Do Real Christians Commit Suicide?

FaithWalkDaily November 26, 2008

Yesterday I was reading a forum from a loving group of Christians in Idaho. One comment hit me like a punch in the gut, "*Bob committed suicide last night, please pray for him." (*The name has been changed to protect privacy.)

I had to back-track up the column of posts to see what kind of "conversation" had taken place with Bob, to see if there was any clue to his depression. He had indeed asked for guidance as he had come to faith just a couple years prior and was under spiritual attack.

I can tell you from personal experience, spiritual warfare is real and common. When one gives their life over to Christ, initially they may experience a kind of euphoria similar to what newlyweds feel. You don't see your spouses warts and foibles until you've been married for some time. The process is gradual as the lovers' facades eventually fade away. No honeymoon lasts forever as reality sets in sooner or later. The high of new faith also dwindles. Faith, like love, after all, is not a feeling, but an action.

By the grace of Christ, I'm transformed, but life on planet earth is still insane, with a hungry wolf on the prowl for defenseless lonely lambs.

When a Christian dives into the Bible and begins to grow deep roots of faith, Satan sits up and takes notice. The enemy goes for the throat to spiritually strangle a man's faith. I believe God allows this, based on the testament of Job and the lives of David and others.

Satan's offensive tests both the new believer and those in their faith community.

Something went terribly wrong for Bob. I don't know whether he failed to communicate the intensity of his struggles or if the body of Christ simply didn't think it was anything to be concerned about. But it wrenched my gut to read that line, "Bob committed suicide last night, pray for him."

It also struck me as imprudent that the girl would write, without thinking it through, "pray for him." Sorry folks, he's dead, there's nothing to pray for. It's over.

The people we need to pray for are family and friends left behind who wonder how they could have missed seeing the depth of Bob's despair, asking themselves over and over, "how could I..."

So where's Bob now? Well, I'm no theological genius but I do spend a good amount of time studying the Bible and have an inkling about God's heart. He's a loving, merciful Father. He cares for us. Peter said, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7) Humble yourself; call on God; God cares.

Aw, what did Peter know? Well. this guy denied Christ three times just as Jesus said he would. Out of fear, Pete told the enemies of Jesus he didn't know Him. His denial of Christ was certainly not Peter's first mistake nor was it his last. (John 18)

If I'd walked in the presence of God Almighty Himself and someone asked me "do you know this Man?" denying Him just doesn't make sense to me. But I didn't walk in Pete's shoes and I don't know what Bob's family and friends experienced as he plummeted in a downward spiral that ended in self-destruction. We have a human tendency to make light of the serious, to keep our distance from anything too emotional, to placate someone in trouble. Fortunately for us, God isn't like that. Those are Satan's tactics - apathy, shallowness, sarcasm, fear, ignorance, denial...

Let's face it, God could strike us down at any moment because He's God. With all the sick and crazy things that go on in this world you'd think He would. But He doesn't because He loves us. Why? You'll have to ask Him that. Personally, I'm not that nice - I'd have wiped us all off the face of the planet a long time ago. We're a bunch of ungrateful, selfish, filthy pigs who have not properly cared for this beautiful planet or one another. We don't deserve what we've been given. If we got what we deserved, we'd all be dead and in hell forever. Aren't we all glad I'm not God? Forgive me, I digress.

Back to the point. Jesus called Peter a Rock, (Matthew 16) which means he designated him unmovable, dependable, permanent. The whole Christian church was based on what Jesus taught Peter and commissioned him to share. Forgiveness is definitely in the picture here.

So what do we know about God? He created us, He loves us, He knows we're dirt bags and not worthy of the soil under our feet and He forgives us.

Wow, I ask again, where do you think Bob is now? Bob gave his life to Christ a couple years ago. He is a child of God. You can't take that away, no matter what. You can't say there wasn't fruit so he wasn't really a Christian. He was giving his best in faith. Just like Peter fearing for his life, when he was troubled and hurting, Bob faltered. He reached out for help but something went amiss. I am certain that despite his sin, Bob is in the arms of our Savior right now.

I heard a similar story when I attended a Christian women's leadership conference recently. A woman who was loved and nurtured by a Christian congregation after she got saved somehow hit a bottom no one saw coming. She committed suicide. Everyone asked, "how could I..."

