Reality Check 101

            What is the fundamental difference between capital murder and capital punishment?  On the surface, legally, capital murder is an act which flows from focused intentionality, secret purposes, pre-deliberation, malice and unlawfulness.  Capital punishment, on the other hand, certainly involves intentionality and design, but there the similarities end.  It is very public in design and purpose, is firmly rooted in law and is the exercise of justice as opposed to malice.

            From God’s deeper perspective, the two concepts are even clearer.  God is the sole master of all life (Gen. 1, 2, 9 with Rom.9).  Because human life is the glory of His creation and the light of His own image on Earth, desecrating it is tantamount to blasphemy (Ex. 21 & Lev. 24). It profanes His image.  Further, it is rooted in depravity (Mt. 15 & Gal. 5) and glorifies Satan in opposition to God (Jn.8).  In cases of such heinous behavior, capital punishment is offered by Scripture as not only the acceptable response, but is the only one in keeping with God’s holy and just character; to the point that even animals which kill humans are required to give their lives (Gen. 9, Num. 35, Lev. 24) and government is given the authority of  the sword (Rom 13).

            Since Rep. Brenda Clack ofDetroitsaw fit to make her remarks in the context of her nephew’s murder and her religious values, another issue has been raised.  Sadly, the killer of Rep. Clack’s nephew has plenty of peaceful days.  People who plan and coordinate pre-meditated murder or act with no visible remorse, do not operate from a properly functioning conscience.  Peace is not a huge consideration for them.  Christianity and all major religions understand the callousness of a seared conscience.  As a matter of fact, the ones who suffer most in a maximum security prison are the ones who truly are innocent.  Few of our lawmakers could endure watching what is done to them.  An innocent person sometimes can’t even fight back.  They can’t bring themselves to do what is being done to them.

            By casting the votes that defeated an effort to place the question of capital punishment on the Nov. 2^nd ballot, Rep. Clack, forty other Democrats and eleven Republicans inLansing, declared that there is no difference between capital murder and capital punishment.  Actually, by default, they have decided to value the slayer above the slain.  They have said, essentially, that while the life of a murder victim is deemed unworthy to continue by someone who takes execution authority upon themselves without sanction from men or God, the life of that self-appointed executioner is worthy, not only to continue, but to be nurtured by the state as well.  Like it or not, that is a value judgment of one life over another.  Capital murder, according to their decision, is a lesser “crime” than capital punishment and the perpetrator is awarded the privilege of life which was denied to another.

            Some lawmakers’ fear that a condemned person may be innocent speaks volumes about the condition of our legal system and the level of confidence legislators have in the system.  Despite the sophistication of forensic science, the proven abilities of law enforcement and a shamefully unregulated system of plea-bargaining, they just can’t bring themselves to truly trust it.  They can’t bring themselves to rely on the legal system they helped to create.  When you realize that many representatives and senators are attorneys, the irony is almost too much to bear.

            Those who managed the defeat of House Joint Resolution W (calling for a capital punishment reinstatement) also made another very significant statement; that the citizens ofMichiganare either incompetent to participate or that they are not welcome in the process of governance when the issue is difficult.  These elected officials seem to have forgotten (if they ever knew) that their authority is derived from the people and the people’s God, not from within themselves or the organization they are presently a part of.  The message is now clear fromLansing.  Only the legislature has the experts to handle life and death issues.  If they weaken once in a while and listen to the citizenry, the Governor can take over through her veto power and decide for the rest of the state’s ten million people.  Such autocratic rule should drive enough fear into the hearts ofMichigancitizens to cause some powerful responses, no matter what party anyone is loyal to.