I have to admit that I’m reflexively against the death penalty. Besides the fairly high probability of mistakes, I just can’t abide the notion of the state as a killer.

However, I’ve been thinking about the question, anyway. In particular, I was thinking about what the Christian position ought to be. This, naturally, led me to thinking about what Jesus might say about the current proposal to amend the Wisconsin constitution.

I’m no biblical scholar, but the only instance in the Gospels relating to capital punishment that I can think* of is in Chapter 8 of the Gospel of John, in which a woman accused of adultery is brought to Jesus for his judgment.

According to the laws in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, she is to be stoned to death, but Jesus’ judgment is to simply say to the woman “I do not condemn you; go and sin no more.”

I think from the words “do not sin any more,” we can surmise that Jesus accepts that she is guilty of the charge.

But Jesus also clearly refuses to condemn her to death.

So, if you’re looking for guidance on how to vote on the constitutional amendment to allow the death penalty, you can see how Jesus voted in John 8: 11.

[In case the language of the amendment causes any uncertainty, the correct vote is “No.”]

* [April 2, 2007] Doh! I just realized that each of the Gospels contains another reference to capital punishment: The execution of Jesus.