Hi to my Forum Friends,
Our Friend, Vic, who converted to Roman Catholicism, has posted an article titled "Suicide More Likely With Protestants Than Catholics" written by Napp Nazworth, and posted March 27, 2012, on the Christian Post Reporter. The article at http://www.christianpost.com/n...han-catholics-72128/ begins:
Religion can influence suicide rates, a new study shows. While data have long shown that Protestants are more likely to commit suicide than Catholics, the relationship remains little understood. The study by Professors Sascha Becker (University of Warwick, U.K.) and Ludger Woessmann (University of Munich, Germany) demonstrates a causal link between Protestantism and suicide.
And, a Christian Forum Friend, Tamela, comments, "I read the article and it's interesting but now makes me wonder. If, through Becker's and Woessman's investigations, they find that there is, indeed, a correlation between Protestantism and suicide, is the intervention a deterrence from becoming Protestant?
Throughout my life I've 'always' known that Catholics perceived suicide as an 'unforgivable sin' so it would seem to me that even in the darkest of hours, when a person feels he/she has nothing to live for, that person would still hold to the hope of something better existing. If you were Catholic you would not want to chance that you would not receive that 'something better' by committing suicide. So suicide would not be a choice.
Disclaimer: This 'always' knowing that Catholics perceive suicide as an unforgivable sin has absolutely no real basis on my part. . . it's something that was accepted as general knowledge in my life."
And, our converted Roman Catholic Friend, Vic, tells her, "I've heard that, too, Tamela. And, self murder is still murder. But, I always believed God knows the details. With that in mind, we also know there's only one unforgivable sin. It's Gods call, so I'll let him slide with these decisions for a while until I feel the need to butt in."
For once I am somewhat in agreement with Vic, there is only one unforgivable sin. But, I believe we differ on which sin is the unforgivable one. The Bible says that it is grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30, Luke 12:10). Another way of saying that is: leaving this life without assuring that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior -- will assure that you do not go to heaven. Basically, that is what grieves (blasphemes) the Holy Spirit, since His main responsibility is to draw people to a life in Christ. So, when a person dies without being a believer -- the Holy Spirit has failed -- and this grieves Him.
His other tasks, after bringing us into the arms of Christ -- is to teach us, to guide us, and to convict us. But, these last three only apply after He has us safely tucked in the arms of Christ. So, suicide prevention does fit into His job description in that He does want to teach, guide, and convict us toward the right path to peace with God through Jesus Christ.
That said, let me share a story which happened in our Bible study about 20 years ago. A young woman came to our Bible study for the first time; I did not know her. As we were talking, she told us she had a young friend who had just committed suicide -- and wanted to know if he was eternally lost because of this. It was obvious she was seeking some level of comfort and solace in her time of loss.
One of our young adults spoke up right away and told her, "He is lost, for the Bible tells us, in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 'Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.'" And, no one corrected him, for I am sure we all were mostly in the dark regarding this tragic issue. I know that I was not equipped at that time to comment.
That young lady left our Bible study that night and never returned. My heart hurt, for I don't know if she was a believer, or was a seeker who, in her time of distress had come to this group of Christian believers, seeking some level of peace with the tragedy which had so recently happened in her life. Once she left, we never had a chance to comfort her, to guide her, or to even know where she stood in having a relationship with Christ.
Suicide is one of the toughest, touchiest, and most challenging issues any pastor, or even lay Christian, will ever have to confront. I have heard a number of pastors and teachers dance around the subject; but, I have heard only one Bible teacher who addressed the issue head on.
I can recall, several years ago, while listening to the talk show "Pastor's Perspective" on KWVE Christian radio -- a caller asked Pastor Chuck Smith about suicide. And, wanting him to address the issue with this caller, I was disappointed when he danced around it. And, I have heard and read this same response from other pastors and Bible teachers a number of times.
Why do they dance around the subject? It is such a sensitive subject. If they erroneously say, "No, it is an unforgivable sin. And, the person committing that sin it is lost eternally" -- then, they are not really agreeing with the Bible. Yet, I can feel their concern -- that, if they tell a person that it is not an unforgivable sin -- they may be encouraging that person, or a person listening, to go ahead and commit suicide.
This issue is a double edged sword on which pastors and teachers are liable to cut their fingers regardless how they answer. So, most avoid the question. On the radio talk show, when the caller asked the direct question, Pastor Chuck could not avoid it -- so, he danced around it. I was disappointed, but, I understood his predicament.
So, who was the one pastor/teacher who addressed the question head on and honest? It was Dr. Harold Sala of Guidelines International. For many years, Dr. Sala has been placing five minute Bible teachings on radios around the world. He can say more in five minutes than most of us can say in an hour. About ten years ago, I was surprised, and gratified, to hear him give an honest, Biblical answer to that very difficult question.
What did he say? Well, when teaching the Bible, if we interpret one verse or passage to mean one thing -- and another verse or passage contradicts that meaning; then we have the wrong interpretation.
