After several decades of judicial and legislative rulings outlawing capital punishment, American sentiment in recent times has swung in favor of the death penalty. Candidates in major political races across the land now expect to win votes by bragging about how many criminals they have sent to death row. Opponents of capital punishment, however, are far from silent. They insist that the death penalty violates the Christian's high view of life. How, they ask, can a person who believes in the forgiveness of sins and the grace of God advocate another human being's death? In The Death of Penalty Debate two respected authors, H. Wayne House and John Howard Yoder, lay before us the pro and con arguments on the validity of capital punishment. Beginning with Genesis 9:6, both men trace the historical and scriptural ideas for and against the death penalty. In the course of their discussion, they raise compelling questions: Does the death penalty work? Is it immoral? Who should be put to death and for what crimes? Does a crime-threatened society need the death penalty for its own protection? What do Moses and Jesus and the apostles say to guide us in forming our own ideas on this matter? Addressing these questions and many others. House and Yoder in this carefully documented volume capably present the strongest arguments on both sides of the capital punishment issue. The Death Penalty Debate is a valuable guide which will aid readers in making up their minds on this timely and crucial issue. A helpful annotated bibliography is included. -- from back cover.