Someone recently wrote in a
post
in Facebook: "How can someone claim to be a grace preacher and still be
in favor of the death penalty? It's a total contradiction. I believe
it's time to make this very clear. If we preach grace, then we need to
be consistent. Grace & death are poles apart. Grace and love will
always protect, even if it means to distance oneself from the
perpetrator or protect what is precious to us. Yes, there will be
natural consequences to be accountable. South Africa is currently
battling with violent crime. Whenever I hear about another rape or farm
murder, it is human to be angry and upset. But there is grace for the
criminals, even when they have to serve sentence as part of the
consequences for their deeds. But there is no grace in an eye for an
eye. I have especially targeted my statement to the so-called grace
preaching pastors while simultaneously out of the same mouth they speak
death. It does not make any sense."
I agree. Grace is not 'an eye for an eye'. Grace is forgiveness. Grace and love keeps no records of wrongs.
Grace
and justice are perfectly compatible because justice is not law or
legalism, nor is it about punishment or eternal torture. Justice is
setting people free from the law and from condemnation. That's true
justice.
Grace changes people from the inside out. Judgment or
condemnation doesn't change anyone. It only inflicts guilt and creates
more trouble in the society.
There are natural consequences for
every action. People can learn from their own mistakes. No one will grow
up if they are placed under do's and don'ts, or live under threats of
punishment, such as the death penalty.
Grace teaches people to
learn to take responsibility for their actions and not depend on outward
laws. Under grace, all things are permissible but not all things are
beneficial. People will learn to love their neighbour and do things that
are beneficial because love does no harm to a neighbour.
Grace is
also wisdom. Grace means taking measures to keep a distance from those
who are abusive, so as to ensure one's own safety. Grace rules, not
death penalty.
Those who receive ABUNDANCE of grace and gift of
righteousness (or innocence) will reign in life over sin (or ignorance
of God's love and of our true identity in Christ) and death (or
condemnation).
Thoughts on Troy Davis' case
I also agree with
Troy Davis' view
that true justice is about setting the innocent free from an unfair
system. Even if a person has been guilty of a crime, the death penalty
is not appropriate since it is equivalent to murder. At the most,
imprisonment would prevent the person from carrying out further harm,
and at the same time the person will have time to reflect and meditate
on one's actions. Everyone deserves a second chance. Law and punishment
never transform anyone, but only inflicts guilt and shame, which
perpetuate problems in the society. I believe grace is the answer, for
unconditional love transforms the heart. Hopefully, with the awareness
of Troy Davis' case and his supporters' efforts, the death penalty can
be removed from the judicial system one day.
Thoughts on commentary by Kevin Powell - "Troy Davis did not die"
I just read a heart-felt commentary by Kevin Powell,
a fellow black man who is an activist, writer and public speaker based in New York. His writing resounded with me, especially the final part of his article, as he is also against death penalty. Like him, as much as I am aghast by the failure of justice in Georgia, I too believe Troy's death is not in vain but has created awareness in the world about the urgent need for reform in America's judicial system and change in people's mindset to overlook differences in skin colour. Love and justice shall prevail as we participate together in the movement with his supporters to end death penalty.
The issue of human dignity
It is about the value of human life, therefore death penalty in any form, whether lethal injection or other methods, can never be justified. I remember reading a news article recently which said that just by causing the person to wait for the lethal injection to be ministered would likely to have caused some psychological trauma. I once watched a movie "Dead Man Walking", which shows the actor Sean Penn who played the role of the condemned experiencing great fear and stress at the thought of dying before the execution. Death penalty is cruel and should be abolished for the sake of human dignity.
Update (24 October 2012)
I've been through my own seasons of
disillusionment and cynicism about the lack of action and
responsibility by the authorities to do something about the state of the
world, and I am finding my own way to see what can be done. It is
not easy to find hope, though I do see some small progress, such as the
recent move by the local government to
revise laws on death penalty, for
example. It's thanks to my best friend's sharing with me about Troy Davis' case last year that I was eventually inspired to write to
the national newspaper forum to abolish death penalty, and I believe
this, together with other collective efforts by other activists, have
helped make some positive changes in the laws.
