Prayers for Saddam Hussein

[Dranu]

You’re right, but even so a wicked man needs to be loved. Charity is the only thing that can change a wicked man from his wickedness. And this is the Charity of God.

I agree every person needs prayers, and God provides men with grace, but this man is now dead. Should we mourn over Hitler’s/Stalin/Nero passing? I think not. We can feel sorry about their states of their soul if we were so presumptuous as to say we know such things (which we certainly do not know), but the passing in the world of another mass murderer doesn’t fase me. I don’t rejoice in his suffering or death, nor do I claim the state of his soul, but I’m glad to see some justice done, however imperfect it is. One less Hitler is nothing to shed tears over. Knowing they are damned might be, but, again,we can’t be so presumptuous.

 

[Valke2]

This is where Judaism and Christianity differ. Jesus was a loving person, who sought not the death of any person, but that all should come to repentance.

We want him to be redeemed, it is what Christ wants. God is omnibenevolent. He wills good for all things, even the wicked…why don’t you?

Really? I don’t recall GOd giving Pharoah much of a chance to repent. In fact, I’ve read that He hardened Pharoah’s heart. I think that there comes a time when a person’s actions are so terrible that repenting is not an option. I will good for all things. I wish Saddam had not done the things he did. I wish that he did not lead the kind of life that deserves eternal punishment.

 

[Prayer_Warrior]

I’m sure God provided him with many opportunities to redeem himself.

Absolutely, there are opportunities every day to repent, the prayer is more that Saddam would take that opportunity.

I’m not so sure about that. It is one thing to pray that Saddam truly repents. To do so would not dishonor those he murdered. It is another to pray that God has mecy on his soul. Personally, I could never embrace a belief system that provides for total redemption of the soul of a mass murderer. To me, that would make a mockery of our life here and of the afterlife.

Let me make a small comment on your statement. You said “Personally, I could never embrace a belief system that provides for total redemption of the soul of a mass murderer.” I just want to clarify that it is only to a truly repentent mass murderer who has turned to God that we believe might be redeemed. To a Christian, there is no crime too big or any offense too grave to be forgiven (thus redeemed) if one truly repents their sins and turns to God. I didn’t realize that in Judaism, there was such a vastly different view of God’s forgiveness. Maybe I’ll start a new thread about that, I don’t want to hijack this one, but I am curious to know more.

 

[Image_of_God]

Really? I don’t recall GOd giving Pharoah much of a chance to repent. In fact, I’ve read that He hardened Pharoah’s heart. I think that there comes a time when a person’s actions are so terrible that repenting is not an option. I will good for all things. I wish Saddam had not done the things he did. I wish that he did not lead the kind of life that deserves eternal punishment.

The Pharaoah also hardened his own heart. He did not want to recieve the Infinite Mercy of God. If he had, he wouldn’t have hardened his heart in the first place. The very life of the Pharoah until his death, is God’s waiting patiently for him to call upon the Lord.

Yes, and for all the sins that Israel committed, for all the turning away, the Lord still wanted to “set things right.”

…I also wish that you would wish that Hussein would have forgiveness.

 

[anamchara]

It’s all very sad.

 

[Image_of_God]

Absolutely, there are opportunities every day to repent, the prayer is more that Saddam would take that opportunity.

Let me make a small comment on your statement. You said “Personally, I could never embrace a belief system that provides for total redemption of the soul of a mass murderer.” I just want to clarify that it is only to a truly repentent mass murderer who has turned to God that we believe might be redeemed. To a Christian, there is no crime too big or any offense too grave to be forgiven (thus redeemed) if one truly repents their sins and turns to God. I didn’t realize that in Judaism, there was such a vastly different view of God’s forgiveness. Maybe I’ll start a new thread about that, I don’t want to hijack this one, but I am curious to know more.

Prayer Warrior, just to note, Ignatius spelled Catholic with a captial “C.”

 

[Dranu]

All who turn to Christ and truly repent recieve forgiveness. It is not right to pray for his forgiveness (God is not unjust), but its perfectly fine to pray that he should repent, and accept the forgiveness that is already open to him.
However, isn’t he already judged, as it has already happened, or am I wrong on this?

 

[Prayer_Warrior]

Prayer Warrior, just to note, Ignatius spelled Catholic with a captial “C.”

Funny, I just changed that today to lower case because someone was scolding about how Catholics capitalize “catholic” when it is not supposed to be. I’ve seen it on translations of St. Ignatius’ letter both ways. Oh well, I’ll change it back.

