Comments on: Suicide and Christianity http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/ Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:11:29 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Christians, suicide, and vulnerability « Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-5562 Christians, suicide, and vulnerability « Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton Sat, 03 May 2008 14:05:08 +0000 http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-5562 [...] The top posts by far for all time (200+ posts, 63000 views) are “Vulnerability: Strength or Weakness” and “Suicide and Christianity” [...] [...] The top posts by far for all time (200+ posts, 63000 views) are “Vulnerability: Strength or Weakness” and “Suicide and Christianity” [...]

]]> By: John http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-5264 John Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:13:02 +0000 http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-5264 So few have approached this subject with such compassion and amazing insight into the mind of those who either consider or sadly follow through with suicide. Certainly no caring person would want someone to end their life. But you hit right on the heart of the matter, most of them don't want to die, nor do they want to offend the God that they still love so much. But they are so worn out emotionally and physically, and so many in such pain most of us will never know, and sadly would not take the time to try to imagine. So often we don't listen to what hurting people are saying, not really listen, We give then quick pat answers, and then more times than not avoid them at all cost, leaving them even lonelier. So much of the time they don't know how to put into words what they are feeling. As far as they not fulfilling God's purpose for their lives, how many Christian live there lives their way and never fulfill the purpose for which God made them, and when their death comes naturally God's plan for them was never completed. Just one more thing, Jesus died for sins past, present, and future. All our sins are already forgiven, we only have to go to Him and admit our sin and thank Him for the forgiveness we received when first we came to Him and received Him as Savior. Any way this was the best and most compassionate description of the mind of most people struggling with thoughts of suicide I have ever read and about time someone approached it in this way. WELL DONE! So few have approached this subject with such compassion and amazing insight into the mind of those who either consider or sadly follow through with suicide. Certainly no caring person would want someone to end their life. But you hit right on the heart of the matter, most of them don’t want to die, nor do they want to offend the God that they still love so much. But they are so worn out emotionally and physically, and so many in such pain most of us will never know, and sadly would not take the time to try to imagine. So often we don’t listen to what hurting people are saying, not really listen, We give then quick pat answers, and then more times than not avoid them at all cost, leaving them even lonelier. So much of the time they don’t know how to put into words what they are feeling. As far as they not fulfilling God’s purpose for their lives, how many Christian live there lives their way and never fulfill the purpose for which God made them, and when their death comes naturally God’s plan for them was never completed. Just one more thing, Jesus died for sins past, present, and future. All our sins are already forgiven, we only have to go to Him and admit our sin and thank Him for the forgiveness we received when first we came to Him and received Him as Savior. Any way this was the best and most compassionate description of the mind of most people struggling with thoughts of suicide I have ever read and about time someone approached it in this way. WELL DONE!

]]> By: Shari http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-5137 Shari Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:30:29 +0000 http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-5137 This is an important subject to talk about. My brother-in-law just killed himself a few months ago. He was a Christian, but he really needed mental help and wouldn't go get it. I've known other Christians who have tried. Again, it was a chemical imbalance or a mental problem that just made life too overwhelming for them. A counselor and medication would have made all the difference. I've read in a counseling book that you can help someone change their mind about suicide if they can understand how terrible it is for other people. They need to know that it will: cause friends and family to blame themselves, leave lots of problems for family to deal with, cause emotional pain for loved ones, and mess up God's plan for their life. This is an important subject to talk about. My brother-in-law just killed himself a few months ago. He was a Christian, but he really needed mental help and wouldn’t go get it. I’ve known other Christians who have tried. Again, it was a chemical imbalance or a mental problem that just made life too overwhelming for them. A counselor and medication would have made all the difference. I’ve read in a counseling book that you can help someone change their mind about suicide if they can understand how terrible it is for other people. They need to know that it will: cause friends and family to blame themselves, leave lots of problems for family to deal with, cause emotional pain for loved ones, and mess up God’s plan for their life.

]]> By: Suicide and Christianity « Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton « GothiqueFae’s Weblog http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-4986 Suicide and Christianity « Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton « GothiqueFae’s Weblog Mon, 31 Dec 2007 04:48:51 +0000 http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-4986 [...] Suicide and Christianity « Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton [...] [...] Suicide and Christianity « Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton [...]

