Frequently Asked Questions About Christianity, Answered Honestly!
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What About Christians and the Sin of Suicide?
-by Tony Warren
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our day, we often hear Christians say, "..my friend committed suicide, but I'm sure he was a Christian and is now in heaven with all his mental pain gone". But is suicide really the pain-killer that so many Christians think it is, or is that just wishful thinking? The truth is, none of us can be absolutely sure that anyone (besides ourselves) is a true Christian. The cliché of someone "wearing his heart on his sleeve" is a colloquialism, not a truism. Despite our human desires and beliefs, exactly who is, and who is not a true Christian, only Sovereign God knows for sure. And indeed that is His business, not ours. We judge not, for it is not given to man to know the true state of anyone's heart (1st Corinthians 3:12-13). God looks upon the inward man, not on the outward appearance of a person, as mankind does. He is able to discern between soul and spirit, and between joint and marrow. He pondereth the heart (proverbs 24:12) and knows it's true intents and secrets, no matter how cleverly man may cloak it in his outward veneer, piety or love. And the sad fact is, there are a lot of pseudo-Christians, who think that merely professing Christ, constitutes salvation. And that is the root of the problem.
There are even a few who argues that since the word suicide is not in the Bible, there is no law that speaks against it. That's like saying there is no word embezzlement in scripture, therefore there is no law against it. That's nonsensical reasoning. Actually, the word "suicide" is from two Latin words. [sui], which means "oneself", and [cida], which means "to kill". In other words, killing oneself. So though the word itself may not be found in scripture, what the word represents is clearly found on the pages of scripture, and forbidden. Shedding man's blood in Killing yourself intentionally is murder, which God strictly forbids.
Exodus 20:13
In fact, it would be astounding to me that anyone professing to be Christian would argue that suicide is not sin. Since clearly suicide is not what God wants for anyone, thus it is the transgression of His law. Self murder is none the less murder. So there is really no way of getting around the fact that suicide is a sin. But this is not the question at issue here today. So we will assume that all faithful Christians believe suicide is sin. The question at issue is, "can a professed
Christian that kills him/her self, have been a true Christian?" I believe the answer is, "yes it's certainly possible, but given all God has to say, it's not likely". Of course I understand that this most certainly is not going to be a popular answer (in today's politically correct
society), but it is an honest and Biblical one that pleases God rather than man.
How Do We Know It's Possible?
We know it's possible for them to go to heaven because all of the sins of God's Children were accounted for in Christ's completed work on the cross. Therefore, if a true believer (the keyword being, true) were to get to the point where God (for His own purposes) abrogated His normal way of strengthening and upholding someone in time of trial, and allowed them to lose all hope that they did somehow commit suicide, then that sin would surely not keep them out of heaven. Because all the sins of the elect were paid for in Christ Jesus. So no sin that we could commit could keep us from the Love of God. The key word here is "If" God were to do this. But what on earth would lead us to think that God would do that? Certainly not anything in scripture. Just the opposite, God in us, is our power or strength that we not lose hope this way.
Romans 15:13
- "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost".
The whole point is that we may abound in hope by the strength of the Holy Spirit in us. God doesn't abrogate that power in time of despair. His strength is made perfect in weakness. i.e., in times when we are low, our weakness only serves to show God's power more illustrious as an opportunity that reveals His helping power. And through this, we are strengthened.
There are even some Theologians who point to Samson as an example of one who committed suicide and was saved. However, Samson's death was to bring vengeance on the enemies of the Lord, and Samson was a vessel used in the "purpose of God" to get this done. And remember, Samson asked God for the super-human strength to do this. Not to kill himself because he was without hope, as a suicide. God Forbid! But to take vengeance upon these Godless Philistines.
Judges 16:28
- "And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes."
Samson asked for remembrance (Jeremiah 15:15) of the LORD, that he be revenged of his persecutors and enemies. And by extension, the Lord's persecutors and enemies. In prayer He asked for strength to do a super-human task, and he left his life entirely in the hands of God. He wasn't hopeless, he had hope and he had faith. By contrast, those who commit suicide are without hope, and are intent on taking their own lives regardless of what God's intends or what His will may be. Clearly we see that Samson's object was not specifically to kill himself, but as a child of God, to be avenged by God in his killing of the Philistines. Thus, as this was in full accord with the purpose of God, He allowed it. Samson died as a solder or warrior in battle carrying out the will of God in bringing judgment upon God's enemies, not as a suicide. This verse, in no way, shape or form, has anything to say addressing the issue of suicide. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Samson did not fall on his own sword, or jump off a ship to drown himself in the sea, take poison hemp, or throw himself off a mountain, or take knife to his own throat. God honored his prayer because His prayer was not for suicide (a vain hopeless prayer), but to be avenged on the enemies of the Lord. God didn't give him strength to kill himself, God gave him strength that he would kill more philistines by his death, than he had in his life (Judges 16:30), and thus God's example and purpose would fulfilled through this. This in no way defends suicide, nor proves that God's people commit this act. Suicide is not really a trait of the faith that is found in the true believer. Would God inspire us to be hopeless that we think about suicide, or is it the Devil that scripture tells us was a murderer from
the beginning (John 8:44)? Suicide and genuine faith and trust in God do not go hand in hand.