 

[Image_of_God]

Funny, I just changed that today to lower case because someone was scolding about how Catholics capitalize “catholic” when it is not supposed to be. I’ve seen it on translations of St. Ignatius’ letter both ways. Oh well, I’ll change it back.

You already did. Well, I always thought the authentic version had it capitalized.

 

[Image_of_God]

Valke, if you are having trouble with something that has been said to you, just look at my quote below…which is by a fellow follower of Christ.

If you cast the things that are lower out, then you would never have the greatest things.

If God were to cast out Israel for all that it did, then there would be no Church.

God brings greatness out of even the most wicked person and events.

 

[Karianne]

I’ll take that chance. Imagine the irony. Saddam commits genocide and his soul is redeemed. I curse Saddam for commiting genocide and my soul is forfeit.

I understand how you feel. I’m sure that God does,too. I am not saying that he was a great guy, but I always try to pray for folks, that they have peace.

 

[Karianne]

Valke, if you are having trouble with something that has been said to you, just look at my quote below…which is by a fellow follower of Christ.

If you cast the things that are lower out, then you would never have the greatest things.

If God were to cast out Israel for all that it did, then there would be no Church.

God brings greatness out of even the most wicked person and events.

Well, Valke is Jewish, and I think that his compassion for the Iraqis who were terrorized by Saddam is very commendable. Valke is also a New Yorker and they suffered so much!
I understand how you feel too and I share your feelings, for two reasons, first of all, he didn’t have WMD so we tried and convicted him unfairly and second of all, I would like to know the exact situation with his friendship with Bush and company.
I am afraid that America is going to suffer behind this, and I live close to DC.

 

[Image_of_God]

Well, Valke is Jewish, and I think that his compassion for the Iraqis who were terrorized by Saddam is very commendable. Valke is also a New Yorker and they suffered so much!
I understand how you feel too and I share your feelings, for two reasons, first of all, he didn’t have WMD so we tried and convicted him unfairly and second of all, I would like to know the exact situation with his friendship with Bush and company.
I am afraid that America is going to suffer behind this, and I live close to DC.

There is going to be trouble.

 

[Fidelis]

May God have mercy on his soul.

 

[Grace_Angel]

We need to remember that eternity is a long time. Lets pray for his soul. Iam here in Australia, and for the last 3 hrs we have heard (TV livenews) that he has been executed already.
So please let us pray to God for Mercy
Eternal rest grant unto him OH lLord and let your light shine upon him and may he rest in peace. Amen.
GraceAngel:angel1:

 

[Dranu]

Well, Valke is Jewish, and I think that his compassion for the Iraqis who were terrorized by Saddam is very commendable. Valke is also a New Yorker and they suffered so much!
I understand how you feel too and I share your feelings, for two reasons, first of all, he didn’t have WMD so we tried and convicted him unfairly and second of all, I would like to know the exact situation with his friendship with Bush and company.
I am afraid that America is going to suffer behind this, and I live close to DC.

Lets keep politics out of this, and not play down the lives of others, like those in NY and the hundred of thousands murdered under Sadam.

 

[marci]

I have to say that I agree that we should all pray for SH. Pray that he REPENTS, and any peace that he attains should come because he REPENTED.

Yes God is Merciful, but He is a Just Judge and we will all meet that judgement someday, I pray that we all can find salvation.

 

[Trevelyan]

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.

 

[Valke2]

Absolutely, there are opportunities every day to repent, the prayer is more that Saddam would take that opportunity.

Let me make a small comment on your statement. You said “Personally, I could never embrace a belief system that provides for total redemption of the soul of a mass murderer.” I just want to clarify that it is only to a truly repentent mass murderer who has turned to God that we believe might be redeemed. To a Christian, there is no crime too big or any offense too grave to be forgiven (thus redeemed) if one truly repents their sins and turns to God. I didn’t realize that in Judaism, there was such a vastly different view of God’s forgiveness. Maybe I’ll start a new thread about that, I don’t want to hijack this one, but I am curious to know more.

I understand that. I said personally, because I understand that Christian theology takes a different view of these kinds of situations. A new thread on this topic might be interesting.

There is time for everything. A time to love, and a time to hate.

 

[Valke2]

I understand how you feel. I’m sure that God does,too. I am not saying that he was a great guy, but I always try to pray for folks, that they have peace.

I’m sure no one here thinks he was a great guy. Please don’t take anything I"ve said here as attacking anyone for praying for him. I don’t mean to attack you or anyone else for praying for Saddam. It just isn’t something I agree with or that I think is something that God requires of me.