010 Reaching Out - What All Christians Need to Know About Suicide

Reaching Out: What All Christians Need to Know About Suicide

ROMANS 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

To believe that the act of suicide in and of itself condemns one to hell would require belief in one of two things: that in order for a person to be able to end their own life they were never a believer in Christ or that suicide is the one sin no covered by the blood of Christ.

We don't believe either of those things. Join us as we discuss suicide inside the church, outside the church and in the Bible and how Christians should respond.

PSALM 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Statistics About Suicide:

10th overall cause of death2nd cause of death in ages 15-343rd cause of death in ages 10-14Women are twice as likely to attempt suicideMen are 4 times as likely to be successfulMiddle aged men account for 7 out of 10 suicidesAutism, Asperger's syndrome and chronic pain patients are all at higher riskLGBTQ rates are three times higher than national averages123 suicides every dayFor every 1 successful suicide 25 more people attempt it every dayAround 3000 suicide attempts per day or 1 million per year

ROMANS 6:23 For the wages for sin is death, but God gives us the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Bible doesn't promise we will no longer have struggles or pain or sorrow after we become Christians. Even after we accept the gift of our salvation we are still sinners and we still deserve death.

It is a very physical problem and the only cure is for our physical death to occur so that we can be resurrected through the blood of Jesus Christ. We will be perfect in our new life. It doesn't happen in this one.

SCIENCE OF DEPRESSION:

There is no real quick version of the Science with Sandy rant here but very basically if you think that a physician and/or medications should be involved with the treatment of hypertension or obesity then you believe that a physician and possibly medications should be involved in the treatment of mental illness. Trust us, you do.

THE CHURCH IS NOT IMMUNE TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES:

Why would it be? Even people in the Bible struggled with depression.

PSALM 69:3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. -DavidRUTH 1:13 ...my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord's hand has turned against me. -RuthJEREMIAH 20:14 Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed. -Jeremiah (The weeping prophet. Wrote Lamentations.)

There were also multiple documented suicides in the Bible. Including multiple Kings of Israel. Kings who were chosen by God to lead the people, Judas, Bathsheba's grandfather (King David's Bathsheba) and Samson.

WHAT DO WE DO?

SELF-CARE: Make sure you are getting the care you need (See episodes 005, 006 and 007)

BE THERE: Physically if possible

LISTEN: It's very important for people to feel heard

BE SERIOUS: Don't dismiss or try to "fix" it, just take their feelings seriously

REACH OUT: Ask them if there is anything you can physically do for them. Create a safety plan.

FOLLOW UP: Depression is cyclical. Check back with them, especially if you see them pulling back from activities, family or social media.

PRAY: Focus on other people. Take their names before God

CONCLUSION:

EPHESIANS 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His handiwork. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

So in Jesus' name. Go out and do good.

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE:

1-800-273-8255

CRISIS TEXT LINE (US ONLY):

TEXT CONNECT TO 741741

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