Was Nelson Mandela a Christian?

I find it interesting that people want to know in the aftermath of the death of a famous person whether or not they were followers of Jesus. I heard it after Steve Jobs’ passing (he was a non-practicing Buddhist) and even more so now after Mandela’s death.

Mandela was a man of great passion. If you study his life, you will also find that, like most of us, he was complex. He courageously fought the injustices of racism but embraced violence and forms of terrorism in doing so. He achieved an impeccable record during his thirty years of imprisonment and gained the love and respect of his white guards, as well as his black countrymen who fought for his release. He was elected South Africa’s first black president and transitioned the nation out of apartheid as the most prosperous of all African nations, instituting a government that was stable…one that has not been as stable since. But he also established a personal reputation as a serial philanderer. At his death, he was one of the most beloved and respected men in the world.

Like all of us, Mandela was complex. Was he a Christian?

He was baptized as a Methodist as a young man. Beyond that, I don’t know enough about his spiritual life to know what evidence there is either way. But then again, I’m not the one to make that judgement anyway. 

I find it more curious that so many people are asking now, after his death, but not before. It seems that when a prominent person dies, we want so badly for that person to be in heaven that we begin to dwell on it. And death leads us to think about spiritual things. Too bad we don’t more often before.

God also wanted that famous person to be in heaven. He wanted it so badly that he gave his son to become a man who lived in poverty and rejection, and then a final tortuous death by crucifixion. If Nelson Mandela was not a follower of Jesus, Jesus wanted him to be. So much so that he gave everything for that path to be available.

But there is a much more important question for you. Mandela is gone, but you are still here. His fate is sealed. Not yours.

God so badly wants you to spend eternity with him in heaven that he also gave his son for you. Have you responded to his offer of reconciliation? Have you received his gift of forgiveness? Are you a genuine follower of Jesus? That’s the more important question. At least it is for you.

If you are not really sure and want to know more, contact me. My email address is ziegler@thebridgedp.org. I’d be glad to send you some help.