]]> By: gothiquefae http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-4985 gothiquefae Mon, 31 Dec 2007 04:47:30 +0000 http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-4985 I want to thank you for this post. I believe that suicide is a very real issue and it is also a very taboo issue. no one wants to talk about the kind of pain and hoplessness that can lead you down that path. I know for me it was fear, fear of being judged, fear of being thought of as weak or selfish. but it was worthwhile to find help. I very much appreciate this post and I want to echo some other thoughts I read from the responses. I very much believe that any Christian who commits suicide will not be seperated from God and I very much believe that it can be a spiritual battle, a struggle to survive. Again (for the third time) I want to thank you for bringing this topic to light, we really do, as Christian's and as people, need to realize that suicide is something that happens and something that can't be swept under the rug. I want to thank you for this post. I believe that suicide is a very real issue and it is also a very taboo issue. no one wants to talk about the kind of pain and hoplessness that can lead you down that path. I know for me it was fear, fear of being judged, fear of being thought of as weak or selfish. but it was worthwhile to find help. I very much appreciate this post and I want to echo some other thoughts I read from the responses. I very much believe that any Christian who commits suicide will not be seperated from God and I very much believe that it can be a spiritual battle, a struggle to survive.
Again (for the third time) I want to thank you for bringing this topic to light, we really do, as Christian’s and as people, need to realize that suicide is something that happens and something that can’t be swept under the rug.

]]> By: A year of blogging! « Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-4926 A year of blogging! « Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton Wed, 26 Dec 2007 13:33:13 +0000 http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-4926 [...] Posts Christmas healingSuicide and ChristianityBlogs to check outI love you foreverWhich Bible translation is best?Challenge of [...] [...] Posts Christmas healingSuicide and ChristianityBlogs to check outI love you foreverWhich Bible translation is best?Challenge of [...]

]]> By: undertheeverlastingarms http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-4831 undertheeverlastingarms Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:36:26 +0000 http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-4831 Hi Rindy, I just saw this post you had written on suicide and after reading it I wanted to respond. I lost my brother to suicide almost eleven years ago now (December 20th). He was a born again Christian and saved, though I have no doubt that he is with the Lord. I know some people believe that if someone takes their own life that somehow they've commited an unpardonable sin but I don't believe that is true. The bible says the only sin that can't be forgiven is that of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, or rather, those who refuse to accept Christ. All other sins can be forgiven, even suicide and though some people might believe those who commit it are damned, perhaps because they cannot ask for God's forgiveness while still in the flesh, I believe those who know Him go to be with Him. Suicide happens usually because a person has lost all hope. Looking back at my brother's life I can honestly say that there was a spiritual battle taking place. We have a very real and present enemy (Satan) who wants to kill and destroy us (the children of God) and he will stop at nothing to achieve just that. If that means he can wipe out somebody by orchestrating events in their lives that can possibly catapult them into depression then he will. I wish at the time I had had that very mindset. I saw things in my brother's life that were sending him in the wrong direction (away from God) and though I tried to help him I always feel I did not try hard enough. You never realize what's at stake, or how drastic things really are or can get until it is too late. So yes, you are right, we need to be persistent in reaching out to those we may feel are headed down a path of destruction and we also need to realize there is a spiritual battle taking place. Sometimes I think if those who are struggling with thoughts of ending their lives were reminded that they have an enemy who's working very hard at destroying them then perhaps they would see their situations a little differently and would then fight all the harder to want to live - for God has a purpose and a plan for all of our lives which Satan does not want us to walk in. Anyway, if a Christian commits suicide because of loss of hope then I still believe that they will go to be with God in heaven even though they ended their life prematurely. At least for me, that's what I hope in. Hi Rindy, I just saw this post you had written on suicide and after reading it I wanted to respond. I lost my brother to suicide almost eleven years ago now (December 20th). He was a born again Christian and saved, though I have no doubt that he is with the Lord. I know some people believe that if someone takes their own life that somehow they’ve commited an unpardonable sin but I don’t believe that is true. The bible says the only sin that can’t be forgiven is that of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, or rather, those who refuse to accept Christ. All other sins can be forgiven, even suicide and though some people might believe those who commit it are damned, perhaps because they cannot ask for God’s forgiveness while still in the flesh, I believe those who know Him go to be with Him. Suicide happens usually because a person has lost all hope.

