| Death penalty should test our faith Nobody ever said being a Christian would be easy. Strive to enter by the narrow door, said Jesus, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. (Luke 13:24) When my faith is tested, I often end up arguing with God about it. Sometimes it takes a spiritual knock on the side of the head for me to come to the realization that faith, in order to be stronger, has to be tested. I pretty much dont like it. That said, heres my current test of faith. As you, no doubt, are aware, the people suspected in those random shootings in October the so-called sniper shootings have been arrested. People of faith spent time in prayer vigils, worship services and alone on bended knee to pray for an end to the senseless violence. In fact, the very day of an interfaith prayer service at Faith UMC in Rockville, the big break in the case happened. Early in the morning hours of the day after the service, the two suspects were apprehended. Then the legal wrestling began. Who would try the suspects first? Would it be Maryland, where most of the crimes were committed? Would it be Washington, D.C.? How about Virginia or Alabama, where a shooting in September was tied to the suspects? Or how about Louisiana or Washington state? Maybe it would begin in Federal Court, because these crimes had been committed in so many various jurisdictions? As it turns out, Virginia won the wrestling match. We believe that the first prosecutions should occur in those jurisdictions that provide the best law, the best facts and the best range of available penalties, said U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. In other words, Virginia was chosen because it has the death penalty, the most experience with prosecuting people with the possibility of the death penalty, and the state ranks number two in executions (behind Texas) in the country. Do you sense a theme here? In fact, the Virginia prosecutors who will try the case and seek the death penalty have 70 years of experience between them. One is Fairfax County prosecutor Robert Horan Jr., who recently secured the death penalty for Aimal Khan Kasi, a Pakistani who killed two CIA employees several years ago. Kasi was executed Nov. 14. The other prosecutor is Paul Ebert of Prince William County, who reportedly has sent 10 people to death row twice as many as Horan. The death penaltys reserved for the worst of the worst, Ebert told CNN. And I think from the evidence that all of you are aware of over the last month or so these folks qualify. So now comes the part about it being hard to be a Christian. While I agree with these attorneys that these shootings are ugly, heinous, the worst of the worst, I do not agree that putting the suspects to death is the right thing to do. My gut tells me so. My reasoning tells me so. Moreover, my Bible tells me so (John 13:34-35; Exodus 20:13, for example). Even though these crimes were the worst of the worst, that doesnt mean the people who committed them are the worst of the worst. They have committed a crime for which they must pay, yes. They have committed a sin for which they will be forgiven, if they ask. Honestly, there is a part of me that screams for retribution an eye for an eye, so to speak. But there is a larger part my spirit that beseeches, Enough killing. Thus, the test of my faith. Does securing the death penalty against the sniper suspects change anything? Does executing two more men for the senseless deaths of others bring back the dead, promote healing, restore relationships torn asunder by murder? Only those family members whose loved ones were gunned down by the snipers can answer that question. Only fools and editors dare go where angels fear to tread. And so I answer no. No death penalty. IF and WHEN they are found guilty, give the suspects life in jail without the possibility of parole. Make them pay for their crimes by moving large piles of rocks from one end of the prison courtyard to the other, and then do it again. And again. And again. And again. When I prayed for the suspects to be caught and for the violence to end, I knew in the back of my spirit that the death penalty loomed on the horizon. Everybody talked about it. This placed me in the uncomfortable position of advocating for the violence to end but not wanting the death penalty to be invoked when they were caught. This is my current test of faith. Will you take the test with me? | 
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