I turned on the radio a few nights ago in mid-discussion of the sentenced execution of Saddam Husain by hanging that happened December 30th 2006. A question was posed by the radio host: if Saddam’s execution was publicly aired, would you watch it? Thereafter, a man called in stating he was a Christian and did not believe as a Christian he should watch the execution of anyone.
This got me thinking: Is there justification in watching the death of an evil person? Though there had been no plans by major media to air Saddam’s death, the question of whether it is moral or appropriate to watch such a thing still lingers.
If a person does such perverse acts where death is legally warranted, is there something for the public to gain from watching life leave that person? I think many have a curiosity as to what might happen during someone’s last breath of life. I think too, many hope there will be a sense of justice in their own hearts by witnessing such a punishment. But, as Christians, how are we to view this?
I don’t believe there is any benefit to my own soul to see someone put to death. Though I do wonder whether the hearts of such people who are sentenced to death turn to Jesus in their last moments, really, it’s no benefit to me. Those moments of the heart are truly between the criminal and God.
So, would I watch this particular execution if it were aired? To be quite honest, I just don’t know for sure—but I doubt it. I have the flesh part of me that is so curious, but I think I would be more satisfied hearing from those who were more directly impacted by the acts of such a person, if they felt justice after the execution. Maybe it’s just me, but something seems very sad about the death of anyone being made a spectacle of whether they’re deserving of it or not.