Why do Christians hold inconsistent views about life? What about the death penalty?

The issues of abortion and the death penalty are separate yet interrelated. Each has some connection to the sanctity of life.

Whereas abortion has been framed as more of a private, medical choice in which a life is intentionally ended, the death penalty is a state-authorized act that lies within the scope of the state’s authority as given by God (cf. Rom 13:1-7).

Just because Christians may affirm that the death penalty is within the scope of authority given to government, Christians are not required to be pro-death penalty. Other factors may need to be considered, such as one’s confidence in the state’s ability to determine guilt or innocence. The biblical and theological claim does not need to be correlated with a practical position. We affirm the role given to government by God but may hold a separate position depending on the competence and character of political leaders and our confidence in governmental structures and processes.

The primary difference between abortion and the death penalty is related to the circumstances associated with the decision to take a life (e.g., an unwanted pregnancy versus a capital crime) and the authority of the realm in which the action is taken (e.g., a voluntary medical procedure versus the state). Government is given the authority to take life in the course of restraining evil and maintaining order. Individuals are not given the authority to take life due to private, personal considerations.

That said, there does appear to be some biblical warrant for taking life in self-defense under certain circumstances. For instance, Exodus 22:2-3 absolves someone (there is no bloodguilt) who strikes a thief at night, whereas if a thief is killed during the day, the owner of the house who struck the thief would be responsible. The general idea seems to be that killing a thief in the night is allowable because the house-owner would not know if the person was breaking in as a thief or as a potential murderer, whereas killing a thief in daylight eliminates confusion and, thus, is not covered under self-defense. Again, here we see a deep concern for human life in the Old Testament.