From: dan@ingres.com (a Rose arose)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Dodd and Gandi
Date: 8 Jan 93 05:51:21 GMT
Organization: Ingres, an ASK Company, Alameda CA 94501

Wesley Allen Dodd was recently hanged in the state of Washington for the
brutal killing of three young boys.  I'm not certain, but I remember seeing
either him or someone who looks like him cry out "hail Satan" and show the
sign of the pentagram drawn on his hands during a trial.  Dodd refused to
appeal his death sentence and said that he wanted to die for what he did
and that if he were released, he would rape and kill again and enjoy doing
so.

Later, I heard on the news that Dodd had made a confession of his faith in
Christ--an eleventh hour repentence.  It is well known that prisoners will
often make such a profession of faith to lessen their punishment and shorten
their sentence terms.  However, Dodd knew he was headed toward the gallows.

On the other hand, perhaps Gandi is or is not a good example to use, but he
is relatively beloved for good deeds and extreme unselfishness setting his
desires aside in long fasts, and yet before he died, he gave his reasons for
not becoming a christian--not so much rooted in fact but rather in the
behavior of christians.

So, it would appear that Dodd may have died a christian while Gandi probably
did not.

As christians, we know we are saved by grace received through faith.  But, how
do you all feel about this?  Are you ready to kiss christianity goodbye or
sweep this under the rug or trust randomly and blindly, or do you have a
sense of peace and comfort knowing that the justice of Christ is real?

Only the Lord has the wisdom and knowledge to see into the long term effects
and the inner motives of people perfectly and completely.  We do not know
ourselves to the point of knowing 1/100000% of what the Lord knows about us.

In making a last minute profession, Dodd and the thief on the cross made known
to many Christ's love and patience and desire to forgive and restore us back to
a proper relationship with Him regardless how far we have sunk into sin.

In performing wonderful deeds and in satisfying his own hunger to see the
well being of his people, Gandi, while satisfying himself, did many good 
things, and yet in the end he made Christ appear unnecessary and not even
desirable.  Gandi did good deeds while leading people away from the Source
of what could make their deeds good.  Had Gandi turned to Christ, no doubt
many would have followed and much more good would have been accomplished.

This does not excuse the horrible deeds done by Dodd or state that Dodd was
definitely a christian at death while Gandi was not.  But for me, it helps
me understand why the Lord would allow such an eleventh hour conversion.

And yet I cannot help but feel that these eleventh hour conversions are the
exception rather than the rule.  Dodd was cold-blooded and perhaps was very
bitter, and this type of bitterness could lead people to justify doing almost
anything.  And yet this situation may have been exactly what was needed to
bring Dodd to his knees so that he would repent upon being made aware of the
Gospel.  Had Dodd heard the Gospel early on and had he had an army of people
praying for his salvation--had the Love of Christ been brought forth to him
and had he grieved away the Holy Spirit and hardened his heart towards God
early on, it is likely he would have perished feeling the flames of hell as
did Voltare (sp?), Payne (sp?), and other infidels whose last words were
recorded in this way.

What about the children Dodd killed?  Is it imaginable that they would have
perished into hell while their killer would go freely to heaven?

God would rather have all saved.  If we feel the loss of these children and
anger over the deeds of Dodd, then I'm sure that God feels this much more
strongly.  I cannot believe that God would not do all he could to let everyone
into heaven that he can let in without ruining all of heaven.

His whole design of His Gospel plan is to bring about the greatest good to
the universe that could possibly exist--that is, God never every has nor ever
will make a second best decision in any way.  And, perhaps many will not agree,
yet I feel the "good works" of the devil are carefully engineered--not to
provide a real benefit but rather to provide as little good as is necessary to
cast a doubt on God's love, wisdom, power, justice and overall goodness. 

When the devil is stripped of his excuses, his lies, his sheep's clothing,
etc., and his true character is exposed, God is vindicated.


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-----------/\---------- Daniel J. Dick
----------/ /\--------- ASK/INGRES Internal Support Team
---------/ /| \-------- 
--------/ / /\_\------- "How does teflon stick to a skillet
-------/ / / / /\------  when nothing sticks to teflon?"
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