people need to understand that the God of the new testament is the same as God of the old testament
the only difference is the blood of Christ
if you do not accept Jesus, you will suffer the wrath of God
there is no third choice
I'm not sure why some seem to think Manson should go to heaven; perhaps the 7 people murdered, an 8 month old baby ripped out of the womb of Sharon Tate...blood smeared everywhere...should be considered
perhaps, if God would only use scales instead of the sacrifice of His Son, He would weigh the one person and the 7 hideously and ritualistically murdered against each other and Manson would be rejected
you know, I personally think that would make more sense (that is if we actually could decide better than the solution God already has) than gushing over someone who never repented of what he did even though he did have the gospel presented
we have a picture in the book of Revelation of saints who had been martyred asking how long they have to wait until their deaths had been avenged
if everyone who had a bad childhood committed murders, rape and various other morally devastating crimes, you could possibly create an argument for causative behavior
but since that is not so, it seems beyond silly to me to make such a case for someone who was so obviously influenced by satanic beings
that could be a discussion for another thread since some may believe the devil is now helpless
I don’t think ANYONE deserves to go to Heaven (I take that back, I think babies, little children and mentally retarded people are worthy if Heaven). That’s the great paradox- NONE of us deserve Heaven, yet we ALL can go if we accept Christ’s gift.
Grace is a funny thing, people rage against it. It upsets their sensibilities of what is right and what is fair and what is just.
Who knows what gruesome heinous things the thief on the cross committed? We know he was not JUST a thief. The Roman government would not have crucified a petty thief. Yet, Jesus told him “THIS day you shall be in Paradise with me.”
I know that God loves Charles Manson just as much as He loves Sharon Tate. I know that God died for Charles Manson just as much as He died for Sharon Tate. I know that if Sharon Tate called to Jesus in her last minutes, Jesus came and got her. I know that if Charles Manson called out for Jesus in his last minutes, Jesus came and got him. I know that if they are both in Heaven, she will forgive him and praise God for being loving enough to save all who call on His name.
I am glad that God operates by grace and not by justice. If He operated on a justice basis, not one of us would make Heaven. Not one of us is without sin.