non-Christian

00:37:05.419 --> 00:37:05.980
 perspectives.

00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:07.319
 Some of

00:37:07.319 --> 00:37:07.960
 those are

00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:08.779
 very common

00:37:08.779 --> 00:37:09.239
 to Christians

00:37:09.239 --> 00:37:09.579
 like the

00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:09.919
 lack of

00:37:09.919 --> 00:37:10.259
 repentance,

00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:10.759
 but some

00:37:10.759 --> 00:37:11.119
 of these

00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:12.139
 are consistent

00:37:12.139 --> 00:37:12.940
 from even

00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:13.460
 non-Christian

00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:14.099
 perspectives.

00:37:15.339 --> 00:37:15.519
 Okay,

00:37:15.899 --> 00:37:16.539
 let's move

00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:17.059
 to problems

00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:17.899
 with not

00:37:17.899 --> 00:37:18.460
 having the

00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:18.699
 capital

00:37:18.699 --> 00:37:19.079
 punishment

00:37:19.079 --> 00:37:19.719
 or arguments

00:37:19.719 --> 00:37:20.559
 against

00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:21.199
 abolishing

00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:21.579
 the capital

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:22.619
 punishment

00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:23.179
 or arguments

00:37:23.179 --> 00:37:23.820
 in favor

00:37:23.820 --> 00:37:24.679
 of the

00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:24.860
 death

00:37:24.860 --> 00:37:25.199
 penalty.

00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:26.679
 So one

00:37:26.679 --> 00:37:27.679
 argument is

00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:28.440
 that many

00:37:28.440 --> 00:37:28.860
 of the above

00:37:28.860 --> 00:37:29.460
 issues like

00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:29.980
 cost,

00:37:30.139 --> 00:37:31.099
 inconsistency,

00:37:31.259 --> 00:37:32.039
 being ineffective,

00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:33.559
 it being

00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:35.320
 applied in

00:37:35.320 --> 00:37:35.960
 a racist

00:37:35.960 --> 00:37:36.360
 manner,

00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:37.440
 these are

00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:38.000
 fixable

00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.500
 problems.

00:37:38.679 --> 00:37:38.920
 These are

00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:39.460
 not inherent

00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:39.980
 problems.

00:37:40.099 --> 00:37:40.799
 They're fixable.

00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:41.420
 We should

00:37:41.420 --> 00:37:42.199
 identify these

00:37:42.199 --> 00:37:42.759
 problems and

00:37:42.759 --> 00:37:43.719
 strive to

00:37:43.719 --> 00:37:44.519
 fix them.

00:37:44.840 --> 00:37:45.279
 And once

00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:46.080
 we have

00:37:46.080 --> 00:37:47.540
 then they're

00:37:47.540 --> 00:37:47.900
 no longer

00:37:47.900 --> 00:37:48.360
 issues.

00:37:51.340 --> 00:37:51.900
 Another

00:37:51.900 --> 00:37:52.460
 argument

00:37:52.460 --> 00:37:53.500
 regarding the

00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:54.040
 lack of a

00:37:54.040 --> 00:37:54.620
 chance for

00:37:54.620 --> 00:37:56.000
 repentance is

00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:57.060
 that perhaps

00:37:57.060 --> 00:37:57.620
 it encourages

00:37:57.620 --> 00:37:58.000
 repentance.

00:37:58.440 --> 00:37:58.920
 There's nothing

00:37:58.920 --> 00:37:59.500
 like facing

00:37:59.500 --> 00:37:59.980
 your last

00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:00.960
 hour to

00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:01.720
 encourage

00:38:01.720 --> 00:38:02.120
 repentance.

00:38:02.900 --> 00:38:03.580
 And if any

00:38:03.580 --> 00:38:03.920
 of you have

00:38:03.920 --> 00:38:04.300
 ever been in

00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:04.820
 a situation

00:38:04.820 --> 00:38:05.340
 where you

00:38:05.340 --> 00:38:05.980
 fear for

00:38:05.980 --> 00:38:06.560
 your imminent

00:38:06.560 --> 00:38:07.080
 death,

00:38:07.180 --> 00:38:07.580
 you will

00:38:07.580 --> 00:38:08.500
 understand this,

00:38:08.620 --> 00:38:09.519
 where there

00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:10.340
 is very little

00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:11.500
 greater motivation

00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:12.440
 that you're

00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:12.800
 about to

00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:13.180
 meet your

00:38:13.180 --> 00:38:14.420
 maker than

00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:14.820
 to know

00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:15.220
 you are

00:38:15.220 --> 00:38:15.579
 about to

00:38:15.579 --> 00:38:15.880
 meet your

00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:16.960
 maker and

00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:18.760
 to try

00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:20.500
 and repent

00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:20.940
 from your

00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:21.300
 sins.

00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:21.800
 So that's

00:38:21.800 --> 00:38:22.240
 one argument.

00:38:25.720 --> 00:38:26.320
 Here's

00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:26.539
 another

00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:26.900
 argument.

00:38:28.180 --> 00:38:28.599
 And this

00:38:28.599 --> 00:38:29.059
 is an

00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:29.760
 argument in

00:38:29.760 --> 00:38:30.860
 favor of

00:38:30.860 --> 00:38:31.440
 the victims.

00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:33.960
 This argument

00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:34.720
 goes that this

00:38:34.720 --> 00:38:35.159
 is the most

00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:36.519
 merciful tactic

00:38:36.519 --> 00:38:38.019
 for the

00:38:38.019 --> 00:38:38.720
 victims,

00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:39.440
 for the

00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:40.119
 family members

00:38:40.119 --> 00:38:41.260
 who suffered

00:38:41.260 --> 00:38:42.500
 at the

00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:42.920
 hands of

00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.880
 a terrible

00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:44.320
 criminal.

00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:45.639
 that even

00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:46.119
 in life

00:38:46.119 --> 00:38:46.740
 sentences,

00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:49.079
 victims often

00:38:49.079 --> 00:38:49.760
 live in

00:38:49.760 --> 00:38:50.920
 constant fear

00:38:50.920 --> 00:38:52.059
 of this

00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:52.639
 perpetrator

00:38:52.639 --> 00:38:53.340
 escaping.

00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:54.800
 And

00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:56.760
 victims often

00:38:56.760 --> 00:38:57.320
 have to

00:38:57.320 --> 00:38:58.180
 attend

00:38:58.180 --> 00:38:59.900
 grueling

00:38:59.900 --> 00:39:00.380
 parole

00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:00.900
 hearings.

00:39:00.900 --> 00:39:01.680
 Every five

00:39:01.680 --> 00:39:02.159
 years they

00:39:02.159 --> 00:39:02.460
 have to

00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:03.180
 show up

00:39:03.180 --> 00:39:03.480
 and they

00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:03.700
 have to

00:39:03.700 --> 00:39:04.119
 make this

00:39:04.119 --> 00:39:04.599
 plea why

00:39:04.599 --> 00:39:05.099
 this person

00:39:05.099 --> 00:39:05.519
 shouldn't

00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:07.300
 be released.

00:39:07.960 --> 00:39:08.480
 They often

00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:09.260
 anticipate this

00:39:09.260 --> 00:39:09.720
 with much

00:39:09.720 --> 00:39:10.440
 trepidation

00:39:10.440 --> 00:39:10.940
 for months

00:39:10.940 --> 00:39:11.519
 beforehand.

00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:14.480
 And there

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:15.259
 are cases

00:39:15.259 --> 00:39:16.980
 where people

00:39:16.980 --> 00:39:17.619
 have been

00:39:17.619 --> 00:39:18.219
 sentenced to

00:39:18.219 --> 00:39:18.679
 life in

00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:19.360
 prison without

00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:19.739
 parole.

00:39:19.739 --> 00:39:20.980
 So they're in

00:39:20.980 --> 00:39:21.539
 some maximum

00:39:21.539 --> 00:39:22.500
 security place

00:39:22.500 --> 00:39:23.199
 where there's

00:39:23.199 --> 00:39:23.800
 no chance

00:39:23.800 --> 00:39:24.400
 of escape

00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:25.099
 and there's

00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:25.599
 no chance

00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:26.259
 of parole.

00:39:26.260 --> 00:39:26.320
 people.

