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My response to this argument:

Tom writes:

"Many opponents of capital punishment cite the Sixth Commandment as prohibiting the death penalty, quoting it as, "You shall not kill." But if that's what it really says, then God would contradict himself, since there are many places throughout Scripture where His people are ordered to kill."

Since when did God have to justify himself to us to kill anyone?

Also,Isaiah 10:5.....just because God orders a killing doesn't somehow take the guilt of the killer away does it? No one but God is good, and so no one but He can kill/murder and remain good.

Tom writes:

"The state has a duty to punish wrongdoers. I could personally forgive the man who, say, stole my car, but nobody would then advocate letting him out of jail for that reason...."

How does that support capital punishment? It supports "life without parole."

Okay, you say we should have the Noahic reign of the sword...that doesn't sound like a deep respect for life. It sounds more like taking matters into your own hands (or substitute society)...because you make it clear that you don't advocate waiting for God's eternal recompense.

It's interesting that we don't read NT scripture referring to how the state had the responsibility to avenge the deaths of the apostles.

Here's the question do you always advocate the death penalty as a form of available punishment in society? Or only when it's held in the grip of Christian prosecutors?