I feel part of the problem why abortion still exists is due to the Christian world because we essentially have the same mentality as those in favor of abortion. That is, most Christians believe that the termination of human life is appropriate in many cases.  The only place we differ from those in favor of abortion and euthanasia are the cases in which WE feel the termination of human life is appropriate. We are often arguing when murder is appropriate instead of arguing that murder may not EVER be appropriate.

What does the Bible really teach on this?

Often the Biblical support for the death penalty (in which the state murders a human being) is the famous "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" quote from the Old Testament.  However we should remember that while Jesus did not come to destroy the law, He came to fulfill it and often corrected misconceptions people had.

For example, He said "You have heard it said 'an eye for an eye but a tooth for a tooth' but I tell you, when someone strikes you, turn the other cheek!"

And when Peter cut off a soldier's ear after Jesus had been unjustly arrested, Jesus healed the soldier and told Peter that "those who live by the sword will die by the sword."

If that's not enough for you, Jesus was even more explicit when they brought the condemned woman to Him and wanted to stone her to death. She had been a prostitute and according to Mosaic law in the Bible, that was a sin punishable by death.  Jesus told them "Stone her but let HE who is without sin, cast the first stone."  Seems to me that right there, Jesus was rather clearly establishing that terminating of human life was to be reserved to Him who created that life i.e. the Holy Trinity is the only One we know who is "without sin".

The practicality of the death penalty

Let's ask some questions about this:

1. Is the death penalty a deterrant for crime?  On the contrary, in places where they have the death penalty, they have MORE crime not less.  Murder often is an act of passion meaning the person committing the murder is not even thinking about the consequences.  Additionally many people who commit violent crimes are very depressed and dying by "lethal injection" is more inviting to them than living a lifetime in prison!
2. Can we really decide - beyond a doubt - if someone is guilty of the crime they are accused of?  The conservative statistics are that 25 percent of those murdered in the death penalty are innocent.  But the governor of Illinois who pardoned those men on death row, stated on the Oprah show that his research for many years had shown that as high a percentage as 85 percent of those on death row did NOT have sufficient evidence to prove them "guilty beyond a reasonable doubt".  He also told Oprah that several other states had similar statistics!
3. Do we have the right to waste a human being whom God planned from the beginning of the world?  This is the most troubling question and one which is seldom asked.  The story of Maria Goretti's murderer is significant.  After he got out of prison, he went to Goretti's mother and asked her forgiveness for his attempted rape and brutal murder of St Maria.  Goretti's mom, a strong Catholic, gave him her forgiveness. He was so touched that he returned to the Catholic church and two years later, became a priest, helping thousands of souls to come to God.  Had he been wasted in the death penalty, how many souls would have been lost?
4. What about the Charles Mansons whom we know will never convert because they are extremely sick?  Let's ask this question - does God love Charlie Manson?  Will not God handle him in the way He sees fit?  And if Charlie Manson IS very sick now, when he dies, will God condemn him for being sick?  As the Bible tells us "God will bring all good to those who love Him."  In studying mass murderers, we see a lot of abuse in their childhoods, no love from parents and more.  Don't they deserve any chances God wishes to give them, in this life or the next?  After all, they did not choose their home or parents!

I hope this has given you some food for thought so maybe you will say "NO" to the death penalty!