Thoughts On Suicide
It is less than likely to be news to anyone that Robin Williams, a comedian and actor, died yesterday after killing himself. The media has reported everything from the method which Williams used to kill himself, to his family being bullied, to people's reactions overall. Williams, who had been struggling with depression for quite some time, had recently gone back to a rehab centre to get a "fresh" view on sobriety. He, like many actors, face both the pressure to constantly please audiences, while himself constantly searching for purpose. Suicide is by no means an uncommon thing in America, much less with Hollywood, though the death of Robin Williams did come as a shock to many, including myself. You never really learn of people's struggles until it is too late.
I recently had a gentleman come to me asking for some help. He said that a relative of his had committed suicide, and even killed their child before killing themselves. He wondered what to think or do, being afraid that he himself might end his own life. He was afraid, and rightfully so.
Today, suicide is almost always blamed on depression, a physical sickness that affects many. It is especially seen in school students, who face bullying and, as a result, depression due to mockery and a feeling of exclusion. Likewise, many in Hollywood are addicted to all sorts of substances, such as drugs and alcohol. The cause, of course, is almost always pointed, once again, at depression. A lack of purpose or encouragement. This has lead to a massive increase in the self-exaltation movement, which aims to increase self-esteem via positive thinking, music, events, social gatherings, motivational posters and many activities. Whenever a famous figure commits suicide, everyone embraces one another, making sure that the self-esteem of the other is increased, so as to avoid any such events with those we love. Everytime the self-esteem method fails, its importance is reemphasized, stressed, and made even more public, so as to end any thoughts of sin in self...
And that is where the issue arises for Christianity. Many in the church have answers concerning suicide, and can point the finger at a number of things. What is ironic, is that they always point the finger at things related to sin, and even to sin itself, but always fail to point the finger at one thing in particular: self. I do not mean by this that it is our fault that someone commits suicide, but that it is strictly their own. This, if taken just by that one sentence, can seem utterly cruel and inconsiderate, but allow me to explain what I mean.
Is sin at fault? Yes. Is sin our fault? Yes.
This is one of the main things to understand. Depression is a result of sin, and I dare say, is a sin itself. Especially in a Christian. But the first thing we must go through is the suicide of the unsaved.
I personally see suicide as the end result of Godless thinking. I suppose what shocks me is the fact that so many excuse these people because they were such "good people" beforehand. Such is the case with Robin Williams, a comedian and generous person, who (as is said by the media anyways) was never mean to anyone. And so allow me to present a very particular case that will seem very blunt: Let us say we have a person who is very gentle in their nature, always considerate, loving, generous, and never imposing themselves on anyone. This person was known to struggle with severe depression, lacking purpose in their lives, and having a very low self-esteem. This person eventually caves to this, and ends their own life. Is this person going to hell?
The question we have to ask ourselves is first this: Does one get to heaven through their good works? The answer, according to Scripture, is a simple and powerful "No!" This, though a different topic for another post at another time, is a very important fact to come to grips with. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Eph. 2:8-9) All our works are as filthy rags before God (Isa. 64:6), therefore, we cannot expect that these will get us into heaven (because if any of us is honest with ourselves, we know that our works can never be good enough for God).
But here is the question I want us to consider: Is there an eternal destiny that is based on works? And that answer would be "Yes." Indeed, it is is by our works that we are condemned, and if we believe the prophet Isaiah, then not even our good works are "good" at all. All things that we do result in condemnation and thus, as a result, the eternal fires of hell. What of the Law? The Law of God was designed for two reasons: to magnify the sinfulness of sin (Rom. 7:7-13), and to show (as a result) show the need for Christ (Rom. 7:24-25). So not even this Law can help us before God, but rather it makes us all the more sinful in His sight!
Therefore, here is the issue with the person in our example (the man who was so selfless, and yet killed himself): If we say that he has gone to heaven because of his nature, we are therefore making void the work of Christ and any need for Him. Because our answer as to whether or not he goes to hell or heaven is based upon what he has done, not Christ?
But one may well say "Christ died for our sins, therefore, why should suicide, if a sin, be excluded?" The issue, however, is that salvation is by faith, not works. That is to say, the act of suicide is utterly devoid of faith. Consider, dear reader, the reasoning behind suicide: "I am trapped. I have no hope of changing, and nothing I do is good enough. I constantly feel depressed, and nobody will really care if I'm gone. In fact, I'd just be ridding the world of a stain." Though the thoughts behind suicide vary, the main cause is always the same: not depression, sickness, or ignorance, but faithlessness. "...and whatever is not from faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23) Sin. Sin is the issue here.
I think of something I shared on my Facebook profile recently.
