Dr. Ablow, psychiatrist (M.D.), and Fox News contributor, wrote an article titled, “Why capital punishment kills the best parts of us all.” (April 21, 2017).
Because the Arkansas death penalty executions are in the news, and because Dr. Ablow has a contingency following, his article begs to be analyzed from a Christian perspective—a perspective that believes God’s Word is true and the ultimate standard of right and wrong.
Dr. Ablow’s comments on the death penalty are consistent with his philosophy and religion. After the Baltimore riots, the good doctor called for classes on self-esteem for the criminals rather than a healthy application of criminal statutes. Let’s evaluate his recent article.
Ablow: “I don’t believe Mr. Lee should have been executed or that anyone else should ever be—neither by a state, nor by the federal government.”
Comment: When Ablow says, “I don’t believe,” he is operating from his psychological belief system—a belief system that is hostile to the Word of God—a religious system he wants the rest of the world to adopt.
Obviously, he has not investigated the purpose of government from the Torah. Since God himself ordained the death penalty for the good of society, and Ablow opposes it, he makes himself an enemy of God’s law-order which instructs governments of men:
“He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death” (Exodus 21:12).
Ablow, “My opposition to capital punishment is because of the fact that even a person who has committed almost unthinkable acts still might find God and prove that good can overcome evil?”
Comment: In making this statement, Ablow positions himself to be more righteous than God. Though he does not define “God,” he fabricates concern about the souls of men and their relationship to a “god.”
The God of the Bible is also concerned about souls—so much so, He sent His only begotten Son into the world, that men might believe on Him and be saved (John 3:16).
Regeneration of men is one way to improve society. Purging capital criminals from society is another of God’s ways to improve communities.
The time between conviction and execution lasts between ten and fifteen years. If a man cannot find God in prison during that time, what makes Ablow think that another ten to fifteen years will make a difference? Ablow exhibits a false piety and idealistic view that time will lead a man to some kind of salvation.
Ablow ignores the fact men have hardened hearts and that another thousand years on this earth will not improve their soul or society. Further, he passes over the fact that many a man has found Christ as his Savior in prison, and then paid for his crime by execution.
Ablow, “My opposition to capital punishment is because” removal of the death penalty might enable men “to still might find God to prove that good can overcome evil?” And, “I’m not looking, chiefly, to save them; I’m looking to save the rest of us.”
Comment: Ablow exposes more of his religion. His doctrines of “self-esteem” and “removal of the death penalty” can save “the rest of us.” His view is religious nonsense. The whole reason that God ordained the death penalty is that evil might be purged from society. God did not ordain prison as a means of overcoming evil, but He did ordain the death penalty that good (the just capital punishment) might overcome evil (criminal acts).
Society is improved when men are converted to Christianity . . . and society is better when the criminal element is removed from society by a proper application of the death penalty. In fact, Ablow’s view increases evil and diminishes good.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
If Ablow was really concerned about “saving the rest of us,” he should study the gospel and repent of his self-esteem, psychological religion, and pray that God would be merciful to him, a sinner (Luke 18:13).
Ablow: “I oppose the death penalty because I know, for sure, deep in my heart and mind, that a society that seeks to restore the spiritual lives of those who senselessly snuff out other innocent lives is a far more powerful society in which to live and to raise one’s children. “
Comment: Again, Ablow operates from his religious faith. Notice that Ablow subtly accuses those who believe in the death penalty as “senselessly” snuffing out “innocent lives.” Do you really want to live in Ablow’s ideal world where there is no fear of God, no fear of punishment, and no fear of breaking the law?
Is Ablow saying because the death penalty system is not perfect, it should not be employed? Justice is seldom perfect but it can be fair, just, and competent. Moreover, Ablow appears to be calling God “senseless” and ignorant about “innocent lives,” and callous for ordaining it. Such false piety and self-righteousness on the part of Ablow demands rebuke.
Ablow: He accuses Governor Hutchinson for having “lost his faith in human beings” in exercising the death penalty.
Comment: Again, Ablow exposes is deep, humanistic views about man—a religious system that believes men are born good, but are somehow corrupted by their environment. Instead of commending the governor for honoring the Biblical mandate on the death penalty, Ablow condemns him for not adhering to his own humanistic religious views. However, the Bible does not fall into Ablow’s over-optimistic view of man.
In the Biblical world view, men are sinners (Romans 3:23) and only God is good (Luke 18:19). Moreover, the Bible does not call us to exercise “faith in human beings,” but to exercise faith in God—a faith that obeys His Commandments. In condemning the governor for doing what God commands, Ablow has made himself a judge of God’s Word instead of a doer of God’s Word (James 4:11).
Ablow: “See, when we give up on one man, even a reprehensible man like Liddell Lee, we give up on every man, and we give up on ourselves. We risk losing our power as agents of a Higher Power. And that is an incalculably high price to pay for vengeance.”
Comment: The death penalty is not vengeance. It is justice, “an eye for an eye.” God’s law-order does not tolerate a class of professional delinquents. But, Dr. Ablow is radically tolerant of evil and hopelessly optimistic. The death penalty is not “giving up on one man,” it is positive energy obeying the commands of the one, true, and living God.
It is because we do not give up our faith in God’s law-order or “ourselves” that communities exercise the death penalty. For, the death penalty removes evil men from among us so the rest of us can be safe.
Elimination of the death penalty as a deterrent of capital crimes is social suicide. It is giving up on juries to discern truth and error, good and evil, right and wrong. It is renouncing our faith in God’s Word and humanity. It is giving into evil because society can’t be trusted to judge the guilt or innocence of a man.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy (pop-psychology) and vain deceit (deception), after the tradition (teachings) of men, after the rudiments (man-made ideologies) of the world, and not after Christ.
Dr. Brooky Stockton
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