Posted on 04/06/2013 1:57:54 PM PDT by Last of the Mohicans
LAKE FOREST (CBSLA.com) — Pastor Rick and Kay Warren’s youngest son, Matthew, has committed suicide, Saddleback Valley Community Church announced Saturday.
The evangelical megachurch announced the death of the 27-year-old in a statement.
Described as “an incredibly kind, gentle and compassionate young man whose sweet spirit was encouragement and comfort to many,” the statement said Matthew suffered from mental illness that resulted in deep depression and suicidal thoughts. He died Friday night.
(Excerpt) Read more at losangeles.cbslocal.com ...
My sincerest condolences to the Warren
family at this time of grief.
What a truly touching response. Thank you.
The poor family, and that poor young man. May the Lord comfort them in a time of terrible loss and a coming time of terrible inquisition.
I saw just yesterday, I think, that Warren had announced his retirement. Perhaps this explains a family dynamic that was bringing him to that point. He seemed young to me to be retiring.
Some years ago I knew an elderly guy who was given medications by his Mideastern born physician...These drugs drove him to blow nearly his entire retirement...Bad decision after bad decision...The drugs made his extremely manic, obsessive and compulsive...His family stepped in to help..Basically saved his life and future.. Many have no family to help, and many of these people eventually go full tilt loony, causing themselves major problems.
The admitting part though could make it even worse for the individual in some cases, if those that try to help you end up making matters worse for you in helping you, my gut feeling is that was the case with the son and Rick Warren, it probably was something like this: "Hey son I'm a Christian, that can do no wrong, I love you son now let me hug you, now high five me, now I've got to get off and write my next million dollar share your ignorance best seller book and keep that bacon flowing so we can live the high life promoting socialism."
The best thing the son probably could of done was get away from his own family and environment.
I agree.
Prayers to the Warren family and friends.
For most of my life, satan attacked me with thoughts of suicide and depression. He would introduce all sorts of “suggestions” on how and why it would be good for me to end it. Glory to God, those days are gone. I got the Word in my spirit, and renewed my mind. It became much easier to recognize those thoughts as from the evil one, and cast them down as the Word commands.
Paul (and John quoting Jesus) wrote, we wrestle not with people, but with spiritual powers that are doing their best to destroy you (John 10:10, Ephesians 6:12). Christians are especially vulnerable if they don’t live from the inside out, be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14), and renew the mind with the Word (Romans 12:2, Colossians 3:10). It also helps to have faith-filled Believers that will pray and stand in faith with you (Ephesians 6).
I hate to see kids fall prey to the devil. But I certainly understand how it happens. There were numerous times I was ready to do it, before being pulled back from the edge by my parent’s prayers. Praise God that Jesus has overcome the world for us! (John 16:33, 2 Timothy 4:18, 1 John 5:4)
Two scriptures that really helped me:
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; — 2 Corinthians 10:5
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:7 — I certainly welcome the Peace of God and ask God to comfort this family accordingly.
One more piece of advice, if anyone you know even jokingly suggests that the world would be better off without them, correct them immediately. Show them how much you and God loves them. If someone is to the point that they would even suggest such a horrible thing, its serious. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
My friend’s friend had his problems—bouts with drug abuse, gambling, heretical, twisted views of scripture, but the talks I’ve had with other Christians in the past two weeks is that Christians have hope in Christ to overcome these sins and weaknesses. IOW, how can we lose hope if God is with us? God has certainly pulled me out of the pit numerous times and I have great trust and faith that he will continue to do so (right now he’s giving me strength and courage to finish my taxes...8/ ), so what’s going on when a child of God loses that hope?
Pastor Warren is a minister of Satan like Joel Olsteen, but sympathies to his family.
This is very sad news, even the ones we think should be most qualified to help individuals battling this kind of illness seem completely powerless to save them. My daughter’s boyfriend’s twin brother took his life Monday, he was only 25 years old. We only met him briefly but he was sweet, kind and gentle also.
It seems that so many of our young adults are trapped in a cycle of conflict, debt, confusion and hopelessness. My daughter struggled against so much conflict and self doubt just after graduating with double masters degrees. She transformed almost overnight from a motivated, tireless, self confident go getter into a mere shell of herself fighting depression daily. It was a full time job just keeping her from descending past the point of no return. Thankfully my wife and I were able to tag team and we believe that she is just now coming out of the dark cloud but we know from experience that it can return with little or no warning.
It’s as if all of the forces of evil are arrayed against us parents trying to bring our children into adulthood. Prayer has been our strongest weapon in the battle.
Pray Pray Pray for our kids.
“Antidepressants” are one of the biggest shams ever marketed to consumers. For no other illness can you be diagnosed simply by asking questions.
My thoughts also.
Of course. They are the only ones for whom he exists.
Really? You know that post makes you look really bad, right?
You're just bubbling over with sympathy.
Excellent scripture.
I don’t know unless some sort of mind-altering drugs are involved. Tragic, whatever the explanation, though.
Yes, as truth about sin nature has dissipated and thus societal problems have risen, so has the antidepressant industry exploded.
Warren kept, iirc, at most 10% from the sales of his books. He never claimed to be perfect, either. I don’t follow his ministry or teachings & I’m not defending either. I’m just setting the record straight that, unlike some bestsellers, he donated the vast majority of the proceeds to the church & lived a v modest life. Fwiw.
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