00:39:26.840 --> 00:39:27.660
 But it

00:39:27.660 --> 00:39:28.700
 has happened

00:39:28.700 --> 00:39:29.080
 in the

00:39:29.080 --> 00:39:30.100
 past where

00:39:30.100 --> 00:39:31.580
 states say

00:39:31.580 --> 00:39:32.340
 life without

00:39:32.340 --> 00:39:33.280
 parole is

00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:34.340
 unjust,

00:39:34.640 --> 00:39:35.060
 it's cruel

00:39:35.060 --> 00:39:35.560
 and unusual

00:39:35.560 --> 00:39:36.100
 and they

00:39:36.100 --> 00:39:37.720
 retroactively

00:39:37.720 --> 00:39:38.680
 allow for

00:39:38.680 --> 00:39:39.140
 the chance

00:39:39.140 --> 00:39:39.620
 of parole

00:39:39.620 --> 00:39:40.060
 and then

00:39:40.060 --> 00:39:40.680
 someone gets

00:39:40.680 --> 00:39:41.560
 out only to

00:39:41.560 --> 00:39:42.080
 commit the

00:39:42.080 --> 00:39:42.840
 same murders

00:39:42.840 --> 00:39:43.180
 again.

00:39:43.980 --> 00:39:44.300
 And that

00:39:44.300 --> 00:39:45.180
 has happened.

00:39:45.179 --> 00:39:46.579
 So the

00:39:46.579 --> 00:39:47.779
 argument against

00:39:47.779 --> 00:39:48.339
 that is that

00:39:48.339 --> 00:39:48.879
 life in

00:39:48.879 --> 00:39:49.399
 prison is

00:39:49.399 --> 00:39:50.119
 not actually

00:39:50.119 --> 00:39:50.579
 life in

00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:51.119
 prison because

00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:51.419
 we have

00:39:51.419 --> 00:39:51.899
 these examples

00:39:51.899 --> 00:39:52.319
 of people

00:39:52.319 --> 00:39:52.960
 getting out

00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:54.219
 or people

00:39:54.219 --> 00:39:55.319
 continuing to

00:39:55.319 --> 00:39:55.739
 commit their

00:39:55.739 --> 00:39:57.039
 crimes in

00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:57.539
 the prison

00:39:57.539 --> 00:39:59.000
 against officers

00:39:59.000 --> 00:40:00.059
 or guards

00:40:00.059 --> 00:40:01.159
 or other

00:40:01.159 --> 00:40:01.559
 prisoners.

00:40:02.859 --> 00:40:04.859
 So here's

00:40:04.859 --> 00:40:06.679
 a final point.

00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:07.519
 And this

00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:08.619
 isn't so

00:40:08.619 --> 00:40:09.759
 much in

00:40:09.759 --> 00:40:10.859
 favor of

00:40:10.859 --> 00:40:11.259
 the death

00:40:11.259 --> 00:40:13.039
 penalty at

00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:13.699
 all times in

00:40:13.699 --> 00:40:14.399
 all civilizations.

00:40:14.400 --> 00:40:15.139
 It's just a

00:40:15.139 --> 00:40:16.760
 point about

00:40:16.760 --> 00:40:17.119
 it.

00:40:17.780 --> 00:40:18.300
 And it

00:40:18.300 --> 00:40:18.619
 sort of

00:40:18.619 --> 00:40:19.300
 pushes us

00:40:19.300 --> 00:40:21.000
 to consider

00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:21.720
 extreme

00:40:21.720 --> 00:40:22.360
 circumstances.

00:40:22.720 --> 00:40:23.539
 And what

00:40:23.539 --> 00:40:24.059
 we think of

00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:24.380
 extreme

00:40:24.380 --> 00:40:25.000
 circumstances,

00:40:25.340 --> 00:40:26.480
 it turns out,

00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:27.099
 might actually

00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:27.680
 be normal

00:40:27.680 --> 00:40:28.619
 circumstances for

00:40:28.619 --> 00:40:29.320
 most people.

00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:30.240
 Not for us,

00:40:30.680 --> 00:40:31.480
 but for most

00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:32.059
 people throughout

00:40:32.059 --> 00:40:32.360
 history.

00:40:32.920 --> 00:40:34.559
 So if we

00:40:34.559 --> 00:40:35.480
 look at the

00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:36.420
 human condition

00:40:36.420 --> 00:40:36.980
 throughout

00:40:36.980 --> 00:40:37.559
 history,

00:40:37.820 --> 00:40:38.800
 it turns out

00:40:38.800 --> 00:40:39.800
 that most

00:40:39.800 --> 00:40:40.400
 humans,

00:40:40.860 --> 00:40:41.700
 for most of

00:40:41.700 --> 00:40:42.380
 human history,

00:40:42.740 --> 00:40:44.160
 cannot

00:40:44.159 --> 00:40:45.019
 afford or

00:40:45.019 --> 00:40:45.719
 even have

00:40:45.719 --> 00:40:46.379
 the ability

00:40:46.379 --> 00:40:47.259
 to have

00:40:47.259 --> 00:40:48.199
 prisons.

00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:49.759
 For instance,

00:40:50.079 --> 00:40:50.960
 if you can't

00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:51.559
 make metal,

00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:52.819
 it's very hard

00:40:52.819 --> 00:40:53.179
 to have a

00:40:53.179 --> 00:40:53.399
 prison.

00:40:54.539 --> 00:40:55.420
 And if you

00:40:55.420 --> 00:40:55.759
 live in a

00:40:55.759 --> 00:40:56.319
 remote village

00:40:56.319 --> 00:40:56.739
 or you're a

00:40:56.739 --> 00:40:57.420
 hunter-gatherer

00:40:57.420 --> 00:40:58.440
 group of a

00:40:58.440 --> 00:40:58.839
 couple hundred

00:40:58.839 --> 00:40:59.299
 people,

00:40:59.599 --> 00:41:00.219
 what do you

00:41:00.219 --> 00:41:01.039
 do when

00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:01.679
 someone commits

00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:02.139
 a horrible,

00:41:02.239 --> 00:41:02.480
 horrible,

00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:03.199
 horrible crime?

00:41:03.559 --> 00:41:04.279
 You have no

00:41:04.279 --> 00:41:05.079
 ability to

00:41:05.079 --> 00:41:06.000
 incarcerate them.

00:41:06.960 --> 00:41:08.099
 If you have

00:41:08.099 --> 00:41:08.819
 no ability to

00:41:08.819 --> 00:41:09.599
 maintain some

00:41:09.599 --> 00:41:10.299
 kind of exile

00:41:10.299 --> 00:41:10.920
 policy,

00:41:11.239 --> 00:41:11.880
 they can just

00:41:11.880 --> 00:41:13.119
 walk back.

00:41:14.319 --> 00:41:14.699
 And if

00:41:14.699 --> 00:41:14.940
 they've

00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:15.679
 repeatedly

00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:16.239
 committed

00:41:16.239 --> 00:41:16.739
 horrific

00:41:16.739 --> 00:41:17.559
 things,

00:41:18.860 --> 00:41:20.319
 these poor

00:41:20.319 --> 00:41:22.599
 people don't

00:41:22.599 --> 00:41:23.360
 really have

00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:24.579
 many options.

00:41:25.519 --> 00:41:26.460
 They can't

00:41:26.460 --> 00:41:27.559
 imprison someone,

00:41:27.639 --> 00:41:27.980
 they can't

00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:28.900
 afford guards,

00:41:29.059 --> 00:41:29.579
 they're living

00:41:29.579 --> 00:41:30.500
 their subsistence.

00:41:31.659 --> 00:41:32.279
 And so the

00:41:32.279 --> 00:41:33.139
 argument goes,

00:41:33.639 --> 00:41:34.400
 if someone

00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:35.059
 keeps murdering

00:41:35.059 --> 00:41:35.500
 someone, then

00:41:35.500 --> 00:41:35.900
 they should be

00:41:35.900 --> 00:41:36.319
 put to death.

00:41:36.380 --> 00:41:36.639
 There's no

00:41:36.639 --> 00:41:37.119
 other choice.

00:41:37.199 --> 00:41:37.559
 You can't

00:41:37.559 --> 00:41:38.279
 exile them,

00:41:38.380 --> 00:41:38.759
 you can't

00:41:38.759 --> 00:41:39.599
 imprison them,

00:41:39.719 --> 00:41:40.579
 you can't

00:41:40.579 --> 00:41:41.019
 do these

00:41:41.019 --> 00:41:41.400
 things.

00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:43.079
 And actually,

00:41:43.860 --> 00:41:45.659
 this is

00:41:45.659 --> 00:41:46.679
 perhaps one

00:41:46.679 --> 00:41:46.880
 of the

00:41:46.880 --> 00:41:47.360
 motivators

00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:48.480
 behind some

00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:48.699
 of the

00:41:48.699 --> 00:41:49.400
 Exodus laws

00:41:49.400 --> 00:41:50.980
 because we

00:41:50.980 --> 00:41:52.099
 are dealing

00:41:52.099 --> 00:41:52.599
 with a

00:41:52.599 --> 00:41:54.259
 society that,

00:41:55.179 --> 00:41:55.880
 when the

00:41:55.880 --> 00:41:56.440
 Mosaic law

00:41:56.440 --> 00:41:56.880
 was given,

00:41:57.099 --> 00:41:58.239
 that is kind

00:41:58.239 --> 00:41:58.820
 of like one

00:41:58.820 --> 00:41:59.099
 of those

00:41:59.099 --> 00:41:59.559
 societies.