Looking back at my brother’s life I can honestly say that there was a spiritual battle taking place. We have a very real and present enemy (Satan) who wants to kill and destroy us (the children of God) and he will stop at nothing to achieve just that. If that means he can wipe out somebody by orchestrating events in their lives that can possibly catapult them into depression then he will. I wish at the time I had had that very mindset. I saw things in my brother’s life that were sending him in the wrong direction (away from God) and though I tried to help him I always feel I did not try hard enough. You never realize what’s at stake, or how drastic things really are or can get until it is too late. So yes, you are right, we need to be persistent in reaching out to those we may feel are headed down a path of destruction and we also need to realize there is a spiritual battle taking place. Sometimes I think if those who are struggling with thoughts of ending their lives were reminded that they have an enemy who’s working very hard at destroying them then perhaps they would see their situations a little differently and would then fight all the harder to want to live – for God has a purpose and a plan for all of our lives which Satan does not want us to walk in.

Anyway, if a Christian commits suicide because of loss of hope then I still believe that they will go to be with God in heaven even though they ended their life prematurely. At least for me, that’s what I hope in.

]]> By: grievingallthelittlestuff http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-3617 grievingallthelittlestuff Sat, 25 Aug 2007 14:12:04 +0000 http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-3617 "Selfish" is a value judgement that helps survivors deal with their grief. "I want you to live, and so does Jesus” voiced without empathy ... now that's selfish. Thomas Joiner's new book, Why People Die by Suicide, offers insight for those truly interested in others. “Selfish” is a value judgement that helps survivors deal with their grief. “I want you to live, and so does Jesus” voiced without empathy … now that’s selfish.

Thomas Joiner’s new book, Why People Die by Suicide, offers insight for those truly interested in others.

]]> By: Jessica http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-3359 Jessica Sat, 11 Aug 2007 17:55:38 +0000 http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-3359 Rindy, OK openly here I was 5 years old when my father decided to commit suicide!!! I have to agree with Todd it is an extremely selfish act!! I have no clue if my father was a christian!! I think he was not! So the question I'm asking God everday Will I ever see my father again? Will I ever know him? and I think it is OK for me to judge him and wonder why he left two beautiful girls behind? I dont understand I am a mother of 4 children and I just pray the lord keeps my head on and I never have SELFISH thaughts like this! I have forgiven my father for doing this! It has taken me aawhile but I started to do some research and background checks of why he would do such a thing! I did get some pretty good answers but not a good enough excuse to leave a 5 and 6 year old behind! I wonder if I will ever see him again? any insight? Jessica Barone Rindy, OK openly here I was 5 years old when my father decided to commit suicide!!!
I have to agree with Todd it is an extremely selfish act!! I have no clue if my father was a christian!! I think he was not! So the question I’m asking God everday Will I ever see my father again? Will I ever know him? and I think it is OK for me to judge him and wonder why he left two beautiful girls behind? I dont understand I am a mother of 4 children and I just pray the lord keeps my head on and I never have SELFISH thaughts like this! I have forgiven my father for doing this! It has taken me aawhile but I started to do some research and background checks of why he would do such a thing! I did get some pretty good answers but not a good enough excuse to leave a 5 and 6 year old behind! I wonder if I will ever see him again? any insight? Jessica Barone

]]> By: Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton Perspectives on Suicide « http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-2700 Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton Perspectives on Suicide « Sat, 16 Jun 2007 17:16:41 +0000 http://rindy.wordpress.com/2007/04/05/suicide-and-christianity/#comment-2700 [...] I wrote the post Suicide and Christianity, the comments and emails I got were overwhelming. Please take a few minutes to read these two posts [...] [...] I wrote the post Suicide and Christianity, the comments and emails I got were overwhelming. Please take a few minutes to read these two posts [...]

]]>