HOUSTON (AP) - The youth minister who confessed to a 1994 killing is being widely forgiven by members of his former congregation, who say they admire his courage in finally surrendering to police.
Calvin Wayne Inman, 29, remains jailed without bail since he was charged Wednesday with capital murder in the stabbing death of a convenience store clerk during a robbery. He was 16 at the time.
During Sunday's service at the 800-member Elim Church, congregants praised the recently ordained Inman as a born-again role model taking responsibility for his sin.
"He's a hero, really," said Kelley Graham, 24. "I don't know how many people would do what he did. The Bible says you just need to confess to God. Calvin took an extra step."
Inman went to authorities on Feb. 5 and admitted that he stabbed Iqbal Ahmed, 64, nearly 14 years ago in suburban Pasadena. According to police, Inman said he and a 13-year-old friend planned to rob the convenience store. When Ahmed asked to see identification before giving them tobacco, Inman stabbed Ahmed in the chest with a kitchen knife, police said.
Inman resigned from the youth job in December.
"The debt he's paying to our society is teaching our young people to do the right thing," said Cheryl Ellis, a member of the church's youth staff. "To lock him away someplace and say he owes it to society is robbing the next generation of a mentor."
Robin Thac said her 17-year-old son was active in the youth group that Inman led.
"I am thrilled my son has a role model to accept responsibility the way Calvin has," Thac said. "There are way too many men who don't accept responsibility."
Police have said Inman's friend, now 28, has acknowledged being involved in the robbery but not the stabbing. Because of 1994 juvenile laws preventing prosecution of people 13 or younger, police said they could not charge the friend.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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I always marvel at the attraction that Christian sites holds for atheists. Have you ever wondered what the lure was? I am truly curious, not just as to the "why" but also as to the self-questioning part. Have you ever stared at that for any length of time, or do you simply dismiss it off hand? I do hope I am not coming off negatively, I am genuinely and sincerely curious.
JonnyBlad,
You're talking to one, so of coures we exist. The notion that somehow a lack in belief in something makes them not exist is false logic. It's like saying those that doubt or deny the existence of santa equally (somehow?) don't exist either.
merkin:
Do Atheists Exist?
http://polemos.net/Do%20Atheists%20Exist.html
Amen! Paul was a mass murderer, yet he taught more on grace and forgiveness than anyone. I'd rather hear a sermon on grace and forgiveness from someone to whom God has imparted so much, than the man who has "lived a righteous life" his whole life.
Without sin, grace can no longer abound. And to those whom God has express all the more grace, they themselves will extend all the more grace to those around him/her. The more God shows His grace in my life, the more I can share it with others. I know what I'm talking about. I frogave the drunk doctor who drove into my car and killed my best friend.
God bless those who have learned to forgive.
Are we not all Christians here? Do we not acknowledge the power of the Holy Spirit? Have we forgotten the background that the apostle Paul came from, though we revere and live by His words?
I am glad for Paul's letters, and I am glad for the Spirit, and I am glad for this man's courage. Judge as you will, but for a man who has repented, have you forgotten Christ's commands to forgive?
Judge the Christian who sins willfully, unrepentantly, proudly; but for the man who has been changed, where are your hearts, Christians?
ep1433-
I understand your post and agree that parents should seek righteous men and women to offer as role models. Although may I suggest that you overlook the fact that righteous men and women are very few, so the alternative is to offer object lessons from people as they deal with the pitfalls of life. "Hero" and "role model" are references presented by people who knew this man, worked with him, and worshiped with him. In keeping with the context of the church and community, I don't think there was ever a suggestion that anyone outside of his immediate circle should or would hold Mr. Inman in such high esteem. I was responding to posts from merkin, but thank you for your insight.
jbnb31691 - I think you have misunderstood my post. I in no way overlook the fact that God looks at the heart. I am certain this murderer will be judged by a more fair being than I am. But as to how I will choose my role models, I think I'll continue to avoid murderers. While I completely agree that all are sinners, the purpose of a role model is to model Christlike behavior. Now it is obvious that no one will do this perfectly, but I think I can find a better example for myself and my son than a murderer. Is there something we can learn from this man? Yes, I suppose there is. But it is too little to consider him a worthwhile role-model. That I have to explain this is evidence of how far we have gone as a society. I worry about a future where parents will distort Christian teaching in order to offer a murderer as a role-model for their children.
That "other men have been glorified who bear far less moral rectitude" is a sad fact. But this is hardly reason to offer such a poor example to our children.
The injunction not to judge others has nothing to do with using our wisdom to avoid murderers and everything to do with casting eternal judgements on such men. I have not said that such a murderer is destined for Hell. Merely that he is a poor role model. Again I find myself almost laughing to be saying this.
Let me give you an example. Suppose I need to inspire a group of young men to graduate form High School. Would I show them a High School drop-out to use as a role-model? Spiritual man though he may be, the drop-out can teach the young men nothing about how to graduate. In much the same way, a murderer can teach young men nothing about leading a moral life (perhaps if we need a lesson on plunging and withdrawing a knife from a victim we can give this man a call). But seriously, I suppose I see your point that his man could teach these young men something about seeking divine forgiveness and trying to make amends for sin but since (as you correctly pointed out) we are all sinners shouldn't you or I (non-murderers both) be able to teach this lesson just as effectively?