00:42:00.139 --> 00:42:00.519
 They're not

00:42:00.519 --> 00:42:01.279
 quite that

00:42:01.279 --> 00:42:01.759
 extreme.

00:42:02.219 --> 00:42:02.639
 They could

00:42:02.639 --> 00:42:03.340
 temporarily

00:42:03.340 --> 00:42:04.699
 imprison people

00:42:04.699 --> 00:42:05.239
 temporarily.

00:42:05.799 --> 00:42:06.320
 They did have

00:42:06.320 --> 00:42:06.820
 access to

00:42:06.820 --> 00:42:07.159
 metal to

00:42:07.159 --> 00:42:07.739
 make chains

00:42:07.739 --> 00:42:08.179
 and bars

00:42:08.179 --> 00:42:08.659
 and stuff,

00:42:08.779 --> 00:42:09.359
 but this

00:42:09.359 --> 00:42:10.159
 is extremely

00:42:10.159 --> 00:42:10.719
 expensive.

00:42:12.559 --> 00:42:12.960
 Clearly,

00:42:13.079 --> 00:42:13.440
 they couldn't

00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:13.879
 do it for

00:42:13.879 --> 00:42:14.399
 very long

00:42:14.399 --> 00:42:14.659
 or for

00:42:14.659 --> 00:42:14.980
 very many

00:42:14.980 --> 00:42:15.339
 people.

00:42:16.819 --> 00:42:17.420
 On the

00:42:17.420 --> 00:42:17.879
 other hand,

00:42:17.920 --> 00:42:18.179
 though,

00:42:18.519 --> 00:42:19.819
 this argument

00:42:19.819 --> 00:42:20.579
 can be

00:42:20.579 --> 00:42:22.219
 turned because

00:42:22.219 --> 00:42:23.159
 the argument

00:42:23.159 --> 00:42:23.879
 could say,

00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:24.359
 yes,

00:42:24.599 --> 00:42:25.000
 okay,

00:42:25.420 --> 00:42:26.179
 in those

00:42:26.179 --> 00:42:26.960
 situations,

00:42:27.299 --> 00:42:28.219
 capital punishment

00:42:28.219 --> 00:42:28.579
 might be

00:42:28.579 --> 00:42:28.920
 appropriate,

00:42:29.119 --> 00:42:29.539
 but that's

00:42:29.539 --> 00:42:29.920
 not what

00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:30.639
 the world

00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:30.940
 we live

00:42:30.940 --> 00:42:31.379
 in today.

00:42:32.539 --> 00:42:33.819
 And that

00:42:33.819 --> 00:42:34.639
 might explain

00:42:34.639 --> 00:42:35.179
 some of

00:42:35.179 --> 00:42:35.919
 these rules,

00:42:36.099 --> 00:42:36.539
 like in

00:42:36.539 --> 00:42:38.039
 Exodus or

00:42:38.039 --> 00:42:38.899
 even in

00:42:38.899 --> 00:42:39.879
 Romans.

00:42:40.099 --> 00:42:40.379
 Remember

00:42:40.379 --> 00:42:42.759
 that even

00:42:42.759 --> 00:42:43.539
 in the

00:42:43.539 --> 00:42:44.619
 time of

00:42:44.619 --> 00:42:46.219
 the Roman

00:42:46.219 --> 00:42:46.659
 Empire,

00:42:47.319 --> 00:42:48.179
 prisons did

00:42:48.179 --> 00:42:48.879
 not exist.

00:42:49.139 --> 00:42:49.579
 They had

00:42:49.579 --> 00:42:50.379
 jails.

00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:50.819
 They had

00:42:50.819 --> 00:42:51.299
 temporary

00:42:51.299 --> 00:42:52.379
 holding cells,

00:42:52.699 --> 00:42:53.679
 but they

00:42:53.679 --> 00:42:54.579
 didn't really

00:42:54.579 --> 00:42:56.059
 have prisons

00:42:56.059 --> 00:42:56.879
 like we have

00:42:56.879 --> 00:42:57.259
 today.

00:42:57.379 --> 00:42:57.980
 They couldn't

00:42:57.980 --> 00:42:58.819
 afford to

00:42:58.819 --> 00:42:59.539
 take thousands

00:42:59.539 --> 00:43:00.359
 of people and

00:43:00.359 --> 00:43:01.039
 just guard

00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:01.339
 them.

00:43:01.340 --> 00:43:01.400
 them.

00:43:02.120 --> 00:43:02.900
 So that's

00:43:02.900 --> 00:43:03.300
 why they

00:43:03.300 --> 00:43:04.360
 had slavery,

00:43:04.640 --> 00:43:05.100
 because they

00:43:05.100 --> 00:43:05.360
 would make

00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:05.860
 them slaves.

00:43:05.960 --> 00:43:06.240
 That's why

00:43:06.240 --> 00:43:06.519
 they made

00:43:06.519 --> 00:43:06.800
 them work

00:43:06.800 --> 00:43:07.039
 in the

00:43:07.039 --> 00:43:07.460
 mines.

00:43:07.660 --> 00:43:08.100
 They put

00:43:08.100 --> 00:43:08.440
 them on

00:43:08.440 --> 00:43:08.760
 ships.

00:43:09.120 --> 00:43:09.579
 They would

00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:10.140
 exile them

00:43:10.140 --> 00:43:10.840
 to islands

00:43:10.840 --> 00:43:12.700
 because our

00:43:12.700 --> 00:43:13.500
 ability to

00:43:13.500 --> 00:43:14.360
 imprison people

00:43:14.360 --> 00:43:15.519
 is something

00:43:15.519 --> 00:43:16.059
 that really

00:43:16.059 --> 00:43:16.820
 only modern

00:43:16.820 --> 00:43:17.460
 civilizations

00:43:17.460 --> 00:43:17.920
 have been

00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:18.220
 able to

00:43:18.220 --> 00:43:18.559
 develop.

00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:20.200
 And those

00:43:20.200 --> 00:43:20.960
 options were

00:43:20.960 --> 00:43:22.960
 not long-term

00:43:22.960 --> 00:43:23.980
 viable options

00:43:23.980 --> 00:43:25.100
 in the past.

00:43:25.099 --> 00:43:28.440
 Okay, let's

00:43:28.440 --> 00:43:29.360
 conclude with

00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:32.159
 some lessons

00:43:32.159 --> 00:43:33.119
 we can draw

00:43:33.119 --> 00:43:34.159
 from this.

00:43:34.739 --> 00:43:35.259
 Number one,

00:43:35.900 --> 00:43:36.819
 the Bible is

00:43:36.819 --> 00:43:37.880
 clear that

00:43:37.880 --> 00:43:39.159
 the crime of

00:43:39.159 --> 00:43:40.799
 murder is

00:43:40.799 --> 00:43:41.500
 worthy of

00:43:41.500 --> 00:43:41.860
 death.

00:43:42.380 --> 00:43:42.779
 It is

00:43:42.779 --> 00:43:43.239
 worthy of

00:43:43.239 --> 00:43:43.539
 death.

00:43:44.619 --> 00:43:45.339
 However,

00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:47.500
 so are

00:43:47.500 --> 00:43:48.179
 all sins.

00:43:49.059 --> 00:43:49.940
 So are

00:43:49.940 --> 00:43:50.480
 all sins

00:43:50.480 --> 00:43:51.179
 in God's

00:43:51.179 --> 00:43:51.699
 eyes.

00:43:53.639 --> 00:43:54.339
 Here's

00:43:54.339 --> 00:43:54.539
 another

00:43:54.539 --> 00:43:54.880
 lesson.

00:43:55.099 --> 00:43:56.779
 It is

00:43:56.779 --> 00:43:57.199
 right.

00:43:57.739 --> 00:43:58.500
 It is

00:43:58.500 --> 00:43:59.239
 right for

00:43:59.239 --> 00:43:59.940
 someone to

00:43:59.940 --> 00:44:00.819
 be justly

00:44:00.819 --> 00:44:01.679
 punished for

00:44:01.679 --> 00:44:02.639
 their sins.

00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:03.980
 That is

00:44:03.980 --> 00:44:04.719
 appropriate.

