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Englewood Independent
Editor
P.O. Box 100
Englewood OH 45322

Dear Editor

One editor wrote about the McVeigh execution that "Executions do America an injustice." Those opposed to capital punishment talk about McVeigh killing 168 people and we made it 169. While I recognize there is injustice and unfairness in the American Judicial system, it is still the best that I have heard of. In contrast, the death penalty opponents there are those who think that McVeigh got off easy.

One TV journalist, who reminded us that he was a Catholic, said that McVeigh got off easy and he also indicated that he believed that McVeigh was in hell. I don’t think most Catholics would say going to hell was getting off easy. But it does give us cause to think. I learned of capital punishment from the Bible, Gen. 9:6. I learn of hell in the Bible. The Lord Jesus spoke more on hell than any other person in the bible. Three times He described hell as a place where "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Mark 9:44, 46, 48.

While I believe that McVeigh deserved the death penalty, I find no solace thinking that he might be in hell. I have heard no evidence that he ever found grace in God’s eyes. He is in hell if he never repented. I am a little disturbed by that thought. I have seen his face on TV, he was a fellow creature, its almost like I know him. I do not like the thought of anyone in hell. I do know that the Bible teaches that I deserve hell as much as McVeigh. I mean it when I sing, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me."

To take McVeigh from relative comfort, from a place where he could sleep and rest, a place he might find some joy and send him out to a place of eternal damnation and torment, a place where even a drop of water would be a blessing, is not giving him the easy way out.

Think of the innocent victims of McVeigh. How many of them were prepared to meet God? Surely stasticially, some of the 168 were still under the just condemnation of God. God says in Rom. 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" and vs 23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Jesus said of hell in Matt. 13: 42 "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Will part of his punishment in hell be the wailing and gnashing of the teeth by some of his victims.

I believe it to be right to rejoice that justice was carried out in America and that America carried out her responsibility. Yet it is hard heartedness to rejoice in any creature entering into the charred regions of the damn and the doomed, the place of eternal suffering. Were it not for the grace of God, there goes I.

Yours taking comfort in the sovereign grace God.

charles j. arnett,