Someone was asking the question as to whether or not the Catholics who gave their lives for Jews in WWII during the Holocaust went to hell because they were Catholic? The response of the host of the show this person was asking the question on responded perfectly, and I think the answer is very much the same here.
To ask whether not someone goes to heaven despite what they have done is to miss the point of the Gospel in the first place: that it is not by works that we are saved, but by the grace of God through Christ. The issue with Catholicism then arises in theology, not practice.
Are Catholics saved? If they hold to Catholic theology, no? This is very similar to asking whether or not Americans are saved. If they hold to popular American theology, the answer is no. If happen to be born in American, live in an American culture, and do American things, that does not dictate whether or not they are saved. What importance is theology? It is the core of why we do what we do. Who we believe God is, and what He did through Christ? If we claim to believe that Christ died for our sins, and yet fail to ever read His Word, how can we expect to be saved? What defines sin, or Who is Christ? Who is God? What does He expect and require?
Going back to suicide, we must ask ourselves as to what the motive is. Actions are always a result of thought. To claim that a physical disability is an excuse ignores the fact that we are all born with the crippling of sin and death. None are without excuse. Otherwise, the work of Christ and the need for faith are, once again, made void.
What Of Christians?
This, I think, is the more important subject. More specifically, I believe "depression" itself is a sin, in that it is always faithless and Godless. Those in history, and more importantly, in the Scripture, who faced things far worse than any of us could imagine, had for more reason to be depressed, losing their homes and families, friends and opportunities, and ultimately, their lives. And yet these joyfully accepted the seizure of their property (Heb. 10:34). Yet in the church today, people are excused, because "no one knows what it's like." Because loneliness and pain justify faithlessness, people have become more faithless than we could imagine. Yes, there are many people who are genuinely depressed. Who genuinely feel alone, without any hope, with no speck of happiness in them. But this ought to be expected of the world. But in the church? This should be unheard of. Instead of making your "inner beauty and purpose sure," we are to be making our "calling and election sure," dying to self and living for God, ignoring the pain that I suffer, since He who suffered on my behalf lives, and now, because of His work, I live for Him. Depression should not exist within the church, because any cause of depression any true Christian could possibly imagine- the greatest of all reasons!- has been dealt with, being nailed to the cross. This greatest of all reasons being our debt- our sin- before God, that could never be paid, not with the blood of bulls and goats, nor the blood of ourselves, hell hardly being fitting for our condition. And yet the only One who could bear the sin on our behalf was the Son of God (the fullness of God), who bore it without depression, but with determination, to do the will of the Father, not the will of His sudden whim, as dictated by mean people or bad feelings. Christ forsook all these and submitted to the Father, even to the point of death, even death on a cross. He, who despised the shame, now stands in our stead, being the eternal Mediator and High Priest, having sat down at the right hand of God, Who holds the keys to death and Hades, Who lives forever. How is it then, that we, the ones who get to bear such great news, ever get depressed? Any depression ought to be despised, thrown from us and hated as we trample it, running towards the throne of God.
What of the world's depression? These do not need a friend. These do not need relationships, and kind words, and encouragement and reassuring. They need death. Death to themselves, their sin, and their whole way of life, so that they can be born again in Christ and have purpose outside of themselves, in Christ alone. If they cannot repent of their sin and live for God in Christ, nothing else matters. Indeed, for the world, suicide makes sense, because anything else prolongs the inevitable. The whole world, at one point or another, faces depression, because the reality of sin and death are unavoidable. Either they spend their lives running from it, or as was seen recently, they give up, and face the doom that has long pursued. "How do you know they aren't Christian??" Simple: "You will know a tree by its fruits." Our Lord said this. And that statement rings ever true in these days. Those who, though generous as they may be, eventually prove that they have no hope- no faith. For if they had faith in Christ as their Savior and Lord, Purpose and King, then they would not take their own lives, for they would have already given their lives into the hands of a faithful Creator, Who does all things righteously. But when someone takes their life into their own hands, and ends it as they see fit, when they see fit, they no only fail to consider those who will have to discover the body, and mourn over the loss, but they fail to consider death itself- that death is not the end. Rather, death is the beginning of eternity. And these face that reality in the most brutal and harsh ways possible. They imagine they have found escape (certainly not in Christ), and so they take it, breathing their last, only to find that there is no such thing as "the end." Only "eternity." And, as the rich man, they open their eyes to flame and torment, and all the excuses for their sins and rejection of the salvation in Christ are burned away, with only guilt and reality standing there in the fires of sin and death.
