As Christians, how are we to think about crime and punishment both in societal and biblical
terms. McQuilken and Copan summarize “crime is against others, it normally violates the
biblical law of love and often harms another person…But controversy rages as to the…kind
of punishment a just and merciful society may employ.”[1]The remainder of this discourse
will discuss Christians’ responsibility to criminal justice, identify several alternative
punishments to prison, and a proposed punishment alternative for minor drug offenses.
McQuilken and Copan provide biblical support for the priority of punishment to be
“(1) rehabilitation, (2) justice, (3) protection of the innocent and (4) deterrence.”[2]The church
should be God’s hands and feet in implementing these biblical tenets. Crime is sin and
mankind sins because its heart is corrupt. The only successful rehabilitation is a heart change
that occurs through the salvation work of the gospel message. This is the church’s mandate
and prisons are not excluded. Justice is not a once and done event, but an ongoing process of
improvement. Christians should be at the forefront of reform. Society is becoming less likely
to become involved as witnesses in crimes. Christians should stand firm and be engaged in
their effort to protect the innocent, even though these actions can be very costly. “But the
greatest contribution the Christian and the church can make toward deterrence is to faithfully
teach God’s holy standards and God’s holy judgment.”[3]
McQuilken and Copan note that prison does a good job of deterring, but thoroughly
fails at the other three purposes of punishment. They also provide several punishment
alternatives including “nonpunishment, deprivation of privilege, corporal punishment,
banishment, military service, monetary fines, expropriation of property, community service,
and victim care or service.”[4]McQuilken and Copan suggested the monetary fine and
expropriation of property could be broadly expanded for the prison population not guilty of a
violent crime.
Michelle Alexander states that “as of September 2009, only 7.9% of federal prisoners
were convicted of violent crimes.”[5]Knowing that prison is inadequate for the purposes of
punishment, what are the better alternatives? For those who are guilty of minor drug offenses
there are a few alternatives that would likely result in higher probability for obtaining the four
purposes of punishment. Service or restitution to any victims or victims’ families should
result in a better understanding of the harm inflicted by the offense. Compulsory work at an
addiction recovery program. Again, engaging in this venue would help the offender realize
the impact and devastation of the drug market to individuals and their families. Thirdly,
compulsory work at a large affordable housing project. These communities are continually
impacted by the drug trade and working to offset those factors should assist in rehabilitation.
The primary objective in any punishment would include personal engagement to understand
better the detrimental impacts of drugs and see people whose lives have been destroyed.
Crime and punishment are difficult and broad reaching issues for society and the
church. As Christians we should always mimic God’s justice and mercy that he has shown us.
McQuilken and Copan quote C. S. Lewis “Mercy, detached from Justice, grows
unmerciful. . . . Mercy will flower only when it grows in the crannies of the rock of Justice.”[6]
Word Count: 543
[1]Robertson McQuilkin and Paul Copan,An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the Way of
Wisdom(Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017), 429.
[2]Ibid., 434.
[3]Ibid., 442.
[4]Ibid., 436-437.
[5]Michelle Alexander,The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness(New York, NY:
The New Press, 2012), 101.
[6]McQuilkin and Copan,Biblical Ethics, 435.
Bibliography
Alexander, Michelle.The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.
New York, NY: The New Press, 2012.
McQuilkin, Robertson, and Paul Copan.An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the
Way of Wisdom.Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017.
