People are hungry for change. They elected a leader who promised change and suppression of crimes in a few months. He has a track record for developing a city and making it one of the best in the country. Change, he says, is coming.
People rely on him for discipline. He is a man of strength and courage. The day after elections, some drivers already start dropping off passengers in the allowed drop-off points. Some drug dealers have already made plans to change business. His victory inspired change.
He hates drugs. He hates crimes. The first thing in his agenda is to suppress crimes. Fast. The way to move the country forward is by making sure crimes are not tolerated.
He is open to bringing back death penalty - by hanging, even. The death penalty has been abolished nearly a decade ago. The Philippines was the first country in Asia to abolish death penalty. But this president who will bring about change, is about to bring back a law that was abolished a decade ago.
There are many debates around this issue, and not surprisingly, a lot of people support bringing it back. Because their president wants it back. Period. What he says, they support. What he wants to do, they will be willing to do. Because he is the only person who can help transform this county.
The church is still silent on this issue. Famous personalities with Christian faith have been asked. Surprisingly, one famous personality agreed that death penalty is biblical. The passage he cited? Romans 13:1-10. The passage talks about duties toward state authorities. That authorities should be respected because God put them there to lead.
In the Old Testament, death was God's punishment for the people of Israel who disobeyed his commands. God punished not only individuals but whole clans (Num 16:31-33), who dare disobey His commandments. When people worshipped other gods (Deut 13:9), He killed them. When people stole what is supposed to be in God's treasury (Joshua 7:25-26), or when they do not obey simple instructions. He punished them, and their families, if need be - with death. He burned people (Lev 10:2), punished them for complaining (Num 14:36-37), for rebellion (Num 16:31-33), and for committing false accusations (Deut 19:21).
Throughout the Old testament narrative, the children of God continue to forget Him and worshipped other gods. But God's love was unfailing. He continued to send people to lead them back to Him (Deut 4:37). But we humans continue to fail. Crimes and sins against God and against humanity have become our nature. And because sending leaders to lead people back to God wasn't enough, He sent his only Son, Jesus. Jesus became fully human, born as a human, raised and grew up as a normal human. He experienced what it was like to be human, and even though he did not sin, he was sentenced to die. He died hanging on the cross. Death on the cross was the ultimate form of death penalty at the time. He died through the ultimate form of death penalty. But in his death, he reconciled man to God. No one can come to God, except through Jesus. He died, but He rose again after three days. His death and resurrection was a symbol of victory over death itself.
In present-day reality, death penalty or capital punishment is an issue that still causes heated arguments, especially among Christians. Some people support death penalty because God's punishment for sin is death. Some people are against death penalty because it does not align with restorative justice principles.
Yes, death is God's punishment for sin, which is why we are all supposed to die. But Jesus Christ's death on the cross was an ultimate form of sacrifice. He is the reason why we can have eternal life.
We, humans, are not worthy to impose death to others who have committed crimes. It is only God who can do that.
As a human rights and peace advocate, I strongy believe that death penalty is not the answer to reduce crimes. It would only show that the government does not value the life of its constituents, and would only promote fear and terror. What this society needs is not fear - to force them not to commit crimes. What we need is inspiration - so we can actively and proactively work together towards a better society. We need to explore restorative justice processes. Yes, it may take more time, more energy, more resources. But in the long run, restorative justice is what we need so that the pains and injustices of this generation will no longer be passed on to the next.
In present-day reality, death penalty or capital punishment is an issue that still causes heated arguments, especially among Christians. Some people support death penalty because God's punishment for sin is death. Some people are against death penalty because it does not align with restorative justice principles.
Yes, death is God's punishment for sin, which is why we are all supposed to die. But Jesus Christ's death on the cross was an ultimate form of sacrifice. He is the reason why we can have eternal life.
We, humans, are not worthy to impose death to others who have committed crimes. It is only God who can do that.
As a human rights and peace advocate, I strongy believe that death penalty is not the answer to reduce crimes. It would only show that the government does not value the life of its constituents, and would only promote fear and terror. What this society needs is not fear - to force them not to commit crimes. What we need is inspiration - so we can actively and proactively work together towards a better society. We need to explore restorative justice processes. Yes, it may take more time, more energy, more resources. But in the long run, restorative justice is what we need so that the pains and injustices of this generation will no longer be passed on to the next.
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