Some theologians claim that the problem with this view is that it represents a misunderstanding of eternal security, which Scripture clearly teaches. But that is not the case at all. Just because someone claims they are a saved person, doesn't mean that they have really been sealed with the Spirit of promise wherein they actually are. So there is no conflict with the doctrine of eternal security and professed Christians who commit suicide not being saved. The real problem is in Christians thinking that everyone who says they are saved, actually are. Nevertheless, if a "true" Christian would, in a instant of weakness, decide to drive his car off a cliff, or shot himself, that instant of bad judgment would certainly not keep him out of the Kingdom, since all his sins were forgiven. And so while I certainly would have to agree that it is possible for a true Christian to commit suicide and have been saved, I also would have to ask "what would ever indicate to a Christian that God would abrogate His care over His elect in time of trial to allow this hopelessness and despair without solution?" Certainly not anything in scripture.
John 14:18
- "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
Isaiah 41:10
- "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness".
These aren't just empty meaningless words, they are faithful promises to those who trust in God. A Christian committing suicide is an extremely unlikely occurrence since it is God who works within us both to will and to do (Philippians 2:13). Of course in the flesh (in our human emotions, desires, and will) we don't like to think of our loved ones as possibly not having made it into to the Kingdom, but the word of God is not as silent on the issue as some would like to believe.
How Do We Know It is Unlikely
It is a simple matter of believing everything that God says, and not allowing our own interests and emotions to cloud our thinking. As I said, we would all like to think that our loved ones, personal friends and acquaintances will be in heaven. It's just human nature for people to want to believe that. But we have to leave all that in the capable hands of the Lord, and surrender to the authority of His word. i.e., "Thy will be done O' Lord, not mine".
There are many things neglected, but which should be considered in this issue. The first being, a true believer is indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God. People like to think that someone is so depressed and distraught that they see no way out, and so finally kill themselves. But that inherently presupposes that God is busy elsewhere, or just dwelling there within that person (assuming they're Christian) idle, not as a help or doing anything to prevent or alleviate that hopelessness. Even many learned theologians have fallen into the snare of underestimating the working of the Spirit of God within us.
And the second point is, this would illustrate clearly that the person committing this act has forsaken his trust in the Lord, a trust that is supposed to be the evidence of true salvation. We take refuge from trials and tribulations in Him, not in our despair. He is the help of those who have faith, and faith is their strength.
Psalms 9:10
- "And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee".
Psalms 62:8
- "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah".
Psalms 115:11
- "Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield".
And the third point is that a great many of these suicide victims have been told by (possibly well meaning) Christians ahead of time that, "..while it's not good to commit suicide, people are going to heaven anyway if they're Christian". This is a careless and reckless thing to tell anyone who is contemplating suicide. Especially since in their obviously emotional state, they are highly susceptible and impressionable. But this is done continually by many misguided souls under the guise of compassion. Murder is a horrible sin, and it should not be spoken of as anything less. No, there is no word suicide in the bible, because the word is "Killing" or committing "murder". But of course, who would think to tell someone who asked them:
"..If I go kill my next door neighbor, would I go to heaven?"
..Yes, you will you dear soul, because you are a Christian. That's nonsense! No God fearing person
would tell anyone this, but that is exactly what some do to many contemplating suicide. Sure, they couch or phrase their words in the fine print of, "but you really shouldn't," yet this is hardly
the counsel a Christian should be giving. They're really playing situation politics, where their human compassion clouds the central issue. Is it possible a believer will kill themselves? Yes, it is
possible, but it is not only unlikely, it is highly unlikely, given all that God has to say in scripture. And that's what they never tell them, because (and this is the kicker) they don't want them to lose hope. They are telling them its OK for them to lose hope. Considering all that scripture says on the issue, faithful believers should give no one a cozy place to feel comfortable about killing themselves. Because you would do God (and them) a grievous disservice.
