Some Christians, mostly those of a liberal persuasion, seem quite embarrassed to be seen supporting punishment as a concept and I cannot grasp why this should be so.The whole of Christianity is based on the fact that punishment awaits those who reject God the Son.
Jesus Himself warns of punishments to come, namely 'millstones' as the lesser evil. The two crucified with Jesus are seen as having merited punishment - as indeed was the case with Barabbas.
The problem arises for those who decontextualise the 'turning the other cheek' principle which is clearly aimed at the individual and not society!
When the individual responds, then that is 'vengeance' - nothing more, nothing less.
When society responds with punishment,'vengeance' is simply not an issue - this is retribution.
As I have written previously, "Revenge is personal: retribution is neutral." The two are emphatically NOT the same thing!
Parents who punish their children do not do so out of hatred but out of love.
