Self-Harm?

I recently received an email from a girl. After responding to her, I realized that this subject matter needs to be addressed and this response might help others. And so I’m posting it here on my site. 

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Hey there Pastor Trent, your email was shared with me from a friend. We both recently became Christians. Aside from that I wanted to ask you for advice on how to deal with self harm. I have been dealing with this for such a long time and I don’t know what to do. Sometimes I lack self esteem and confidence in God and I hurt myself. Do you have any advice on how I can go on about this?
Please and thank you from *********.
God bless you

 

Thank you for the email! 

 

First and foremost, because you have confessed that you are follower of Christ, if this is a serious problem for you, then I recommend you talk to a Christian counselor. (Not a secular counselor. They will only try to fill you with drugs.) However, studying GOD’s Word for depth beyond the surface and remaining in constant communication with the Holy Spirit should be enough to help you. 

 

Next, you must immediately recognize that self harm is demonic. Consider the following examples.

 

(Mark 9:21-23)

“21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”

 

(Mark 5:1-5)

“1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, 3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.”

 

Therefore, if you are partaking in self harm, you are listening to the wrong voice. As a follower of Christ, it is of the utmost importance that you know GOD’s Word so that you will recognize the Lord’s voice.

 

(John 10:3-5,14,27)

“3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” …. “14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me. …. “27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” 

 

Next, you must recognize that you are essentially cutting Jesus every time you partake in self harm. Why? Because you were created in the image of GOD! 

 

(Genesis 1:26-27)

“26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” 

 

It is for this reason Jesus says that whatever is done to humans is done to Him.

 

(Matthew 25:40,45)

“40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” ….”45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’”

 

And your body is the temple because the Holy Spirit dwells in you! 

 

(John 2:18-22)

“18 The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.” 

 

(1Corinthians 6:19-20)

“19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 

 

(Ephesians 1:13-14)

“13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” 

 

(Ephesians 4:30)

“30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ” 

 

Therefore, if you are to honor GOD and glorify GOD in your body, you need to bless and honor your body. Once you truly know and believe that your body is the temple of GOD, you will naturally treat it with reverence and take care of it. Your body is the instrument that you use to accomplish the good work of the Kingdom. 

 

Next, we need to discuss your struggle with self-esteem. GOD does not look at the physical appearance like humans do. No! Rather, GOD judges the heart!

 

(1Samuel 16:6-7)

“6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”” 

 

And finally, to help you with your self-esteem and also realize your GOD-given potential, I highly recommend you watch the following video: https://youtu.be/e0oRBKbRYnY 

 

Superhero: Solution Seekers

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If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below:

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This is Part 5 of my Superhero series. In the introduction of this series, I provided the argument that heroes are real and then I distinguished between heroes and superheroes. I also provided a list of what defines a superhero. In Part 1, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute standard of Good and realize that evil is a mere privation of what is good. In Part 2, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute moral standard and realize that what is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. In Part 3, I defined and expounded upon love because all superheroes are full of love and are compelled to act out from love. In Part 4, I explained that superheroes desire to save people from all forms of danger and/or death and this desire comes from love.

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In this message (Part 5), I’m going to examine another defining characteristic of superheroes: they are solution seekers!

Solution seeker! Yes! Being a solution-seeker is a great concept and a wonderful thing to write on a resume! But there’s one problem: we often worry about what’s wrong. Many people are prone to pointing out problems. In fact, I just pointed out a problem by pointing out that problem. (Oh no! That’s a problem!) But wait – there’s more! I have good news to share! Where there are problems, there can be solutions! In fact, here is a solution to problems: Never point out a problem unless you’re also willing to seek a solution. At the very least, you must be willing to seek a solution to a problem or else you become the problem. For the one who refuses to seek a solution accepts the problem as a permanent pain.

If seeking solutions is such an easy answer to pesky and persistent problems, why are there so many people who are depressed and/or filled with anxiety or worry? Why do so many people consider suicide? Well, there exists two major evil villains that prevent people from seeking solutions: Fear and Doubt – they are the fork in the tongue of the serpent. Many people often allow problems to paralyze them from going forward due to fear of failure; many people also what-if themselves into indecisiveness and doubt themselves into idleness.

