Jump Start # 3795
Psalms 130:7 “O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is lovingkindness. And with Him is abundant redemption.”
Major cities in our country are facing a lot of hard issues. The problems are easy to see. The solutions are complicated and often involve policy and politics. Crime. Homelessness. Poverty. Bringing jobs into the community. Revitalizing downtowns. Those are all things that mayors and city councils struggle with. How to keep a community safe and thriving seems easy on paper, but putting those ideas into practice often encounters so many hurdles and resistance.
The police chief of Louisville recently revealed that suicides are outpacing murders in our community this year. There have been over 40 suicides in the Louisville area so far this year and the year is still very young. This is on a record pace. In contrast, there have been 30 murders. More suicides than murders is a concern and disturbing fact.
Sometime ago I wrote about suicide (Jump Start # 2117). There are many factors that lead to suicide such as relationship breakdowns, drug and alcohol abuse, fearing arrest and prison time, but more than any other reason is when a person has just run out of life. Hopelessness and despair have a way of putting a person into such a deep and dark hole that they see no way out. The absence of God in one’s life also has to be a huge factor. When a person feels that their life is never going to get any better and this is it, they opt to just speed the process up and take their own life.
And, let us not be so naïve as to think that cute cliches changes the darkness within a soul. Simply giving someone a verse doesn’t solve the mountain of problems that they face. Quick, easy and painless solutions may make us feel that we have done our part, but most times those things just solidifies the fact that no one cares and no one will go out of their way for the hurting.
And, don’t be so clueless to think that no one in our fellowship would ever entertain such thoughts. Not only have they thought that, but there has been those who have taken their lives, including elders and preachers. The pressures at school can be so intense, that some young people would rather kill themselves than be bullied. Parents need to watchful and helpful with their children.
Why are people killing themselves? In the end, no matter what the reason, they have no reason to live. Problems can be great. Pain can be intense. Help may be sparse. Money and options may have been exhausted. Yet, when a person has a will to live, they will fight and keep on fighting. Medical staff understands this. When a person has given up, little more can be done for that person.
Let us not be so brazen and quick to pronounce that anyone who commits suicide is going straight to hell. When pushed, the reasoning for such statements generally comes down to “they murdered themselves.” Suicide is self-murder, we are told. And, since the last act of person’s life was wrong, there is no salvation for them. PERIOD. And, just like that, we have moved without realizing it from salvation by grace to salvation by works. Instead of killing self, what if one’s final words were a curse word? What if our final thought was anger? Are we concluding that you must die with no sin on your lips or heart or you won’t make it? That sure sounds like perfection to me. I can have a bad thought the day before I die, but if I have a bad thought the moment I die, there is no hope? That sure is a scary way to live and one would be hard pressed to put passages to such theology.
Then, someone will question, “Are you saying suicide is ok?” No. It’s wrong because one gives up on God. As long as there is breath in our bodies, there is hope. God’s people have faced chains, prisons, lions, fire, storms, giants and God was there. He was always there. Taking life gives up on God. Taking life means the problems are greater than God. Taking life is a faith issue. That’s the problem. It’s more than killing yourself. It’s lacking faith in the Lord.
So, what are some thoughts from this:
First, be patient with others. It’s hard to understand the depth of pain and trouble that some are in. There are things that we cannot fix. But we can be supportive. We can stand in someone’s corner. It may mean going to the court house when someone has charges against them. It may mean bringing food to someone who doesn’t have any. It’s easy to lecture and point fingers. This may make matters worse. Be patient.
Second, always pull God into the conversation and the situation. A person may feel that God has given up on them or that they have done so many wrongs that even God won’t forgive. Help them with the prodigal story. Help them with Paul’s story. Help them with your story.
Third, keep a close eye on those who are wavering and about to fall. Having lunch with them is essential. Checking in on them often is important. This will consume a lot of time. You may not get other things done. But, with the help of the Lord, if you can pull someone out of the ditch, what great work you have done.
Young people commit suicide. Professional people commit suicide. Moms commit suicide. Old people commit suicide. Athletes commit suicide. Actors commit suicide. Rock stars commit suicide. Hopelessness recognizes no race, economic status or importance.
Our verse today, “O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is lovingkindness. And with Him is abundant redemption” (Ps 130:7). Problems come and go. The Lord stays. God is good and God forgives.
Again, in the Psalms: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (46:1). Again, in the Psalms: “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and earth” (121:1-2).
Roger