For example, let's look at several Scripture passages which seem to contradict one another:
In that Bible study 20 years ago, my young adult Friend offered 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 'Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are."
Yet, as Dr. Sala pointed out, in John 6:47 we hear Jesus telling us, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life."
And, we can add to that:
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
1 John 5:12, "He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life."
John 10:27-29, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
At this point, I can imagine many of my non-believing Friends gleefully asking, "Okay, Bill, the Bible seems to say one thing in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 -- and another in the Scripture passages you and Dr. Sala toss me. So, which is true and which is false? Or is this just proof of what we have been telling you all along -- the Bible is just another book and has lots of errors and contradictions?"
Glad you asked! No, the Bible is not wrong. No, the Bible is not full of errors and contradictions. And, yes, there is a Biblical explanation.
And, one of the best Biblical explanations I have read comes from Pastor David Guzik, senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara, and past Director of Calvary Chapel College in Germany, in his Study Guide for 1 Corinthians 3: http://www.blueletterbible.org...ians&ar=1Cr_3_16
4. (16-17) The church as a temple.
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."
a. You are the temple of God: Paul will later (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) speak of individual Christians as being temples. Here, his emphasis is on the church as a whole (though it has application to individuals).
i. When Paul calls the church a temple, don’t think he is using a picture. The physical temple was the picture; God’s dwelling in us is the reality.
b. What makes the church a temple? The Spirit of God dwells in you. The word used for temple (naos) refers to the actual sanctuary, the place of the deity's dwelling, in contrast to the broader word "hieron," which was the temple area in general.
c. If anyone defiles the temple of God: If you defile the church, God will destroy you. God’s temple - His church - is holy, and it matters to God how we treat His holy temple.
And, Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3: http://www.blueletterbible.org...ians&ar=1Cr_3_16
Here the apostle resumes his argument and exhortation, founding it on his former allusion, "You are God’s building," v. 9, and here, "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" If any man defile (corrupt and destroy) the temple of God, him shall God destroy (the same word is in the original in both clauses); for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. It looks from other parts of the epistle, where the apostle argues to the very same purport (see ch. 6:13–20), as if the false teachers among the Corinthians were not only loose livers, but taught licentious doctrines, and what was particularly fitted to the taste of this lewd city, on the head of fornication.
Matthew Henry is referring us back to:
1 Corinthians 3:9,11, "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. . . . For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
And, this agrees with the interpretation given by David Guzik above.
Finally, in the Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3, "The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians Commentary" by A. R. Fausset, Chapter 3: http://www.blueletterbible.org...ians&ar=1Cr_3_16
16. Know ye not -- It is no new thing I tell you, in calling you "God's building;" ye know and ought to remember, ye are the noblest kind of building, "the temple of God."
Ye -- all Christians form together one vast temple. The expression is not, "ye are temples," -- but "ye are the temple" collectively, and "lively stones" (1 Pet 2:5 ) individually.
God . . . Spirit -- God's indwelling, and that of the Holy Spirit, are one; therefore the Holy Spirit is God. No literal "temple" is recognized by the New Testament in the Christian Church. The only one is the spiritual temple, the whole body of believing worshipers in which the Holy Spirit dwells ( 1 Cor 6:19, Jhn 4:23-24 ).
With all that said, is suicide an acceptable alternative to facing our problems in this world? NO! God can forgive us; but, what about your family members and friends, all those who love you and will be grieving, much more than with a regular passing. They will be deeply hurt; they will be deeply grieved; many will go through life wondering if he/she was the cause, or could have prevented, your drastic, irreversible action.
Most will be like that young lady who came to our Bible study 20 years ago -- hurt, crying inside, so many unanswered questions -- and left to cope with them alone; for the person she loved left her to handle what he could not handle in his life, and much more.
And, to my sorrow, we at that Bible study were not equipped to help her that night, when she needed our spiritual and emotional help. Can anyone think of a better reason to study the Word of God, to grow more mature in His Word and its application to our lives -- so that we might be prepared when such a person needs our help?
There are three main reasons for Bible study: (1) To prepare ourselves, through spiritual and Biblical maturity, to have a more consistent walk with Him, (2) To be ready to point a non-believer toward a life in Christ, and (3) To be ready when a person in crisis to come to us, needing comfort, needing guidance, needing a strong Christian shoulder to help him/her bear the burden life has lay upon a back weakened by tribulations.
No, suicide is NOT the answer. God is the answer! And, He is always ready to talk with us about ANY problems we may be experiencing. Talk with Him. And, if you have not yet invited Jesus Christ to come into your life to be your very Best Friend (Revelation 3:20), your Lord and Savior -- do it now, right now.
And, then we can lay any thoughts of jumping ahead of God's schedule (suicide) to rest. There is no need for it; for He is always greater than any problem we may have, now or later.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
