Christians Who Commit Suicide

KNOL | Hendrick Nicolajsen

[pinochet]

The great British preacher John Newton had a friend, a poet by the name of William Cowper, who along with Newton wrote hymns which eventually were compiled in the Olney Hymnal. Cowper’s more noted contributions to this hymnal were “Oh, for a closer walk with God” and “There is a fountain filled with blood.”......Sadly, we find documented in Forbes Winslow’s Anatomy of Suicide (written in 1840) that Cowper has tried more than once to take his own life. As psychiatrist and Christian author John White puts it, “Here then we are presented with a gifted and Godly man, a man the Holy Spirit used to produce hymns to exalt the Lamb of God… yet (he is)… only one of many Christians who have struggled against the shame and horror of trying to take their own lives – some successfully, others unsuccessfully.” (White 146)

Anyone who professes Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord may find this statement shocking. After all, Jesus came that we may have a full life (John 10:10). The scriptures are overflowing with the hope and love that is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are taught that those who believe have been washed, made new and been forgiven. Our guilt and shame has been removed and we have been set free from the power of sin and death. Therefore, a deep religious faith (in God) should keep people from taking their own lives. And yet there are Christians who do take their own lives.[1] Although Christians have at their disposal the emotional supports needed they are just as susceptible to committing suicide as anyone else, and may in fact do commit suicide in similar numbers to non-believers. It seems as absurd for a Christian to commit suicide as it is for someone who instantly became a millionaire to take his own life. Yet both have done this.

White addresses the fable that Christians do not commit suicide. “Godly patients have looked at me in the eye and told me despairingly, ‘My faith has gone’ … so delicate is the balance between madness and sanity that the strongest Christians can become victims of suicidal despair” [emphasis mine] (White 167). Some do question though whether a true Christian would commit suicide.

[Lx]

I’ve heard it argued that Paul was vocally discussing suicide.

Interesting idea. We know Paul was tormented by the things he did to Christians as Saul of Tarsus.

[metmom]

I’ve heard it argued that Paul was vocally discussing suicide.

I never heard that before nor did I ever read that into that passage>

However, I can see how someone could read that into it.

[Lx]

Amen. I think there is a misconception that the joy of the Lord equates never having sufferings here on earth.

You're right, I've heard a lot of people say that (as a way of denigrating Christianity) and it's just not true. Paul was shown the tribulations he was going to go through and he still did what the Holy Spirit guided him to do.

[Lx]

Claiming to never judge is naive.

I hear this from non Christians about how we are to 'Judge Not' but they don't understand what that means. It doesn't mean we aren't to judge people, it means we are to judge fairly and consistently because if you judge unfairly, that judgement will be handed back to you.

[ducttape45]

I know it’s somewhere in the first 21 messages of his series entitled, “Insights on Romans: The Christians Constitution” because those are the only ones I’ve downloaded so far and listened to, but so far I haven’t been able to find it. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.

If you want to help search, go to:

http://www.insight.org/broadcast/library.html

Click on 2010, and the beginning of the series is about 3/4 the way down on the list. So far I’ve gained much insight (no pun intended) from this series and I would recommend it to anyone.

[miss marmelstein]

The decision to commit suicide can happen within 5 minutes. As Rush says, don’t doubt me, lol.

[ansel12]

I have had to deal with a lot of suicides in my personal life, and I do disagree with you, suicide is not a 5 minute decision, the internal conversation and takes place over time.

I wonder if you are confusing the act itself with the decision process and the long road to even weighing whether suicide is an option, to it becoming the only option, to the execution of the decision.