Real Christians do commit suicide. Just like real Christians commit many other sins like adultery, fornication, lying, stealing...We all fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

I'm NOT saying suicide is acceptable any more than adultery. It is NEVER acceptable. It's a tragedy of epic proportions. The one thing that has always kept me from ending my own life when the devil tells me I'm no good, is to think of my husband, sons and friends and what it would do to them. I don't want them living the rest of their lives asking that question, "how could I..."

Pain is a reality, whether emotional or physical. It's not an option. Every human being suffers certain pain at some point or points in our lives. We can't say to God, "hey, I didn't sign up for the agony portion of this existence so can we just skip this part?" We don't get to choose our trials. We do get to choose how we handle them.

Prayer works for me. It keeps me sane and it keeps me alive. It keeps me thinking of others. Perhaps it is just a wee bit selfish...Hm, I'll have to ponder that a bit. Next blog maybe...

Heavenly Father, how we praise You that You are God and I am not! You are the God of mercy, love and hope. We don't understand a lot of things about his crazy world Lord, but we thank You for Jesus, that You sent that part of You that created the world into this world, to walk among us and experience our pain. In that process, You suffered beyond our imagining and died a death that we deserved so our sins could be covered. Thank You! Thank You that You are faithful to keep Your promises, that You will continue the work You've begun in each of us for Your purposes and glory. We may not understand pain, but we accept it as the refining fire that will enrich our lives, strengthen and temper us, and create that mirror shine which reflects Your image in each of us. Grant us the courage to face each day with the grace of Christ in the same way He faced the torture and death we so deserved. In Jesus' holy name we pray, amen.

LIVING WITH PAIN

FaithWalkDaily November 24, 2008

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:7-10

It has been quite a few days since I've written here. The reason is pain. Chronic, unrelenting, debilitating pain.

Please don't think I'm looking for pity. On the contrary, like our teacher Paul, I count it a blessing that God would entrust this thing to me for my strength is not in this human body, but in my Savior Jesus. My time on earth is short in the greater scheme of things

I'm writing today for those who don't understand this kind of thinking, who might think me perhaps some sort of twisted masochist. Believe me, I'm no lover of pain.

Have you stumbled onto this blog "by accident" while searching for information on releif from Chronic Pain?

Not all people who find peace living with impairments, whether emotional or physical, are necessarily people of faith. But all people who choose to rise above their pain and disability necessarily affect other people in positive ways. Let's look at just a few.

Terry Fox - born in 1958 and now deceased, discovered he had malignant tumor in his right leg in 1977. The leg was amputated six inches above the knee. In 1979 he begin training for his Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research. During his training he ran 3000 miles. In 1980 he ran an average of 26 miles per day. After 143 days and 3339 miles he had to stop because the cancer had spread to his lungs. In September 1980 he became the youngest companion of the Order of Canada in a special ceremony in his hometown of Por Coquittan, B.C. In 1981 Terry's dream of raising $1.00 from every Canadian to fight cancer became a reality. September 1981 marked the First Annual Terry Fox Run.

Did Terry change lives by choosing to rise above his circumstances? Did he gain strength from his thorn?

Robert Kerrey, born in 1943 and still living, is a former Senator and Governor from Nebraska. He is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War where he lost his right leg in combat. As an entrepreneur he developed Grandmother’s Restaurant and several sports and fitness enterprises, where many have found employment and enrichment.

How many lives has he touched as a result of choosing to look forward rather than feeling sorry for himself about the past?

Joni Erickson Tada is the founder of Joni and Friends, an organization which accelerates Christian ministry in the disability community.

A diving accident when she was a teenager in 1967 left Joni a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, unable to use her hands. After two years of rehabilitation, Joni re-entered the community with new skills and a fresh determination to help others in similar situations. “My church made a huge difference in my family’s life as they demonstrated the love of God in practical ways,” says Joni.

Mrs. Tada wrote of her experiences in her international best-selling biography, Joni. Her name is now recognized in countries around the world following the distribution in many languages of her biography and the full-length feature film JONI. She has personally visited over 41 countries.