This, though a scary and feirce reality, is the Truth. This is why the Good News is such good news! Because it does not put the hope or trust within ourselves, but within Christ, the solid Rock and sure foundation. And if this Rock is rejected, eventually, the waterfall of God's judgement is reached, and there is no turning back. The issue here is not with God. He is not unforgiving, or unloving. He has offered salvation to all. But if these refuse to take it, and live their lives without it, do we think His patience is eternal? Or will they have to stand before this just and holy God, Who will hold them accountable for what they have done, and failed to do?
I recently had a gentleman come to me asking for some help. He said that a relative of his had committed suicide, and even killed their child before killing themselves. He wondered what to think or do, being afraid that he himself might end his own life. He was afraid, and rightfully so.
Today, suicide is almost always blamed on depression, a physical sickness that affects many. It is especially seen in school students, who face bullying and, as a result, depression due to mockery and a feeling of exclusion. Likewise, many in Hollywood are addicted to all sorts of substances, such as drugs and alcohol. The cause, of course, is almost always pointed, once again, at depression. A lack of purpose or encouragement. This has lead to a massive increase in the self-exaltation movement, which aims to increase self-esteem via positive thinking, music, events, social gatherings, motivational posters and many activities. Whenever a famous figure commits suicide, everyone embraces one another, making sure that the self-esteem of the other is increased, so as to avoid any such events with those we love. Everytime the self-esteem method fails, its importance is reemphasized, stressed, and made even more public, so as to end any thoughts of sin in self...
And that is where the issue arises for Christianity. Many in the church have answers concerning suicide, and can point the finger at a number of things. What is ironic, is that they always point the finger at things related to sin, and even to sin itself, but always fail to point the finger at one thing in particular: self. I do not mean by this that it is our fault that someone commits suicide, but that it is strictly their own. This, if taken just by that one sentence, can seem utterly cruel and inconsiderate, but allow me to explain what I mean.
Is sin at fault? Yes. Is sin our fault? Yes.
This is one of the main things to understand. Depression is a result of sin, and I dare say, is a sin itself. Especially in a Christian. But the first thing we must go through is the suicide of the unsaved.
I personally see suicide as the end result of Godless thinking. I suppose what shocks me is the fact that so many excuse these people because they were such "good people" beforehand. Such is the case with Robin Williams, a comedian and generous person, who (as is said by the media anyways) was never mean to anyone. And so allow me to present a very particular case that will seem very blunt: Let us say we have a person who is very gentle in their nature, always considerate, loving, generous, and never imposing themselves on anyone. This person was known to struggle with severe depression, lacking purpose in their lives, and having a very low self-esteem. This person eventually caves to this, and ends their own life. Is this person going to hell?
The question we have to ask ourselves is first this: Does one get to heaven through their good works? The answer, according to Scripture, is a simple and powerful "No!" This, though a different topic for another post at another time, is a very important fact to come to grips with. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Eph. 2:8-9) All our works are as filthy rags before God (Isa. 64:6), therefore, we cannot expect that these will get us into heaven (because if any of us is honest with ourselves, we know that our works can never be good enough for God).
But here is the question I want us to consider: Is there an eternal destiny that is based on works? And that answer would be "Yes." Indeed, it is is by our works that we are condemned, and if we believe the prophet Isaiah, then not even our good works are "good" at all. All things that we do result in condemnation and thus, as a result, the eternal fires of hell. What of the Law? The Law of God was designed for two reasons: to magnify the sinfulness of sin (Rom. 7:7-13), and to show (as a result) show the need for Christ (Rom. 7:24-25). So not even this Law can help us before God, but rather it makes us all the more sinful in His sight!
Therefore, here is the issue with the person in our example (the man who was so selfless, and yet killed himself): If we say that he has gone to heaven because of his nature, we are therefore making void the work of Christ and any need for Him. Because our answer as to whether or not he goes to hell or heaven is based upon what he has done, not Christ?
But one may well say "Christ died for our sins, therefore, why should suicide, if a sin, be excluded?" The issue, however, is that salvation is by faith, not works. That is to say, the act of suicide is utterly devoid of faith. Consider, dear reader, the reasoning behind suicide: "I am trapped. I have no hope of changing, and nothing I do is good enough. I constantly feel depressed, and nobody will really care if I'm gone. In fact, I'd just be ridding the world of a stain." Though the thoughts behind suicide vary, the main cause is always the same: not depression, sickness, or ignorance, but faithlessness. "...and whatever is not from faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23) Sin. Sin is the issue here.
I think of something I shared on my Facebook profile recently.
Someone was asking the question as to whether or not the Catholics who gave their lives for Jews in WWII during the Holocaust went to hell because they were Catholic? The response of the host of the show this person was asking the question on responded perfectly, and I think the answer is very much the same here.
To ask whether not someone goes to heaven despite what they have done is to miss the point of the Gospel in the first place: that it is not by works that we are saved, but by the grace of God through Christ. The issue with Catholicism then arises in theology, not practice.
