I had a few thoughts on legal punishment that I was wondering if I could have your guys opinion on. I noticed that in the Bible, Jesus didn’t seem like the kind of guy who wanted people to face a justice system for their sins. I think of when that woman was accused of a crime and Jesus dared the Pharisees to stone her, which they did not. Not to mention that Jesus died in the cross for all of our sins (which isn’t to say that we cannot commit crimes but that we weren’t delivered rightful justice because of his sacrifice). With this thinking, I wonder if we it is really good to have a justice system that prioritizes punishment (I.e. you will be in prison for this amount of years) versus one that prioritizes rehabilitation (more emphasis on programs that take people from their criminal mindsets and prepares them for re-integration with society). However, I then think of circumstances like “so should murderers be given lessened sentences and be treated nice even though they killed people?” My father was a New York State Trooper and remains adamant that some people are just beyond saving. Perhaps I’m too naive or optimistic to realize this, but what are your thoughts.
I also wonder if there are any truly “bad” people. When I mean by bad people, I imagine sort of person like an evil villain of some superhero movie that everyone just agrees is “justified” to face a horrible death in the movie for their crimes. I remember hearing about a school shooting that occurred recently where a few children were hurt but some lone stepped in and killed the gunman before they could do any more harm. When a few of my friends were discussing it, they were cheering and laughing about the gunmans death. However, I couldn’t help but also feel that that shooter was also a human and because of whatever circumstances was lead to do this act of evil. Are there some people that we can just ignore their “human-ness” and celebrate their death, or should we also mourn the dead of those who commit egregious crimes? I often feel there is this great disparity inside me when I weigh these two opposites: feel bad for a criminal or be joyous at the death of another intelligent being?
There are truly terrible creatures out there (some of these beings don’t deserve being called humans; and I’m pretty sure than even demons are disgusted by them). For example, there was a darkweb site called Hurt2thecore, which was shut down around ten years ago, where some of the most twisted and cruel pedophiles around the world gathered to share stories, videos, and images of themselves abusing, torturing, and sometimes even killing little children and adolescents (Anonymous posted screenshots from that site showing some of those creatures boasting that they had subjected children to such horrific abuse and agony that the children died on their properties).
Screenshots at 2:51, 4:15, 5:20 and 6:45 (no graphic images)
To be honest, if I were not a Christian, I cannot imagine any horror I wouldn’t gladly inflict on creatures like that. And even as a Christian I would kill these creatures without a second thought.
So, to make a long story short: yes, truly evil people do exist, and sometimes they don’t even have the “excuse” (and I put that in quotation marks because many, many victims of abuse still grow up to be decent people, so it’s not an excuse at all) of having been abused themselves.
The actual existence of such creatures is also why I have absolutely no problem with the doctrine of everlasting torment in Hell.
For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
We personally are to love every person, difficult as that can be. The state is entrusted with the enforcement of justice. One could argue the form and degree that takes, but society is not obliged to let evil run rampant or without consequence.
I guess what I’m asking is: for a given circumstance (assuming outside the justice system), should we try to administer punishment first or try to bring a change of heart, assuming ideal circumstances and no regulatory action complicates things. Or rather, should we prefer punishment for the crime or should we rather the perpetrator have a change of heart, whatever may inspire that?
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” -Colossians 4:6
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