suicide – La Vista Church of Christ

Suicide Is a Very Complicated Issue

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 23:31:24 +0000

by Kevin Rutherford

Suicide is a very complicated issue. It is one that we cannot be flippant about and careless with. This discussion should always be accompanied by caution, compassion, and care. If anyone reading this article has come to such a condition that you have had thoughts of suicide, please seek professional and spiritual help. You are important.

It is likely that in many cases, the one who commits suicide is not capable of thinking in a rational manner. Perhaps a chemical imbalance or some other clinical factor is involved, creating extreme depression and an inability to think correctly. There are situations in which clinical treatment can help an individual suffering from chemical imbalances in the brain, and as long as the individual is receiving treatment, the condition is kept under control. In some cases, there have been people who have stopped receiving the treatment and have then committed suicide because they were not able to think correctly without the medicine. In such cases, I would not suggest in any way that the individual is lost eternally because of the act of suicide.

There may at times be spiritual problems that lead to thoughts of suicide, but we must not assume that is always the case. Some Christians who have appeared to be very strong spiritually have considered, attempted, or committed suicide. So let me say again, suicide is a very complicated issue. It is one that we cannot be flippant about or careless with. Any discussion of suicide should be accompanied by caution, compassion, and care. In fact, we need to steer clear of broad sweeping statements that would declare every suicide an evil and sinful act.

Consider compassion for those whose level of depression, discouragement, and despair has brought them to the point of wanting to take their own lives.

Taking one’s own life results in extreme torment and misery for years to come for family and friends. Those considering suicide should consider the effect of this action upon others, should consider the effect of this action upon others, should consider the God given value of their lives, and should not be ashamed to seek professional help.

Job suffered immensely. His children had been killed, he lost his wealth, and he suffered from a painful disease (Job 1-2). In fact, he suffered so much that he wished he had been stillborn (Job 3:11-19). He desperately hoped he would die and longed for death as though death were a treasure (Job 3:20-26). His wife shared in all of the suffering except the painful disease. She encouraged Job to just go ahead and curse God and die (Job 2:7-10). She was either encouraging him to just give up on life and perhaps die that way, or she was encouraging him to commit suicide. Despite the intense suffering Job endured, he did not commit suicide. That was not the answer. That was not the right approach. Job became desperately miserable and upset, demanding that God tell him why he was suffering. Yet, he did not turn to suicide.

Elijah suffered immensely. He lived in a time of great violence and danger (I Kings 18-19). Many prophets of God, like himself, had been killed at the orders of Ahab and Jezebel. After Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal, Jezebel promised she would kill him. Elijah’s situation became so discouraging to him that he asked God to just go ahead and kill him (I Kings 19:4). In other words, Elijah thought death might be better than having to live the way he was living. Yet Elijah did not commit suicide, and God wouldn’t take his life either.

At one point, Moses was so overwhelmed by the intense pressure and load of leading a stubborn and rebellious nation that he just wanted to die (Numbers 11:11-15). He thought death would be better than the situation he was suffering through. He asked God to kill him. Despite all of this, Moses did not commit suicide.

Job, Elijah, and Moses are all examples of righteous people who wanted to die. They wanted God to end it for them. In all three cases, God left them to suffer here on this earth for a time. In none of these cases did these suffering servants of God who desperately longed for death commit suicide.

Having said that, if any of you reading this have considered, or are considering suicide, please seek help. God loves you, you are important, and your life is important. Don’t throw away the gift of life God has given you. You are a steward over your life, and you have been created to use that life in the service of God. If you ever doubt your importance to God, please remember the lengths to which He has gone so that you can spend an eternity in heaven with Him someday. The suffering Jesus endured as He took the wrath and death we deserve is great evidence of your tremendous value. It is also evidence that He understands tremendous grief and pain. Don’t give up. Please seek help.

Remembering Rightly: A Christian Response to Suicide Memorials

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 23:10:14 +0000

by Joe Hamm

If you’ve driven past Hamilton City Hall this week, you’ve likely noticed the rows of American flags planted in the lawn. Each flag represents a veteran from Alabama who died by suicide. It’s part of a statewide campaign called Operation We Remember, intended to raise awareness and show honor to those who served and lost their lives, not in combat, but in despair.

As a Christian and as a man who deeply cares about the moral and spiritual direction of our community, I want to speak plainly and compassionately about what these memorials communicate. Because they do communicate something. Public displays like this are not neutral. They are symbolic, emotional, and formative. They function, whether we realize it or not, like a kind of civic ritual. And like all rituals, they teach.

So the question we have to ask is: What are they teaching?

These memorials are meant to honor the fallen, and that impulse is good. But when we raise flags in tribute to men who took their own lives, we risk turning tragedy into something resembling honor. In fact, the sign at City Hall explicitly calls on us to “Remember and Honor” them. I am not suggesting that we shame the dead, far from it. But we are responsible for how we publicly frame their stories, and for how we prepare the next generation to think about life, death, pain, and hope.

Our society is spiritually adrift. We send men to war, often for unclear causes, then bring them home to a culture that mocks manhood, weakens the family, medicates every form of sadness, and severs men from any lasting sense of purpose. We tell them they’re strong, but we isolate them. We applaud their service, but offer them no vision for manhood, fatherhood, or legacy. And when they begin to unravel, we hand them slogans instead of Scripture. We build monuments to their death instead of fighting for their life.

That’s not compassion. That’s resignation.

This issue isn’t just cultural or political for some of us; it’s personal. I’ve seen what it looks like when a good man wrestles with thoughts of ending his life. It doesn’t come from weakness. It comes from a world that no longer gives men a reason to carry on. That’s why I’m not writing this to judge, but to warn and to offer hope.

Let’s be clear: suicide is not a badge of honor. It is not a sacrifice. It is not brave. It is a tragedy. And it is a tragedy not only because a life was lost, but because no one was there to speak into that moment of despair with truth and authority. It is a symptom of deep cultural failure. When despair becomes normalized and then publicly honored, we don’t reduce suicide; we reinforce the conditions that produce it.

Some may say that strong words like these lack compassion. I would argue the opposite. Genuine compassion tells the truth. And the truth is that suicide is a lie. It tells a man that he has no future, that he is alone, that he is no longer needed. It convinces him that his life no longer has weight. That is not a message from God. That is a message from hell.

And the church bears part of the blame. For years, we’ve softened the gospel, tiptoed around hard topics, and turned the church into a weekend therapy center. We’ve removed discipline, rebuke, and repentance from our vocabulary. We’ve stopped training men to carry burdens, and then we act surprised when they collapse. A church that refuses to teach men how to suffer well will inevitably produce men who see death as a reasonable way out. It doesn’t matter how polished the worship set is or how modern the lighting becomes. If we’re not forming men who can endure hardship with faith, then we’re not forming men at all.

But the root of the problem didn’t begin with the church. It began with the loss of the household. God gave man a mission, and that mission was grounded in the family. Fathers were meant to train sons. Men were meant to build homes, plant trees, and leave legacies. The household is where strength is forged and where meaning is found. If a man sees himself only as an isolated individual, floating in a sea of pain, then suicide will always remain an option. But if he sees himself as part of a multi-generational story with sons to raise, daughters to protect, and a wife to cherish, then the weight of life will not crush him. It will call him to rise up.

We need to rebuild the household. We need to call men out of their despair and back into responsibility, headship, worship, and brotherhood. That is where life begins again, not in another row of flags, not in a slogan about awareness, but in the gritty, glorious calling to be a man under God.
And above all else, we need Christ. He is the One who endured the cross, despising its shame, not as a victim, but as a victor. Jesus did not take His own life. He laid it down willingly, with purpose, for the joy set before Him. He did not escape pain. He conquered it. That is our example. That is our standard. That is our hope.

To the man reading this who may be struggling in silence: don’t listen to the lies. Your life matters. Your pain is real, but so is your purpose. You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are needed. You are called. And you are loved not just by your country, not just by your family, but by the God who made you. Don’t give up. Reach out.

If you’re ready to fight for life, I’ll stand with you.

Let’s stop planting flags in the dirt and start planting roots in our homes, our churches, and our communities. Let’s raise sons who do not fold under pressure. Let’s preach Christ without apology. Let’s rebuild what the world has torn down.

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Let’s choose life and let’s build like we mean it.

They Wish You Would Help

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 22:39:38 +0000

by Floyd Chappalear
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 13, No. 4, December 31, 1987

"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all" (I Thessalonians 5:14). In so doing, the church of our Lord is the finest "support group" on the face of the earth!

Perhaps you know someone who is agonizing through one crisis after another. Such a one may even despair of life. What he/she doesn't need is another critic telling him/her to "straighten up" or be in great danger of Hellfire. Such a one needs comfort, help, and assistance of some kind. Take such a one in your arms and give the uplift so desperately needed. Take up his/her cross and help that it might be borne through life's difficulties. Remember this: when someone says they wish they were dead, they are really saying, "I wish you would help!"

Did Samson commit suicide?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 22:17:36 +0000

Question:

The following is taken from a long letter that mostly complains that a response to a question about suicide was not kind enough. The issues raised were already addressed in "I believe your article on suicide is unfair." The author of this complaint did read the answer, but it wasn't good enough for him. I'm not out to please everyone, and the complaints were merely personal opinions. However, he did raise one point that should be addressed:

What you overlooked is that neither Job nor Elijah attempted to kill themselves. Yes, they asked God to remove them from this sorrowful world, but that is as far as it went. They respected life and knew that it is God who should decide when life ends. Job and Elijah are respected because they held on and overcame their trials. You do your position a disservice by conflating the expression of a desire to die with wanting to take your own life and the attempt to do so. The result is a false belief that suicide is acceptable and an indirect encouragement to people to consider sin.

The story of Samson completely negates your entire argument here. You do your position a disservice by forgetting that Samson prayed for God to return his strength to him for the express purpose of committing suicide, and God answered his prayer.

Answer:

"Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left. And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life" (Judges 16:28-30).

Samson asked God for his strength back one more time for the expressed purpose of punishing the Philistines for blinding him. God granted his request. As he was about to bring down the building, he asked God if he might die with the Philistines. Please take note of this: Samson asked God to let him die. Samson understood that the decision was the Lord's. Samson didn't want to continue living, but he left the choice in God's hands.

This is not like Saul, who fell on his sword so that the Philistines would not torture him (I Samuel 31:4), or Judas, who hung himself in his sorrow of betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:3-5). Samson's action led to his death, but the purpose of his action was not to take his own life.

I believe your article on suicide is unfair

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 22:29:19 +0000

Question:

Good afternoon. I read an article on your website under the title, "I find your article on why suicide is a sin to be completely unsympathetic and untrue." It was published in 2018 by Alan Feaster.

I am not going to debate your position that suicide is a sin. I am not stating that I agree or disagree with that position; I am accepting it as Alan Feaster's position, and because he presents it on the La Vista Church of Christ website, I am presuming it to be the position of the elders at the La Vista Church of Christ. Again, I am not attempting to argue that point with you.

What I would like to say is this. Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak the truth in love. The author states that he feels for people struggling with suicidal ideation and that it is heartbreaking to see the loss of life, but the rest of the article shows callous indifference toward the people his words most affect. I am not stating that he intends to be harsh or cruel, but that the words are unkind. The intent behind a person's words is important, but so is the effect.

The article I read is in reply to a message from one of your readers. The author of the article makes judgments about the motives of the reader he is replying to, as well as the motives of people who have committed suicide, saying that the reader is looking for reasons to stay depressed and that those who commit suicide are cowards. I believe this to be unfair. You do not necessarily know people's intentions by observing a fraction of their behavior. You may judge their behavior or beliefs as incorrect if you wish, but you cannot tell the thought behind their actions or words. I believe that making such a judgment is unfair and reads as an attack against the reader's person rather than their position.

The statement is made that someone who loses hope has stopped trusting in God. Job 6:8-11 reads, "Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One. What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?" Yet James 5:11 speaks of Job favorably. God does not seem to condemn Job for the way he expressed his pain or for the hopelessness he felt. Additionally, I Kings 19 contains the account of Elijah asking God to kill him and the gentle way God handles Elijah's pain. God first handles Elijah's physical needs with food, water, and sleep. He gives Elijah a chance to express his pain verbally, a set of achievable tasks (a helpful coping mechanism for many), and comfort in the knowledge that Elijah was not as alone as he had feared. He also provides Elijah with companionship in the form of Elisha. Even if you believe suicide is a sin, your reaction to those who are grieving the death of a loved one, your reaction to those struggling with hopelessness or despair, and your reaction to those contemplating suicide should involve compassion. Without it, you will only win over those who already agree with you.

The article named at the start of this email references a previous article on the La Vista Church of Christ website. Here is the quote: "Your accusations fall short as the article even provides a solution: 'Here, then, is the solution to your problems, no matter how overwhelming they may seem. Suicide doesn't bring joy into anyone's life, but Jesus holds the key to eternal joy.' It points people to follow Jesus' teaching to find purpose in life and overcome their problems by trusting in God." I have altered the quote only to adjust the quotation marks to facilitate clarity.

Trusting in God, having greater faith, praying, and studying the Bible are not cure-alls for mental health any more than they are for physical health. We accept that our bodies can become ill and may require a doctor's assistance; the Bible may contain helpful information regarding our physical health, but we understand that a person does not catch the flu or have cancer or diabetes because they aren't praying enough. Similarly, mental health issues do not come about from a lack of faithfulness or failure to pray. While the word of God certainly has advice for this aspect of human life, we may not always know what it is or how to apply it; additionally, the services of a doctor or mental health professional may be necessary to cope with mental health issues. When someone struggling approaches the church for help and is told to turn to Jesus for joy or to trust God, it implies that the person struggling is suffering because they are not faithful enough, and such advice offers them nothing they did not already know. You may even discourage people from asking for help if they fear your judgment or are ashamed of a perceived moral failure for having the struggle at all.

I am not asking you to change your stance on suicide, but the way you present your beliefs can be harmful. If we are callous instead of kind, we drive people away from the church, we cause pain when we do not need to, and we reinforce the idea that the church of Christ is full of unloving people. I do not have the right or the ability to judge the intent behind Mr. Feaster's words, but anyone who reads them may judge the results. I don't believe this article has been done right by the reader Alan Feaster is replying to or by those readers who come later.

Answer:

For a person who repeatedly claims she isn't making judgments about people's intentions, you manage to do so repeatedly. You call Alan callous, discouraging, scary, judgmental, and unfair, which is quite the opposite of Alan's personality. You state you don't want to debate the positions expressed, but again, you turn around to do so. As Jesus pointed out, I must look at what you do and not what you claim. "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:15-16).

I don't know your credentials, but I do know Alan's experience. Alan worked for a while in a suicide hotline center. As he pointed out, he and I have both worked with suicidal people and managed to talk people out of killing themselves. We backed up our positions with Scriptures you did not attempt to address.

I reviewed what Alan wrote, and once again, I found nothing cruel, harsh, or unkind in his reply as you charged. You did seem to miss that he was addressing a critic much like yourself. She was upset because her nephew had committed suicide, and she wanted to believe that he was justified. She didn't like the evidence that suicide is sinful. Yet, you take an answer talking to someone wanting to feel better about what her nephew did and try to twist it into addressing people who are wrestling with the desire to commit suicide.

You gave two examples from the people who were so miserable that they asked God to take their lives. What you overlooked is that neither Job nor Elijah attempted to kill themselves. Yes, they asked God to remove them from this sorrowful world, but that is as far as it went. They respected life and knew that it is God who should decide when life ends. Job and Elijah are respected because they held on and overcame their trials. You do your position a disservice by conflating the expression of a desire to die with wanting to take your own life and the attempt to do so. The result is a false belief that suicide is acceptable and an indirect encouragement to people to consider sin.

You then move on to claim that suicide is a mental health issue. I find that interesting. It implies that you recognize that people who desire to kill themselves are not thinking normally. Neither Alan nor I disagree that people can benefit from medical treatment for mental illnesses. Alan even quoted the APA that depression is treatable. However, medication only treats physical conditions. A desire to commit sins, such as suicide, is a spiritual problem. You then make judgments about people's intentions by concluding what you think a person might conclude: that they shouldn't ask for help or that they would be ashamed of a "perceived moral failure." The problem is that this is your opinion, offered without evidence, and it happens to be false.

Just because an answer is not written the way you would, it doesn't mean it is wrong or hurtful.

Why does a member of the church go to hell if he commits suicide?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 23:35:55 +0000

Question:

I have lost a friend by suicide. Why does a member of the church go to hell if he commits suicide? For many people, you can’t know for sure, but I think you should.

Answer:

I'm sorry to hear that you lost a friend. Such events leave everyone with many questions.

Suicide is a form of murder. Instead of killing another person, the person committing suicide is killing himself. Murder is a sin. See Why is Suicide a Sin?

Sins can be forgiven, but it requires that the sinner repent of his sin. This cannot be done when you are no longer living. Of course, no one knows all the details. That is why God judges us, so I can't make a blanket statement, but see: Can suicide be forgiven?

Just because a person is a Christian, it doesn't mean he has immunity from sin. Christians work against sin, but they do sometimes fall prey to it. See How can a Christian sin if we are to be holy like God? Nor do Christians get special treatment. God is an impartial judge (Romans 2:11). "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (I Peter 4:17).

We can pray that God finds reasons to extend mercy to your friend, but we must remember that God must also be just. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men ..." (II Corinthians 5:10-11).

Is physician-assisted suicide a sin?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 20:49:11 +0000

Question:

Is physician-assisted suicide, otherwise known as medical aid in dying or death with dignity, a sin? What if the person is severely suffering from a terminal illness? If I was suffering I would want to eliminate my suffering.

Answer:

Throughout mankind’s history, God has demanded that life be respected. "Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man" (Genesis 9:5-6). Animals also have life, and we show respect for their lives by not eating blood (Genesis 9:2-4; Leviticus 17:10-14). But human life is different because, unlike the animals, we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).

"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children'" (Acts 17:24-28).

God is the giver of life. Then, by implication, God is the one who decides when our life ends. While we find a few wicked men committing suicide in the Bible, we find that even in extreme circumstances, righteous men would not end their own lives. It was something they left in the hands of God

Job did not want his life to continue, but he did not try to take his own life. "Why is light given to him who suffers, and life to the bitter of soul, who long for death, but there is none, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, who rejoice greatly, and exult when they find the grave?" (Job 3:20-22).
Elijah also had given up, but he asked God for death instead of taking his own life. "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers" " (I Kings 19:4).
Jonah was angry that God spared the Ninevites, but he asked God to take his life. "Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life" (Jonah 4:3).

Respect for life is what is behind God's law, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). One person is not to take the life of another person (Revelation 21:8). Governments are allowed to do so in response to evil (Romans 13:3-4). But suicide is the taking of a person's own life -- it is a form of murder. And assisted-suicide is nothing more than murder where the victim agrees to the crime.

In several European countries, such as the Netherlands, euthanasia (voluntary deaths) has been steadily rising. It is somewhere between 4 and 5% of the deaths in countries that allow it, though, in the Netherlands where euthanasia first was legalized, it has recently seen rates as high as 7.5% to 14.5% ["A critical look at the rising euthanasia rates in the Netherlands", 2021]. These grim numbers reflect a lack of respect for life.

To be clear, euthanasia is not about allowing the natural progression of an illness to take the life of a terminally ill person. This is about a person who would continue to live but doesn't want to. The person is seeking an escape from pain or discomfort (real or imagined). Suicide, at its roots, is an act of cowardice. The person doesn't want to face life and sees death as an escape. When Job's wife suggested that Job offend God so that God would strike him dead, Job's response was, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10). Job didn't like what happened to him, Job was certain that death was better than continuing to live, but Job bravely accepted the life God gave him.

I’m having trouble dealing with a murder-suicide

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 22:58:25 +0000

Question:

Good morning brother,

I am and have been conflicted with a serious and tragic event for about a month now. I would like some direction on how to deal with it if you could.

Recently, a former elder of our congregation took the life of his wife and himself in what we commonly refer to as a murder-suicide. The wife had severely advanced Alzheimer’s disease and her condition worsened weekly, it would seem. There was no note or explanation made available to the congregation, or any mention of the circumstances regarding their deaths at the memorial service.

I am burdened with not so much “why, he did this” but what does the Scripture tell us, if anything, concerning what some term as mercy killings? My preacher, when I asked him about how God views this, offered his opinion that it was a question we should not (and could not) find an answer to but rather take comfort in the fact that God is in control and His will be done. I took comfort in speaking with my brother about this, and yet I am still thinking about this tragedy daily.

If possible, could you direct my mind on where it needs to be and how a brother or sister in Christ might cope with this by going to the scriptures? I am having difficulty moving forward with, what should be, fond memories of this loving couple.

Thank you.

Answer:

While we know what happened, what we don't know is why it happened, though we might make some educated guesses. As an example, there is a possibility that the man was suffering from dementia and it wasn't noticed in comparison to his wife's severe problems. It is the Lord who knows both the actions and the reasons for the actions, which is why judgment is left to him. "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God" (I Corinthians 4:5).

But in regards to what is referred to as mercy killings, we can find in the Bible:

"So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire. But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, crushing his skull. Then he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, 'A woman slew him.'" So the young man pierced him through, and he died" (Judges 9:52-54).

Abimelech was already given a death blow, but he didn't want to die at the hand of a woman. What the young man did was wrong. He didn't change the outcome so his action served no purpose; yet, he broke God's law against murder.

"The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was badly wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armor bearer, 'Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and pierce me through and make sport of me.' But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it. When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him" (I Samuel 31:3-5).

I believe Saul's armor-bearer was correct in refusing Saul's request to kill him, but both Saul and his armor-bearer sinned in committing suicide to avoid future hardships. Interestingly, later an Amalekite tried to gain favor with David by claiming to have killed Saul. Even though he lied, David's reaction is interesting.

"The young man who told him said, 'By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the horsemen pursued him closely. When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I said, 'Here I am.' He said to me, 'Who are you?' And I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.' Then he said to me, 'Please stand beside me and kill me, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.' So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.' Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. David said to the young man who told him, 'Where are you from?' And he answered, 'I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.' Then David said to him, 'How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?' And David called one of the young men and said, 'Go, cut him down.' So he struck him and he died. David said to him, 'Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD'S anointed''" (II Samuel 1:6-16).

The Amalekite's claimed action was not seen as an act of mercy but of murder.

What I also notice from these examples is that those involved were not following God. The records appear to be given to us to show us what not to do.

Let's assume that what the man sinned in killing his wife and then himself. Christians do sin, even elders, though we try to combat it (I John 1:8-2:1). It is not an excuse for sin, but we sadly admit that Satan does catch us at our weakest moments.

The man's action didn't change the outcome, only speed up the moment of death. He imagined that he was sparing his wife agony, but likely she was unaware of her deteriorating condition. What he was doing was trying to avoid his own agony and for that, there is a strong possibility that he exchanged some hardship here on earth for an eternity in hell.