Are Catholics saved? If they hold to Catholic theology, no? This is very similar to asking whether or not Americans are saved. If they hold to popular American theology, the answer is no. If happen to be born in American, live in an American culture, and do American things, that does not dictate whether or not they are saved. What importance is theology? It is the core of why we do what we do. Who we believe God is, and what He did through Christ? If we claim to believe that Christ died for our sins, and yet fail to ever read His Word, how can we expect to be saved? What defines sin, or Who is Christ? Who is God? What does He expect and require?
Going back to suicide, we must ask ourselves as to what the motive is. Actions are always a result of thought. To claim that a physical disability is an excuse ignores the fact that we are all born with the crippling of sin and death. None are without excuse. Otherwise, the work of Christ and the need for faith are, once again, made void.
What Of Christians?
This, I think, is the more important subject. More specifically, I believe "depression" itself is a sin, in that it is always faithless and Godless. Those in history, and more importantly, in the Scripture, who faced things far worse than any of us could imagine, had for more reason to be depressed, losing their homes and families, friends and opportunities, and ultimately, their lives. And yet these joyfully accepted the seizure of their property (Heb. 10:34). Yet in the church today, people are excused, because "no one knows what it's like." Because loneliness and pain justify faithlessness, people have become more faithless than we could imagine. Yes, there are many people who are genuinely depressed. Who genuinely feel alone, without any hope, with no speck of happiness in them. But this ought to be expected of the world. But in the church? This should be unheard of. Instead of making your "inner beauty and purpose sure," we are to be making our "calling and election sure," dying to self and living for God, ignoring the pain that I suffer, since He who suffered on my behalf lives, and now, because of His work, I live for Him. Depression should not exist within the church, because any cause of depression any true Christian could possibly imagine- the greatest of all reasons!- has been dealt with, being nailed to the cross. This greatest of all reasons being our debt- our sin- before God, that could never be paid, not with the blood of bulls and goats, nor the blood of ourselves, hell hardly being fitting for our condition. And yet the only One who could bear the sin on our behalf was the Son of God (the fullness of God), who bore it without depression, but with determination, to do the will of the Father, not the will of His sudden whim, as dictated by mean people or bad feelings. Christ forsook all these and submitted to the Father, even to the point of death, even death on a cross. He, who despised the shame, now stands in our stead, being the eternal Mediator and High Priest, having sat down at the right hand of God, Who holds the keys to death and Hades, Who lives forever. How is it then, that we, the ones who get to bear such great news, ever get depressed? Any depression ought to be despised, thrown from us and hated as we trample it, running towards the throne of God.
What of the world's depression? These do not need a friend. These do not need relationships, and kind words, and encouragement and reassuring. They need death. Death to themselves, their sin, and their whole way of life, so that they can be born again in Christ and have purpose outside of themselves, in Christ alone. If they cannot repent of their sin and live for God in Christ, nothing else matters. Indeed, for the world, suicide makes sense, because anything else prolongs the inevitable. The whole world, at one point or another, faces depression, because the reality of sin and death are unavoidable. Either they spend their lives running from it, or as was seen recently, they give up, and face the doom that has long pursued. "How do you know they aren't Christian??" Simple: "You will know a tree by its fruits." Our Lord said this. And that statement rings ever true in these days. Those who, though generous as they may be, eventually prove that they have no hope- no faith. For if they had faith in Christ as their Savior and Lord, Purpose and King, then they would not take their own lives, for they would have already given their lives into the hands of a faithful Creator, Who does all things righteously. But when someone takes their life into their own hands, and ends it as they see fit, when they see fit, they no only fail to consider those who will have to discover the body, and mourn over the loss, but they fail to consider death itself- that death is not the end. Rather, death is the beginning of eternity. And these face that reality in the most brutal and harsh ways possible. They imagine they have found escape (certainly not in Christ), and so they take it, breathing their last, only to find that there is no such thing as "the end." Only "eternity." And, as the rich man, they open their eyes to flame and torment, and all the excuses for their sins and rejection of the salvation in Christ are burned away, with only guilt and reality standing there in the fires of sin and death.
This, though a scary and feirce reality, is the Truth. This is why the Good News is such good news! Because it does not put the hope or trust within ourselves, but within Christ, the solid Rock and sure foundation. And if this Rock is rejected, eventually, the waterfall of God's judgement is reached, and there is no turning back. The issue here is not with God. He is not unforgiving, or unloving. He has offered salvation to all. But if these refuse to take it, and live their lives without it, do we think His patience is eternal? Or will they have to stand before this just and holy God, Who will hold them accountable for what they have done, and failed to do?
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