Torture: My perspective

In Matthew 5:44, Jesus demonstrates that the Law of God directs man towards love in all things, including one’s enemies, using the word “enemy” to signify one’s persecutors. Moreover, Jesus demonstrates this love beyond simply commanding believers to do so. Though He suffered and died for the elect, He treated His enemies with compassion and love, even healing them. Jesus’ instructions and example demonstrate that Christians should treat all people with love and compassion, even if they are regarded as a terrorist or criminal.
Yet, one should be careful in applying all the texts of Scripture that speak on how Christians should love. Whereas Jesus said believers should love their enemies, the Bible does not require that one should treat and forgive one’s enemies exactly as one’s Christian brethren. Most of the New Testament passages on love and unity speak to the Church and should therefore be limited to ecclesial application. Based on the Biblical example and ethics, Christians may support and admonish the apprehension and detention of those who impose and inflict harm on others, both regarding them as criminals while treating them with love and compassion. Any sort of application of physical, emotional, or mental harm to such prisoners contradicts the commands of Jesus and His apostles and therefore should be opposed in all instances.
Beyond the moral and spiritual grounds for the opposition of torture, the United States is also bound by law to refrain from torturing prisoners. As a participating and leading nation in the United Nations, the United States has subjected itself willingly to the laws and treaties of this international governing body. According to the “United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” fully prohibits the use of torture and coercive measures on prisoners by its signees. According to the Biblical standard upon which Christians must make their position, the United States by law must not torture any prisoners.
As noted above, however, the United States has sought to obey the law, while also pushing the limits of the law to the brink. While Scripture does not explicitly define what torture is and is not, nor provides examples of what would violate Jesus’ command to love one’s neighbor, the New Testament does abound in positive examples of righteous and holy living. Paul exhorts believers to view their entire lives as opportunities for worship of God, rejecting what the world declares to be right and wrong (in this case pragmatism) and embrace the heart of Christ. Moreover, the Christian life, which includes the positions Christians hold and actions they take, should be a witness and reflection of the love of Christ and glory of His name. From the perspective of having the heart of Christ, therefore, the question about torture becomes not “what is permissible” but “what is the most loving.” Christ demonstrated what love is, ultimately in giving Himself over to death. If believers, while maintaining the civil duty to apprehend and detain those who wish to harm and destroy, view their mission to do so as guided by the love of Christ, whether or not it is right to torture will never even come into question.