However, there are lessons to be learned here. Caring for someone whose mind is deteriorating is far harder than it might appear. Clearly this man was suffering and needed help. He had become depressed and had given up on life. It is sad that his family and brethren didn't realize what was happening to him. In our love for our neighbors, we need to care for the caregivers and keep them connected to life. When your world is crumbling, it is too easy to despair, believe that God has abandoned you, and have no hope.

It is too late to change what happened to this brother, but perhaps we can be more observant and keep another from following the same sort of sin.

It is true that his life ended poorly, but the end doesn't change the fact that earlier in his life he lived it properly. There still are good things that you can remember about this couple from the better days. And remember too that while he might have sinned at the end of his life, his wife was innocent in the matter. She should be remembered for the good she did before her mind deteriorated.

And always pray that God grant mercy to one who suffered so much.

The Unwanted

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 01:34:40 +0000

Text: Psalms 10

I. How do we deal with those whom others don’t want?

A. Terri Shiavo made the news and was the focus of attention for numerous months.

1. Her husband no longer wanted to keep her alive. He claimed that she wouldn’t want to remain in this state.

2. What I don’t often hear is that Terri Shiavo became brain damaged in 1990.

3. Her husband was willing to keep her alive, but started court moves to have Terri’s feeding tube removed a few years after receiving a large court settlement that was placed in a trust fund to pay for Terri’s care. Michael Schiavo stood to inherit a large sum of money if his wife died.

4. Michael also moved in with another woman. He cannot marry her while married to Terri, but he doesn’t want to divorce Terri because he would cease to be her legal guardian and beneficiary of her settlement.

5. The court battle was long, but ultimately her Michael Schiavo won and Terri died after two weeks without nutrients.

6. Bill Allen was asked by Wesley Smith in an on-line debate “Bill, do you think that Terri is a person?” His answer: “No, I do not. I think having awareness is an essential criterion for personhood. Even minimal awareness would support some criterion of personhood, but I don’t think complete absence of awareness does.”

B. Dr. Jack Kevorkian made the news by offering people assistance in committing suicide.

1. He argued that he was aiding those in incurable pain with terminal diseases.

2. He eventually went to jail when autopsies found that more than one of his victims were not suffering from the disease reported.

C. The Netherlands became the first country to formally authorized “mercy killings” for terminally ill people.

1. The current law is only applied to those who are terminally ill and who, in sound mind, request to die.

2. They are looking at expanding the law to cover those who cannot make such a request.

3. Already some are killing newborns with severe, incurable diseases.

D. A book titled “Practical Ethics” by Peter Singer of Princeton University

1. “Killing a defective infant is not morally equivalent to killing a person. Sometimes it is not wrong at all.”

2. “Newborn human babies have no sense of their own existence over time.”

3. So he concludes that newborns are disposable.

II. We have come to a point where convenience has become more valuable than human life.

A. It began when people argued that a woman’s convenience was more important that the life of the child developing within her.

1. It was justified by stating that child who wasn’t yet viable (able to live on his own) was not human life.

2. The child is addressed as a fetus to make its death more palatable.

B. It even enters medical terms.

1. Did you know that contraceptives (methods used to prevent the joining of egg and sperm) has been redefined in the medical community years ago to mean the prevention of the implantation of a fertilized egg?

2. Not long ago I heard someone accuse another for being a “dummy” for calling the prevention of a fertilized egg from implanting abortion, didn’t he know that it was contraception until the egg is implanted.

a. I wanted so say, “didn’t you know that the definition of contraception was changed just a few decades ago?”

3. Yet the Bible views life as beginning from conception - Isaiah 49:1, 5

a. Speaking of the Messiah (My Servant).

b. Called by name before formed in the womb

III. What is the value of human life?

A. Man is not an animal. He was made in the image of God. - Genesis 1:26-27

B. God is the giver of human life - Acts 17:24-28

C. Because of our sins, mankind is damaged goods in the sight of God - Psalm 8:3-4

D. Yet, He loved us! - John 3:16

E. Even while in sin - Romans 5:8

F. What was God willing to pay for human life? - I Peter 1:18-19

IV. Those with physical handicaps are not less valuable to God, nor are they less human.

A. God ordered special protection for the handicapped.

B. The handicapped are not to be mistreated - Leviticus 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:18

C. Job spoke of the care given to the unfortunate - Job 29:12; 31:15-22

D. Jesus ministered to the afflicted - Matthew 11:5

E. James 1:27 - Evidence of pure religion

V. The blood of innocents has been shed in the land, sacrificed to the god of personal convenience.

A. God will not acquit the guilty - Exodus 23:7

B. Speak out against the guilt of our fellow man and our country.

C. Only by speaking the truth will evil be turned away.

I find your article on why suicide is a sin to be completely unsympathetic and untrue

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 01:51:00 +0000

Question:

I feel compelled by God to send you these words of enlightenment.