Fear and Doubt:

Fear paralyzes people and prevents possibility. Even if you do not fear anything, you can still be denied possibility due to Doubt. If Doubt becomes a barrier between you and Belief, it becomes equal to fear in the sense that it still prevents you from possibility. The person who allows Fear and Doubt to take control becomes his/her own problem because he/she is imprisoned within his/her own mind. In the prison of problems, your only cellmate is stagnation.

There Is Hope:

I’m going to let you in on a secret in the hope that you’re going to tell everyone and it will no longer be a secret: Doubt fears Belief, and Fear doubts Belief. Even with as much hatred and evil as Fear and Doubt have within themselves, they still understand the concept of teamwork; together, they can imprison you! However, Doubt fears Belief. Doubt fears Belief because Belief banishes Doubt away. Where is your concept of teamwork? You cannot have teamwork with Fear or Doubt while seeking Possibility. Fear and Doubt already work together with plans of destruction and their target is you! You can only pair up with Belief and Vision in order to find Possibility. Belief banishes Doubt from you when you and Belief join together to create a team. Together, you can then overcome Fear because you would believe that you can do so. However, because Fear doubts Belief, Fear will follow you, doubting that Belief will remain within you. Since Belief banishes doubt from you when you team up with Belief, Doubt will live inside of Fear (who is following you), motivating Fear to follow you. However, the pursuit will be in vain because Belief is eternal so long as you never have an about-face of doubt. That means you will always be able to find Possibility so long as you team up with Belief. But belief in what? Not what, but who! Belief in the Savior, Christ Jesus! The Savior is the Solution – we simply need to seek the Solution to all problems if we are to find the specific solutions for specific problems!

Resist and Receive:

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”
(James 4:7-8) -NLT

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
(Matthew 7:7-11) -NLT

The special stipulation to this promise is found in James 4:2-3; our desires need to be in alignment with GOD’s will. Ask yourself three important questions:

1. For what are you asking?
2. Why are you asking for that specific request?
3. Will it benefit the Kingdom of GOD?

Knowing GOD takes faith, focus, and follow-through. Jesus promises a reward for the passionate pursuit of seeking GOD’s will.

What Does GOD Say About Fear?

There are over 300 instances in the Bible in which we are instructed not to fear. There are two major reasons why we should not fear:

1. Trust in GOD;
2. love for others.

(1) There should be no fear in this limited lifetime because we know our eternal destiny:

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”
(Matthew 10:28-31) -NLT

(2) Why would we fear the outcome of choosing to love?:

“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”
(1John 4:17-18) -NLT

Therefore, we do not fear people nor do we fear punishment. Perfect love casts out all fear. And since we trust in GOD – who is love (1John 4:8,16) – and we choose to love GOD and others, we have no reason to fear.

What Does GOD Say About Doubt?

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”
(Psalm 94:19) -NLT

Do you see how this works? Belief banishes doubt. Faith (trust) in GOD creates hope. With hope, one has reason to seek solutions. While seeking the Solution, the Holy Spirit gives the seeker wisdom and vision. Wisdom and vision plan out and produce possibilities.

“And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’ ”
(Matthew 14:28-33) -ESV

Peter had faith and so he walked on water. However, he allowed doubt within and he started to sink. But remember: doubt was living inside of fear and fear is faithful to follow. Doubt and fear joined forces and caused Peter to sink. But in seeking the Savior, the Solution was found: trust in the Lord is the solution. Faith creates hope and hope gives birth to possibilities.

“Then Jesus told them, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, “May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.’ ”
(Matthew 21:21) -NLT

So, faith is foundational and prayer is powerful. But in order to pray we must first be seeking GOD. If prayer, however, is one of the keys to being a solution seeker, then prayer needs to be properly understood.

Faith-filled Purposeful Prayer:

Prayer needs to be purposeful if it is to be powerful (I’ll expound upon prayer in parts 21-22). Prayer is not a means of merely asking for what we want. GOD is not a magic genie and prayer is not the magic lamp by which to summon GOD. Prayer is a connection between us and GOD. A healthy relationship requires constant communication. So, talk. Prayer is also a way to love others. We should pray for others (Ephesians 6:18-19). But we should also pray that GOD’s will be done and not our own (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44). In the connection of prayer, the goal is to come into alignment with GOD’s will. Regarding prayer, it is important to remember that GOD always answers our prayers in one of three possible ways: yes, no, or not yet. And it is important to thank GOD for all the “no” answers. All the “no” answers eventually lead to the “yes” moment. When we pray, we must pray for the right reasons. Motive matters. We don’t need a mantra, we need a meaningful connection with the Maker. Prayers need to be genuine and purposeful. But remember: you don’t always need to know exactly what to say (Romans 8:26-28). Just be honest.

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
(James 1: 6-8) –NIV

Doubts are sometimes unavoidable and seem inevitable. Whether intellectually based or emotionally charged, all doubts need to be doubted and examined. If you find yourself doubting, you’re certainly not alone in your struggle. In Mark 9:24, the father of the possessed son asked Jesus to help his unbelief. Having the courage to doubt your doubts and investigate their causes leads to greater confidence in your relationship with Jesus. In seeking the Savior, He can help work through your doubts to increase your faith. Therefore, investigate your doubts. Seek Truth. Be specific about what your doubts are – write them out and list reasons for and against them. Also, pray! And never stop praying (1Thessalonians 5:17)! Like the father of the possessed son, we too can ask GOD to help with unbelief. Be a Solution seeker! This is important because belief casts out doubt and love casts out fear. The faith-filled become the faith-full! The faithful and loving solution-seeker is stable and also able to pursue possibilities.

Beyond, Through, and To:

“Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.”
(1Peter 5:7) –NCV

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:6-7) -NLT

Though the Bible does not explicitly say that worry is a sin, we can still logically conclude that it is a sin by examining all the available evidence. One simply cannot trust GOD to provide if one worries about provision. Likewise, one cannot trust GOD about wellbeing if one worries about wellbeing. Faith is trust. There’s no trust in worrying because worrying comes from doubting GOD.

“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
(Hebrews 11:6) -NLT

Know this: GOD already told us He will take care of all our needs (Matthew 6:25-34).

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
(Philippians 4:8-9) -NLT

Pray Your Way To Peace:

Prayer is not our last resort; rather, it is our first line of defense! And that is why prayer is being discussed here in addition to the end of this book. How do we get GOD’s peace? By putting into practice what we learned. We have learned that we need to put our trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6). So, let us put into practice our faith by living confidently in Christ. We can pray our way into peace! Look beyond the problem, through the potential and to the possibilities by seeking the power of GOD in prayer. If we focus on all that is good and right, our focus won’t be on what is bad and wrong. That’s easier said than done – I know. But no one ever said that what is simple is also easy. If we fill our minds with GOD’s Word, we won’t have enough room to fill our minds with the Satan’s lies and the world’s ways. Christians must think about what they’re thinking about and not allow their minds to wander into the chaotic circus of sin. In our spiritual warfare, we need to wear the helmet of salvation (explain in Part 19) because it is spiritual armor for the mind. Negative thoughts can be replaced with positive ones, and the more that godly substitution takes place, the more peace and joy we can experience. Many times we are asking GOD to change our situation when GOD desires to change our stinkin’ thinkin’! GOD’s peace is promised to guard those who pray – with thanksgiving – about everything.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
(Romans 8:28) -NLT

Stay Focused:

We already know the ending of the story! Christ returns, evil is banished to Hell, and all believers will live happily ever after with Jesus for eternity (Revelation 19-21). Knowing this, our focus should simply be on how to continually make things better until Christ returns. GOD gave people the great gift of free will. Where free will exists, evil is always possible; in fact, bad things are inevitable in this sinful fallen world. But GOD created us to create good while we choose to live a life of love. So, what are you creating? In order to be a solution seeker, we must trust in GOD and love others. Belief banishes doubt and love expels fear. Without fear and doubt, GOD’s peace will be with you and GOD’s power will enable you to be more than a conquerer in Christ (Romans 8:37).

Conclusion:

“Show mercy to those who have doubts. Save others by snatching them from the fire of hell.”
(Jude 1: 22-23) –GW

You can be a superhero! You can be a superhero by simply being a consistent solution seeker! In the name of Jesus, go be a defender of the faith by helping others battle fear and doubt. Peter was saved while sinking in the sea of doubt because he reached out to Jesus. All people can find salvation by doing exactly what Peter did – by reaching out to Jesus and trusting Him to save. In fact, I did the same thing when I once found myself sinking and Jesus saved me too! To read my testimony, see my other article, “My Testimony: From Agnosticism, To Atheism, To Christianity“.

