It's both/and, not either/or. They are not mutually exclusive. For instance, when you go to a pastor's office or a hotline they will (If they are full of truth and love tell you that suicide is not an option, and they will go through all the reasons stated on this thread, but they will also empathize and sympathize, or at least hopefully refrain from cursing at you in your time of severe depression.
Do you want sincere and loving or do you want right?
I didn't think I had to choose between them--I want sincere, loving truth, and I r4eceived it from so many on this thread. I've also received some great links, advice, and support which was my goal. I need the support and prayers to continue as this is very serious, but with God on our side we will prevail.
What some of us were reacting to was the way that some have expressed things that I would agree with. Not the fact that they did express some things.
When dealing with severe depression, we need the truth, and Jesus made it clear that the truth should not be devoid of love. Some of the cursing and anger by some just does not seem to come from that attitude.
As we know sometimes we need to cut through the muck and get to the heart of the matter..
Truth may not always be popular..but truth is not arrived at by a vote..the truth is the truth
One does not gain his salvation by works or lose it by works ..Jesus died for our sins past , present and futrue.
Sucide is often threatend to manipulate others , (to get attention or to change a mind) ,sometimes to punish others (I will show them)
I worked in the mental health field for 15 years Becky...I was charged by law to correctly assess the sucide risk .
I would think that IF this man is really at risk Tame would call the police that will be very glad to take the man away to a place for observation, where he will be pumped with meds etc..
Quite frankly if Tame is not doing anything he does not REALLY think his friend is serious