I remember the first time I was schooled by a former hippie. He said, “So your pro-life? I’ll bet you’re in favor of capital punishment, too. I always love that little contradiction!”
I was furious because he had called me on the carpet and I had no answer.
More recently, a bright young woman asked, “Hey Jake, I’m curious what you think about this. If someone is pro life in terms of abortion, does that mean she needs to be against capital punishment? And if one is pro life, does she have to be against physician assisted suicide?”
My short answer as to the difference between capital punishment and abortion is God hates the shedding of innocent blood, Proverbs 6:16, but the blood of serial killers is not innocent. With certain limitations, he ordains governments to protect their citizens from heinous criminals domestic and foreign, and this can include the death penalty, Romans 13:3-4, and war, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
Regarding physician assisted suicide, He said in Exodus 20:13, “You shall not kill,” which includes suicide. He did not say, “But killing is ok if there is poor quality of life.” End of life issues can be extremely complex. I get that. I dealt with it at the hospital twice yesterday. I’m just saying that killing is not a valid option.
Free Spirit Seed Company 