Letter on Capital Punishment

Clerk:
Rev. J. A. T. van Dorp
Gisborne.
14 Thomson St.,
Gisborne.
28th March 1978.

The Secretary,
Parliamentary Committee on
Violent Offending,
Parliament Buildings,
WELLINGTON.

Dear Sir,

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

In considering solutions to the problem of violent offending your committee will be concerned amongst other matters with the aspect of capital punishment. The committee will be well aware of the incidence of violent crime involving murder and the many requests that have been made for the re-instatement of the death penalty. As the number of murders has steeply increased in the last decade, it is only logical to conclude that this is in no small way due to the abolition of capital punishment. Whilst this would be a sufficient reason for its re-introduction our desire should be to be governed by the moral criteria that ought to guide us in this solemn matter.

With this in view I respectfully submit the following Christian viewpoints:

• 1. It is essential to distinguish between personal principles of conduct and those principles that apply in the administration of law and justice. In our private conduct the Scriptures forbid personal revenge but in the administration of justice God requires punishment commensurate with the crime.
• 1. The death penalty is not a part of Jewish ceremonial law introduced by the laws committed to Moses. The death penalty was then re-affirmed; it was first authorised by the supreme lawgiver in His charge to Noah, many years before the existence of any organised Hebrew state: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man” (Gen. 9:6).
• 1. New Testament teaching is equally explicit. Jesus said in the sermon on the mount: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfil” (Matt. 5:17). All that the Saviour abolished by His coming were the Jewish ceremonial laws. The moral law of the ten commandments continues in full force today as it always applied, being the law of right and wrong and so do all the moral principles that may be deduced from it.
• 1. The apostle Paul in requiring obedience to civil government clearly implies the use of capital punishment where necessary: “Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.” “He is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Rom. 13:3-4). The apostle himself was willing to submit to the death penalty if he had done anything worthy of death. “If I be an offender or have committed any thing worthy of death. I refuse not to die” (Acts 25:11).
• 1. The reasons for which God authorised capital punishment may be resolved into three aspects:
  2. i. The evil that proceeds from the heart of fallen mankind: “out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, etc.” (Matt. 15:19).
  3. ii. The dignity of man: “In the image of God made He man” (Gen. 9:16).
  4. iii. Cleansing: “The land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it” (Num. 35:33).

Yours sincerely,

J. A. T. van Dorp,
Clerk of Presbytery.

Meeting of Synod

The Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland will meet within St Jude’s Church, 137 Woodlands Road, Glasgow G.3, on Tuesday, the 23rd of May, 1978 (DV). The retiring Moderator, Rev. A. MacPherson, Stratherrick, will conduct Public Worship at 6.30 p.m.

(Rev.) Donald MacLean,
Clerk of Synod.

Clerk of Australia and New Zealand Presbytery

The Rev. D. M. MacLeod, Auckland, has tendered his resignation from the position of Clerk at a meeting of Presbytery on 24th March, 1978, on account of his illness. The Presbytery has appointed Rev. J. A. T. van Dorp, Gisborne, to take his place.

Death of Rev. Malcolm MacSween, Oban

It is with deep sorrow that we record the passing away on Wednesday, 29th March of Rev. Malcolm MacSween, Oban. His removal leaves a great blank in his own congregation and in the Church. His services to our Church as a faithful and outstanding preacher of the Gospel, as Theological Tutor, and as Clerk of the Southern Presbytery for many years are well known. What was written concerning David has now been fulfilled of him: “After he had served his own generation by the will of God, he fell on sleep.” We pray that the Lord will uphold his widow, Mrs MacSween, his son William and family, and also the congregation in their sore bereavement, granting them the consolations of His love.