How often we have heard liberal christians talk about the need for removing punishment from the criminal justice system.
They speak - like any fully paid up member of the liberal left - as if this is contained in the Scriptures.
When challenged, they usually remind us that Jesus taught that 'we should turn the other cheek'.
A cunning and diabolical misrepresentation if ever there was one!
An individual CAN 'turn the other cheek' but please explain how a society can do that!
For those who have only a tenuous grasp of biblical teachings on punishment and justice, in your studies may I recommend that you divorce teaching which is clearly to the individual believer from teaching which is clearly aimed at society.
If you fail to do this, you will find all sorts of 'inconsistencies' in the teaching. That's what happens when the waters get muddied!