More than that, history shows us that ninety-nine percent of suicide victims are simply feeling sorry for themselves, even though most are blessed far above the average person on earth. But they have their eyes on themselves, and not on Christ, and it is in this vanity that so many make their big mistake. Their thoughts are always, "Poor me, why is this always happening to me?" The Christian minister should counsel them on where the real problem lies. Ergo, they've made themselves the central figure and primary reason for their existence, rather than Christ. So how is that evidence of true salvation? How are they then destined for the Kingdom? We must exhort them to take their eyes off themselves and off the cares of 'this world' and put them on Christ. If they do this, their depression will always be relieved because you cannot feel sorry for yourself when you're not thinking of yourself. When we lift our hands in prayer and put our minds on Christ (if He indeed be present within us), He will be our help, our strength, and our refuge in time of weakness. We need but pour out our heart before Him.
Psalms 62:7-8
- "In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
- Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah".
Ephesians 3:16
- "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;"
There is that within us, which is the 'mind of Christ, and we should understand that we cannot be depressed about something that we are not pining over. We must be thinking about it in order to be brought low and depressed about it. But if we take the Biblical principles (something which the Church today has forgotten in their leaning toward the social gospel), we will have our minds on things more righteous than ourselves. Sadly, most Theologians today give out secular humanistic advice and philosophy about suicide, as opposed to Biblical counsel.
Philippians 4:6-9
- "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
- And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
- Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
- Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you".
God says be careful [marimnao] or anxious about nothing! We are commanded not to be mindful about it, or in other words, take our minds off of it, or don't worry about it. The worries of this world, about this life, about our status or feelings, is not what the New Life in Christ is all about. We give it up, we surrender all, we sell all we have for the cause of Christ. When we do that God commands us, and He will give us all that is necessary to have peace of mind.
"Where God guides, He provides!" -WiseManSay
When God says, think on these things, and the God of peace shall be with you, it's not just words blowing in the wind to placate us. These are words of His divine truth. His words only seem without power when professed Christians ignore scripture and begin to give and take advice by what seems
right in their own eyes. If we're true Christians, then we must resign ourselves to do it God's way. We think not on ourselves, our lot in life, or our troubles, we think on the thing which God prescribes. Not about "poor me, what can I do about poor me," rather we think on, "what can I do today to better serve God". God has promised that if we do, His Peace of mind will be with us. Do we believe it, or do we (as unbelievers) believe that these phrases are just words? If we think God's words are cheap, then what makes us think that we are true believers anyway? That is the real question? In a discussion with a friend of mine, he declared:
"I suppose the question would be whether or not God would allow a true believer to commit such a grievous sin. I would tend to think not, but I don't know.."
This is an excellent point. We don't know for sure, but judging from all the Biblical texts, we do know that it is highly unlikely. And so to tell someone that they're going to heaven if they commit suicide (and believe me when I tell you, many do say that) is at best a misnomer. For it assumes far too much. A Christian committing suicide is like rebelliously rejecting God's promises and saying, "God you have put more on me than I can bear in this life". That of course is a direct contradiction to
what God has promised He would not do. Yet just another example of scripture constantly ignored in favor of humanistic reasoning.
1st Corinthians 10:13
- "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will NOT suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it".
These are the pertinent scriptures which are often avoided by those who substitute psychology, humanism, and philosophy for Biblical counsel. We can understand (though not condone) the grieving loved ones' neglect of such verses, but learned Theologians counseling potential victims should know better. God says He 'WILL NOT' put upon Christians more than we are able to bear, but only what is common to man. That is an unambiguous and clearly written promise, and who are we to call that an overstatement? Who are we to ignore that promise in our desire that we comfort others? Is God a faithful (truthful) God who will not suffer Christians to be tried [peirazo] above what they can bear, or is God someone whose words are untrustworthy and empty? Again, that is the question
for the serious Christian. Can we be brought to the very brink of suicide, and God withhold us from committing it? Absolutely! For there are lessons to be learned in all our trials and tribulations. But God promises that with our trials, He is faithful to make a way out of it that we can bear it. Look at David as our example. He was in great despair, depressed, brought so low that he sorrowed all day.
Psalms 38:6-7
- "I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
- For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh".
He was troubled to the point off having great turmoil of his heart, and yet he never gave up all hope, but instead called upon the Lord, from whence came his help. This is the mentality of the true believer. That God is their only help, not death.
Psalms 38:21-22
- "Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
- Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation".
Did King David feel that killing himself was the answer? On the contrary, he turned to God for help to lift him up from his low state of depression. Always he depended upon God's promises, and that is where his trust and hope was.
