The system of punishments administered under the Law of Moses in Israel has been replaced by the law of the land according to Christ’s words: My kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36) Although the law of the land would do well to adopt God’s system of justice in many matters, Christians should concern themselves primarily, not with the law of the land, but with the kingdom of God.
Christians have more important things to do than to seek to improve the world by going around trying to catch criminals: He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still. (Rev 22:11) The church’s ministry is teaching rather than enforcement. It recognizes that God is the ultimate judge.
But the law of the land does still have an important role to play, in deterring evil, and in instruction. It was written in the case of perjury: if the witness be a false witness . . . Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother . . . and those which remain shall hear, and shall fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you. (Deut 19:18-20)
Unfortunately, in many lands, the law has departed from God’s perfect system of justice by being overly concerned with property, rather than violence. Although there can be exceptions, such as was the case for King David, (2 Sam 12:9,13) God in general ordains capitol punishment for murder. Before the Old Covenant was given to the Jews, the general law for all mankind was: Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Gen 9:6) This reason does not change.
A thief, under God’s law, was punished less than today. Not as under Islamic law, where the hands of thieves are cruelly cut off, God’s merciful law ordained that a multiple of the amount stolen should be restored. It was written: If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep . . . he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. (Exod 22:1) Although the multiplication factor may vary depending upon the level of detection, fines seem to me to be a far more adequate method of dealing with thieves. Those who cannot pay should be forced to labour.
God also ordained corporal punishment, rather than prison, for serious offences. He said: if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten . . . the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. (Deut 25:2,3) Some corporal punishment in the world today is too severe, such as in Singapore, where they beat with a cane soaked in water, and where the pain of their method may be sufficient for a person to lose consciousness. And this even for minor offences such as spraying graffiti. Some need deterrance from evil, by stick and carrot by the law of the land, and this is the limit of the law of the land for a few reasons. One is that mistakes can be made, or there can be corruption in high places. Another is that with men punishing, they can think of the person as vile.
As well as having more deterrence, corporal punishment is probably kinder to the criminal. Going to jail causes a person to lose employment, and, half of the time, to lose their wives. Isolation also may disturb a person’s psychological and emotional makeup.
Although Christ forbad the use of the following scripture for personal or petty revenge, it retains validity as a law of the land. The Scripture says: if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. (Lev 24:19,20) This is God’s perfect justice, of which all nations should say: what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgements so righteous as all this law. (Deut 4:8)
Christ’s words to turn the other cheek referred primarily to minor matters. In more serious matters, Christ does not leave us unprotected. Before the cross He said: he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (Luke 22:36) There are lawless elements in society from which we must be protected by force. David says of them: the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear. (2 Sam 23:6,7)
If we can use the law to protect us, this is preferred. When Paul was about to be flogged, he said: Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? . . . Then straightway they departed from him. (Acts 22:25,29)
Paul also used the protection of the Roman army when the Jews plotted to kill him. It happened that: certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. (Acts 23:12) But Paul’s nephew heard it and told Paul, who sent him to tell the Roman captain. Then the captain: called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; and provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. (Acts 23:23,24)
Although we should not be deterred from using force or law to protect ourselves when we think necessary, our ultimate trust must be in God. Ezra said: I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us. (Ezra 8:22,23)
Hopefully, because of good behaviour, a Christian’s interaction with the law will be for the punishment of their enemies rather than themselves. Peter says: let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody. (1 Peter 4:15) A Christian’s conscience and self respect should keep them out of trouble. But if not, Christians are warned of the power of the law, that: there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God . . . For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Rom 13:1-4)
When a Christian has done wrong, they should do their best to make amends. Jesus said: Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. (Matt 5:25,26)
But what if one’s adversary is a brother in Christ? What is a Christian to do if their fellow Christian commits a crime against them? Where possible, court cases are to be avoided amongst Christians (1 Cor 6:1-7). But if the matter is serious it may not be that simple. If the Christian has contempt for the law it may be for his spiritual benefit to be prosecuted. For gross sins, a Christian may be delivered unto Satan: for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved. (1 Cor 5:5) For lesser sins it may be necessary to deliver to the law. But what should be done, should be done in the interests of the restoration of the soul of the fellow Christian.