00:44:06.599 --> 00:44:07.699
 But what

00:44:07.699 --> 00:44:08.099
 does

00:44:08.099 --> 00:44:09.239
 Deuteronomy

00:44:09.239 --> 00:44:10.599
 32 say?

00:44:10.699 --> 00:44:10.940
 What is

00:44:10.940 --> 00:44:11.559
 Romans 12,

00:44:11.639 --> 00:44:11.960
 19?

00:44:12.139 --> 00:44:12.759
 Right before

00:44:12.759 --> 00:44:13.940
 Paul said

00:44:13.940 --> 00:44:14.539
 that passage

00:44:14.539 --> 00:44:14.900
 in Romans

00:44:14.900 --> 00:44:15.400
 13,

00:44:16.059 --> 00:44:17.299
 he quotes

00:44:17.299 --> 00:44:18.000
 from Deuteronomy

00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:18.940
 chapter 32

00:44:18.940 --> 00:44:19.880
 where God

00:44:19.880 --> 00:44:20.279
 says,

00:44:21.559 --> 00:44:22.400
 vengeance

00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:23.079
 is mine.

00:44:23.719 --> 00:44:24.279
 It is

00:44:24.279 --> 00:44:24.759
 mine to

00:44:24.760 --> 00:44:25.060
 repay,

00:44:25.320 --> 00:44:25.780
 says the

00:44:25.780 --> 00:44:26.000
 Lord.

00:44:26.760 --> 00:44:27.360
 So it

00:44:27.360 --> 00:44:27.780
 is right

00:44:27.780 --> 00:44:28.200
 for someone

00:44:28.200 --> 00:44:28.460
 to be

00:44:28.460 --> 00:44:28.780
 justly

00:44:28.780 --> 00:44:29.180
 punished for

00:44:29.180 --> 00:44:29.820
 their sins,

00:44:29.820 --> 00:44:30.900
 but vengeance

00:44:30.900 --> 00:44:31.460
 is not

00:44:31.460 --> 00:44:31.900
 ours,

00:44:32.040 --> 00:44:32.360
 it is

00:44:32.360 --> 00:44:32.900
 God's.

00:44:33.240 --> 00:44:33.760
 He is

00:44:33.760 --> 00:44:34.200
 the one

00:44:34.200 --> 00:44:34.900
 who makes

00:44:34.900 --> 00:44:35.140
 these

00:44:35.140 --> 00:44:35.620
 decisions.

00:44:37.440 --> 00:44:38.000
 Okay,

00:44:38.220 --> 00:44:38.600
 another

00:44:38.600 --> 00:44:39.000
 lesson.

00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:43.139
 Romans 12,

00:44:43.139 --> 00:44:44.300
 Romans 12,

00:44:44.360 --> 00:44:44.639
 19.

00:44:46.079 --> 00:44:51.239
 Oh, I

00:44:51.239 --> 00:44:51.579
 agree.

00:44:51.800 --> 00:44:52.360
 I totally

00:44:52.360 --> 00:44:52.659
 agree.

00:44:53.099 --> 00:44:53.780
 Absolutely.

00:44:56.179 --> 00:44:56.699
 I agree.

00:44:57.139 --> 00:44:57.579
 I agree.

00:44:58.000 --> 00:45:00.179
 But I'm

00:45:00.179 --> 00:45:00.940
 focusing on

00:45:00.940 --> 00:45:02.800
 the principle

00:45:02.800 --> 00:45:04.099
 behind it

00:45:04.099 --> 00:45:04.779
 that,

00:45:05.779 --> 00:45:06.500
 and I'm

00:45:06.500 --> 00:45:06.940
 also quoting

00:45:06.940 --> 00:45:07.619
 from Deuteronomy

00:45:07.619 --> 00:45:08.279
 32 where

00:45:08.279 --> 00:45:08.799
 there is

00:45:08.799 --> 00:45:09.460
 this broader

00:45:09.460 --> 00:45:09.819
 kind of

00:45:09.819 --> 00:45:10.219
 application.

00:45:10.400 --> 00:45:10.659
 However,

00:45:10.779 --> 00:45:11.279
 it's still

00:45:11.279 --> 00:45:13.159
 squishy because

00:45:13.159 --> 00:45:15.299
 this is

00:45:15.299 --> 00:45:16.259
 said in

00:45:16.259 --> 00:45:16.679
 Deuteronomy

00:45:16.679 --> 00:45:17.519
 32 in the

00:45:17.519 --> 00:45:18.779
 context of

00:45:18.779 --> 00:45:19.219
 God giving

00:45:19.219 --> 00:45:19.799
 laws about

00:45:19.799 --> 00:45:20.360
 how people

00:45:20.360 --> 00:45:20.759
 are to

00:45:20.759 --> 00:45:21.500
 carry out

00:45:21.500 --> 00:45:22.619
 his

00:45:22.619 --> 00:45:23.099
 vengeance

00:45:23.099 --> 00:45:24.239
 on the

00:45:24.239 --> 00:45:24.599
 criminals.

00:45:25.659 --> 00:45:26.239
 Okay,

00:45:27.000 --> 00:45:28.139
 let's go

00:45:28.139 --> 00:45:28.319
 on.

00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:30.039
 remember

00:45:30.039 --> 00:45:30.360
 that in

00:45:30.360 --> 00:45:30.760
 the face

00:45:30.760 --> 00:45:31.440
 of crime,

00:45:32.160 --> 00:45:32.980
 the Lord

00:45:32.980 --> 00:45:33.580
 is merciful.

00:45:34.280 --> 00:45:34.920
 Micah 7,

00:45:35.000 --> 00:45:35.360
 18,

00:45:35.500 --> 00:45:36.019
 the Lord

00:45:36.019 --> 00:45:37.019
 delights in

00:45:37.019 --> 00:45:37.360
 mercy.

00:45:37.519 --> 00:45:38.260
 He delights

00:45:38.260 --> 00:45:38.700
 in being

00:45:38.700 --> 00:45:39.100
 merciful.

00:45:39.360 --> 00:45:39.740
 This isn't

00:45:39.740 --> 00:45:40.220
 something he

00:45:40.220 --> 00:45:40.440
 says,

00:45:40.519 --> 00:45:40.800
 well, I

00:45:40.800 --> 00:45:41.140
 guess we

00:45:41.140 --> 00:45:41.500
 have to

00:45:41.500 --> 00:45:42.120
 go easy

00:45:42.120 --> 00:45:42.580
 on him.

00:45:43.360 --> 00:45:44.640
 He delights

00:45:44.640 --> 00:45:45.920
 in being

00:45:45.920 --> 00:45:47.080
 merciful.

00:45:49.300 --> 00:45:49.680
 And then

00:45:49.680 --> 00:45:52.000
 lastly,

00:45:53.260 --> 00:45:54.260
 remember

00:45:54.260 --> 00:45:54.760
 what our

00:45:54.760 --> 00:45:55.380
 Lord said

00:45:55.380 --> 00:45:55.800
 on the

00:45:55.800 --> 00:45:56.140
 Sermon

00:45:56.140 --> 00:45:57.080
 on the

00:45:57.080 --> 00:45:57.400
 Mount.

00:45:57.400 --> 00:45:58.680
 He said,

00:45:59.160 --> 00:45:59.380
 you know,

00:45:59.460 --> 00:46:00.500
 remember

00:46:00.500 --> 00:46:00.780
 you've

00:46:00.780 --> 00:46:01.059
 heard,

00:46:01.300 --> 00:46:01.400
 thou

00:46:01.400 --> 00:46:01.820
 shalt not

00:46:01.820 --> 00:46:02.079
 murder,

00:46:02.200 --> 00:46:02.440
 but I

00:46:02.440 --> 00:46:02.780
 say to

00:46:02.780 --> 00:46:02.900
 you,

00:46:02.960 --> 00:46:03.119
 anyone

00:46:03.119 --> 00:46:03.400
 who

00:46:03.400 --> 00:46:03.740
 hates

00:46:03.740 --> 00:46:03.960
 his

00:46:03.960 --> 00:46:04.320
 brother

00:46:04.320 --> 00:46:05.240
 is

00:46:05.240 --> 00:46:05.579
 guilty

00:46:05.579 --> 00:46:05.780
 of

00:46:05.780 --> 00:46:06.059
 murder.

