serial Killer serves Christ? Is he forgiven?

[ladyjazz]

Throughout my life, before my re-birth in Christ, various stories intrigued me. This one impacted me the most: David Berkowitz aka, " The Son of Sam." 13 shot, 6 killed. I found his conversion story years ago and read so much about it! At first, i completely thought he was lying, but he gets thumbs up from, guards, judges and Christians famous and ordinary all over the World. He even pastors at the Prison Church.

Gods ways are not our ways, so we may not understand this kind of mercy. This story is all over the net. But the main site is: Arise and Shine with David Berkowitz (former Son of Sam, now Son of Hope) - Home Page

It made me look at God very differently!

 

[Bushman Kalahari]

Let God judge whether he is forgiven or not, not our business.

 

[ladyjazz]

Let God judge whether he is forgiven or not, not our business.

Well, its an encouraging story if its true. My point wasn't to judge or whatnot, just to share an interesting story.

 

[Messy]

Throughout my life, before my re-birth in Christ, various stories intrigued me. This one impacted me the most: David Berkowitz aka, " the son of sam." 13 shot, 6 killed. I found his conversion story years ago and read so much about it! At first, i completely thought he was lying, but he gets thumbs up from, guards, judges and Christians famous and ordinary all over the World. He even pastors at the Prison Church. Idk...

Gods ways are not our ways, so we may not understand this kind of mercy. This story is all over the net. But the main site is: Arise and Shine with David Berkowitz (former Son of Sam, now Son of Hope) - Home Page

It made me look at God very differently! Laterz

Wow! The link didn't work, but I found another one.

 

[bsd31]

Don't know why anyone doubts other people's conversions. Don't know of anyone who reads Acts 9 and doubts Saul's conversion. Or reads Daniel and doubts Nebuchadnezzar. Or any of the other hundreds of conversions that are in the scripture. Why is it so hard to believe a serial killer, or rapist, or child molester, or whatever would be converted?

 

[ValleyGal]

Two of the "Manson family" (Labianca and Tate murderers) have converted to Christianity. One of them, Tex Watson, actually became a minister in prison. One of the ladies also converted to Christianity. She wrote a book years and years ago about her conversion and subsequent ministry in prison, but I don't recall what it's called or which of the women wrote it.

Ted Bundy, a serial rapist/murderer also converted at the end, sharing his testimony with a Christian public figure (iirc it might have been Dobson) prior to his execution. During the interview, Bundy shared the devastating effects of porn, but came to peace in his heart after he repented of his sins...not just his crimes, but his sins.

No one is beyond God's scope of forgiveness, mercy, grace, if we acknowledge our need for him, and ask him for it. We are all guilty. Maybe we are not guilty of heinous crimes, but we are guilty of sin against God. That puts us in the same boat as everyone else....all of us are in need of God's forgiveness, mercy, grace. I think it's fantastic to see how far these qualities of God reaches....even to the underbelly of the most secure prisons and death row itself.

 

[ladyjazz]

Yes! I think that people doubt these extreme conversions because we feel these criminals are just plain liars and so we tend to lean towards, " what do they got up their sleeve." Also, jeff dahmer accepted Christ and was baptized right before he was killed in prison! I dont know how to link youtube videos, but his Fathers new found faith in Christ prompted jeff to examine himself and he seemed sincere. I used to b a true crime reader so i tend to really like to see extreme stories like these. The interview w dahmer and his dad is on YT. it was a dateline NBC broadcast, i can't recall the interviewers name.

Other neat testimonies are mac gober and shaun sellors. And Nicky Cruz whos been serving God.faithfully almost 50 yrs!

We serve a loving God!

 

[ladyjazz]

Two of the "Manson family" (Labianca and Tate murderers) have converted to Christianity. One of them, Tex Watson, actually became a minister in prison. One of the ladies also converted to Christianity. She wrote a book years and years ago about her conversion and subsequent ministry in prison, but I don't recall what it's called or which of the women wrote it.

Ted Bundy, a serial rapist/murderer also converted at the end, sharing his testimony with a Christian public figure (iirc it might have been Dobson) prior to his execution. During the interview, Bundy shared the devastating effects of porn, but came to peace in his heart after he repented of his sins...not just his crimes, but his sins.

