| Recently, several suicides have occurred right here in | | | | armor-bearer to kill him, Samson (Judges 16:23-31), |
| my own hometown of about 16,000 people. The | | | | Ahithophel (2 Sam. 17:23), and Zimri (1 Kings 16:15-20). |
| latest of these involved a friend of mine who was, | | | | Even Elijah despaired of his own life (1 Kings 18:40; |
| among other things, the leader of a Christian Business | | | | 19:4) and Job's wife told him he'd be better off killing |
| Fellowship which I attend. He was a lawyer with a | | | | himself (Job 2:7-9).Far as I can tell, none of these |
| terrific wife, two young kids, very prominent in his | | | | people who went through with it were explicitly |
| church, coached little league baseball. As one can | | | | condemned for taking his own life.Most people who |
| imagine, speculations abound - everything from | | | | take their own lives are not usually cool and rational |
| possible chemical imbalances to unfair, unfounded | | | | about it. I doubt many set out to flout the will of |
| comments which...well, small town gossip can be so | | | | God. I've read that 500,000 Americans attempt |
| mean-spirited.These local suicides also have Christians | | | | suicide annually! I must believe that they are not so |
| from various camps wondering and discussing what | | | | much choosing death as they are stumbling down |
| happens after a Christian commits suicide. Some | | | | into it from a steep slope of despair. Every 17 |
| eMails I've received on this subject have included | | | | minutes someone in America commits suicide. This is |
| words like "unsettling", "confused" and "disturbing." | | | | the third-leading cause of death among people 15 to |
| Since we are the Body of Christ, "a body fitly | | | | 25 years old, college students for the greater part. |
| joined," as Scripture declares, when something | | | | Even more tragically, among children between 5 and |
| happens here, it's happening there. If it hasn't hit your | | | | 14 years of age, suicide is the sixth most common |
| community square in the face just yet, chances are | | | | cause of death.Something's VERY wrong.People are |
| it will.I'm reminded of the theme song from the TV | | | | hurting everywhere. we know this because, after all, |
| series "M.A.S.H." It was called "Suicide is painless."No, | | | | hurting people are hurting people everywhere we |
| it's not. It hurts a lot.It's hurting me.Personally, I was | | | | turn. People need help. Maybe someone you know |
| raised believing that a Christian who killed themselves | | | | of, someone who puts up a pretty good front at |
| received a quick ticket to hell. The concept being | | | | work or even at Church, or even in your home, |
| that, since murderers would burn in hell, what was | | | | needs something more than a handshake or a pat on |
| suicide but self-murder with absolutely no time for | | | | the back.Love, after all, is spelled T-I-M-E.So, give |
| repentance?Apparently, "Thou shalt not kill" referred | | | | someone your attention today. Ask "How are you?" |
| even to the killing of oneself. This concept now | | | | and pause, look them in the eye and await their |
| strikes me as quite silly, for all sins...murder, suicide, | | | | response. Say their names in conversation and drop |
| gossip, slander, rage, infidelity...are all forgivable by the | | | | them an encouraging eMail. Every one of us is a |
| sacrifice of Christ on the cross. By and large, that's | | | | potential lifesaver. As life guards are taught to handle |
| pretty standard Christian fare, right? To say | | | | drowning victims, let them kick and scream and |
| otherwise is to imply that the crucifixion had no | | | | thrash about, but let's all try and be there when they |
| effect on some particular sins. As my own | | | | decide they just can't swim another stroke.Please |
| relationship with God has developed, I am now | | | | write and request Suicide parts 2 & 3FORWARD the |
| convinced that, as the Apostle Paul wrote to the | | | | messages!Pastor Michael has been broadcasting |
| Christians in Rome, "Nothing can separate us from | | | | messages of Discipleship & Encouragement to the |
| the love of God." The Greek word for 'nothing' can | | | | Body of Christ by email since 1999. Since then these |
| best be defined as ...well, NOTHING!I found a half | | | | messages have been published on numerous other |
| dozen cases of suicide in the Bible and the Good | | | | sites, reprinted in paper newsletters belonging to |
| Book does not appear to condemn the act. The | | | | other ministries, have been used as a source of |
| most notorious accounts were those of King Saul (1 | | | | teaching and preaching by ministers and Bible |
| Sam. 31:2-5) and Judas Iscariot (Matt. 27:3-5). Others | | | | teachers worldwide, and have ministered to the Body |
| are Abimelech (Judges 9:50-54), who ordered his | | | | of Christ of nearly every major denomination. |