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Romans 7:15, 18-22, 24
If ever a human being experienced the darkness of deep depression, it was Paul. He knew what it was like to struggle with deep depression. Even though Paul was a man whom God used to win thousands of souls, start many churches, and write a third of our New Testament under the Holy Spirit's inspiration. There were times in his life when he was deeply depressed. In Romans 7 Paul writes,
"I don't realize what I'm doing; I don't do what I want to do.
Instead, I do what I hate. I know that nothing good lives in me;
Although I have the desire to do what is right, I don't do it.
I don't do the good I want to do.
Instead, I do the evil that I don't want to do.
What a miserable person I am!
Who will rescue me from my dying body?
From these words, Paul sounds like he's very depressed. The truth is depression and discouragement attack everyone. The only difference is the degree with which they attack us and how we handle those times of deep distress. God understands that and He loves us even when we don't understand and love ourselves. His grace is complete.
Some say suicide is an unforgivable sin, but there's nothing in scripture to support that view. Suicide is an extreme step of taking things into our own hands rather than trusting God with our lives and our circumstances.
Suicide is a sin. God's command "Thou shalt not kill" is not invalidated simply because the murderer is oneself. If God created us and made us in his image, then our lives are sacred.
If we believe that life is a gift from God, you and I forfeit certain rights with the acceptance of that gift. Namely, we cannot terminate that life prematurely.
If we believe we are endowed with purpose, then the challenge is to find that meaning. That's why people who recover best from the loss of a loved one or a personal tragedy are the ones who find meaning in the experience.
Suicide is never God's will.
The Bible records only seven cases of suicide: Abimelech (Judges 9:54), Samson (Judges 16:30), Saul (1 Sam 31:4), Saul's armor bearer (1 Sam 31:5), Ahithophel (2 Sam 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), Judas Iscariot (all four gospels). None of those who committed suicide in the Bible was acting in accordance with God's will.
Does this mean people who commit suicide have committed an unforgivable sin and that they cannot enter heaven? No. God alone knows the state of a person's heart. Those who have trusted God, but who experience emotional problems or severe stresses that lead to suicide don't lose their salvation by taking their life.
One sinful act, the sin of suicide, reveals a lack of trust in God, but doesn't doom a person to an eternity without God. Only the act of rejecting God can accomplish that.
Most importantly, there's a way out of severe depression. The sons of Korah found this way out amid their depression they declared,
"I will put my hope in God! I will yet praise him. My Savior and my God!" (Psalm 42:5)
When Paul was experiencing his own discouragement and depression, he, too, discovered a way out.
"What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from my dying body?" And then he goes on to say, "I thank God that our Lord Jesus Christ rescues me!
Most suicidal people, despite their pain, want to live--but they need to know somebody else wants them to live. They generally think, "Nobody cares." If just one person showed them true caring, their lives might be saved.
Those thinking of suicide are often relieved when someone else brings up the question. Our willingness to discuss it in a matter-of-fact way demonstrates acceptance, caring, and the fact that we don't condemn them for such thoughts.
We should never promise to keep their thoughts of suicide a secret. We can't promise we won't try to save a person's life. We can't promise we won't try to get help. We can let them know we aren't willing to let them die.
We can help them get professional help.
We can offer to go along with them on the first visit or two. We can pray with them. Depressed people often feel isolated from people and separated from God.
If a person succeeds in committing suicide, however, we shouldn't take that tragedy as our own personal failure. If a person is determined to take their own life, we don't have the power to stop them. It's not our fault. Life is difficult, but life doesn't have to defeat us.
God has given many resources to enable us not only to survive, but also to experience true joy, peace and happiness.
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Rev. Charles Eldredge is a member of Maitland Church of the Brethren. He has a Facebook page and can be contacted by email: ce1133 @verizon.net.