00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:07.660
 So in

00:46:07.660 --> 00:46:07.980
 some

00:46:07.980 --> 00:46:08.360
 sense,

00:46:08.480 --> 00:46:08.760
 we are

00:46:08.760 --> 00:46:09.160
 all

00:46:09.160 --> 00:46:09.579
 guilty

00:46:09.579 --> 00:46:10.400
 of

00:46:10.400 --> 00:46:10.579
 the

00:46:10.579 --> 00:46:10.840
 blood

00:46:10.840 --> 00:46:10.960
 of

00:46:10.960 --> 00:46:11.099
 our

00:46:11.099 --> 00:46:11.500
 brethren

00:46:11.500 --> 00:46:12.380
 in

00:46:12.380 --> 00:46:12.539
 our

00:46:12.539 --> 00:46:13.099
 hearts.

00:46:14.260 --> 00:46:14.320
 And

00:46:14.320 --> 00:46:15.660
 these,

00:46:16.340 --> 00:46:16.680
 I

00:46:16.680 --> 00:46:17.760
 noticed

00:46:17.760 --> 00:46:18.360
 that none

00:46:18.360 --> 00:46:18.800
 of these

00:46:18.800 --> 00:46:19.619
 lessons that

00:46:19.619 --> 00:46:20.019
 I've

00:46:20.019 --> 00:46:20.539
 articulated

00:46:20.539 --> 00:46:22.160
 come down

00:46:22.160 --> 00:46:22.599
 one way

00:46:22.599 --> 00:46:22.800
 or the

00:46:22.800 --> 00:46:23.019
 other

00:46:23.019 --> 00:46:23.800
 necessarily,

00:46:24.240 --> 00:46:24.760
 but they

00:46:24.760 --> 00:46:25.180
 are things

00:46:25.180 --> 00:46:25.500
 that we

00:46:25.500 --> 00:46:26.019
 as Christians

00:46:26.019 --> 00:46:26.599
 should all

00:46:26.599 --> 00:46:27.380
 hold and

00:46:27.380 --> 00:46:28.400
 consider as

00:46:28.400 --> 00:46:29.019
 we are

00:46:29.019 --> 00:46:32.360
 struggling

00:46:32.360 --> 00:46:33.000
 with this

00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:33.460
 issue of

00:46:33.460 --> 00:46:33.740
 capital

00:46:33.740 --> 00:46:34.180
 punishment.

00:46:34.720 --> 00:46:35.320
 Murder is

00:46:35.320 --> 00:46:35.840
 worthy of

00:46:35.840 --> 00:46:36.160
 death and

00:46:36.160 --> 00:46:36.619
 execution,

00:46:36.780 --> 00:46:37.019
 but so

00:46:37.019 --> 00:46:37.380
 are all

00:46:37.380 --> 00:46:37.680
 sins.

00:46:37.940 --> 00:46:38.400
 It is

00:46:38.400 --> 00:46:38.960
 right for

00:46:38.960 --> 00:46:39.340
 someone to

00:46:39.340 --> 00:46:39.820
 be justly

00:46:39.820 --> 00:46:40.300
 punished for

00:46:40.300 --> 00:46:40.920
 their sins,

00:46:41.079 --> 00:46:42.539
 but ultimately

00:46:42.539 --> 00:46:44.619
 vengeance is

00:46:44.619 --> 00:46:45.460
 God's.

00:46:46.140 --> 00:46:46.619
 It is

00:46:46.619 --> 00:46:47.119
 right for

00:46:47.119 --> 00:46:47.500
 someone to

00:46:47.500 --> 00:46:48.000
 be justly

00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:48.340
 punished,

00:46:48.460 --> 00:46:48.920
 but remember

00:46:48.920 --> 00:46:49.420
 that the

00:46:49.420 --> 00:46:50.220
 Lord is

00:46:50.220 --> 00:46:50.740
 merciful.

00:46:50.739 --> 00:46:53.359
 He

00:46:53.359 --> 00:46:53.799
 also is

00:46:53.799 --> 00:46:54.339
 merciful on

00:46:54.339 --> 00:46:54.879
 victims as

00:46:54.879 --> 00:46:55.099
 well,

00:46:55.299 --> 00:46:55.739
 not just

00:46:55.739 --> 00:46:56.099
 criminals.

00:46:57.059 --> 00:46:57.259
 And

00:46:57.259 --> 00:46:57.799
 remember

00:46:57.799 --> 00:46:58.379
 that

00:46:58.379 --> 00:47:00.199
 from the

00:47:00.199 --> 00:47:00.559
 Lord's

00:47:00.559 --> 00:47:01.219
 perspective,

00:47:01.759 --> 00:47:03.259
 we are

00:47:03.259 --> 00:47:03.859
 all guilty

00:47:03.859 --> 00:47:04.359
 of murder

00:47:04.359 --> 00:47:04.859
 if we've

00:47:04.859 --> 00:47:05.399
 hated someone

00:47:05.399 --> 00:47:05.739
 in our

00:47:05.739 --> 00:47:06.079
 heart.

00:47:06.719 --> 00:47:07.259
 That's the

00:47:07.259 --> 00:47:07.459
 biblical

00:47:07.459 --> 00:47:07.939
 standard.

00:47:08.359 --> 00:47:08.639
 These are

00:47:08.639 --> 00:47:09.000
 things we

00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:09.559
 should always

00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:12.539
 consider when

00:47:12.539 --> 00:47:13.139
 we consider

00:47:13.139 --> 00:47:13.699
 things like

00:47:13.699 --> 00:47:14.000
 the death

00:47:14.000 --> 00:47:14.319
 penalty.

00:47:14.320 --> 00:47:16.800
 Okay, we

00:47:16.800 --> 00:47:17.740
 have about

00:47:17.740 --> 00:47:18.380
 five, six,

00:47:18.480 --> 00:47:18.820
 seven minutes

00:47:18.820 --> 00:47:19.580
 left for

00:47:19.580 --> 00:47:20.180
 questions.

00:47:21.519 --> 00:47:22.059
 Matt.

00:47:23.500 --> 00:47:25.240
 I would

00:47:25.240 --> 00:47:26.039
 request that

00:47:26.039 --> 00:47:27.180
 somebody read

00:47:27.180 --> 00:47:29.400
 numbers 35,

00:47:29.920 --> 00:47:31.160
 33 through

00:47:31.160 --> 00:47:31.900
 34.

00:47:33.280 --> 00:47:34.160
 Numbers

00:47:34.160 --> 00:47:34.860
 35?

00:47:39.100 --> 00:47:39.980
 35,

00:47:40.180 --> 00:47:40.980
 33 through

00:47:40.980 --> 00:47:41.660
 34?

00:47:42.000 --> 00:47:42.600
 35,

00:47:43.300 --> 00:47:43.980
 33,

00:47:44.320 --> 00:47:44.559
 okay.

00:47:47.780 --> 00:47:48.480
 Oh, sorry,

00:47:48.559 --> 00:47:48.680
 I'm at

00:47:48.680 --> 00:47:49.440
 numbers 33.

00:47:51.480 --> 00:47:56.080
 This is

00:47:56.080 --> 00:47:56.780
 where technology

00:47:56.780 --> 00:47:57.360
 is not

00:47:57.360 --> 00:47:57.840
 faster.

00:47:58.039 --> 00:47:59.420
 Okay, so

00:47:59.420 --> 00:48:01.940
 you shall

00:48:01.940 --> 00:48:03.059
 not pollute

00:48:03.059 --> 00:48:03.519
 the land in

00:48:03.519 --> 00:48:03.800
 which you

00:48:03.800 --> 00:48:04.100
 live, for

00:48:04.100 --> 00:48:04.620
 blood pollutes

00:48:04.620 --> 00:48:05.019
 the land,

00:48:05.059 --> 00:48:05.280
 and no

00:48:05.280 --> 00:48:05.660
 atonement

00:48:05.660 --> 00:48:05.980
 can be

00:48:05.980 --> 00:48:06.360
 made for

00:48:06.360 --> 00:48:06.740
 the land,

00:48:06.740 --> 00:48:08.260
 for the

00:48:08.260 --> 00:48:08.640
 land, for

00:48:08.640 --> 00:48:09.039
 the blood

00:48:09.039 --> 00:48:09.320
 that is

00:48:09.320 --> 00:48:09.800
 shed in

00:48:09.800 --> 00:48:10.280
 it, except

00:48:10.280 --> 00:48:10.700
 by the

00:48:10.700 --> 00:48:11.039
 blood of

00:48:11.039 --> 00:48:11.400
 the one

00:48:11.400 --> 00:48:12.019
 who shed

00:48:12.019 --> 00:48:12.340
 it.

