Steven Hayes receives death penalty

How can the jury find someone guilty (not the judge) and then only get to "recommend" the punishment to the judge who has no say in the verdict? Never understood that...

 

Forget death row. He should be publicly hanged in the nearest town square. We don't need filth like this living on our tax dollars on death row.

 

I find this interesting. Many of the very ones who clamor for love, forgiveness, and mercy not only call for the death penalty but do it with a spirit of vengeance. I certainly stand for the death penalty for any taking of life unless it is an accident, but not for vengeance, or with great excitement as I see here. The reason I stand for the death penalty is because that is what the Lord calls for. However I also believe that we who claim to be Christians are never to have an attitude of vengeance, or joy over the idea that the criminal is going to be put to death. Shouldn't we be praying for this man to be saved while at the same time we stand for the punishment that God ordains because of his crime? I wonder which one of us does not deserve the death penalty under God's standards?
Have you ever used God's name in vain? Death penalty. Have you ever cursed your parent or put your hands on them out of anger? Death penalty. How about adultery? Death penalty. Sodomy? Death penalty. I believe in the death penalty for all these since these are God's standards, but never with eagerness or joy. It is always a sorrowful event. There are many other sins that call for the death penalty, but the bottom line is how many of us also deserve the death penalty based on God's guidelines have slid by the death penalty, and are grateful, yet are so quick to see it carried out on another, and with so much joy and conviction. Strange!
As far as the father saying that there will never have closure. Well he also needs prayer for his salvation so he can forgive this man. The death penalty will never bring closure. Only when we forgive the one who offended will we find closure. I know. I have been there.

 

Why is it a dilemma for someone to be saved on the cross (last moment)? Are you suggesting that you or some deserve to be saved? In other words because you or another gets saved at a young age and live a life for Christ does that mean you or another is more worthy? You say that you did not take others speaking with vengeance. Well then you need to go back and read those posts. You said "It takes a little longer for society to forgive crimes of this nature than other crimes." Society never forgives, but I was not writing to society. I was writing to people who claim to be Christian and God does not give us time to forgive. We are to do it before the sun goes down on us. We seem to always have an excuse. :tear:

 

Amy I agree he deserves death under God's standards and I am glad that we still follow some of them. However to say that you did not see any vengeance in the posts is not honorable of you. It is as clear as the nose on your face. Those posts were not glad to see God's moral laws carried out. They were glad to see a person put to death because of hard hearts. We claim we seek justice, but justice is always to be for the Lord, not for our personal satisfaction. If we are being truthful it was nothing but a mob response to get personal satisfaction even though the crime was not against us personally. it is good to stand for everything that the Lord does, but we also should stand for those things like he does and the Lord said "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." When calling for any sentence that requires the death penalty we should be willing to carry it out and yet in the Spirit of Christ's forgiveness.

 

You seem to want to defend your current state, but I do thank you for the explanation, however I see you did not ask for prayer in the mist of your explanation. Would you like prayer for this along with Steven Hayes or are you content to remain where you are?

 

It is VERY humbling to realize that Christ died as much for this murderer and child rapist as He did for me. Sin is sin.

The human in me wants the perpetrator and his accomplice tortured to death. The spirit in me says pray for both of them because someone prayed for me before too.

But the survivor of this? I'd like to know more about him. Just the fact that he hasn't committed suicide amazes me. That's a strong person. Does anyone know if there is a website out there that allows people to voice their support for him and offer encouragement?

 

Pragmatically, several life sentences would be MUCH cheaper than the legal costs of hanging him.

 

I doubt his sincerity, as his post to Amy shows...he claims to have this ability to know hearts and dismisses anyone who does not hold to his legalistic standards as lost...quite the pharisee approach.

 

As a defender of an abolishment of the death penalty this kind of a case makes me think about my position carefully.

The pain and sorrow that is caused by these two men...I cannot begin to speak in outrage.

 

Sorry freeatlast, but not all of us are on the same high spiritual plane that you exist on that we haven't thought of vengeance. The vengeance side of me would like to see this man tied to a bed, have gasoline poured all over him, and then lit on fire just like he did to his victims. But, God exacts vengeance; not me. I leave him to God and pray that God will have mercy on him. Maybe this man will repent before it is too late. However, whether he repents or not, I am for the death penalty. He's been proven guilty, beyond a shadow of a doubt, so send him to judgment quickly, otherwise Bill's observation comes true.