Psalms 119:25
- "My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word".
When David was laid low in the dust, he prayed for renewal of life, asking God to preserve his life according to His word of promise. And this is (generally speaking) the problem today. Christians, that is to say, professed Christians, are not really looking to God for their help. rather they are looking at themselves and saying "poor me, I am without hope, I have no hope". their eyes are not on the prize, they are always on themselves. The emphasis is always on them, and never on the power of God as their help, strength and hope.
Psalms 42:5
- "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance".
In other words, David understood that this was the God of his strength. Christians will survive suicidal tendencies by doing two things. They reduce their mental anguish by laying those thoughts down at the cross (Philippians 4:8) and leaving them there. And they increase their ability to cope by leaning upon the strength (Psalms 19:14; Psalms 31:4; 2nd Corinthians 12:9) of Christ, rather than their own. We can give our burdens to Christ, or we can attempt to carry them on our own shoulders. The problem is that so many Christians burden themselves in trying to deal with this alone, without Christ as their help. Yet if they humble themselves, lay all their burden down, they then don't have a care in the world. The problem is, people will not do that. They would rather wallow in self-pity.
1st Peter 5:6-7
- "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
- Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you".
In prayer and supplication they must make their requests known to God, placing their eyes upon Him and not themselves. For faith in Christ is an integral part of being a true Christian. And that is what we must not lose sight of, nor minimize in our sorrow or compassion. The light of the body is the eye. So let us exhort them (as Paul did) to keep their eyes on the prize, for this world is not our comfort zone, it is a way station. Often in our depression, we forget that this is not our home and we are just strangers and pilgrims here, just passing through. We've got a job to do and we weren't promised a rose garden in doing it. Indeed what we were promised was trails, temptations, tribulations, being hated, and persecuted (John 16:33, Luke 6:26).
2nd Timothy 3:12
- "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution".
So it's not, "woe is me," it's "blessed am I". God said blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you. We take up our cross and we follow him. And whosoever won't forsake all for the sake of Christ is not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:37-38). Because in our weakness are we made strong in Christ. These are the things that Christians of our day seem to have forgotten. Their first Love (agape) is to charity, the sharing the gospel message with others. Our weaknesses are not what we despair over, but joy in.
2nd Corinthians 12:10
- "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong".
There are many who call themselves Christian who don't really believe that God will help them (though they'll never admit it out loud), but then where is their faith or their evidence of true salvation. There is no opt-out suicide clause in the law of God. Moreover, I cannot comprehend how the Holy Spirit of God could guide us, without moving us to where He wants us to go. Seriously, even a guide dog moves the blind to safety, does he not? God is much more careful of those under His care than a guide dog. And to make the claim that God does not take that kind of action within Christians is to
ignore all the pertinent scriptures, which clearly says that God does.
Philippians 2:12-13
- "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
- For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure".
For it is God which worketh in you BOTH to will and to do of his good pleasure. That word translated do [energeo] is the exact same word translated worketh there. It means 'being active,' the one effectually moving. It's where we get the word energy. God is not an idle passive God, He is a God who works within us and is active moving us to both will, and to do (work). That's not what I say and it's not humanistic philosophy, that's what the divine God inspired written. If we're going to ignore all the passages of scripture that we don't like, of course we can believe anything we want. We can then come to any unbiblical conclusion. But if we're truly seeking truth and looking to what God desires and declares, then all scripture must be taken into account when formulating doctrines.
There are some Theologians who understand these things, but who respond by saying that we can't take this type view because we all lack a trust in the Lord sometimes. This may be true, but are we to use our own weakness as justification for murder? Just because someone did not trust in the Lord at sometime doesn't equate to, "suicide victims are most likely saved". We may have at sometime not trusted in the Lord, but we didn't kill ourselves, did we? ..and why not? By the Grace of God,
that's why! And that is what some Theologians cannot seem to comprehend. God is not idle in all this. We do not reach that point of total despair precisely because of the Grace of God in us to 'keep' His faithful promise, and not put upon us more than we can bear. Either that, or God was not truthful when
He promised that He wouldn't. So again, who are we going to believe? Psychiatrists, philosophers, new age seminary graduates, or the word of God.
This world (and I'm talking about the professed Christian world) is so enamored by their own vanity and ability to solve every problem by thinking it out themselves, that God and His word is as an afterthought in everything. Things are always about me, or I, or what I do, what I did, What I can't do, how I chose God, How I must move because God won't force me, etc. But the 'I' is the real problem here. All is pride and vanity saith the preacher. Trust and belief of the word, and faith in the Lord to carry it out, is not insignificant in anything. It's an essential part of true Christianity.
