Advent

December 4, 2020

Scripture Reading:
2 Peter 3:8-15a
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

I do not support the use of the death penalty in any circumstances. Thus, it broke my heart when I read that after 17 years with no federal executions, our nation since July 2020 has been executing people. My stance on the death penalty is based on the belief that no human has the right to limit the time for a person to repent. I also see execution as rendering a final judgment, which I believe is God’s job and not any human’s assignment. There are, however, many non-faith based reasons for stopping executions. It does not serve as a deterrent to crime, it cost far more to execute someone than to sentence them to life in prison, and at least 18 people have been executed since 1976 who were most likely innocent of the crime for which they were sentenced to death*. There have been 167 exonerations of prisoners on death row in the United States since 1973**. I have no idea why we started executing people again other than having the power to do it, right or wrong.

Peter, the author of the above scripture, knew well the importance of repentance after denying even knowing Jesus three times on the night of his trial. Legend has it that when Peter was executed, he asked to be hung on the cross upside down as he felt unworthy of hanging on the cross in the same manner Jesus had. Peter committed no crime worthy of death when he was executed rather than upset Rome’s principalities and powers. Jesus was executed for standing up to religious leaders who were envious of his power.

Prayer: God, forgive us as a nation for preempting your power of final judgment. Help us learn to restore the prisoner as you restored Peter. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.