February 24
Leviticus 23:1-25:23
A question which I am sometimes asked when I express my pro-life stance is whether or not I am for or against capital punishment. When I state that I am for it, when the evidence is unquestionable, often I see the finger pointing and the label of hypocrite being attached to me. This is because people feel they can take a morally superior high road over that which God has clearly stated. God never took an eraser to the moral laws put forth in the Old Testament. That we, Christians, are under grace and mercy, does not make God's law null and void. Being for the life of the unborn, but not for the life of the murderer is not a contradiction. People have forgotten that in this scenario the baby is the victim, while the murderer is the law breaker. We read in Exodus 21:22-25, we read, "“If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." This is the punishment for the unintentional taking of the life of the unborn, consider how God would consider the intentional taking of this life. We read in Leviticus 24:17, "‘Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death." This is God's prescribed punishment for the murderer.
In our nation we have moved from swift punishment to incarceration. We read in Leviticus 24:10-14, "Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and this Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought each other in the camp. And the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed; and so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the Lord might be shown to them. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him." The purpose of placing the man in custody was so that Moses could seek out the will of God. Moses didn't knee jerk based on his sense of right and wrong, he wanted to know what God thought. Consider what a deterrent this would be in our current godless society. We read in 24:19-20, "‘If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him— fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him." Wouldn't that serve as a better deterrent than what we currently do? We also read that there were no exceptions, as we read in 24:22, "You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the Lord your God.’ ”" In 1993, 19 year old American, Michael Fay, was "caned" in Singapore for his acts of theft and vandalism in that country, which was the sentence of that country. In our nation, especially in "sanctuary cities" there are different punishments based on one's citizenship.
We will never be more fair, more just, or more loving than God. Severe penalties will result in strict observance of the law. What most don't realize is that when we choose our own way, or the world's way, over God's way, we often effectively imprison ourselves, as we read in Mark 10:21-22, concerning the "Rich Young Ruler", "Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." This man was imprisoned by his own wealth. After the disciples are shocked with this interaction, we read the exchange in 10:26-27, "And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”" Our society is out of control, and it seems as though reversing our current trend is impossible. As long as our nation and people in general continue to move forward in godless directions based on their own puny wisdom, it is impossible. That is why revival, and revival alone is our only hope. We must turn our eyes back to the God of the Bible, and seek Him as the only true source.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: