when we tell people that God will not forgive them if they commit suicide, we are giving them a terribly dangerous and destructive picture of God.<\/strong><\/p>\nBy teaching people that God does not forgive suicide, we are teaching them that God only loves and forgives them as long as they do not sin. But as soon as they do sin, they must go begging to God for forgiveness, and if they fail to ask for forgiveness, He will send them to hell for eternity.<\/p>\n
Such an idea is more likely to create and amplify suicidal depression than help it! Which is more likely to help a person out of suicidal depression: The idea that God loves you and is on your side no matter what … or the idea that God might love you, but only if you can obey Him completely and hold your life together as He demands?<\/p>\n
I submit to you that it is only the first portrayal of God, the God of unconditional love and forgiveness, which helps people through the deep sadness, the great despair, the black hunger, the dark night of the soul, and the feeling that nobody loves, nobody cares, and nobody wants you around.<\/p>\n
The second portrayal of god, the god who only loves the obedient and only cares for those who don’t make mistakes, is a petulant god, like a spoiled child who wants everything to go his way all the time, or he won\u2019t play. This is a power-hungry god, who wants to keep people squirming under his ever-watchful eye as he waits for them to mess up so he can pounce on sinners and condemn them to everlasting hell.<\/p>\n
This second view of God confirms to people their deepest, darkest suspicion: God hates them.<\/p>\n
And if God hates them, it is no wonder that other people hate them also, and they might as well hate themselves.<\/p>\n
Do you see how lying about the complete love and forgiveness of God for those who commit suicide does not actually keep people from committing suicide, but will only make them more likely to take their own life?<\/p>\n
Give Hope and Love to Prevent Suicide<\/h2>\n
If we really want to help people through suicidal depression, they need to know the truth about God and how much He loves them and forgives them … no matter what.<\/p>\n
When people are dealing with deep depression, the anxieties of life, ruined relationships, lost jobs, the death of a child or spouse, or ongoing health problems, the last thing they need is the idea that God hates them.<\/strong><\/p>\nHow much better it is to know that even though they are going through some of the worst things that can be experienced in life, God still loves them, and is still with them, and will continue to be by their side for the rest of their life and for eternity\u2014no matter what?<\/p>\n
The view of God as an ever-loving friend who is on your side no matter what does not encourage people to commit suicide, but rather encourages people to have hope for the future and to believe that there is a purpose in life for them.<\/p>\n
So teach people that suicide is forgivable, not just because this is true, but because this it tells others what kind of God we serve.<\/p>\n
God is a loving and compassionate God, full of understanding in our times of weakness, tenderness in our times of pain, and present with us in times of abandonment.<\/p>\n
The knowledge that God forgives suicide does not encourage people to commit suicide, but helps keep them from it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\r\n
Do you fear that you have committed the Unforgivable Sin?<\/h3>\r\n
Fear not! You are forgiven. You are loved.<\/strong><\/p>\r\nFill out the form below to receive several emails from me which explains how you can know that you are loved and forgiven by God.<\/p>\r\n\r\n