Do you think Joni has encouraged a few people in her disability?

Paul was one of the greatest teachers and transmitter's of the gospel of his time. He doesn't tell us his specific struggle. Was he bipolar? Did he have a painful physical ailment like arthritis? Perhaps, some have suggested, it was epilepsy. Or it might simply have been a leaning toward a particular sin that plagued him. It's theorized there's no clear definition by design because God wanted all who are afflicted, whether by lust, disease or emotional suffering to relate to what the Apostle is telling us. No matter our thorn, we can overcome. In our weakness is strength.

Can you beleive that?

When we share ourselves with others in an encouraging way, we become stronger in the process as we help someone else. It's a natural result of sowing and reaping. In passing the message of Scripture on to another, I'm reminded of my strength in Christ.

Heavenly Father, Your grace is sufficient. We need nothing more than to rest in Your care, knowing that whatever afflicts us will be used for Your purposes, perhaps even to save another. When the enemy strikes at our weakest point, we find our strength in Christ. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Trust in God for Confidence

FaithWalkDaily Novemer 12, 2008

KLOVE's Encouraging Word
Tuesday 11/11/2008

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. ~ Romans 15:13, NLT

Do we trust God?






Do we really trust God?







I've put these long spaces in this blog because I'm hoping it will encourage you to meditate on that thought, on the verse above.

I don't write these blogs because I'm such a spiritual giant that I can pour out my righteous messages for everyone else to be transformed into godly people. No, I journal my thoughts because just like most of you, I struggle daily with trusting God.

I can see my computer. I can feel the keys beneath my fingertips. I can surf the web for whatever I want. It can take me to places that are good, wholsome and holy, and it can take me to places that are full of darkness, madness, deceit, and evil. I know what my laptop is capable of. I use this piece of equipment every single day and I depend on it. I use it for ministry, to find information, for business, for art, communication, writing...For the most part, I can trust that this little machine will boot up every day and help me accomplish some things. It is good to me.

God I cannot see. How can I put my trust in something or someone I cannot touch? I cannot caress His glorious face. I cannot bow at His physical feet to worship Him. I cannot hear His voice nor feel his breath.

Or can I?

Where is my Lord here on this earth? He is in the brilliance of a painted sky at sunset. He is in the shimmering rocks splashed with icy waters in a rushing mountain creek. He is in the fresh clear water that quenches my thirst. He is in the air I breathe. He is in the food that nourishes me. He is in my soul. I can feel him in the sweet touch of a child's fingers toying with my hair. I can bow at His feet with my heart when I fall to my knees in praise and worship. I hear Him in the stillness of my heart when I sit quietly and meditate on His word. I can feel his holy breath on my neck in a soft summer breeze. God's presence is all around us all the time. He created our planet: all that dwells on it; all that nourishes it; all that feeds us; all that refreshes us; those that minister to us, and the fellowship we share.

This is not a new-agey concept of god in everything. This is the Scriptural concept of Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent God. The defining perspective here is omni, meaning universal. All covering. All encompassing.

So if we can wrap our minds around the fact that we're created, that we were created by the power that created EVERYTHING, isn't that cause to believe He can pretty much do whatever He wants? Any presence so great certainly has the eternal span spoken of in Scripture - Alpha and Omega - and the wisdom to know what to do with all He's created. The problem is not His lack of ability to control that which He created, the problem is us. It's our lack of obedience and trust.

We don't obey because we don't trust. If we trust, however God leads us, we will obey.

Sarah takes her 4 year old Jason to preschool for the first time. She points to a room and tells Jason to go in. He's afraid. He doesn't know what's in that room. He's never been there before. Sarah knows. She's toured the facility, met the teachers and is quite confident this is a safe and healthy place for her son to be. He will mature here, make new friends, learn new things, and find lots of joy in this place. But all Jason sees is a closed door to a room he's never been in. He's afraid to go in. She gives him a little nudge and he resists. She takes his hand and leads him to the door and opens it. Jason pulls back and digs his heels in. Inside the teacher waits, smiling, speaking words of welcome. Other children turn to look in curiosity. He's still resisting tearfully. He doesn't know these people and he's determined not to go in. Jason trusts his mom because he knows her. So finally, though hesitantly, he enters the room with a sniffle and gratefully accepts a hug from Mommy. "Good boy, Jason. Mommy's proud of you! See you soon," she says as she turns to go.

