At the age of 95, former South African president, Nelson Mandela passed away this month. It’s hard to miss the global attention his life and death have been receiving. Many, including current President Obama, are praising Mandela as a world hero. Some, like the BBC, have even gone as far as comparing Mandela to Jesus Christ. The level of blasphemy this displays is unconscionable. What is also unconscionable, is that it seems the media has received a heavy dose of amnesia in regards to detailing who Mandela truly was as a person. Left and right people are praising Mandela as some sort of world icon to be revered. Why? Because he fought against apartheid in South Africa which stemmed from 1948-1994. Make no mistake, apartheid is undoubtedly a just cause to fight against and it should be fought against whenever possible. However, leading a just cause should not be the only criteria used to classify any individual as a hero or a great man. It seems that in this day and age, morality has taken a back seat to what is determined to be a just cause. As Christians, we can expect this type of behavior from the world. But there is a severe problem in the Church, when Christians join the foray of praising individuals blindly for any reason. The truth of the matter is Nelson Mandela was not a great man, a hero, a world icon, a Jesus-like figure, a George Washington model, or even a good guy. In fact, he was the complete opposite. The main goal of this article is to shine some light on a dark subject through the lens of Christ to prove this. As Christians we are called to be salt in the earth and light in this world (Matthew 5:13-14). By default, we are held to a higher standard and should not act as the world does, less we become like the world. So how should we view people? The same way God does. How do we go about viewing people the way God does? Through His Word. So let’s look at Nelson Mandela, through the lens of Christ and see where this ends up.
Terrorist
Nelson Mandela was the head of UmKhonto we Sizwe, better known as MK, the terrorist wing of the African National Congress. He was in fact on Amnesty’s International Terrorist watch and the United States considered him a terrorist up until 2008. He had pleaded guilty to 156 acts of public violence including mobilizing terrorist bombing campaigns, which planted bombs in public places, including the Johannesburg railway station. Many innocent people, including women and children, were killed by Nelson Mandela’s MK terrorists.1 South African President P.W. Botha had, on a number of occasions, offered Nelson Mandela freedom from prison, if he would only renounce terrorist violence. This Mandela refused to do.2
Mass Murderer
Mandela was responsible for the unjust killing of many innocent men, women and children through his MK terrorist group. His wife, Winnie, who was equally wicked was known for her comment “Together hand-in-hand, with our boxes of matches and our necklaces, we shall liberate this country.”3 What Winnie was referring to was a practice known as “Necklacing”. Necklacing involved binding the hands of an individual, placing tires around their upper body, dousing the individual with gasoline and then lighting them on fire with matchsticks, burning them alive. Not only Nelson Mandela, but also Winnie Mandela had been convicted as a murderer. To press the point of the wicked nature of Nelson Mandela’s wife, she was also convicted of kidnapping, over 40 counts of fraud and over 20 counts of theft.
### Pro Abortion, Pro Pornography, Pro Homosexuality, Pro Prostitution
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ” (1 Corinthians 9-10)
“In addition, the wording of the new South African constitution, signed by Mr Mandela in 1996, had made the legalisation of abortion on demand a mere formality.”
Nelson Mandela was Pro Abortion. In 1996, Mandela signed into law the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Bill4 , which permits abortion on demand. Since then, over 1 million babies have been murdered in the womb with most of them being black. For Mandela to position himself as one fighting for human rights while at the same time supporting the murder of the most innocent is blasphemous at best. But it doesn’t stop there. Mandela also supported pornography, homosexuality and prostitution.
Rev. Peter Hammond, founder of Frontline Fellowship and Africa Christian Nation, who has worked for 30 years in Africa’s mission field previously interviewed Mandela. Hammond prayed for Mandela and sought to bring him to see the atrocity that abortion was. In return, Mandela had Hammond’s organization subjected to a 7-year tax audit. The videos below share Peter Hammond’s take on Nelson Mandela.
The Crumbling Of Morality
No cause can justify such atrocious and vicious acts as those performed by Nelson Mandela and his terrorist organization. Sadly, we live in a nation that has completely turned the tables on morality. There was a time when being a terrorist was wrong. The current praising of Mandela exposes the turning of the tide where terrorism can be “justified” and even be seen as heroic depending on the cause. As Christians we are called to be more discerning and to not allow ourselves to be tossed around in the winds of the media, culture or even the government for the support of unrighteousness. Christians everywhere are praising Mandela without looking at the life of the man through a biblical lens. The same culture that attempts to crucify Christians over the crusades, which was a defense to a 400 year slaughter, seems to have no problem with praising a terrorist who killed innocent men, women and children over apartheid. A just cause, does not wipe away the sins of unrighteousness nor does it justify living as a heathen. As Christians we should be careful to not jump onto the world’s bandwagon.
The Unfortunate Reality
The reality is Nelson Mandela was not a great man. He was not a hero. He was not even a good person. The most accurate description of Mandela is that of man who was anti-God, who found a just cause to fight for. Sadly he rejected the prayers of those who pleaded with him to turn from his ways and to come to Christ. There is no record of Mandela apologizing for his crimes or repenting and turning to Christ. This is what scripture commands. Scripture also makes it known that none of us are good (Romans 3:10).
Standing Firm
The bar for salvation is Christ, not works. It is not fighting for just causes. It is not trying to be a good person. Christians don’t look over the sins of the wicked who oppose God and justify their actions. Christians also do not go with the ebb and flows of the world. Christians do not worry about losing friends by exposing truth and light where there are lies and darkness. Let us pray for more discernment to see clearly in a world that is blind. Let us stand firm in a time where the world receives pleasure in knocking us over. Let us pray for and continue to reach those who hate God with the Gospel. Let us not be so deceived in a world that is ruled by our enemy.
“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)
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1. Source: The State v. Nelson Mandela et al, Supreme Court of South Africa, Transvaal Provincial Division, 1963-1964, Indictment.
2. INVICTUS IDOLATRY – A Film Review By Dr. Peter Hammond
3. Row over ‘mother of the nation’ Winnie Mandela”. The Guardian (UK). 27 January 1989.
4. LifeNews