Let
everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority
except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been
established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels
against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those
who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right,
but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in
authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. – Romans 13:1-3
(NIV)
I felt someone rubbed my arms softly as I felt her presence
and opened my eyes as I waited for the numbing medicine to start working on the
spot where our family dentist hit with precision… I knew her even before our
previous dentist had left. She had been working in that facility for many
years.
“Are you okay?” she asked as she smiled and her blue eyes
looked directly as I turned my head to where she was.
“You look like…”
“Like what?” I quickly asked with concern upon hearing her
statement that sounded like it wasn’t going to end nice.
“Stressed out…”
“Ahhh…Not really…At least, not at this time…except for the
anticipated procedure…” I replied.
She was that kind of dental assistant who always smiled at
everyone who walked in, into those individual, little rooms as the empty chairs
invited every person who needed a procedure or just to have their regular
dental evaluation done. She had known me for all those years my family and I
had been going. I tried not to miss each 6th month visit. Despite, I
had one cavity needing to be fixed this morning.
My mind didn’t stop there after what she said…
“It’s probably me…been working nights for many, many years.
So, some nights, even when I’m off, I’m up…”
“Maybe…Where do you work?”
“In the prison…”
“Ohhh…I didn’t know that…” And with her mouth slightly
agape, another question came out without hesitation.
“Sooo….do you support the ‘death penalty’?”
I wasn’t sure what to say at first. I was caught off guard as
I tried to talk with a growing numbness on the left side of my face. Trying to
read her face, I couldn’t sense if she was for it or against it with what she
just asked me.
“Ahhh…” I started carefully, not meaning to offend her point
of view, but then, only to realize, I had to state my own:
“I’ve dealt with very evil men in there and yes, I support
it if there is solid evidence that someone has really done such horrendous
crimes one’s guilty for.”
I wasn’t sure if it was the “Jodi
Arias’ case” widely-televised lately since the trial started that I noticed
many people had been conversing about death penalties. Like at work. My co-workers
asking many questions, too.
She didn’t say anything but nodded her head. As if to agree
with what I uttered. But not allowing me to truly know what was brewing in her
heart.
I could be wrong. I could be right. She could be right. She
could be wrong.
The only thing that was right…no matter…was that God has the
highest standard than any human being. It would be wrong to say that He wanted “death
penalty” all the time for He had shown grace and mercy in some cases. Nor “He wouldn’t want it for those who
deserved it” for He had shown His wrath somehow in some other cases.
Yes…as believers, we shouldn’t rejoice to hear a person was
granted a “death penalty” yet at the same time, we could respect the authority’s
decision against those who committed such the worst of the evil acts or crimes…
What’s your take on this?
