OPINION: Does Charles Manson deserve hell?
Jazmyne Boozer, Assistant Editor
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The views and opinions expressed in this editorial are solely those of the original author(s) These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of The Vision website or North Greenville University.
Twitter-users, secular and Christian alike, were raving about the death of Charles Manson.
At the age of 83, Charles Manson died with a legacy of schizophrenic rants, delusional proverbs and murders. Charles Manson, the most notorious cult leader of our era, led a small group of his most devoted followers on a murderous rampage of five people, including an unborn baby of one of his victims. The following day, he led the same group with a few others to kill two more people. To say the least, the man was a monster. His manipulation and schizophrenia not only affected him, but took the lives of others with him. Many people on social media figuratively danced on his grave at the news of his death.
Even as I write and read about him, my stomach churns at the evil this man exemplifies. From the anti-religious speeches, to the carved swastika on his forehead, everything about him makes one’s skin crawl. I cannot help but think of the lives that were lost at the hand of this man and how he somehow avoided the death penalty when all of his counterparts received sentencing for it. I do not like hearing about the evil he carried out in the world, nor do I like hearing about his manipulative nature.
Yet I cannot help but feel pity for his soul. The fact that some Christians are actually damning this man to hell and praying that he burns for eternity is deplorable. As much as it may sting to hear: God loved that man. Even writing that sentence made me tense up. As Christians, we are called to love our enemies and those that do us wrong. What Manson did was enough to offend us; even though we were not involved. Not only this, but Matthew 7:1 states “Judge not that ye be not judged.” That word ‘judge’ comes from the Hebrew word “krino”. “Krino” means “to distinguish or to try to condemn or punish.” It is not up to Christians to decide where Manson ends up.
How can we call ourselves loving Christians, yet condemn and celebrate the possibility of the man’s entrance to hell? An eternal soul was lost. If he did not reconcile with God, Manson died a delusional and horrible man to spend the rest of eternity in hell. How can one not pity a story like that?
To speak to the opposition, the main question I have been asked is: How would you feel if he had killed a member of your family instead? Would you be so loving and forgiving then? To this I would say: initially no. I would not be forgiving and would want the man in hell, as that is human nature. But I would pray for the heart of the Father and through that forgiveness would come. 1 Timothy 2: 3-4 reads “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” The Father’s heart is for ALL men to be saved, even Manson.
To step on even more toes, we deserve hell just as much as Manson does. God loved us in that we were yet sinners. It is only by God’s grace that we get to love him, serve him and enter eternal reward with him.
If we are to be like God, our goal is not to hate or condemn or judge. Our goal is to love and forgive. We see this exemplified and shadowed numerous times in the Bible. If Jesus endured people spitting on him, hitting him, punching him, beating him, then nailing him to the cross and still prayed for them and asked the Father to forgive them…then we should too.
And for those that may say, “That was Jesus, I don’t have to follow that example because He was perfect”; Stephen, a disciple of God, prayed a mirrored prayer while he was being stoned to death. If they can pray for the forgiveness of their persecutors and love them through it, surely, we can stop condemning Manson.