Psalms 18:2
- "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower".
Psalms 40:4
- "Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies".
These are the things that faithful ministers of the word tell Christians. They don't counsel them that they can murder themselves, have no hope, have no trust in the Lord, and still be saved. A Christian committing suicide is forsaking his God, His God's law, and his commission. He's throwing in the proverbial towel. In essence he's saying, I'm tired of the work Christ has given me in this world and I want to quit. And more often than not, he has never even been working for Christ in the first place, merely parroting the line that 'he is a Christian.' But a true Christian doesn't faint in well doing, He endures. That again is one of the evidences of true Christianity. If we lack this, what makes us think we are true Christians.
2nd Corinthians 4:16
- "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day".
Our spirit within us is renewed and invigorated day after day because Christ dwells within us and gives us the strength to persevere. Are we to think that His Spirit abandons us or fail to renew us the day we need it most? God Forbid! That may be the implication in some Theologians words, but it is not what we would expect according to scripture. He will never leave nor forsake us. Is that become a meaningless phrase in our day? As true Christians we wait upon the Lord, we do not throw up our hands in despair, we endure in desperate times and trials specifically because of the strength of Christ within us. So then, understanding this, what do we have that sustains us, faith or non-faith, belief, or unbelief.
Isaiah 40:31
- "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Hopelessness, being distraught to the point of murdering oneself, these are not the evidences of a true Christian. They may be the evidence of one who has very little (if any) faith, or of those who have a shallow or superficial relationship with Christ. It's the evidence of one who has taken his eyes off Christ. That is to say, if he ever had them there to begin with. Are those who run and become weary, or who have walked and do faint, accounted sainthood? Or are these those who have not mounted up with eagle's wings and waited upon the Lord, but who have contrarily sank low in deep despair and given up all hope. We cannot in all good conscience ignore these things for the sake of saying things that people want to hear.
Isaiah 30:10
- "Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:"
There are those who will say that we are un-compassionate in this. But far from it, for true compassion is in encouraging repentance for sin and exhorting that we turn away from error. It is not in saying Peace, Peace when there is no Peace, or speaking in deceit smooth things just to placate people as men pleasers. Discipline may seem harsh, but in reality it is unto righteousness.
Hebrews 12:11
- "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby".
Of course there are those who want to confuse the issue by bringing up the relatively small group of people who kill themselves because they are physically in tortuous pain. But even in that, do we ignore the fact that the Christians of old endured as much and more tortuous pain (they didn't have today's medications), or who endured the horrors of evil men in tortures, and yet would not waver in their faith one inch from the Lord? Choosing to be tortured to death, rather than say a few words which would save their very lives or bring to an end their torture? Are we to cast this strength in Christ off as an aberration of Christianity, and the weakness of these people today who commit suicide as an understandable thing for Christians? I don't think so. To do so denies all that God declares He will do for us, and demeans all that the Church which has gone before us has endured in faith. When we
lose hope, we loose our anchor. How then are we still moored safely and abiding in Christ? Christians of all people should know better than this.
Hebrews 6:19
- "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;"
Of course, all these scriptures mean nothing to those who choose to ignore them in favor of humanistic reasoning. But to faithful Christians, we know that Hope is our anchor, and we know that it is sure and steadfast to those with true belief. We know that to lack this hope, is a terrible sin. It is in essence, to have no anchor. So, what is the bottom line to the question of, "can a person who commits suicide be a saved person?" Theoretically, and hypothetically we must say yes. But is it likely that they were Saved? We must Biblically say, probably not.
In any case, the state of those after death is not our business. The Lord judge. Our Christian work is to tend to the living. And to the living we say, all evidence is that a true Christian will not commit suicide. And therefore contemplating suicide may be evidence that one is not truly saved at all, and therefore still under the wrath of God. Let every soul contemplating suicide think hard on these things. Let them ask themselves why they would abandon God because of their mental anguish? Do they truly have the mind of Christ? pain. We are "sent" with a mission, and it's not over until God calls us home. It's not over when we decide we don't want to live anymore because God (supposedly) placed upon us more than we can bear, in direct contradiction to His Promise. Not at all, for He would never do that. He is our Strength, not our burden. If we have a burden we cannot bear, it's because we have not laid it down at the feet of Christ. And to be sure, how can one seeking to carry his own burden, get into the Kingdom of Heaven?
...may the Lord who is merciful beyond all, give us the wisdom to discern the truth of His most Holy word.
Amen!
Peace,
Copyright ©1999 Tony Warren
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