The Suicide Question

There is one question regarding suicide that I witnessed coming up during outreach ministry and was it always answered the same way. My experiences with this actually happened prior to beginning my career in human services so at the time, I had no prior training or information on the subject matter.

Every minister I personally witnessed handling this question always gave a heartfelt explanation of how taking your own life was considered a sin. At the time, something felt off and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what it was. Afterall, the response was truthful but I started to wonder if the response was the correct word choice.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Have you ever heard of Gamma Wave Bursts? If you do a basic Google search about surprising brain activity after clinical death, you’ll find information on how studies show a surge of electrical activity (gamma waves) in the brain’s memory and consciousness areas right before and right after the heart stops, potentially explaining near-death experiences and life flashes. The main point is, the part of you that is you beyond your physical body can live after clinical death for seconds in some cases and minuets in others.

There is nothing biblically wrong with the explanation that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit and were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) so that our lives are not our own and that one of the commandments is “thou shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). I am merely suggesting that in addition to bible basics, we explain it would be impossible for any person to say for sure their loved one went to hell, because they could have had a moment of repentance with God in their last seconds or minuets of life. That is most of the time exactly what that person wants to know. That’s why they asked.

I find it irresponsible to not end on a note of hope. The person asking may be in intense emotional pain or struggling with survivor’s guilt. If they are asking this question, this is the moment they need to meet the truth in love, wisdom, knowledge and compassion, not just bible facts. If Jesus had to give this response, He would do so with the heart of a shepherd. This would not be the moment He flipped a table.

At a later time I will be posting an article of steps to actual suicide prevention techniques. I encourage ministries / ministers to find out where the free suicide prevention & grief counseling resources are in their community. We should know how to meet the needs of the people and if your ministry does not have the compacity to have it’s own support groups, find out where you can refer people to in your community if needed.

Here are a few resources to get started:

Info Line 2-1-1 (Connecticut only)

National Suicide & Crisis Line in the US : Text 988 988lifeline.org (TTY/TDD)

For a list of International Suicide Hotlines : https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/