Suicide And The Church

'Different strokes for different folks. '

Hindi ka magbibigay ng loperamide sa may dysmenorrhea, hindi ba? Sadly, if you've read my last article (https://stripedjar.wixsite.com/salticket2church/babasahin-1/suicide-in-the-church) ,when it comes to mental illness, minsan; pinapantay natin ang Bible sa paracetamol, when it's more than a pill.A person with depression is likely to hear ‘Hindi ka kasi nagbabasa… ‘ It’'s because of the stigma, that it felt ‘Suicide in the Church’.

To me, suicide was a metaphor for Mental Health Stigma. I just hope it was just a mere symbol. But no…! Sana, pero hindi. And one way to break the chain of Mental Illness stigma is to accept the bitter relationship of ‘Suicide and The Church’.

Pastors on The Edge

‘Even the best falls down sometimes.

Even the wrong words seem to rhyme. '

I know the song has an entirely different story. But if you come to think of it, kahit ang pinakamalupit na prophet - minsang ginustong mawala. The words he said rhyme with how he felt, yet they sounded so wrong. (1Kings 19:4-14). Elijah lived. But let me tell you about two men of God who didn't.

Matthew Warren

😭 No matter how purpose driven one's life is, depression is like a sly kind of sickness that can take a helpless Christian's life.

(R) Mathew Warren, a Pastor and son of the well known Purpose Driven Life Author(L) Rick Warren took his own life April 2013.

Have you heard about Rick Warren? Kung hindi siguro yung libro niya ‘Purpose Driven Life’-nabasa o nadinig mo na? The Pastor of Saddleback Church recounted with a Christian Magazine how hurtful some Christians have been. Even saying that Mathew(the son he lost to suicide) would and should go to hell. But he saw a garden of grace in that dark season. He said,

"In God’s garden of grace, even broken trees bear fruit." And we are all broken…God only uses broken people,’ Rick shared with premierchristianity.com as he remembered people expressing gratitude for Matthew's life, as through it-they were brought to Christ. The last time I check John 15, those branches attach to the vine bear fruit that lasts.

I am not after saying that anyone who takes his own life is surely heaven bound. Only God knows the heart. And if one, is genuinely saved, only that, he was cornered by that ‘sly’ to death-is that sly able to separate a Christian from the love of God? Kung tama yung basa ko sa Romans 8:38-39,wala daw(As in Wala) makakapaghiwalay sa atin sa pag-ibig Niya.

Andrew Stoecklein

On a retreat last year, I remember myself chatting with a brother in the LORD who's being attacked by suicidal ideation, as he is clinically diagnosed; (For a time, he turned his back on Him and the mission field for a long time, but was won back by Him), I stumbled upon a story of Andrew Stoecklein over the internet.

"Inland Hills Church grieves with heavy hearts as our Lead Pastor Andrew Stoecklein was welcomed into Heaven on Saturday night after battling depression and anxiety," The church posted to Facebook.

My heart was utterly broken and I prayed that no matter how attractive death is-God would keep hold of that Kuya I was chatting with. I realized that indeed, the church heeding to its calling to be an instrument of healing should accept the reality that even the best falls down sometimes.

Christ Church of Orlando Lead Pastor Paul Valo shed light on this on his Facebook page about the incident:

More Than A Metaphor

After all you have read, Is the word church related to suicide? Of course! Church, We are to be His hands, feet and mouthpiece to people who often find that ‘Suicide ‘ is the only way out. We should know better.

Mental Illness like any illness, takes away our temporary life. And, like many illnesses we can't just cure - We can at least not add injury to the insult. It's all in the brain! But the brain is not just an organ we should care any less. And if Christ is the brain of the Church, I think HE wants these people we ignore or discriminate treated right.

And, I see Him doing something. Tara, let's join Him.