As a Christian person who suffers from deep depression (on medication and under a doctor's care), I find your article to be completely unsympathetic and untrue. There are many, many other Christian writings out there that contradict what you have written. To me, it is once again how the Bible can be twisted to suit anyone's personal opinion. Not only do you condemn those who commit suicide, but you also offer no real assistance. You have in essence declared your personal beliefs to be those of God himself. I ask you to google "do those who commit suicide go to heaven". You will indeed find more stating that the answer is Yes!

How do you know if this person has prayed for direction and forgiveness before taking his life? God does indeed forgive those who murder. God forgives anyone who asks His forgiveness. Depression is in a way a terminal disease with no real cure.

Apparently, you are not well versed on depression or those who suffer from it. It saddens me to know this article came from someone claiming to know and spread the word of God. The Bible states clearly that those who believe in Jesus Christ and have been baptized are indeed saved and will go to heaven. The fact is people sin every day. People also die suddenly every day without the ability to ask God for forgiveness at their time of death. I'm speaking of car accidents, fires, and so on. So basically your writing of this article is saying this person may not go to heaven because he did not ask for forgiveness of his sins prior to his death. Blasphemy! Shame on you! You may know the word of God. You may share the word of God. But in no way can you be 100% sure who and who will not go to heaven.

God forgive you for this twisted article on suicide being murder. And God forgive you for not providing real help for those who are suffering depression and hopelessness. We did not make a choice to become depressed. God knows my heart. He alone knows my needs and He alone will sit in judgment of those who have reached the end of hope and have taken their own lives. It is not a coward's way out. It is a way to release those who love us and suffer along with us.

Finally, my nephew committed suicide a few months ago. Yes, we mourn the loss of this wonderful young man. But we understand, as God does, the reasons for his choice. I urge you to research depression and suicide more. You never know. Someone close to you or in your congregation could be suffering in silence. And you have already condemned them!

Answer:

"I feel compelled by God to send you these words of enlightenment.

As a Christian person who suffers from deep depression (on medication and under a doctor's care), I find your article to be completely unsympathetic and untrue. There are many, many other Christian writings out there who contradict what you have written. To me it is once again how the Bible can be twisted to suit anyone's personal opinion. Not only do you condemn those who commit suicide, you offer no real assistance. You have in essence declared your personal beliefs to be those of God himself. I ask you to google "do those who commit suicide go to heaven". You will indeed find more stating that the answer is Yes!

How do you know if this person has prayed for direction and forgiveness before taking his life? God does indeed forgive those who murder. God forgives anyone who asks His forgiveness."

I do feel for people who are wanting to commit suicide. I have talked and worked with some, and I have managed to help a few; while others did not accept help, deciding they knew better than God. Suicide is a low state of mind where people give up on life and forsake God's way and His hope. They trust in themselves to solve their own problems. There are numerous reasons why people commit suicide as the article stated, it is not just depression. If you would search lavistachurchofchrist.org, you will notice that the preacher, who answers most of the questions, has helped people out of depression, suicide, mental disorders, drug addiction, and many other things both over the Internet and in person. Your accusations fall short as the article even provides a solution: "Here, then, is the solution to your problems, no matter how overwhelming they may seem. Suicide doesn't bring joy into anyone's life, but Jesus holds the key to eternal joy." It points people to follow Jesus' teaching to find purpose in life and overcome their problems by trusting in God.

"I feel compelled by God to send you these words of enlightenment … To me it is once again how the Bible can be twisted to suit anyone's personal opinion. Not only do you condemn those who commit suicide, you offer no real assistance. You have in essence declared your personal beliefs to be those of God himself. I ask you to google "do those who commit suicide go to heaven." You will indeed find more stating that the answer is Yes!"

God did not compel you to write because God does not use Google as "proof" to determine what is true by how many people believe "suicide is not a sin" and that those who commit suicide will still go to heaven. The majority of the world believes they will go to heaven, but Jesus told us otherwise (Matthew 7:13-14). You yourself have judged the author of this article as twisting God's word and offering only his opinion; yet, not once in your whole letter did you quote a scripture. I can see by your letter that you are offering your personal opinion to justify your belief and your nephew's actions to make yourself feel better. "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 16:25).

Depression is in a way a terminal disease with no real cure. Apparently you are not well versed on depression or those who suffer from it.

The APA (American Psychological Association) is willing to call anything a disease if it's popular enough and has pressure from society wanting to call something a disease. They also change their opinions all the time on issues. Even though I disagree with the APA on issues, there are many cures from the APA's standpoint on depression. They say it is not a "terminal disease" but is easily treatable.

"Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80 percent and 90 percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. Almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms" [APA].

I see you are looking for reasons to stay depressed and have convinced yourself there is "no cure," but even the world says there is a solution if you are willing to try. I encourage you to try and get better as this would benefit not only yourself but those around you, too.

There are unique situations where people who are bipolar, schizophrenic, etc. and require medication to be of sound mind and not lose control. There can be a chemical imbalance in the body that is permanent or due to brain damage or being born with a defect. This is not depression but a defect or malfunction in the body that is permanent and can't be undone. But even so, it can be controlled by medication. Even without medication, I have seen people with many disorders learn ways to cope, overcome and control these issues.

It saddens me to know this article came from someone claiming to know and spread the word of God. The Bible states clearly that those who believe in Jesus Christ and have been baptized are indeed saved and will go to heaven. The fact is people sin every day. People also die suddenly every day without the ability to ask God for forgiveness at their time of death. I'm speaking of car accidents, fires, and so on. So basically your writing of this article is saying this person may not go to heaven because he did not ask for forgiveness of his sins prior to his death. Blasphemy! Shame on you! You may know the word of God. You may share the word of God. But in no way can you be 100% sure who and who will not go to heaven.

God forgive you for this twisted article on suicide being murder.

We do know the word of God and share it, for God tells us: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "but the righteous man shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17). I can not speak more than God has spoken. I must simply share what He has said. I don't assume anything but am just a messenger relaying God's word on how people can live by faith. To live by faith means we live for God and His standards. You even seem to admit that suicide is a sin when you said: "The fact is people sin every day. People also die suddenly every day without the ability to ask God for forgiveness at their time of death." You are saying it is OK to sin because everyone does; however, God disagrees.

To answer your question if someone commits a sin and does not repent will he go to hell?

"But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die. Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die" (Ezekiel 18:24-26).

God is very clear about what happens when we turn from Him. He no longer remembers the righteous acts we have done. But also, there is hope! Those who are wicked can turn and live if they repent, "Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. "Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die" (Ezekiel 18:27-28).

It is not just about having faith and being baptized that saves us, but a constant repent heart that is always turned toward God. "Solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21).

But the problem with suicide is there is no time to repent ... because you are dead. You can't repent before the deed is done because God doesn't accept requests to do evil. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:3). Nor is forgiveness given for sins that have not yet been committed. It is the sins we have already committed that we can ask to be forgiven. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9) To be cleansed from unrighteousness means we have broken God's law. "Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness" (I John 3:4). Since the murder or suicide has not happened yet, there is nothing to be forgiven of because you are only playing with the idea, and it has not given birth to sin. "When lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death" (James 1:15; see also Genesis 4:7-8).

And God forgive you for not providing real help for those who are suffering depression and hopelessness. We did not make a choice to become depressed. God knows my heart. He alone knows my needs and He alone will sit in judgement of those who has reached the end of hope and have taken their own lives. It is not a cowards way out. It is a way to release those who love us and suffer along with us. Finally, my nephew committed suicide a few months ago. Yes, we mourn the loss of this wonderful young man. But we understand, as God does, the reasons for his choice.

I urge you to research depression and suicide more. You never know. Someone close to you or in your congregation could be suffering in silence. And you have already condemned them!

God promised that His followers would not have an easy life. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18; 5:1-5). God tells us He is our hope in the hard times. If we hold on and not lose hope, He will give us the strength to get through the hard times. "For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You. Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD" (Psalms 31:23-24). If someone loses hope, it is because they stopped trusting in God.

It is heartbreaking to see a loss of life and that your nephew took his own life, but his choice came with consequences. I do not know your nephew's situation or the reason behind his death. All I can do is teach God's word. God says cowards and murderers will be sent to the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Suicide is a cowardly way to avoid facing this life. It might seem like an easy way out, but the consequences, we are told, are far worse. Anyone who had committed suicide would tell the people still in this world not to follow them. Just as the rich man did not want his family following him. "And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house -- for I have five brothers -- in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'" (Luke 16:27-28). Such people would not want anyone to come to torments but would tell all to repent and follow Jesus before it is too late. Will you heed such a warning? There is no longer a chance for those who have died to change their fate, but there is a chance for you while you still live and breathe. "For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion" (Ecclesiastes 9:4).

I want to encourage you to trust in God and see what His word says about depression, and what His word says you must do to overcome it. Below is an outline and audio link for a sermon about overcoming emotional problems, listen to the audio to get a fuller understanding and use the outline for passages on what God tells Christians to do when we are overcome by emotional problems.

Overcoming Emotional Problems

Once you have listened through the audio, write down any more questions you might have and send them to us. If you would like more help with overcoming depression we can take a more one-on-one approach and see what the Bible says for your situation.

Alan Feaster