Five myths about suicide

Kokrine Hills Bible Camp is a great place! Spending time on the banks of the Yukon River is amazing. The Bible camp is located between Ruby and Tanana. Native youth from up and down the river attend. Serving at Kokrine Hills is a highlight for our family every summer.

The campers enjoy tubing on the Yukon, shooting hundreds of rounds of skeet, practicing their rifle marksmanship and archery. Most importantly, we gather to focus on the Lord Jesus and hear the Word of God taught.

Life is good. Life is amazing. Unfortunately, suicide is an epidemic in rural Alaska. Roger Huntington, the leader of the camp, estimates that twenty of his family members have committed suicide. Almost every camper knows someone who committed suicide.

Jesus said, “I came that they might have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Suicide must never be an option. We must choose life. Suicide rates are skyrocketing among millennials. No segment of our culture is untouched by suicide. People commits suicide because they believe lies. Please never believe five myths about suicide.

The first myth is, “Suicide is an unpardonable sin.” Many believe that if a person commits suicide they can never go to heaven. The Bible does not teach this. When a person comes to saving faith, the righteousness of Jesus is applied to their lives. God forgives our past sins, our present sins and even our future sins. Romans 8:1 says, “There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

It is true that as believers we demonstrate our salvation by making good choices. Jesus said, “If you continue in My Word then you are truly disciples of Mine” (John 8:31). Suicide is not the unpardonable sin. However, suicide is never an option for a follower of Jesus.

A second myth is, “A real Christian would never struggle with suicide.” Some of the greatest people in the Bible contemplated suicide. When the people of Israel complained in the wilderness, Moses was overwhelmed. He poured out his heart to God. Moses said to God, “So if You are going to thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness” (Numbers 11:15).

Jonah did not want to obey God. God told him to go to Nineveh. Jonah got in a boat going in the opposite direction! When the storm came, Jonah told the sailors, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you” (Jonah 1:12). Even Job cursed the day of his birth (Job 3:1). Even great Christians can struggle with thoughts of suicide. Elijah prayed that God would take his life.

A third myth is, “People who commit suicide are not responsible for their choices.” The Bible is clear that we are responsible for our choices. God commands us to make wise decisions. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.”

A fourth myth is, “I am responsible for someone else’s suicide.” When a person commits suicide those left behind often think, “I should have done more. I should have loved more. It is my fault.” We must reach out to others and care for them. We are our brother’s keeper but we are not responsible for others actions.

A fifth myth is, “God is not in control.” God is not responsible for evil. We don’t thank God for a loved one’s terrible choice. However, we can trust God even in the darkest of times. God takes even devastating circumstances and brings good out of them. In Genesis 50:20 Joseph said to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” God is present and working even in the hardest of times.

Why does a person commit suicide? A person commits suicide because they believe lies. The truth is that even in the midst of pain and discouragement and suffering, God loves you. God’s love for you is best seen not in your present circumstances but at the cross. Jesus suffered the punishment for your sins and my sins on the cross because He cares and He loves. God the Father and God the Son both love you very deeply. Suicide is not an escape from our problems. The path of escape is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Won’t you open the Bible and turn to Him today!