Article 2, Section 2, Paragraph 1
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
Presidential Pardons
The presidential pardon was set up to extend mercy to those who deserve it. It is limited to offenses against the United States, and cannot include impeachment situations. This pardon is patterned after the Biblical concept where God extends a pardon to us, who have given our lives to Him.
Isaiah 55:7, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
There are times when it is important to extend mercy. We have seen an almost “kangaroo court” style justice against various people in recent years. Officials are sometimes charged with crimes and become the “fall guy” for a boss or department, even though they were not responsible for the crime. At other times the crimes committed were unintentional, and do not deserve the extent of punishment imposed. As long as the crimes were committed against this country, the president has the power of pardon.
There has been an abuse of this power in the last presidents. Pardons were sold to the highest bidders. Pardons were issued for those who had not committed crimes against the United States, but instead were criminal “friends” of the president. This is an abuse of privilege and should have been prosecuted, and the pardons repealed.
God does not indiscriminately pardon people. Those He pardons must accept His Son as their Savior, and seek to follow His Son wholeheartedly. Their faith is demonstrated by a sincere hunger and obedience to all of the Word of God. Being a holy God, He hates wickedness and those who do not seek to walk in His image.
Mark 11:26, "But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."
A president that wants to use this privilege of office must use it as God would. He cannot pardon those who are bent to do evil. He cannot pardon those that fall outside the simple definition of this power. As president, he is to go after those that commit treason and see that they are stopped from doing it ever again. He is also to see that all employees of the departments of the United States operate in an honest and honorable manner, in what is befitting of service.
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