No one is beyond God's scope of forgiveness, mercy, grace, if we acknowledge our need for him, and ask him for it. We are all guilty. Maybe we are not guilty of heinous crimes, but we are guilty of sin against God. That puts us in the same boat as everyone else....all of us are in need of God's forgiveness, mercy, grace. I think it's fantastic to see how far these qualities of God reaches....even to the underbelly of the most secure prisons and death row itself.

Ive enjoyed tex watsons books and stories on his site! Charles "Tex" Watson an Outreach to Prisoners - Abounding Love Ministries

 

[ValleyGal]

Indeed. I think one reason many people find testimonies like this so unbelievable is because there are a lot of inmates who use religion as a way to please parole boards, seeing it as a sort of get-out-of-jail card. So it's hard to trust which ones are sincere. I can certainly understand that reasoning, but if that's all people use it for, they will typically not stick with it for the long-haul and it will eventually come out in how they live.

Another reason, imo, is because we have a tendency to prefer to think we're better than that. We are all in denial that we have the very same capacity to kill or tendency to do the wrong thing. I came face to face with this when I was in a beating with my ex husband. He had choked me and I passed out...when I came to, he was standing at my feet, ready to lunge again. I don't know how other than rapidly firing neurons, but in only a second I had to react, I thought: I need to be safe. I need to defend. I can kick him where it hurts. But if I do it too hard, it could do severe damage. If I don't do it hard enough, he will come after me. If I do it too hard and he falls and hits his head, it could kill him. So I will place my foot there (not kick) and push - just enough to buy enough time to get to safety. That is what I did....but I thought of all that during that split second. It was a lot to think about. Some people don't think, though, or don't know their own strength, or whatever....the fact is, in that moment, I had the capacity and yes, even partially the desire to do some real, severe damage. I chose not to...but only by the grace of God.

On self-reflection after that, I came face to face with my own nature...my sinful nature and recognized and even admitted my capacity to end up in jail. I would have been one of "them" - those people that we judge ourselves better than. While I had it in me to be honest with myself and with God, many people are unable to do this. But even the best, nicest, most peaceful of Christians have this same capacity, and we all need redemption in Christ because of it. Even if we don't act on that dark part of ourselves, we still have it....and that is the deep part of ourselves that needs the Lord Jesus.

 

[RAnonUS19B]

If the killer truly believes in the Lord and savior Jesus Christ and has faith in him and repented then the bible says he is saved. Now remember the bible says repent and be forgiven not Repent and be forgiven of some sins. So yea he's probly saved.

 

[ladyjazz]

Valleygirl, forgive me for not answering sooner. I took a hiatus from CF and also dont remember getting an email that someone replied. Regardless, i totally agree w you about us thinking we are better than killers, cuz we all do have the capacity and our hearts ARE WICKED! In the circumstance of that fight, you grappled w survival instincts, but also saw clearly your own ability to do great harm.

These stories inspire me becuz no one, NO ONE, is beyond his grace.

Rockshe: agreed! I wish i had the exact link. But i dont no how to ccp, on a phone. But youtube has great vids for son of sam and his story. Hes either new in Christ or deserves an acting award!!

 

[ladyjazz]

Wow! The link didn't work, but I found another one.

Messy, did you youtube his story? You can see Jesus in his eyes! Gods ways r not our ways. He sees the heart, we want revenge and justice!! Anyhow, a video testimony is more powerful. Enjoy!

 

[endofrope]

I was no closer to earning my own salvation than any of these serial killers, or Hitler, or anyone else you can think of. Salvation through Christ, period. Then the proof is in the pudding, so to speak.

 

[ladyjazz]

I was no closer to earning my own salvation than any of these serial killers, or Hitler, or anyone else you can think of. Salvation through Christ, period. Then the proof is in the pudding, so to speak.

Thumbs up! I will try to find the best testimonial video I can on this story. It actually influenced me to seek God, when I first read it 20 years ago or so.

 

[ladyjazz]

Part 1

Plz remember that this is a tragic story and at times is disturbing. But it shows Gods awesome mercy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rZfEyHeM-w&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[ladyjazz]

Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA9LUEgKNRg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[ladyjazz]

Part 3- end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3scm2sY7OM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Renee Arisen]

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