Are you saying that you think Jesus was referring to suicide, or do I grossly misunderstand you?
When a person voluntarily takes themselves out of the picture, they forfeit any control they might have had over the outcome from that point. I value the views he held on gay marriage. He got my attention while simultaneously losing my respect for not sticking around to “fight the good fight”. There has got to be more at play here than just making a stand that is likely to be a mere footnote in history. I suspect clinical depression.
Where would the human race be if all of our heros decided that the most effective defense was to check out on us.
My post wasn't very clear. The principle doesn't apply in this case. I was responding to a specific post that quoted Ayn Rand.
This is not that simple though. First, Venner IS a hero. Formally it is a suicide and grievous sin, however, in his defense: at times the mind sees with clarity that the best fight is going to kill you. Then it becomes an obligation to take the fight. The confusing thing here is that since we fight in the world of ideas, and in countries paralyzed by the democratic process, that best fight for Venner in his specific personal and spiritual condition (I am not encouraging anything here), -- was a shocking act of self-sacrifice.