00:48:12.720 --> 00:48:13.000
 You

00:48:13.000 --> 00:48:13.440
 shall not

00:48:13.440 --> 00:48:14.059
 defile the

00:48:14.059 --> 00:48:14.400
 land in

00:48:14.400 --> 00:48:14.679
 which you

00:48:14.679 --> 00:48:15.000
 live, in

00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:15.320
 the midst

00:48:15.320 --> 00:48:15.659
 of which

00:48:15.659 --> 00:48:16.320
 I dwell,

00:48:16.679 --> 00:48:17.179
 for I, the

00:48:17.179 --> 00:48:17.779
 Lord, dwell in

00:48:17.779 --> 00:48:18.119
 the midst

00:48:18.119 --> 00:48:18.360
 of the

00:48:18.360 --> 00:48:18.739
 people of

00:48:18.739 --> 00:48:19.000
 Israel.

00:48:20.920 --> 00:48:21.239
 Okay.

00:48:23.880 --> 00:48:24.460
 Yeah, do

00:48:24.460 --> 00:48:24.619
 you have

00:48:24.619 --> 00:48:25.139
 thoughts, Matt?

00:48:26.320 --> 00:48:26.860
 Could you

00:48:26.860 --> 00:48:27.440
 just read the

00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:28.000
 first verse

00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:28.360
 again?

00:48:28.639 --> 00:48:29.159
 Yeah, you

00:48:29.159 --> 00:48:29.880
 shall not

00:48:29.880 --> 00:48:30.539
 pollute the

00:48:30.539 --> 00:48:31.579
 land in

00:48:31.579 --> 00:48:32.019
 which you

00:48:32.019 --> 00:48:33.239
 live, for

00:48:33.239 --> 00:48:34.179
 blood pollutes

00:48:34.179 --> 00:48:34.980
 the land, and

00:48:34.980 --> 00:48:35.679
 no atonement

00:48:35.679 --> 00:48:36.340
 can be made

00:48:36.340 --> 00:48:37.019
 for the land,

00:48:37.079 --> 00:48:37.880
 for the blood

00:48:37.880 --> 00:48:38.579
 that is

00:48:38.579 --> 00:48:39.179
 shed in

00:48:39.179 --> 00:48:39.719
 it, except

00:48:39.719 --> 00:48:40.500
 by the blood

00:48:40.500 --> 00:48:40.860
 of the

00:48:40.860 --> 00:48:41.340
 one who

00:48:41.340 --> 00:48:42.079
 shed it.

00:48:44.079 --> 00:48:47.420
 So, by

00:48:47.420 --> 00:48:47.920
 the way, I

00:48:47.920 --> 00:48:48.900
 don't think

00:48:48.900 --> 00:48:49.840
 the Bible is

00:48:49.840 --> 00:48:50.619
 totally clear

00:48:50.619 --> 00:48:51.199
 about whether

00:48:51.199 --> 00:48:51.539
 we should

00:48:51.539 --> 00:48:52.159
 practice the

00:48:52.159 --> 00:48:52.800
 death penalty

00:48:52.800 --> 00:48:53.639
 in the United

00:48:53.639 --> 00:48:54.780
 States today

00:48:54.780 --> 00:48:55.360
 or not.

00:48:56.639 --> 00:48:57.340
 But it

00:48:57.340 --> 00:48:58.019
 seems to me

00:48:58.019 --> 00:48:59.340
 that that is

00:48:59.340 --> 00:49:00.059
 the strongest

00:49:00.059 --> 00:49:00.940
 passage in

00:49:00.940 --> 00:49:01.400
 the Bible,

00:49:01.940 --> 00:49:02.679
 supporting the

00:49:02.679 --> 00:49:03.480
 idea that the

00:49:03.480 --> 00:49:04.159
 death penalty

00:49:04.159 --> 00:49:05.280
 is just.

00:49:05.280 --> 00:49:06.760
 And I

00:49:06.760 --> 00:49:07.400
 just suggest,

00:49:07.840 --> 00:49:08.560
 in addition to

00:49:08.560 --> 00:49:09.060
 the two

00:49:09.060 --> 00:49:10.260
 possibilities you

00:49:10.260 --> 00:49:11.420
 mentioned, that

00:49:11.420 --> 00:49:12.280
 we shouldn't

00:49:12.280 --> 00:49:13.120
 practice the

00:49:13.120 --> 00:49:13.760
 death penalty,

00:49:14.240 --> 00:49:14.600
 that the

00:49:14.600 --> 00:49:15.200
 death penalty

00:49:15.200 --> 00:49:16.280
 is permissible,

00:49:16.900 --> 00:49:17.360
 a third

00:49:17.360 --> 00:49:18.100
 position would

00:49:18.100 --> 00:49:19.060
 be, you

00:49:19.060 --> 00:49:19.480
 know, the

00:49:19.480 --> 00:49:20.100
 death penalty

00:49:20.100 --> 00:49:21.000
 is just.

00:49:21.720 --> 00:49:22.260
 And if we

00:49:22.260 --> 00:49:22.980
 don't practice

00:49:22.980 --> 00:49:24.380
 that, you

00:49:24.380 --> 00:49:24.820
 know, we're

00:49:24.820 --> 00:49:25.780
 falling short.

00:49:26.560 --> 00:49:28.360
 Yes, yes.

00:49:29.240 --> 00:49:30.019
 Thank you.

00:49:31.380 --> 00:49:32.160
 This whole

00:49:32.160 --> 00:49:32.940
 passage, actually,

00:49:32.940 --> 00:49:35.099
 if you go

00:49:35.099 --> 00:49:35.619
 even a few

00:49:35.619 --> 00:49:36.260
 verses earlier,

00:49:36.960 --> 00:49:37.500
 he says, if

00:49:37.500 --> 00:49:38.000
 anyone kills

00:49:38.000 --> 00:49:38.579
 a person, the

00:49:38.579 --> 00:49:39.059
 murderer shall

00:49:39.059 --> 00:49:39.480
 be put to

00:49:39.480 --> 00:49:39.760
 death.

00:49:41.780 --> 00:49:42.220
 Period.

00:49:44.000 --> 00:49:46.360
 So, yes,

00:49:46.500 --> 00:49:47.579
 there are many

00:49:47.579 --> 00:49:48.099
 people make

00:49:48.099 --> 00:49:48.700
 that argument,

00:49:49.139 --> 00:49:50.119
 Matt, in

00:49:50.119 --> 00:49:50.820
 favor of

00:49:50.820 --> 00:49:51.500
 capital punishment.

00:49:51.800 --> 00:49:52.059
 Ivor.

00:49:53.059 --> 00:49:53.619
 When they

00:49:53.619 --> 00:49:56.720
 have a lot

00:49:56.720 --> 00:49:58.019
 of evidence

00:49:58.019 --> 00:49:59.260
 for the guy

00:49:59.260 --> 00:49:59.700
 who's caught

00:49:59.700 --> 00:50:00.260
 in the act,

00:50:01.300 --> 00:50:02.159
 I think, in

00:50:02.159 --> 00:50:02.679
 my opinion,

00:50:02.679 --> 00:50:03.219
 that's the

00:50:03.219 --> 00:50:03.819
 only time

00:50:03.819 --> 00:50:04.239
 they should

00:50:04.239 --> 00:50:04.859
 ever do

00:50:04.859 --> 00:50:05.980
 the death

00:50:05.980 --> 00:50:06.359
 penalty.

00:50:08.139 --> 00:50:08.899
 That gets

00:50:08.899 --> 00:50:09.299
 to the

00:50:09.299 --> 00:50:09.960
 biblical idea.

00:50:10.219 --> 00:50:10.559
 In fact,

00:50:10.759 --> 00:50:11.699
 the verse I

00:50:11.699 --> 00:50:12.279
 just read

00:50:12.279 --> 00:50:14.719
 continues, I

00:50:14.719 --> 00:50:15.719
 think, getting

00:50:15.719 --> 00:50:16.319
 at what you're

00:50:16.319 --> 00:50:16.719
 saying.

00:50:16.879 --> 00:50:17.319
 It says,

00:50:17.919 --> 00:50:18.719
 if anyone

00:50:18.719 --> 00:50:19.500
 kills a person,

00:50:19.579 --> 00:50:19.819
 the murderer

00:50:19.819 --> 00:50:20.259
 shall be put

00:50:20.259 --> 00:50:21.119
 to death on

00:50:21.119 --> 00:50:21.539
 the evidence

00:50:21.539 --> 00:50:22.179
 of witnesses,

00:50:22.460 --> 00:50:23.199
 but no

00:50:23.199 --> 00:50:23.779
 person shall

00:50:23.779 --> 00:50:24.199
 be put to

00:50:24.199 --> 00:50:24.460
 death on

00:50:24.460 --> 00:50:24.919
 the testimony

00:50:24.919 --> 00:50:25.480
 of one

00:50:25.480 --> 00:50:25.919
 witness,

00:50:26.879 --> 00:50:27.619
 which there's

00:50:27.619 --> 00:50:28.000
 this very

00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:28.779
 high evidentiary

00:50:28.779 --> 00:50:30.279
 standard that

00:50:30.279 --> 00:50:31.679
 was demanded.

