Executing Grace : How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why It's Killing Us
Author(s): Shane Claiborne
In this reasoned exploration of justice, retribution, and redemption, the champion of the new monastic movement, popular speaker, and author of the bestselling The Irresistible Revolution offers a powerful and persuasive appeal for the abolition of the death penalty.
The Bible says an eye for an eye. But is the state’s taking of a life true—or even practical—punishment for convicted prisoners? In this thought-provoking work, Shane Claiborne explores the issue of the death penalty and the contrast between punitive justice and restorative justice, questioning our notions of fairness, revenge, and absolution.
Using an historical lens to frame his argument, Claiborne draws on testimonials and examples from Scripture to show how the death penalty is not the ideal of justice that many believe. Not only is a life lost, so too, is the possibility of mercy and grace. In Executing Grace, he reminds us of the divine power of forgiveness, and evokes the fundamental truth of the Gospel—that no one, even a criminal, is beyond redemption.
Review(s):
“Here is an invitation to build a world where we reject all forms of killing, both legal and illegal. It is a call to join a movement where grace gets the last word. Claiborne’s brilliant book reminds us that without forgiveness, there is no future.”
“Shane Claiborne invites us to be consistently pro-life and larger than any one culture! This is whole-making at its best!”
“I wish the whole Church would read this book. As Christians, we know we believe in grace, but we struggle with what that means when it comes to the death penalty. Read Executing Grace and consider if it might be time to live without the death penalty.”
“This is a major contribution--a thorough, carefully researched book on an issue that should be important to all of us. Shane casts the death penalty debate in the light of grace and makes his case persuasively, creatively, and gracefully.”
“The best book on the death penalty since Dead Man Walking.”
“Shane Claiborne may well join the ranks of Rachel Carson and John Howard Griffin--storytellers who’ve pricked the conscience of our nation and nudged us toward a more perfect union.”
“Claiborne will not let us off the hook about the radicality of God’s grace. Nor will he look away from the social reality of barbarism masquerading as legality. One can only hope this vigorous, inescapable book will make the difference in practice that it articulates so clearly.”
“If you’ve never changed your mind, you may have lost it along the way. If you’re open to changing your mind, here’s a powerful book--intelligent, compassionate, and truly, truly important--by one of the most thoughtful moral voices alive today. Don’t miss Shane Claiborne’s Executing Grace.”
“Executing Grace may be the best book on the death penalty. Shane weaves together narratives of people whose lives have demonstrated the miracle of grace amid murder and state killing. He shows that the Way of Jesus is incompatible with the death penalty. Indispensable, highly recommended.”
“Powerful, urgent, and right. Solidly biblical and full of wrenchingly gripping stories, this book makes a highly convincing case for ending capital punishment. Every Christian, especially those deeply committed to protect the sanctity of human life, should read it.”
ISBN: 9780062347374