As television newspeople said, not many will mourn the death of Jeffrey Dahmer. Had he killed Dusty, my son, I might have joined in the applause of his murder/executioner too. Many of the victims' families hated him with a purple passion and wished he could die a thousand deaths.

Surely, having killed 17 innocent people, if anyone ever deserved to die at the hands of the state, Dahmer did. No punishment could be too hard. So he was murdered in prison - it doesn't matter just as long as he is dead.

Many have applauded his death and wished him the worst. But what if his death was a move from the big house to our "Father's mansions"? What if his death was a graduation to glory?

Yes, what if? Jeffrey was baptized into Christ in the prison whirlpool May 10, by Roy Ratliff, a gospel preacher who works with Christ's church in Madison, Wisconsin. Of course a lot of jail house conversions are just so much smoke. They can be like death-bed repentance or the soldier who gets religion in a foxhole with artillery shells walking toward him. Sure, Dahmer may have faked it. He may not have meant it when he confessed Christ and was plunged under the waters of baptism. But, then how can we know? How do I know you were perfectly sincere when you were baptized?

The truth is, without the sacrifice of Christ, all of us would be lost, undone and without hope. My only claim to glory is the fact that, in Christ, all my sins have been taken away. Christ died to save us even when - especially when - we were sinners (Romans 5: 6-11). The cold fact is (or should I say, the heartwarming fact is) if Jeffrey Dahmer couldn't be saved, then neither can you - or I. That's what the cross is about. Jesus died so that we wouldn't get what we deserve.

This whole thing has stretched my soul and forced me to recall just what forgiveness means. The forgiveness of sins says anyone can be forgiven in Christ. Forgiveness says that the Father doesn't remember where I've been and the sins I've committed. Forgiveness says the Jeffrey Dahmers of the world can go to be with God.

Wouldn't it be the height of irony if Jeffrey goes to heaven and those who hated him and are outside Christ are lost?

Dennis Crawford