00:50:32.679 --> 00:50:33.839
 And I'm

00:50:33.839 --> 00:50:34.359
 not a lawyer,

00:50:34.519 --> 00:50:34.859
 so some

00:50:34.859 --> 00:50:35.219
 of you may

00:50:35.219 --> 00:50:36.879
 be, but we

00:50:36.879 --> 00:50:37.219
 have this

00:50:37.219 --> 00:50:37.919
 beyond reasonable

00:50:37.919 --> 00:50:38.839
 doubt standard

00:50:38.839 --> 00:50:40.159
 in the United

00:50:40.159 --> 00:50:41.480
 States when it

00:50:41.480 --> 00:50:41.960
 comes to

00:50:41.960 --> 00:50:42.699
 criminal cases.

00:50:43.159 --> 00:50:43.879
 But you

00:50:43.879 --> 00:50:44.519
 could, in

00:50:44.519 --> 00:50:45.399
 theory, imagine

00:50:45.399 --> 00:50:46.019
 an even higher

00:50:46.019 --> 00:50:46.759
 standard where

00:50:46.759 --> 00:50:47.859
 you demand that

00:50:47.859 --> 00:50:48.819
 even if certain

00:50:48.819 --> 00:50:49.419
 evidence is

00:50:49.419 --> 00:50:50.219
 removed, it

00:50:50.219 --> 00:50:50.960
 still meets the

00:50:50.960 --> 00:50:52.519
 bar of beyond

00:50:52.519 --> 00:50:53.379
 reasonable doubt,

00:50:53.739 --> 00:50:55.759
 which this

00:50:55.759 --> 00:50:56.399
 sort of gets

00:50:56.399 --> 00:50:56.619
 at.

00:50:56.679 --> 00:50:57.480
 Even if you

00:50:57.480 --> 00:50:58.079
 remove some of

00:50:58.079 --> 00:50:58.440
 the witnesses,

00:50:58.599 --> 00:50:59.099
 there'll still be

00:50:59.099 --> 00:50:59.819
 another witness.

00:51:00.219 --> 00:51:00.940
 Giovanni.

00:51:00.940 --> 00:51:02.320
 Yeah, so,

00:51:02.820 --> 00:51:03.360
 for example,

00:51:03.579 --> 00:51:04.420
 I think that

00:51:04.420 --> 00:51:05.240
 the Bible

00:51:05.240 --> 00:51:05.800
 does not

00:51:05.800 --> 00:51:06.820
 also explicitly

00:51:06.820 --> 00:51:08.320
 abolish, for

00:51:08.320 --> 00:51:09.159
 example, slavery.

00:51:09.639 --> 00:51:10.200
 On the contrary,

00:51:10.320 --> 00:51:10.900
 it has a lot

00:51:10.900 --> 00:51:11.840
 of regulations

00:51:11.840 --> 00:51:13.059
 on slavery

00:51:13.059 --> 00:51:13.519
 in the Old

00:51:13.519 --> 00:51:13.900
 Testament,

00:51:14.579 --> 00:51:15.780
 and also in

00:51:15.780 --> 00:51:16.400
 the New Testament

00:51:16.400 --> 00:51:17.139
 because they

00:51:17.139 --> 00:51:17.860
 did about it.

00:51:18.420 --> 00:51:19.480
 But the

00:51:19.480 --> 00:51:20.039
 Bible has

00:51:20.039 --> 00:51:21.039
 the seed,

00:51:21.400 --> 00:51:22.280
 which is the

00:51:22.280 --> 00:51:23.980
 dignity of

00:51:23.980 --> 00:51:24.559
 human life

00:51:24.559 --> 00:51:25.320
 that leads

00:51:25.320 --> 00:51:25.720
 to a

00:51:25.720 --> 00:51:26.099
 eventual

00:51:26.099 --> 00:51:26.940
 slavery.

00:51:26.940 --> 00:51:29.360
 So, I

00:51:29.360 --> 00:51:30.500
 wonder if

00:51:30.500 --> 00:51:30.900
 that would

00:51:30.900 --> 00:51:31.340
 be a

00:51:31.340 --> 00:51:31.840
 model to

00:51:31.840 --> 00:51:32.420
 think about.

00:51:33.159 --> 00:51:33.599
 Very good.

00:51:35.139 --> 00:51:35.700
 Very good.

00:51:35.700 --> 00:51:36.500
 It does

00:51:36.500 --> 00:51:37.139
 have some

00:51:37.139 --> 00:51:37.860
 kind of

00:51:37.860 --> 00:51:39.240
 permission to

00:51:39.240 --> 00:51:39.599
 it, and

00:51:39.599 --> 00:51:40.139
 even some

00:51:40.139 --> 00:51:40.619
 kind of

00:51:40.619 --> 00:51:41.440
 regulation to

00:51:41.440 --> 00:51:42.460
 it, but

00:51:42.460 --> 00:51:43.240
 if we should

00:51:43.240 --> 00:51:44.159
 strive for,

00:51:44.679 --> 00:51:45.360
 as the gospel

00:51:45.360 --> 00:51:46.139
 rolls into

00:51:46.139 --> 00:51:46.740
 the world,

00:51:47.740 --> 00:51:48.420
 societies

00:51:48.420 --> 00:51:48.880
 that

00:51:48.880 --> 00:51:50.420
 progressively

00:51:50.420 --> 00:51:51.320
 abolish

00:51:51.320 --> 00:51:53.179
 the capital

00:51:53.179 --> 00:51:54.079
 fund.

00:51:54.079 --> 00:51:55.460
 I agree.

00:51:55.699 --> 00:51:56.299
 Yes, Giovanni,

00:51:56.400 --> 00:51:57.500
 that is a

00:51:57.500 --> 00:51:58.139
 very good

00:51:58.139 --> 00:51:58.759
 articulation.

00:52:00.279 --> 00:52:02.340
 If we take

00:52:02.340 --> 00:52:02.699
 the example

00:52:02.699 --> 00:52:03.099
 of slavery,

00:52:03.199 --> 00:52:03.460
 like you

00:52:03.460 --> 00:52:04.159
 said, the

00:52:04.159 --> 00:52:04.699
 Old Testament

00:52:04.699 --> 00:52:05.360
 appears to

00:52:05.360 --> 00:52:05.920
 permit it,

00:52:06.699 --> 00:52:07.380
 but the

00:52:07.380 --> 00:52:07.819
 seeds are

00:52:07.819 --> 00:52:08.500
 laid for

00:52:08.500 --> 00:52:09.460
 considering all

00:52:09.460 --> 00:52:10.099
 humans equal

00:52:10.099 --> 00:52:10.519
 in the eyes

00:52:10.519 --> 00:52:11.019
 of God,

00:52:11.239 --> 00:52:12.299
 and that

00:52:12.299 --> 00:52:13.380
 seed blossomed

00:52:13.380 --> 00:52:14.159
 into abolition.

00:52:14.900 --> 00:52:15.299
 You could

00:52:15.299 --> 00:52:15.599
 make the

00:52:15.599 --> 00:52:16.000
 same argument

00:52:16.000 --> 00:52:16.279
 for the

00:52:16.279 --> 00:52:16.699
 death penalty,

00:52:16.920 --> 00:52:18.099
 that the

00:52:18.099 --> 00:52:18.619
 death penalty

00:52:18.619 --> 00:52:19.639
 was permitted,

00:52:20.219 --> 00:52:21.659
 but the

00:52:21.659 --> 00:52:22.000
 seeds are

00:52:22.000 --> 00:52:22.659
 planted to

00:52:22.659 --> 00:52:23.380
 abolish it.

00:52:24.079 --> 00:52:24.900
 You could

00:52:24.900 --> 00:52:25.799
 also make

00:52:25.799 --> 00:52:26.559
 a contextual

00:52:26.559 --> 00:52:27.219
 argument,

00:52:27.860 --> 00:52:28.679
 if you

00:52:28.679 --> 00:52:29.139
 wanted to,

00:52:29.239 --> 00:52:29.679
 based on

00:52:29.679 --> 00:52:29.980
 ancient

00:52:29.980 --> 00:52:30.659
 societies and

00:52:30.659 --> 00:52:31.299
 modern societies

00:52:31.299 --> 00:52:31.639
 and things

00:52:31.639 --> 00:52:32.219
 like that.

00:52:32.819 --> 00:52:33.360
 So there's

00:52:33.360 --> 00:52:34.099
 multiple ways

00:52:34.099 --> 00:52:34.920
 you can get

00:52:34.920 --> 00:52:35.279
 at that.

