The Death Penalty on Trial
Taking a Life for a Life Taken

Ron Gleason

ISBN: 9780979673672
Pages: 152

Description:

This book rigorously examines the controversy over the death penalty with clarity and cogency.

After Dr. Ron Gleason lays a thorough groundwork in history and law, he defines ethics philosophically, and then presents the Biblical mandate.

For the secular reader, he illustrates the positions of leading thinkers on both sides of the issue and examines their arguments down to the foundational premises.

For Christians–both for and against capital punishment, Dr. Gleason identifies the governing Scriptures and illustrates them with commentary from the confessional statements of the historic reformed church and some of the foremost voices in the church today.

Proponents on both sides will find the issues in focus and the arguments framed for more meaningful discussion.

But as he hones in on the heart of the matter, the reader may find himself  drawn persuasively to Gleason’s conclusion. This book rigorously examines the controversy over the death penalty with clarity and cogency.

Endorsements:

Dr. Ron Gleason challenges both sides of the capital-punishment debate to know and articulate their positions more definitively. He avoids simplistic answers to this serious topic, recognizing that real lives are at stake. This book assesses and provides clear guidance for establishing and maintaining a safe and righteous society.
—Dr. Dominic A. Aquila, President, New Geneva Theological Seminary Colorado Springs, CO

In a society that wants to deny a divine absolute standard, I find Dr. Gleason’s work both challenging and thought-provoking as he systematically provides the Biblical basis supporting his view on capital punishment.
—Brad Dacus, Esq., President, Pacific Justice Institute, Sacramento, CA

Fuzziness on ethical issues is the bane of modern thinking. Happily, there is a voice of clear reason on the scene. Dr. Ron Gleason brings genuine moral clarity to the issue of capital punishment by his illuminating survey of American History. The reader will be most appreciative of Dr. Gleason’s masterful discussion of the objections to the death penalty. This book is a must-read for all lawyers, judges, and law officers.
—Pastor Carl Robbins, Senior Minister, Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC

Speaking as an attorney and retired Marine Lt. Colonel, I find that Dr. Gleason systematically examines the historical background,  the objections, and the scriptures to present a compelling argument. Dr. Gleason’s book has settled the issue for me and I challenge those on both sides of the issue to read it.
—Richard B. Hudson, J.D., Fallbrook, CA

Regardless of one’s own position on the controversial issue of capital punishment, Dr. Gleason clearly and effectively gives readers the
resources to work through this topic and equips them to discuss it with others. This powerful book will make a significant contribution to this topic. I recommend it for careful reading, study, and discussion.
—Dr. Charles Dunahoo, Coordinator of PCA Christian Education and Publications, Atlanta, GA

The Death Penalty on Trial is a must-read for anyone questioning the ethics of capital punishment. Dr. Gleason’s treatment lays a foundation and framework of thinking that is essential for discussion. Many have mistakenly tried to defend erroneous positions because they have been misinformed by historical inaccuracies. This treatment to key historical documents is crisp, clear, and a valuable resource for anyone discussing this often emotionally-charged topic. Those dealing with current judicial reform need to read this to gain insight, not only to the issue of capital punishment, but also to those issues that surround (and often cloud) it.
—Dr. John O. Bumgardner, Jr., First Presbyterian Church, Dillon, SC

Whether you are an abolitionist or believe in Biblical retribution, this is a must-read. Dr. Gleason tackles this controversial subject and disassembles all of the arguments against capital punishment in a logical and persuasive way. The most convincing argument in the book
is Dr. Gleason’s response to those who argue against capital punishment on the grounds that it is better for ten guilty men to go free, than one innocent man to be executed.
—Charles M. Loopstra, q.c., Queen’s Counselor, Toronto, Ontario

At a time when sentiment and the spirit of the age too often characterize liberal ethical reflection, how refreshing it is to see careful Biblical reflection on one of the great issues of our day. Dr. Gleason not only articulates and defends the Scripture’s teaching on capital punishment, but also cogently responds to many of the contemporary objections raised. Accessible without being simplistic, this book should be in the hands of every individual seeking light on this controversial topic.
—Dr. Guy Prentiss Waters, Associate Professor of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, MS

Review:

One damp afternoon about 4400 years ago, the Creator of the universe had a little heart-to-heart with Noah, one of only eight persons to survive a world-wide cataclysm that effectively reduced the earth's population by at least 99.999999999 percent. The Creator was concerned that His creatures would not have to suffer another similar extinction event because of their sinful rebellion against His just and righteous authority.

