My letter to Gov Shapiro

 
March 3rd 2023.                                                                               Church of Christ
                                                                                                                    7222 Germantown Ave
                                                                                                                     Phila PA. 19119
                                                                                                                    Ph 215.248.2026
                                                                                                               [email protected]
                                                                                                      www.mtairychurchofChrist.org
 
 
Dear Gov Shapiro.
 
Greetings to you and congratulations on winning the election. I admired your work as the
A G of Pa and thought you did a fine job.  I heard you speak on the death penalty and wanted 
to share some thoughts from the word of God concerning the right of Government to punish the unlawful person.
 
The Old Testament and the New Testament instruct men not to kill or steal. Gen 9.5-6.
Ex 20.13-15.  Eph 4.28. Rom 13.9-10.   The commandments “thou shalt not steal” and “thou shalt not kill” are well known to evildoers which is the reason they run from police.  Rom 13.3
 
Government was ordained by God, for men to have rule of authority to live under. Rom 13.1-7.  1 Pt 2.13-14.  The Bible teaches when Government fails to carry out the authority which God has entrusted to it, evildoers will be encouraged to commit evil acts.  2 Pt 2.10.  Eccl 8.11.  
Deut 19.10-20.  
 
No evil doer plans on getting caught, so the threat of being “locked up” does not deter a robber.  But that does not mean that we do away with jail sentences for robbery.  The government has the right to take a robber and lock him up. Matt 5.25-26. Matt 18.28-30.  No evil doer plans on getting caught, so the threat of execution does not deter murderers. But that does not mean that we should do away with the death penalty.  Both the Old Testament and the New Testament authorizes authority of Government to punish robbers and murderers. The Government can take freedom from a criminal and the Government can take life from a killer.   John 19.8-11. Luke 23.20-22.  Luke 23.39-41.  Acts 25.10-11.  Matt 5.21-22.
 
 
Government should not worry whether a man named Sam will be deterred not to steal.  
Just enforce the law and let Sam suffer the consequences.  If Jack wants to go out and steal, 
let him also be jailed and suffer for his deeds. Col 3.25.   One thing is certain, if you lock up 
Jack and Sam, they are deterred from committing any other robberies during their sentence.
 
If a murderer named Thomas is executed, he is deterred from committing any other murderers.
If there is another murderer name Charles, execute him and Charles won't be able to commit anymore murders.     The government needs to go ahead and execute the authority that God has given it and not worry about whether a person will be deterred.   Just enforce the law.   
 
I hope you have a very good term and that you will do much good for Pennsylvania.   Thank you.
 
                                                                                                                   James Baker 

                                                                                                              Minister Mt. Airy church of Christ