00:52:35.559 --> 00:52:36.279
 I guess the

00:52:36.279 --> 00:52:36.819
 question that

00:52:36.819 --> 00:52:37.519
 remains is,

00:52:37.759 --> 00:52:38.219
 at which

00:52:38.219 --> 00:52:38.659
 point of

00:52:38.659 --> 00:52:39.420
 history are

00:52:39.420 --> 00:52:39.819
 we right

00:52:39.819 --> 00:52:40.059
 now?

00:52:41.059 --> 00:52:43.400
 Yes, I

00:52:43.400 --> 00:52:43.679
 know, are

00:52:43.679 --> 00:52:44.119
 we at the

00:52:44.119 --> 00:52:44.659
 holy mountain

00:52:44.659 --> 00:52:45.519
 stage where

00:52:45.519 --> 00:52:45.860
 we're beating

00:52:45.860 --> 00:52:46.519
 our swords

00:52:46.519 --> 00:52:47.319
 into plowshares?

00:52:47.639 --> 00:52:47.860
 I know.

00:52:48.259 --> 00:52:49.099
 Next week,

00:52:49.179 --> 00:52:49.799
 we're talking

00:52:49.799 --> 00:52:50.900
 about warfare,

00:52:50.900 --> 00:52:51.460
 and we're

00:52:51.460 --> 00:52:52.219
 going to see

00:52:52.219 --> 00:52:53.919
 that the

00:52:53.919 --> 00:52:54.579
 early church

00:52:54.579 --> 00:52:55.500
 was extremely

00:52:55.500 --> 00:52:56.339
 pacifistic,

00:52:56.500 --> 00:52:57.059
 that Christians

00:52:57.059 --> 00:52:57.639
 were not to

00:52:57.639 --> 00:52:58.359
 conduct warfare.

00:52:58.919 --> 00:52:59.419
 But then,

00:52:59.699 --> 00:53:01.699
 once there was

00:53:01.699 --> 00:53:02.139
 a Christian

00:53:02.139 --> 00:53:02.519
 emperor,

00:53:02.679 --> 00:53:03.139
 they started

00:53:03.139 --> 00:53:03.599
 thinking,

00:53:04.159 --> 00:53:05.079
 well, wait

00:53:05.079 --> 00:53:05.459
 a second

00:53:05.459 --> 00:53:05.799
 here,

00:53:06.259 --> 00:53:06.939
 we're going

00:53:06.939 --> 00:53:07.339
 to rethink

00:53:07.339 --> 00:53:07.599
 this.

00:53:07.699 --> 00:53:08.279
 Their context

00:53:08.279 --> 00:53:08.899
 changed,

00:53:09.000 --> 00:53:09.459
 and they

00:53:09.459 --> 00:53:09.919
 rethought

00:53:09.919 --> 00:53:10.459
 things.

00:53:10.459 --> 00:53:13.819
 And that

00:53:13.819 --> 00:53:14.959
 is different

00:53:14.959 --> 00:53:15.239
 than what

00:53:15.239 --> 00:53:15.579
 you're talking

00:53:15.579 --> 00:53:15.799
 about,

00:53:16.000 --> 00:53:16.859
 because it's

00:53:16.859 --> 00:53:17.619
 worldly context

00:53:17.619 --> 00:53:18.359
 instead of a,

00:53:18.559 --> 00:53:20.000
 but context

00:53:20.000 --> 00:53:20.800
 really does

00:53:20.800 --> 00:53:21.340
 matter in

00:53:21.340 --> 00:53:21.619
 some of

00:53:21.619 --> 00:53:23.000
 these questions.

00:53:23.880 --> 00:53:24.840
 Okay, let

00:53:24.840 --> 00:53:25.219
 me conclude

00:53:25.219 --> 00:53:25.559
 in prayer,

00:53:25.679 --> 00:53:25.960
 and then we

00:53:25.960 --> 00:53:26.940
 got to get

00:53:26.940 --> 00:53:27.300
 upstairs.

00:53:27.840 --> 00:53:28.260
 Father in

00:53:28.260 --> 00:53:28.699
 heaven, this

00:53:28.699 --> 00:53:29.139
 is a hard

00:53:29.139 --> 00:53:29.820
 question, Lord.

00:53:30.059 --> 00:53:30.840
 We pray, Lord,

00:53:30.920 --> 00:53:31.679
 that none

00:53:31.679 --> 00:53:32.219
 of us would

00:53:32.219 --> 00:53:33.980
 find ourselves

00:53:33.980 --> 00:53:35.360
 in a situation

00:53:35.360 --> 00:53:36.619
 where we have

00:53:36.619 --> 00:53:37.340
 to make these

00:53:37.340 --> 00:53:38.139
 kinds of choices,

00:53:38.360 --> 00:53:39.099
 but we pray,

00:53:39.260 --> 00:53:39.659
 Lord, that you

00:53:39.659 --> 00:53:40.079
 would give us

00:53:40.079 --> 00:53:40.699
 wisdom and

00:53:40.699 --> 00:53:41.719
 discernment about

00:53:41.719 --> 00:53:43.179
 capital punishment,

00:53:43.340 --> 00:53:43.619
 that you would

00:53:43.619 --> 00:53:44.659
 help us to be

00:53:44.659 --> 00:53:45.320
 bearers of your

00:53:45.320 --> 00:53:46.039
 spirit and your

00:53:46.039 --> 00:53:46.780
 gospel to this

00:53:46.780 --> 00:53:48.039
 world, both your

00:53:48.039 --> 00:53:49.019
 justice and

00:53:49.019 --> 00:53:49.579
 mercy.

00:53:50.079 --> 00:53:50.820
 We pray, Lord,

00:53:50.900 --> 00:53:51.500
 that in

00:53:51.500 --> 00:53:52.920
 disputable

00:53:52.920 --> 00:53:53.440
 matters we

00:53:53.440 --> 00:53:53.900
 would honor

00:53:53.900 --> 00:53:54.380
 our brothers

00:53:54.380 --> 00:53:54.880
 and sisters

00:53:54.880 --> 00:53:55.320
 who think

00:53:55.320 --> 00:53:55.719
 differently,

00:53:56.199 --> 00:53:56.619
 that we

00:53:56.619 --> 00:53:57.000
 would love

00:53:57.000 --> 00:53:57.280
 them and

00:53:57.280 --> 00:53:57.639
 care for

00:53:57.639 --> 00:53:59.039
 them and

00:53:59.039 --> 00:53:59.759
 respect them.

00:54:00.420 --> 00:54:01.019
 And, Lord,

00:54:01.300 --> 00:54:03.920
 in view of

00:54:03.920 --> 00:54:04.380
 your mercy,

00:54:04.679 --> 00:54:05.599
 Lord, we

00:54:05.599 --> 00:54:07.219
 pray for

00:54:07.219 --> 00:54:07.739
 those who

00:54:07.739 --> 00:54:08.420
 are on

00:54:08.420 --> 00:54:09.639
 death row

00:54:09.639 --> 00:54:10.259
 right now in

00:54:10.259 --> 00:54:10.679
 this country.

00:54:10.780 --> 00:54:11.199
 We pray that

00:54:11.199 --> 00:54:11.440
 they would

00:54:11.440 --> 00:54:11.860
 come to know

00:54:11.860 --> 00:54:12.980
 you, and

00:54:12.980 --> 00:54:13.820
 we pray for

00:54:13.820 --> 00:54:15.019
 those who

00:54:15.019 --> 00:54:15.739
 they harmed,

00:54:16.219 --> 00:54:16.679
 that you

00:54:16.679 --> 00:54:17.239
 would bring

00:54:17.239 --> 00:54:18.179
 mercy and

00:54:18.179 --> 00:54:18.719
 peace,

00:54:19.019 --> 00:54:19.360
 to their

00:54:19.360 --> 00:54:20.199
 lives, and

00:54:20.199 --> 00:54:21.059
 much assurance

00:54:21.059 --> 00:54:21.519
 through your

00:54:21.519 --> 00:54:22.059
 Holy Spirit.

00:54:22.639 --> 00:54:23.320
 And we pray

00:54:23.320 --> 00:54:23.820
 this in the

00:54:23.820 --> 00:54:24.099
 name of

00:54:24.099 --> 00:54:24.340
 Jesus.

00:54:24.900 --> 00:54:25.159
 Amen.

00:54:27.159 --> 00:54:27.719
 All right,

00:54:27.759 --> 00:54:28.139
 thanks, folks.

00:54:28.139 --> 00:54:28.179
 Thanks, folks.