Since Noah was, practically speaking, the only one in charge as well as being the ancestor of every human being—tens of billions of them since then—the Creator made a covenant with him, an agreement in which Noah and all his descendants could fill the earth with joy and fulfill the promise that one day a Redeemer would come to lift the curse of sin from the human race. One of the codicils of this unilateral contract, however, specified how human beings should deal with persons who would murder their fellows:

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made he man.

Right then and there, the Creator God laid down the law and established the moral and practical foundation for human civil government, making man responsible for dealing with crime. Murderers—those who kill for any reason except self-defense and to protect society—must always forfeit their lives, because to do otherwise is to thwart the Creator's will in making man in His image.

You'd think that would have settled the matter, but you'd be wrong of course. In their long war against God, the children of Noah have shown endless inventiveness in contriving excuses for their wrongdoing and circumventing God's expressed will, and the current widespread confusion concerning the death penalty is but one outcome of this battle.

In The Death Penalty on Trial, Ron Gleason presents as clearly as can be done just why the death penalty is essential not merely to maintain an orderly, civilized society but also why God instituted it—and why failure to implement it entails God's judgment. It's fair to say there is many a civil magistrate alive today who thinks s/he is doing a good, humane thing by not executing a murderer but who will one day be judged and condemned by the Creator for overthrowing His law as first revealed to Noah—a sobering thought, indeed.

Gleason shows how not only secularists but also self-deluded Christians present what they deem as sufficient rationales for doing away with the death penalty. Here are eight common reasons non-Christians offer contra capital punishment:

1. "The death penalty violates the constitutional ban against cruel and unusual punishment, the guarantee of due process of law, and equal protection under the law."
2. "Capital punishment is arbitrary and irrevocable."
3. "Executions give society the message that human life no longer deserves respect."
4. "Reliance on the death penalty obscures the true causes of crime and distracts attention from the social measures that effectively contribute to the control of crime."
5. "Reliance on the death penalty wastes resources."
6. "Decent and humane societies do not deliberately kill human beings."
7. "Capital punishment has not been proven to be an effective deterrent."
8. "The death penalty is too good for a murderer."

Gleason's replies to these objections are informed by not only Scripture but also secular research and just plain common sense.

Some "more liberal-leaning Christians" oppose capital punishment as well, usually offering these five objections:

1. "Jesus' ethics and teaching eliminate the need for capital punishment." (Gleason's discussion of just what "turning the other cheek" meant in Jesus' day is a real eye-opener.)
2. "Since those who come to Christ on death row are forgiven by God, we should forgive them too."
3. "Rehabilitated murderers could do much that is good."
4. "I feel so sorry that someone has to pay with their life."
5. "If we execute someone in error, we are not upholding the justice that God demands."

Read The Death Penalty on Trial to see how Gleason responds to these notions. It's a short book, accessible, with good research to support the author's viewpoints. Every child of Noah should know how the Creator feels about the death penalty and, in contemplating the awesome righteous judgments of God, pray that he never have cause to be subjected to it.

- Mike Gray (stkarnick.com)

CALVIN THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL:

Gleason makes a bold and compelling case that the death penalty is the biblically mandated punishment for murder. While it is true that capital punishment was used in biblical days for a host of crimes, including Sabbath breaking, blasphemy, witchcraft, and belligerent children, Scripture teaches, he argues, that the death penalty for murder is for all time. A major point of the book is that while all murder is killing, not all killing is murder as in the case of self-defense, just wars, or the death penalty (59, 100).

Genesis 9:5–6 is “a foundational text” (24) because the covenant made with Noah was unilateral, universal, and everlasting (25–26). This text also provides the reason premeditated murder is a capital crime. “Murder is a capital crime because man is made in the image of God. Being God’s image bearer gives man a particular value that can never be eradicated” (26). Man’s divine creation provides the moral basis for the sanctity of human life. “Murder is punished with death because to kill another human being is to destroy one who is a bearer of the divine image” (27). Thus, murder is a direct assault upon God himself. Although Gleason does not address differences among theologians as to what extent God’s image remains in sinful man, Genesis 9:5–6 “direct us to the inherent value that every human being has due to the fact that he is created in the image of God” (27).