Jesus & Suicide

"I have been cutting myself," our Denny's server said while holding back her tears.

A friend and I were having a late dinner, talking theology, confessing sin, and seeking the Lord over smothered cheese fries. We knew this young woman from the nearby college from which we had recently graduated.  She had overheard our discussion on faith and was emboldened  to seek our help.

The moment was brief, but intense. With sensitivity and conviction, my friend looked her in the eyes and only said one line, "Jesus' body was slashed on the cross so that you wouldn't need to cut yours."   Her tears flooded our table like the Mississippi in the spring.  We prayed with her, she collected herself, and she continued serving Grand Slams to her late night clientele.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 25-34 year olds and the third among 15-24 year olds according to the statistics released by the Center of Disease Control in 2009.  Twelve percent of all deaths among persons aged 15-24 are self-inflicted.  

Concerned adults, mental health practitioners, and social workers are scrambling to erase this disturbing cultural trend.  As Christians, the one liner my friend dropped on a Denny's waitress outlines three truths that we can provide to those inclined to harm themselves.

JESUS FELT YOUR PAIN. 

There is not an ounce of human suffering and pain that was withheld from Jesus.  He experienced betrayal (Matthew 26:14-16), tears (Hebrews 5:7), temptations (Hebrews 4:15), unstable people (Matthew 5:1-20), and isolation (Luke 6:12).   He did this so that he might be merciful and faithful to those he represents (Hebrews 2:17).  For those suffering and thinking of harming themselves, Jesus can fully sympathize with your pain.

JESUS PROPITIATED YOUR SIN.

Suicide and self-harm are complicated issues that have numerous causes.  I don't mean to oversimplify this, but, many cite overwhelming emotional pain that doesn't have an appropriate release.  Thus, many take their pain and the pain of others upon themselves and release it through self-harm or, in its worst cases, suicide.  The scriptures tell us that human beings image God (Genesis 1:26).  We have a capacity to respond to events in a similar way as God.  In cases like rape and murder, our anger reflects how God feels.  To God, human sin causes anger.  In the same passage that is cited above (Hebrews 2:17), it says that the suffering of Christ was a propitiation for sin.  Propitiation is an ancient term for the absorbing of anger.  If a husband absorbs his anger toward his wife for her infidelity upon himself, he will not take it out on her.  It will cost him a great deal of pain, but he has released her from the wrath her sin caused in him.   The one person who has the right to be angry at his people for their sin has chosen to absorb it in himself through the cross of Jesus Christ.  For those who are dealing with emotional pain that has been inflicted by others or caused by self, the propitiation Jesus provided for his people can release you from it.

JESUS RAISES THE DEAD.

The residual damage of a life that has been ripped to shreds needs more than emotional release.  It needs complete renewal.  The resurrection of Jesus foreshadows the resurrection of all of God's people when he will restore every fabric of their lives.  The resurrection is the meat and bones of God's plan.  It gives new, real, substantive life.  Life that you can sink your teeth into. Life that is worth living.  Life that can deal with pain.  Life that is anchored to reality that sin and death can't touch.  The person who wants to take their life into their own hands should instead release it into the nail-scarred, resurrected hands of Jesus who promises that restoration is coming.

Politics in the Pulpit?

I recently preached a sermon on 1 Peter 2:13-25. The meaning of the text is (unfortunately?) clear, "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution...for this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people" (2:13, 15 ESV). Knowing that the text demanded an application that had political overtones, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous. So, in preparation I tried imagining four people who serve Christ, yet could not be more divergent in their political views. Many contacted me afterward stating that it was helpful to them. Perhaps you will find it beneficial as well.

Fair warning, it is a minefield, so walk gingerly.

"Imagine two households move into a new subdivision in our suburb. One is a Christian family from Nebraska who publicly condemns abortion and gay marriage and hasn't missed a church service since the first Bush administration. The other household has two lesbians from San Francisco who were just married in Massachusetts and have co-written a book entitled, 'Gay is the New Black: How the Racism of Christians in the Old South has Infected the United States and Abuses the Homosexual Community.'

I think Peter would tell this Christian family, 'Don't move away. Do good to your neighbors. Change their perceptions about how homosexual people are treated by Christians with your actions.'

Now let's move into the more explosive minefield of honoring the governing authorities in our heated political climate.
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In a democratic society that is built on the premise that robust debate and free speech is be valued, I think Christians can and should exert a large influence upon society.

