Christians are followers of Christ and his teachings, there are many different denominations within Christianity, but all believers share some core beliefs. These include belief in God the Father, Jesus as the son of God and savior of humanity, and the Holy Spirit. Other common beliefs include the Bible as the authoritative word of God, salvation through faith in Jesus, and eternity in heaven or hell after death. A lawbreaker is someone who commits a criminal act that is punishable by law. This can include actions such as breaking the speed limit while driving, stealing something, or assault. If one is found guilty of committing such an act, they may be subject to punishment by imprisonment, a fine, or both. According to the Christian perspective, lawbreakers should be pardoned and punished, and this perspective can be legalistically reconciled.
There are a few different reasons why pardoning is the best way for Christians to handle with lawbreakers. According to Matthew 6:14-15, the lawbreakers should be pardoned because God has commanded us to forgive others as He has forgiven us. First, pardoning shows mercy and compassion, which are two of the most important characteristics of God. Second, pardoning allows people to repent and turn their lives around, which is something that God desires for everyone. Third, pardoning helps to restore relationships and community in cases where they have been broken by crime. Finally, pardoning can be seen as an act of justice that upholds the rule of law while also taking into account the circumstances and motivations of the offender. If a person breaks the law for the first time, it might be better to pardon them instead of punishing them (Herzig, 2019). This is because pardoning sends a message that the law can be broken and still results in a positive outcome. It reinforces the idea that people are capable of change and can be forgiven for their mistakes.
Similarly, lawbreakers cannot be pardoned every time because this can promote crime in society. When criminals know that they can receive a pardon for their crimes, they may be more likely to commit them. This is because they know that there is a chance they will not be caught and punished. Furthermore, pardoning lawbreakers can give the impression that crime pays. If people see that others are able to stay unpunished with breaking the law, they may be more likely to do so themselves (Herzig, 2019). This can have a number of negative consequences for society as a whole. First, it can lead to an increase in crime rates. Second, it can make people less respect the law and view it as something that is optional or up for interpretation. However, the next alternative is to punish the lawbreakers so to discourage certain behaviors in society.
It is true that there are several advantages of Christians punishing lawbreakers. In the book of Proverbs 23:13-14, the Bible urges Christians to spank their children and that physical discipline may save them from death. When people know that they will be punished for breaking the law, they are less likely to do so. This helps maintain order in society and allows people to live in peace. Additionally, punishing lawbreakers helps deter others from committing crimes, which makes society safer overall (Lee, 2017). Finally, punishing lawbreakers provides justice for those who have been harmed by their actions. One reason why punishment may deter crime is that it makes the potential costs of criminal activity higher. When deciding whether to commit a crime, offenders consider not only the potential benefits of their actions but also the potential costs. If the potential costs are high, they are less likely to engage in criminal activity.
The Christians’ perspectives of dealing with lawbreakers can be reconciled with the legalistic one. There are several circumstances under which the legal system can pardon a lawbreaker. One common example is when the person in question has committed a minor infraction, and there are extenuating circumstances that make it clear that the person is not a danger to society. Another example is when major laws have been changed, and the person’s actions are no longer considered illegal (Lee, 2017). Additionally, pardons can be given for political reasons or when it is deemed to be in the best interest of justice. Whether or not a pardon will be given is ultimately up to the discretion of those in charge of the legal system.
Moreover, legalistic thinking often promotes punishing lawbreakers because it is seen as the most effective way to ensure that the law is followed. The public will fear engaging in criminal activities if they know that the law will punish them. Additionally, many people believe that punishing lawbreakers is morally justified. They believe that it is wrong to break the law and that those who do should be held accountable. Punishing lawbreakers helps to send a message that breaking the law is not tolerated in society and that everyone must follow the rules. The reconciliation is because the constitution borrows from the Bible in many ways, including the concepts of law and government.
References
Herzig, T. (2019). The coerced conversion of convicted Jewish criminals in fifteenth-century Italy. In Forced Conversion in Christianity, Judaism and Islam (pp. 266-289). Brill. Web.
Lee, H. W. (2017). Taking deterrence seriously: The wide-scope deterrence theory of punishment. Criminal Justice Ethics, 36(1), 2-24.