Living in the Spirit

October 22, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Luke 18:9-14
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’

Some Pharisees liked to play God so do some politicians. Supporting the death penalty gains them votes for being tough on crime. The state of Oklahoma, using our tax dollars, on October 20, 2022, killed another man with a mental illness for killing his nine-month-old baby, twenty years ago. Although he had been diagnosed as having schizophrenia, the courts denied the need to determine if he suffered from a mental illness.

 He was the sixth person executed in the last year in Oklahoma. There are twenty more scheduled for execution over the next two years. The death penalty serves no criminal justice purpose. Studies have determined that it does not serve as a deterrent to crime. Keeping someone on death row for 20 years costs a lot more money than serving their time in a regular prison setting. Why, you ask does it take 20 years before someone is executed?  Because it takes a long time to process all the appeals. People impacted by the crime that resulted in a death sentence get no closure during all those appeals. Why must we have all those appeals? Because since the death penalty was reinstated in 1973 at least 190 people have been exonerated before they were executed. We have no idea how many innocent people have been executed. People who are a danger to themselves or others may need to be sentenced to life in prison, where they have a chance at redemption. There is no redemption in execution. Jesus was innocent of any crime and his execution provided for the redemption of all people.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we insert ourselves into making decisions meant only for you. 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.