Christians should remember Whose image we bear when crimes against humanity are committed.

Twelve year-old Jessica Lunsford’s killer, John Evander Couey, was found guilty and the jury recommended death. The news came across the television, as a man sitting next to me said, “I have not one ounce of sympathy for John Couey.” What really surprised me was the audacity of this man professing no feelings toward another human being sentenced to death. I reminded him we all bear God’s image. When another image bearer is killed, we should have sympathy because of Whose image is being destroyed. He gave me a puzzled looked. The conversation ended.

After God executed humanity, except Noah and his family, in the flood, He reminded Noah of the glory which man reflects. “…For in the image of God made he man.” (Gen.9:6)

Whether noble or deranged, humans share a common feature, God’s image. Man is different from the animals because he is made in the image of a personable, reasonable and rational God. Our Scriptures teach our bodies were made from the dirt of the earth. Then God gave us our soul which contains personality, the image of God. Personality is a combination of the ability to think, feel, and will. These are common in all humans, varying in degree only. It has been said personality “is capacity for fellowship.” Humans have been honored with the distinction of having fellowship with their Creator.

Christians should remember Whose image we bear when crimes against humanity are committed. We should not be the loudest supporters for the execution of any human for the sake of revenge or justice only. Our Creator honors man, not for man’s sake, but for the image which man bears. Understanding the distinction our Creator has given us, we need to consider wisely the motive we portray for executing another image bearer.

In 1998 some Christian leaders, the loudest supporters for capital punishment defended convicted killer Karla Tucker, who showed signs of conversion. Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and others found themselves defensive of their past rhetoric in favor of the death penalty. Pat Robertson on Larry King Live said, “And, you know, mercy trumps justice” for not applying the death penalty to Karla Tuckers’ case. Many people accused Pat Robertson and others of being hypocrites because suddenly they wanted to change their usual posture on capital punishment. The Christian leaders had a problem; they wanted all to see Karla Tucker as an image bearer of God as a reason for mercy, but the argument for God’s image being defamed had hardly made the analysis in Christians position for capital punishment.

The Christian community has screamed so loud for the death penalty as a political litmus test we have lost the real reason why God allowed the death penalty in the first place. E.J. Dionne Jr. of the Washington Post and advocate against capital punishment wrote back during that time, “The best case for the death penalty is that it is the only just sentence for a human being who takes the life of another.” Whether he knew it or not Mr. Dionne was expressing the Biblical view of Genesis 9:6 for capital punishment better than the Christian leaders were. God said “Whoever kills a man, by man shall his blood be shed: For in the image of God made he man.” Man is not an autonomous piece of flesh except for the sacred image—personality­­—of ­­­­God we bear.

Capital punishment is Biblical, but the reason for its existence has been forgotten. We are not executing a human for what they have done to a fellow image bearer but for Whose image they destroyed. It is the image we bear that is sacred not our rights for revenge or justice. For this reason alone, dishonoring the image of God, man should execute man.

Date of Execution: February 3, 1998

Offender: Karla Faye Tucker #777

Last Statement: Yes sir, I would like to say to all of you – the Thornton family and Jerry Dean’s family that I am so sorry. I hope God will give you peace with this.

Baby, I love you. Ron, give Peggy a hug for me. Everybody has been so good to me.

I love all of you very much. I am going to be face to face with Jesus now. Warden Baggett, thank all of you so much. You have been so good to me. I love all of you very much. I will see you all when you get there. I will wait for you.