The Death Penalty has been a contentious issue among Christians. Sadly, today Christians are nearly unified on the need for the State to execute people. While there are many strong arguments about the dangers of giving that authority to the State, and our understanding of Grace, I would like to focus on one text specificly that regardless of the validity of those other facts, shows that people in the New Covenant are not qualified to carry out the Death Penalty.
In John 8 we see clear parralel between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding breaking a law that carries the explicit penalty of Death, and the argument today between people for or against the Death Penalty.
John 8: 1-11 (ESV)
8 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
________________________________________
Also check out a recent interview with Shane Claiborne and the Libertarian Christian Institute
Find it on 
