Posted on 04/09/2013 1:22:06 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
"I'm sitting here with a loaded shotgun. I want my family back or I pull the trigger," Al* threatened over the phone. "And don't call the cops. I'll kill them before I let them put me in some institution."
What could I say to this troubled parishioner? His wife and son had left him, he had been demoted at work, and he felt the church was unsupportive of him.
"Well, God loves you and I love you."
"Yah, yah. But if I commit suicide, I'll go to hell! Right?"
Al's question brought up the age-old question: Do Christians who commit suicide go to heaven or hell? In second grade, my Sunday school teacher had hanged herself. "How could someone who led her class in singing 'Happiness is the Lord' be so sad?" I had questioned.
My questions continued into my adult life and ministry as
I talked with survivors of suicide attempts and read actual notes left by those claiming to be Christians who succeeded. For instance, sixteen-year-old Matt left the following note before ending his life with a .22 rifle:
You that heard me preach saw how God changed my life. He can change yours too!! When he does, you better not turn back. Discipline yourselves now!! Draw near to God through Jesus Christ now!!! If you don't . . . you may some day find yourselves hopeless. It's your choice.
GOD FORGIVE ME FOR NEGLECTING YOU AND FOR BECOMING SO COLD!! TAKE CARE OF MICHAEL AND MOM. HAVE MERCY ON MY SOUL. AMEN."
And then a barrage of questions from Genny, a once bright, intelligent Christian women who since heart failure had become mentally impaired-and was well aware of her disability. Genny repeatedly tried to overdose with her heart medication. "Why didn't God just take me when my heart failed? I want to go home to be with Jesus."
I've come to two conclusions as I've dealt with questions of Al, Matt, Genny, and others:
Christians are not exempt from depression and, at times, despondency.
William Cowper, who wrote the popular gospel song "There Is a Fountain" proclaiming Christ's forgiveness and love, repeatedly attempted suicide. Even saints like Moses, Elijah, and Jonah went through periods of extreme depression and, yes, suicidal thoughts (Numbers 11:10-15, 1 Kings 19:1-5, and Jonah 4:9). I half joke that I would have committed suicide during junior high, but I knew if
I did, my parents would kill me. (The first part of that sentence is no joke.)
I believe the Bible is clear that we go to heaven or hell based on our relationship to Jesus Christ.
Yes, suicide raises many spiritual and psychological questions, but one thing is certain:
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it (Ephesians 2:8-9). We obtain heaven only by our belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior. And we go to hell only by our rejection of Jesus Christ as our Savior (Hebrews 6:4-6).
After nearly an hour, Al finally agreed to unload his weapon and meet his wife and son at the local police station. He has since been reconciled with his wife and found a church where he feels more accepted.
While I still fear the midnight calls from those contemplating suicide, I am assured that God dearly loves those who feel so depressed and desperate, and He will judge their actions with His mercy and justice based on their relationship with His Son.
* All names have been changed.
-- James Watkins is the author of 16 books and a public speaker. His website is: http://www.jameswatkins.com/
This is ridiculous. It doesn't make any sense on any level.
Know when you’re beaten by logic, son.
So Jesus did not die for all my sins over 2000 years ago?
Do you think those people who weigh 600 pounds and are eating themselves into coronaries aren’t suicidal?
Are you saying God isn’t strong enough to guard our salvation, even from ourselves?
I have read it, and still nothing can separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ. Nothing.
The seed that grows in rocky ground accepted the Word. It’s saved. Ineffective for the kingdom & not producing fruit, but still saved.
I agree with you. If a person is mentally ill, and not responsible for his/her behavior, I believe God’s mercy is right there.
Really? You know this?
>>Do you think those people who weigh 600 pounds and are eating themselves into coronaries aren’t suicidal?
Of course not. That’s ridiculous. Suicide is a single act that takes your own life, not a lifetime of accumulated bad habits.
An age old Christian question. What is more noble, the volunteer or the volunteer? Explore your heart; the one God gave you. Get lost. explore, explore and explore. Then come to God..... your Father, your savior and your life.
By reading some of these posts, I wonder.....
Suppose that willingly taking your own life is, in fact, self-murder or suicide. Does that not also mean the soldier who falls upon a live grenade has willingly ended his own life? Entering into any act, for a noble cause or deed, knowing your life will end, is by definition, suicide.
Be wary of blanket assumptions and assertions.
nonsense...salvation is a gift from God, we have a free will and are certainly free to refuse the gift.
Romans 8:18: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
II Timothy 4:8: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Once you accept the gift, you’re going to heaven. If you refuse the gift, you’ve never accepted it. But God doesn’t take it back, no matter what you do.
When Christ died for your sins, how many of them were in the future? ALL of them. He has already forgiven the shortcoming.
No need for fancy words, just say you can’t answer.
I thought is was thou shalt not murder....is suicide murder ?
“So Jesus did not die for all my sins over 2000 years ago?”
Penitence. Look it up. You can kill yourself and be assured of Heaven? So go rob a bank, live high on the hog and be assured of heaven after all. It just COULDN’T work that way. It makes no sense.
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