Response to merkin post:
You insist that you do not care that you are judged guilty by a Holy God, but I care very much. My prayer is that some day very soon you will welcome a relationship with the God who loves you and pursues you passionately. In spite of your denial, I suspect you harbor some interest in the Christian God or you would not be perusing this website and wasting your valuable time posting comments to the contrary. Have a blessed day!
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Rev. 3:20
The only ones who can truly forgive the murderer are the victims who lost a family member. Our forgiveness is meaningless as he did not sin against everybody, he sinned against God first and then his victim and his family. For years, every time there's some shoot out somewhere in malls or schools, signs pop up amidst the masses claiming forgiveness. If you didn't lose your life or a relative, you are not the offended party so save your breath. The thinking is this country is so messed up these days. Everyone's getting their ethics and ideas from Oprah.
jbnb31691,
I couldn't care less whether you think I'd be judged "guilty" or "innocent" by your make believe god.
Response to merkin post:
It appears that you are quite upset by my comment. Let me assure you that what you or I "believe" to be true does not alter the truth of God's holiness as revealed to us by His Law. You and I can "believe" that we are innocent of a sin simply because we did not act on the hatred in our hearts, but God clearly states that we ARE guilty. "No one is righteous, not one." Does a sin actualized in the physical reap greater consequences? Of course, but only in the physical. You and I rank sin, in our feeble attempt to create a righteousness separate from the holiness of God. We may look at another person and think to ourselves, "Well I would never do THAT, so I am better." God calls this attitude self-righteousness which is ultimately idolatry. And what is the first of God's commandments? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind." From which flows the first four of the Ten Commandments, one of which is "You shall have no other God's before me."
So I close with one question, if our holy God judged you according to His Law, (let's keep it simple and just focus on the Big Ten) would you be found guilty or innocent?
Today's world often makes us cynical, but I wonder if Mr. Inman had contacted legal counsel to determine what penalties he might face as an adult for the crime committed as a juvenile. But would this same congregation have been so forgiving of a young man leaving prison for the same crime? Stabbing a man to death is an up close and personal crime, knives unlike guns do not accidentally kill someone. Admitting to a horrendous crime like murder does make you a hero, it merely shows that you are admitting responsibility. I doubt Mr. Ahmed's family would think his late admission to be heroic. In their shoes, I might find such a press release to be offensive.
I would be curious to know if Mr. Inman made any attempt to contact the Ahmed family before turning himself in.
The bottom line is that in all clear conciousness and Spirit, you cannot preach honesty and truthfulness if you haven't done it yourself.
I can't believe what I just read. He's a "hero"? For turning himself in for capital murder? We have some very strange ideas of heroism today. He took another man's life. He murdered someone who will never ever live again. He robbed the man and his family of his life. He lied about it and lived in comfort for years as a supposed pastor. Now he's supposed to get a medal for turning himself in and become a hero? Can we expect this man on a Wheaties box soon? Sheesh. I have never seen such a confused mess as evangelical Christianity as we have now. I'm glad he repented and turned himself in. Now the consequences start for taking another man's life. Carla Faye Tucker had the death penalty for her murdering someone. She had become a believer, but she still had to face the penalty. A life for a life. Unless this message gets through to young people, we'll only see more murder because kids quote, "just snapped". Life is cheap enough today without evangelicals adding to the problem.
jbnb31691,
Congratulations, that has got to be the worst comment I've seen all week. (And I thought seedplanter's comment about holding fire morally responsible for burning you couldn't be outdone!)
You need immediate psychiatric evaluation if you really believe that thoughts are equivalent to actions.
No, he shouldn't be applauded, but I doubt he asked for an applause. He should be forgiven though, since he turned himself in. It seems like he is truly sorry for his crime, and he is ready to do the time. We are not his judge anyway, and the Lord is the only true Judge. I do admire him for taking responsibility for his actions. I hope I would have the integrity to step up to the plate the way he did. Hopefully, while he is serving his time, he can be an awesome witness to many men behind bars, and save many a soul for Jesus Christ.
Response to ep1433 post:
You over look the fact that God looks at the heart, the intent of man. Jesus said whoever hates his neighbor has already committed murder in his heart. A little sin of which all of us are guilty. In God's eyes you and I are no less guilty of murder than Mr. Inman, the only difference is that he actuallized the intent. I hazard to question whether you would step forward to recieve our just punishment. As far as his heroic status, other men have been glorified who bear far less moral rectitude.
"He's a hero, really"
It's a sad story for everyone involved. But just because the guy was eaten up by guilt for murdering an innocent, old man, that hardly makes him a hero.
Should someone be applauded for doing confessing to a grossly immoral act. To not confess would mean to commit another grossly immoral act on top of murder. To confess simply limits his behavior to murderer, not murderer and liar. Have our standards become so low that we are willing to accpet a mruderer as a role model? Is that really where we are at as a society?
Should this man be forgiven? I suppose he should. But that does not negate his need to be brought to justice. Mercy can not rob justice. Mercy is a concept for faith not government.
That this man is sorry does not prove he has great character, it merely proves he is not a monster.
Call him a "role model" if you will, I'll find somewhere else to worship. Perhaps someowhere where the role models short comings are more along the lines of short-tempers or occassional bouts of sloth.
And shouldn't the opportunity to forgive be left to the victims family since they incurred such a great loss?
While I applaud this man, I don't think that just because he is a Christian he should somehow skate on this. What he did was being obedient to God. But just because we become Christ followers doesn't make us immune to the consequences of sins past, present or future.