Should Financial Scamming Be Listed Among the Crimes Punishable by the Death Penalty?
The recent cases of financial scams made me think what remedy should be given to the incident. There has been one massive financial scam after the other. At a theological perspective - I would really say, "Yes." to it. While the Old Testament ceremonial law has been long obsolete (and Christians may now freely eat bacon and shrimp as long as the doctors don't prescribe against it) but the death penalty was instituted by God. To say that the death penalty is against God's wishes needs to reread the Bible all over again.
I noticed many financial scam cases result in a rather ridiculous sentence. Somebody can be sentenced to hundreds of years in jail - as if the person can live that long! A recent scammer was sentenced to jail for 455 years in jail. The problem with life imprisonment is that there's more room for hideous criminals to escape sooner or later. One can argue that the death penalty may slay an innocent person - it's only because false witnesses aren't sentenced to death as the Bible would recommend it (Deuteronomy 19:16-21). However, wasting tax money on feeding heinous criminals who should have been hanged would be wasted. That tax money could've been used in other useful stuff such as improving national security.
Why would I recommend big time financial scammers to be put to death? I would like to take the incident of Achan's stoning. Joshua 7 talks about the whole incident where sin had to be put out in the camp. They couldn't conquer the small city of Ai because of Achan's sin. Achan stole the gold that was meant for the LORD's treasury. Achan knew he shouldn't have stolen the money but he did it anyway. His family was included because they were accomplices. If God says you shall not steal then you shall not steal.
The problem of financial scamming is that it breaks more than one commandment. You know you ought not to steal but it's also covetousness. Not to mention, financial scammers are false witnesses and some of them may even go as far as to murder people to cover their activities. If these Ponzi schemers were living during the Old Testament times - they would certainly be stoned to death. Just imagine how many lives have been ruined through financial scams. Just think of the family who suddenly can no longer provide for the basic needs. Think of the possibilities that somebody was eventually murdered as a cover-up.
Worse, pastors who are guilty of financial scams should be held just as liable. Pastors are meant to feed some proper understanding of their flock (Jeremiah 3:15). However, pastors who scam their flock out of hard-earned money in the promise of health, wealth, and happiness should be cut down. They should be condemned as sinister ministers. 1 Timothy 3:3 says pastors shouldn't be guilty of greed. Pastors who have issues with finances should be removed from their responsibilities. If they are ever guilty of religious scams then, by all means, arrest them. Pastors who exploit the flock should be dismissed as wolves in sheep's clothing. They should be arrested and if necessary be put to death for doing so. Also, don't criticize the Vatican and demand for action against Roman Catholic priests guilty of criminal acts if you support such crooked pastors!
Besides, Romans 13:1-7 also states that rulers are supposed to be terrors unto evil. If rulers fail to be terrors unto evil then they aren't doing their job. Financial scammers are a threat to national security. Those guilty of financial scammers may be sentenced to death depending on how much money they have scammed and how many crimes they've committed when they were operating said organizations. Minor accomplices may get less time but masterminds may be subjected to the death penalty just like every other big-time criminal mastermind.
See also:
I noticed many financial scam cases result in a rather ridiculous sentence. Somebody can be sentenced to hundreds of years in jail - as if the person can live that long! A recent scammer was sentenced to jail for 455 years in jail. The problem with life imprisonment is that there's more room for hideous criminals to escape sooner or later. One can argue that the death penalty may slay an innocent person - it's only because false witnesses aren't sentenced to death as the Bible would recommend it (Deuteronomy 19:16-21). However, wasting tax money on feeding heinous criminals who should have been hanged would be wasted. That tax money could've been used in other useful stuff such as improving national security.
Why would I recommend big time financial scammers to be put to death? I would like to take the incident of Achan's stoning. Joshua 7 talks about the whole incident where sin had to be put out in the camp. They couldn't conquer the small city of Ai because of Achan's sin. Achan stole the gold that was meant for the LORD's treasury. Achan knew he shouldn't have stolen the money but he did it anyway. His family was included because they were accomplices. If God says you shall not steal then you shall not steal.
The problem of financial scamming is that it breaks more than one commandment. You know you ought not to steal but it's also covetousness. Not to mention, financial scammers are false witnesses and some of them may even go as far as to murder people to cover their activities. If these Ponzi schemers were living during the Old Testament times - they would certainly be stoned to death. Just imagine how many lives have been ruined through financial scams. Just think of the family who suddenly can no longer provide for the basic needs. Think of the possibilities that somebody was eventually murdered as a cover-up.
Worse, pastors who are guilty of financial scams should be held just as liable. Pastors are meant to feed some proper understanding of their flock (Jeremiah 3:15). However, pastors who scam their flock out of hard-earned money in the promise of health, wealth, and happiness should be cut down. They should be condemned as sinister ministers. 1 Timothy 3:3 says pastors shouldn't be guilty of greed. Pastors who have issues with finances should be removed from their responsibilities. If they are ever guilty of religious scams then, by all means, arrest them. Pastors who exploit the flock should be dismissed as wolves in sheep's clothing. They should be arrested and if necessary be put to death for doing so. Also, don't criticize the Vatican and demand for action against Roman Catholic priests guilty of criminal acts if you support such crooked pastors!
Besides, Romans 13:1-7 also states that rulers are supposed to be terrors unto evil. If rulers fail to be terrors unto evil then they aren't doing their job. Financial scammers are a threat to national security. Those guilty of financial scammers may be sentenced to death depending on how much money they have scammed and how many crimes they've committed when they were operating said organizations. Minor accomplices may get less time but masterminds may be subjected to the death penalty just like every other big-time criminal mastermind.
See also: