OUTSPOKEN clergyman Rev Al Miller says Government would not be fulfilling its role as God’s authority to dispense justice in the land, if it does not support the death penalty which is a clear command in scriptures.

Miller who has been vociferous in his support of capital punishment made the statement yesterday, as the capital punishment debate continues to heat up, amidst the country’s spiralling crime rate.

The clergyman said persons who refer to the scripture “thou shall not kill” as an argument to oppose capital punishment, do so in error as the verse speaks directly to an individual killing another and not to the state.

Governments, he said, represent the authority of God to dispense justice in the land, and so capital punishment would not be considered murder when dispensed for justice.

“If Government doesn’t exercise it then they will not be carrying out their role,” Miller told the Observer.

The reverend’s statements come in the wake of fiery arguments directed at him since last week, when he was quoted as describing opposers of capital punishment as “dunce”.

But yesterday, Miller clarified what he meant as he addressed a packed congregation during the weekly church service at the Fellowship Tabernacle in Kingston. He said that it did not mean that those who opposed capital punishment were dunce, rather, in light of biblical evidence, when man’s wisdom in believing capital punishment to be wrong is taken above God’s this suggests they believe they are wiser than God.

Miller said he expects opposing views, and does not consider the opposers to be dunce, however, when compared to the wisdom of God and in light of evidence, one has to have another agenda to think otherwise.

“If persons misunderstood what I said I apologise for the wrong impression because that was not the intent,” the clergyman said.

However, despite coming under heavy criticism for his recent utterances, Miller maintains that while the methods of capital punishment are debatable, capital punishment itself is not.

In reference to Genesis 9, Miller said God requires accountability of one who takes the life of another.

He said capital punishment is one area of scripture which is not ambiguous, as it is the only way to ensure that life is sacred and secondly that others should fear consequence.

For those who do not fear consequence, Miller said they are dangerous and do not value the importance of life in the first place.

Capital punishment has to be a deterrent Miller said, since this is what the gangs use to control communities. “The dons maintain order because of fear of punishment in that if you cross them punishment is sure, swift and certain,” Miller said. “People don’t have the same fear of the law of the land.”

He said there is, however, no doubt that the justice system needs to be fixed to ensure it is just and fair, but more important, is the sanctity of life.

For those Christians who argue that the New Testament supersedes the law of the Old Testament, where believers should now be living under grace, Miller says this argument is also flawed, and does not apply to capital punishment as grace is for personal salvation not social justice.

“I will lead any murderer to Christ for personal salvation but he must suffer the consequence for his behaviour,” he said.

Miller joins Bishop Ronald Blair and Rev Terrence Brown, the former head of the Spanish Town Ministers Fraternal, who have also called for the reinstatement of hanging to stem the island’s high murder rate. Last week Brown said he would willingly take on the job of putting the noose around the necks of criminals if the Government decides to resume hanging in the near future.

Although the death penalty is still on the books in Jamaica, the last execution was carried out more than 20 years ago.

In considering the issues, especially in the face of the country’s galloping murder rate and public outcry, Government has said that it would put the matter to Parliamentarians for a conscience vote.