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Word from Grace Street Replies Round-Up
Posted by Kimberly Allen
In last week's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ wrote about the execution of John Allen Muhammad and the question it raises for Christians:
This question stirred many of you to reply. For some, the answer seems clear; for others, not so clear. Below is a sampling of the many responses received (published with permission, in alphabetical order by writer's last name):
Charlie Appel
The BCP [Book of Common Prayer] states our theology well: it does not say 'all except...!'
Neither did Jesus say 'love your neighbor except for...!'
The theology of Love is stressful at the very least, but that is no reason to fail to accept it! Thank you for excellent words on a very stressful subject!
Jack W. Burtch, Jr. (‘JB')
Thank you for this word from Grace Street. Last night I found my self restless and discontent just before 9:00pm. When I figured out why I began to pray for John Muhammad, his victims, all their families and everyone in the justice system who has had to deal with this, including all the lawyers, judges and the governor. Capital punishment is wrong. It's as simple as that. It may be justified, explainable or even, in a perverse way, satisfying; but it is wrong. Thank you for making this point so clearly and reminding us what - and who - is at stake.
Guy Chance
What about the Christ in him? I am glad you ask the question because it helps me to think about it and allow my heart the opportunity at least to be softened in my thinking about that man.
I confess to you that my overall thoughts about the entire situation from his killings to our killing of him are quite different from those of many other people I think. First, I firmly believe that the length of time between his murders and his death are an obscenity. It took too many years for "justice" to prevail. Particularly in the case of such heinous crimes as his, I believe that justice delayed is, to some extent, justice denied.
... In 1957 and 1958, serving as a Private E-1 in the United States Army (with a paycheck of $78 per month), I was taught to kill without feeling-with bayonets, machine guns, tanks, hand grenades, and 105 Howitzers. Later, my killing skills were honed in Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma... Fortunately, the only killing I did in the Army was three deer with a battalion of 105 Howitzers while target practicing on the firing range at Fort Sill... There was no war at that time, fortunately. But, underneath my polite veneer as a civilized gentleman, the U.S. government has implanted the instincts and motor skills of a Viking barbarian...lurking just below the surface.
I know that it is un-Christian for me to think of what I would do to Mr. Muhammad with a grease gun in my hands in a military situation. How can I be sensitive, tolerant, merciful, forgiving, loving, and gentle and also be "on call" as an efficient killer of our country's "enemies"? That is another question.
Bob Hufford
VERY good statement of a tough problem. I am not 100% sure how I feel about capital punishment; I THINK I'm opposed, for the reasons you cite, among others. But guys like Muhammad (and Gacy, and Bundy) make me doubt my doubts. No sane person would want Muhammad set free.
Neil Keller
My caretaker Monica (who is from Ghana) put it well as we watched the news on TV of the execution. She sadly shook her head and said "Is not good."
The Rev. Fletcher Lowe
Wallace, how grateful I am for your witness. Beautifully and pointedly said. With most every execution in VA since its inception in the early 70's I either join with others at St. Peter's or the Friends Meeting House in a vigil-or vigiled on my own reading the "Ministration at the Point of Death." Somehow it helps me distance myself from my state as it murders someone in my name.
Calder Loth
Interesting reflection. Capital punishment is and will always be a tough call.
On the one hand, execution can be an action that shows the ultimate respect for life. Execution is a profound demonstration that we cannot and will not tolerate the existence of someone who has no respect for life whatever, and randomly and with premeditation destroys the lives of innocent people whom he doesn't even know. Is such a person mentally ill? Of course he is. You have to have a twisted mind to be able to do such a thing. But in the cases of both Muhammad and Hasan, it appears that both knew exactly what they were doing and carefully planned it.
On the other hand, we have to consider what capital punishment actually achieves. As we have learned, most studies show that capital punishment is not an effective deterrent to such horrible crimes. The many countries that have eliminated capital punishment do not have more such murders than we do.
... You ask where was Christ in Muhammad and Hasan? It sure doesn't seem he was anywhere near them.
We might also ask where was Christ for those who were murdered? Indeed, what meaning does Christ have in such situations?
Bottom line: I'm opposed to capital punishment because I don't think it does any good. It's a barbaric practice that civilized societies should eliminate altogether simply because it is barbaric. It's been well demonstrated in many other countries that societies function perfectly well without executing people.
As for Christ, he doesn't seem to exercise much control over mass killers, but one would think that eliminating capital punishment is consistent with Christian principles. *
*Exception: Israel probably did the proper thing in making an exception in its anti capital-punishment policy by executing Adolph Eichmann. Perhaps we should reserve the right to handle mass killers and terrorists thusly. Again, it's a tough call.
Dr. Carmen Wong
That is a powerful question. And I shiver to think that somehow I have participated in creating an environment that allows the Christ in him to be executed. Am I my brother's keeper? I recognize my brother, but somehow failed him. I ask for forgiveness.
Yesterday I introduced the concept of transcendentalism to the class. We being one with the Oversoul. Muhammad's energy will never be lost when he dies. It will be changed as yours and mine will. May he rest in peace as those whom he hurt now feel relief.
Pray for us professors and teachers who touch the lives of students every day. What of my impact? Hopefully it is positive.
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