In the news this week was the federal execution of a convicted murderer by lethal injection. This was the seventh such execution since July after the Supreme Court in April cleared the way for capital punishment to resume after a 17-year hiatus. The debate rages in our society about the inhumane nature of dying by lethal injection, but the much deeper issue is whether the death penalty itself is humane. We know that the Old Testament demanded death for all sorts of things, but how do we reconcile this seemingly cruel punishment of finality with a God who is described as loving and forgiving? Certainly, we do not live under the law given to the Jews in the Old Testament, but the Bible tells us that “ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16). As such, the Old Testament law informs us about God’s nature, His definitions of justice, and thereby the principles which we are to live according to in our day. Take a moment to examine Deuteronomy 13:1-11. There are principles here that we can apply to our justice system as well as our personal lives.

Two cases are listed here where justice requires that a person be put to death. We tend to stress rehabilitation (and certainly God does still change lives!), but from this passage we see there are certain situations when rehabilitation is either not profitable for the individual OR would not set the right example for the people at large. This Scripture indicates that some individuals, especially those with strongly held heretical beliefs are unable to be readily transformed by our best efforts (although God can make a transformation), but the greater case made for the example that the death penalty puts before the people at large. Not that some sins are unable to be forgiven, but that some sins are so heinous and antithetical to God’s plan that we have a duty and a demand from God to act swiftly, harshly and publicly so that others see the danger and consequences of such a sin in their own lives. It is often when sin creeps in with subtlety and guile and is presented to us as truth by those with reputation that we are most likely to fall for it.

In the case of the prophet/dreamer (vv. 1-5), he claims publicly that God speaks to him and through him despite the fact that his message goes against God’s clear commands. Whether the prophet/dreamer is doing this as an agent of Satan, as a result of self-delusion, or for some subversive reason, we are not told. Perhaps it doesn’t matter. The warning here is that those who dare to present God’s message to the people should be vetted against the clear teaching of scripture. Teaching any other doctrine however well meaning, may place us in the same lot as the one in this passage.

The second case is that of a heretical teaching that is espoused by someone with close familial relations and occurs most likely in a private setting (vv. 6-11). It is sometimes easier to garner support against a public figure than it is to criticize a person of close, personal trust. Yet even in this case, we are not to allow personal history, family relationship, or emotional attachment to the individual to affect our treatment of them. Such lies should not be allowed to inject themselves into our personal lives or families behind closed doors. We must be on guard as individuals and not hide or protect those in our lives who are doing or teaching what is clearly wrong.

No doubt the debate over the use of the death penalty by our government will continue to simmer for some time, but the more practical lesson here is for us as individual Christians to identify and separate from those who are teaching error. When we discern teaching that goes against God’s Word, it is imperative that we impose the “death penalty” toward them. Their teaching and influence in our life needs to die. We must separate from them and no longer be identified with them or promote their cause. To do any less would have a negative impact on the people at large who need God’s clear and life-changing truth!