We need Christian artists and businessmen and politicians.

With that said, I also believe that passages like this one should give us great caution about our attitude and our behavior as we engage in the political conversation.

For example, not only do I think that we should be the first name on the petition to repeal Roe v. Wade (if that were possible), but we should also be willing to take out second mortgages on our houses to take in unwanted babies.

I think we should warn society about the dangers of homosexual behavior and wave the flag of heterosexual monogamy as the best and only definition of marriage, but we should also be the first to offer our spare bedroom to a person in need regardless of their sexual orientation.

I think Christians should condemn racism in all it forms.
I think every Christian family should pray about whether God is calling them to adopt an orphan.
I think Christians should pray for the candidates in the upcoming election and vote their convictions.
I think churches can and should encourage their congregations to get out and vote for the best candidate to lead the country without endorsing anyone.
I think Christians should feel free to constructively criticize the President. In fact, this is a good value of our society that fosters accountability. But, I also think Christians should pray for Barack Obama and submit to the office he holds as Christians are commanded to do.
I think Christians should realize that neither political party is the exclusively Christian party and should not blindly support the platforms of either without discernment through the lens of the Word of God.
I think Christians should realize that big business and big government can be dangerous for society because both are run by sinful human beings. For every Rod Blagovich there is an Enron.
I think Christians should be famous for good works.
I think Christians should serve the poor and speak their mind.
I think Christians should speak their mind with humility, grace, and firm conviction.
I think Christians should serve the poor with fervor, joy, and excitement.
I think Christians should be the salt that preserves our society with good works and the light that speaks the truth and calls out its errors.
I think Christians should never apologize for the gospel nor its implications, ever."

IS YOUTH GROUP DEAD?

In 2007, Lifeway Research was quoted by USA Today stating, "Seven in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30 - both evangelical and mainline - who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23."

In my mind, two culprits were to blame. Either the shallowness of American evangelical youth ministry (youth pastors who eat live goldfish) or those mainline liberal churches who don't preach the gospel (everyone and everything is welcome...except those exclusive claims about Jesus). As I recall this, I can almost feel the pharisaical curls of my hair growing. Fresh out of seminary in 2008 and heading into a pastoral role that would involve oversight of a student ministry, I knew that we would get better results.

Yet, here I sit, five years later with the utmost need to repent.

A few months ago, I took a hard look at the lives of young adults who came through the various student ministries that I have led. Only 47% are currently involved in a church. Tim Tebow's career completion percentage is better than this.

On a less dour note, the research yielded some important insight​s into the attributes that were displayed in the spiritual life of the 47%. But, those are for a future article.

If your church took a hard look at the young adults that have come through the ranks, how would your church fare?  Not impressions or senses, but cold, hard facts.  Does your church produce young adults who follow Jesus or not?  What do you think needs to change and why?  

PREACH THE WORD

Paul David Tripp's word to pastors at the Gospel Coalition wouldn't be convicting if it weren't true. Most preaching in America is mediocre at best.

Ouch. That stings.

Rather than coddle ourselves in denial, we need to let this sink in and be stirred to change.

Second Timothy 4:1-2 should be motivation enough.  "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word..." If this does not convince us of our solemn calling before God, we should quit reading this post and start writing our resignation letter.

In light of 2 Timothy 4:1-2, the second Helvetic confession of 1566 makes the most weighty of assertions, "Preaching the word of God is the word of God."

There is not a culture in the world that does not need humble, sacrificial, and earnest proclaimers of God's word. With fire in our bones and tears in our eyes, our world needs to hear messengers who have been gripped by a message that is more important than their very life.

It is sad that I even need to say this, but it must be stated nonetheless. 

Preaching is not sharing. Preaching is not dialogue. Preaching is not debate. Preaching is the heralding of the good news of Christ's blood saturated cross to a sin saturated people.

Suggestions and prudential wisdom may be helpful. Three points and a poem may receive a congratulatory acclaim from a religious crowd. But, the gospel, and the gospel alone, can melt the hardened heart.

Our music might create synergy within an auditorium. Our fellowship might create deep connection across generations. Our children's ministry might be good for the kids. But, faithful proclamation of gift righteousness is the sole means by which our churches might lay ahold of it.

Brothers, our counseling is crucial. Our leadership is important. But, if there is no angst in our soul to see our people revel in the glory of God through the proclamation of the gospel, our people are the most to be pitied.