Aren't we a bit like little Jason when it comes to God? We know Him. Of course we do - He created us. We read His word every day. We believe it because He says it. But when we get to that door, aren't we too afraid to go into the unknown?

How do we get to the point of trusting Him - not just reading the words and believing intellectually, but believing in our hearts that He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do? How do we step into the unknown fully trusting God's sovereignty?

Part of that is the work of the Holy Spirit. The rest is history. We read the Old Testament and see what God has done. We see what God says He will do. We see that what God said about saving His people was true as Jesus life was fulfilled. And because all that verifies the truth of His word, we can believe that Jesus will indeed return for us just as He said He would. We can believe intellectually, and the Holy Spirit confirmed it in our hearts when we came into Christ in faith. We trusted Jesus by the nudge of the Holy Spirit, Sent from our Father who created us.

God is the source of hope. When we trust Him, peace and joy are the side effects. May we overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, as You lead us to that place where You send us out on our own, fill us with that peace which we find in God who is our hope. Would that become our confident hope through Your Spirit, to go forth in the work for which You've already planned for us in advance. Today I'm making a decision to fully trust in You, no matter what. In Jesus' name, amen.

Thoughts on our Nation

Because God Cares

FaithWalkDaily November 8, 2008

While I continue to walk in faith daily, I haven't been able to journal as I'd like due to personal conflicts in my life at the present time.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. ~ Isaiah 43:2

Conflict is putting it mildly. Total chaos might be a closer description.

There have been times in my life when "cobwebs" have cluttered my mind and things were difficult because of diminished mental capacity. These "cobwebs" were caused by anything from excessive use of alcohol, to prescription medications, to emotional turmoil over issues I've had to deal with.

There have been times in my life when the interference of physical difficulties have blocked my way, ranging from bad relationships, to financial problems, to moves, and medical limitations.

Now I'm dealing with a combination of mental and emotional turmoil along with many physical obstructions that create a tension and frustration ultimately manifesting in my soul as anxiety. It feels like deep waters. Like there's not enough oxygen and I'm suffocating. Like the walls are closing in on me. As though, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, I've been cast into the fiery furnace.

What great comfort I find in the words of Isaiah. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. It only feels like I can't breathe!

I know God is faithful and just. If He says He's in this deep water with me, I can rest assured he's got a full tank and a working regulator. If He says I won't drown, I'll take that breath from His mouthpiece and suck deeply of the air He's provided. If He says I can walk through this fire without being consumed, I may feel the burns for awhile, but I believe Him that I will survive - I won't be burned up.

In the end, it all boils down to trust.

Abraham trusted God when he put his son on that altar, piled up the wood underneath and prepared to drive a blade into his heart. He was ready to do anything God asked Him and in the end, the Lord provided a flawless ram for the sacrifice, sparing his son.

Noah trusted God even though everyone laughed at him. He built the Ark and did everything He was told, according to God's instructions. As a result, he and his family were saved.

Esther trusted God in reaching out to her husband, the Persian King Xerxes, who could have had her killed for daring to approach him. But obediently, she did as she was told and her people were saved.

Mary trusted God when she conceded as a 13 year old virgin girl, to receive the Spirit of God into her womb, bearing Christ Jesus according to the will of the Father.

Men and women throughout Scripture have trusted God in His sovereign ways. I know that whatever I go through, like Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Noah, Esther, Mary and many others, God will walk with me through every trial. He walks with me now. He encourages me with His word. He inspires the words of hope that flow from my fingertips.

When I go through deep waters, He will be with me. When I go through rivers of difficulty, I will not drown. When I walk through the fire of oppression, I will not be burned up; the flames will not consume me. For He is my God, holy and just, loving and merciful.

Thank You Lord, that when it all seems to close in on me and I'm sure I can't take another breath, You remind me of all those who have gone before me, who have trusted and obeyed, and who ultimately reaped Your blessings. You kept them from drowning and did not allow them to be consumed. I put all my trust and faith in You alone God, knowing You have it all under control. In Jesus' name, amen.