SUICIDEThe Fierce Goodbye

Matthew 4 John 10

SUICIDEThe Fierce Goodbye

Matthew 4 John 10

The suicide of Robin Willliams

has stirred discussions across our great land

The suicide of Robin Willliams

has stirred discussions across our great land

For those who decide to end their life, they sense there is

‘no’ hope

For those who decide to end their life, they sense there is

‘no’ hope

Matthew 4:1-4

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be

tempted by the devil. And when He

had fasted forty days and forty nights…

Matthew 4:1-4

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be

tempted by the devil. And when He

had fasted forty days and forty nights…

…afterward He was hungry. Now when

the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God,

command that these stones become

bread.”

…afterward He was hungry. Now when

the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God,

command that these stones become

bread.”

…But He answered and said, “It is

written, ‘Man shall not live by bread

alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of

God.”

…But He answered and said, “It is

written, ‘Man shall not live by bread

alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of

God.”

A Historical ViewThe predominate ‘Christian’ view of

suicide for the past thousand years was

established by Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican monk

who died in 127 AD

A Historical ViewThe predominate ‘Christian’ view of

suicide for the past thousand years was

established by Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican monk

who died in 127 AD

A Historical View

Suicide is a denial of the self-love for

life that every being naturally has

A Historical View

Suicide is a denial of the self-love for

life that every being naturally has

A Historical View

Suicide is the rejection of one’s obligations to the

community

A Historical View

Suicide is the rejection of one’s obligations to the

community

A Historical View

Since life is God-given, only God can take it back

A Historical View

Since life is God-given, only God can take it back

A Historical View

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who suffered and was finally executed in

a Nazi Concentration

camp, argues…

A Historical View

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who suffered and was finally executed in

a Nazi Concentration

camp, argues…

A Historical View

…that suicide is not the sin of

murder, but the loss of faith

A Historical View

…that suicide is not the sin of

murder, but the loss of faith

The Painful Issues

The Loss of (a) Life

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of

death in the United States

The Painful Issues

The Loss of (a) Life

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of

death in the United States

The Painful Issues

39,000 die each year by their own hand, killing more people than motor vehicle accidents and more than twice as many

as homicide.

The Painful Issues

39,000 die each year by their own hand, killing more people than motor vehicle accidents and more than twice as many

as homicide.

The Painful Issues

Specifically in the Christian community,

the suicides of prominent pastors Rick Warren’s son Matthew

and Frank Page’s daughter Melissa thrust upon us the reality and

challenge of suicide

The Painful Issues

Specifically in the Christian community,

the suicides of prominent pastors Rick Warren’s son Matthew

and Frank Page’s daughter Melissa thrust upon us the reality and

challenge of suicide

The Painful Issues

The Collateral Relationships of

Life

The Painful Issues

The Collateral Relationships of

Life

The Painful Issues

“It is not possible to take a morally neutral stance on suicide, since it is

the most significant of all

deaths in its impact…

The Painful Issues

“It is not possible to take a morally neutral stance on suicide, since it is

the most significant of all

deaths in its impact…

The Painful Issues

…on the survivors causing long-

lasting grief and guilt and a high

suicide expectancy in spouses, around…

The Painful Issues

…on the survivors causing long-

lasting grief and guilt and a high

suicide expectancy in spouses, around…

The Painful Issues

…one thousand times the average.” A.C. Cain, ed.,

Survivors of Suicide, 1972

The Painful Issues

…one thousand times the average.” A.C. Cain, ed.,

Survivors of Suicide, 1972

The Painful Issues

“Nevertheless, no one who has had to cope with the

aftermath of suicide will ever argue that the

believing community

should…

The Painful Issues

“Nevertheless, no one who has had to cope with the

aftermath of suicide will ever argue that the

believing community

should…

The Painful Issues

…sanction it as a favorable way of meeting death.”

G. Lloyd CarrProfessor Emeritus of

Biblical Studies, Gordon College

The Painful Issues

…sanction it as a favorable way of meeting death.”

G. Lloyd CarrProfessor Emeritus of

Biblical Studies, Gordon College

The Painful Issues

TheDiminishment

of Life

The Painful Issues

TheDiminishment

of Life

The Painful Issues

The death of one single individual,

let alone thousands each year, diminishes

our families, communities and

nation

The Painful Issues

The death of one single individual,

let alone thousands each year, diminishes

our families, communities and

nation

A Redemptive Response

All that Jesus did (His life and death)

demonstrated that purpose in life is

found in our ability to be redemptive

A Redemptive Response

All that Jesus did (His life and death)

demonstrated that purpose in life is

found in our ability to be redemptive

A Redemptive Response

God’s Will is always

a Redemptive Will!

A Redemptive Response

God’s Will is always

a Redemptive Will!

A Redemptive Response

The story of Genesis is one of

paradise lost!

A Redemptive Response

The story of Genesis is one of

paradise lost!

A Redemptive Response

The story of God’s grace is about paradise

regained!

A Redemptive Response

The story of God’s grace is about paradise

regained!

“Life is only a long and bitter

suicide, and faith alone can

transform this suicide into a

sacrifice.” Franz Liszt, Austrian

Composer

“Life is only a long and bitter

suicide, and faith alone can

transform this suicide into a

sacrifice.” Franz Liszt, Austrian

Composer

God’s Word Speaks to Us of

Hope!

How God Values

each of Us!

God’s Word Speaks to Us of

Hope!

How God Values

each of Us!

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the

Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a

future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the

Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a

future and a hope.”

God’s Word Speaks to Us of

Hope!

Available Assets!

God’s Word Speaks to Us of

Hope!

Available Assets!

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart

from me. And He said to me, “My

grace is sufficient for you…

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart

from me. And He said to me, “My

grace is sufficient for you…

…for My strength is made perfect in

weakness.” Therefore most

gladly I will rather boast in my

infirmities, that the power of Christ may

rest upon me.

…for My strength is made perfect in

weakness.” Therefore most

gladly I will rather boast in my

infirmities, that the power of Christ may

rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in

infirmities, in reproaches, in

needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for

Christ’s sake. For when I am weak,

then I am strong.”

Therefore I take pleasure in

infirmities, in reproaches, in

needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for

Christ’s sake. For when I am weak,

then I am strong.”

God’s Word Speaks to Us of

Hope!

A Community of Faith &

Hope!

God’s Word Speaks to Us of

Hope!

A Community of Faith &

Hope!

Philippians 4:12-14

“I know how to be abased, and I know

how to abound. Everywhere and in

all things I have learned both to be

full and to be hungry…

Philippians 4:12-14

“I know how to be abased, and I know

how to abound. Everywhere and in

all things I have learned both to be

full and to be hungry…

…both to abound and to suffer need. I

can do all things through Christ who

strengthens me. Nevertheless you

have done well that you shared in my

distress.”

…both to abound and to suffer need. I

can do all things through Christ who

strengthens me. Nevertheless you

have done well that you shared in my

distress.”

Galatians 6:2

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of

Christ.”

Galatians 6:2

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of

Christ.”

God’s Word Speaks to Us of

Hope!

The Promiseof Christ’s

Abundance!

God’s Word Speaks to Us of

Hope!

The Promiseof Christ’s

Abundance!

John 10:10

“The thief does not come except to

steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have

come that they may have life, and that they may have it

more abundantly.”

John 10:10

“The thief does not come except to

steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have

come that they may have life, and that they may have it

more abundantly.”

SUICIDEThe Fierce Goodbye

Matthew 4 John 10

SUICIDEThe Fierce Goodbye

Matthew 4 John 10