Here’s the bottom line: When a problem comes along, you must whip it! Whip it good… in the name of Jesus!

 

What About Suicide?

First and foremost, may it be known that if you’re considering suicide, you are not alone in this life and many people are available to live life with you — including myself. In fact, I have battled depression for as long as I can remember and I have waged wars through suicidal thoughts myself. If you are considering suicide, do everything you can to get the help you need. Suicide is never the answer! Call 1-800-273-8255, the national hotline, get yourself to a hospital if you can, call 911, go alert someone in your home, apartment, or workplace, or wherever you are, and do whatever it takes to get help.

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National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
To Write Love on Her Arms: http://twloha.com/find-help
Befrienders.org: http://www.befrienders.org/directory
Suicide hotlines available in most countries: http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

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At the age of 17 going into 18, I had written out my own suicide letter. Before reading this article, I highly recommend that you read my personal testimony: My Testimony. If you have a desire to leave this life here on Earth, it is only because you are not of this world (John 15:18-20; 17:14-19) and are meant to be in the presence of GOD, connected with the Creator. But this is why we need to come to Christ Jesus in faith and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

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(Acts 16:27-30)
“27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?””

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Because Roman jailers were personally responsible for their prisoners and could be executed for allowing them to escape (Acts 12:19), the jailer decided to kill himself instead of suffering through an execution. But in Acts 16:28, Paul prevented a jailer from committing suicide.

Is suicide wrong? Is it a sin? Will suicide prevent someone from entering the Kingdom of heaven? Because mere human opinion is relative, we should investigate what GOD’s Word says about the topic of suicide being though GOD is the absolute moral standard (Leviticus 10:10; 19:2; Deuteronomy 27:10; 28:9; Romans 3:10,23; 1Peter 1:16; Revelation 15:4).

Samuel was a man of GOD, had always been careful to listen to GOD (1Samuel 3:10; 9:14-17), obey GOD (1Samuel 3:21; 10:1-2), and even ended up in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11:32). But Samuel prophesied that Saul and his sons would die and they would be with him (1Samuel 28:19). We also know that Jonathan was a man of GOD (1Samuel 18:3; 20:8,23,32,42). But if Saul would end up “with” Samuel and Jonathan, does this mean that Saul’s suicide (1Samuel 31:4-5) was justifiable and he would end up in the Kingdom of heaven? Is anyone’s suicide justifiable? Does suicide prevent people from entering the Kingdom?

Well, the verse simply states that Saul and his sons would be with him, meaning they would die and then go to the ‘other side’ (where Samuel went after his physical death) where we all face Judgment (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:12,15). Scripture does not actually state whether Saul and his sons will be in either Heaven or Hell. But Scripture does inform us that Saul indeed killed himself by falling on his own sword.

However, suicide is not justifiable. Never. Suicide involves the unauthorized taking of a human life, and as such violates the sixth commandment of murder (Exodus 20:13). Suicide is murder; it makes no difference that the life taken is one’s own. All life belongs to GOD, and He alone has the right to take it (Deuteronomy 32:39; Job 1:21). Even the most desperate believers in the Bible who desired death never considered suicide a morally viable alternative. Rather, recognizing the sovereign hand of GOD over human life, they prayed like Jonah: “Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live” (Jonah 4:3). Apostle Paul even prevented the Roman jailer in Philippi from taking his own life (Acts 16:27-28). Abimelech commanded his armor-bearer to kill him out of a selfish and hateful motive because he didn’t want anyone to be able to say that a woman took his life; in fact, his act was not seen as commendable, but as judgment (Judges 9:54,56). Ahithophel committed suicide because he had been publicly humiliated and he wanted to avoid being executed for treason (2Samuel 17:23). Zimri, after murdering an Israelite king, ended his life to avoid being killed by his pursuers (1Kings 16:18). Judas hanged himself after experiencing remorse due to betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:3-5). And as we learned from the “Judas” Picture Scripture, there is good reason to believe that Judas was never saved.

But what about Samson taking his own life? With Samson, his situation seems to be more of a sacrifice, not a suicide. Samson had been humiliated and humbled and then he essentially offered his life as a sacrifice for others’ benefit (Judges 16:30) even though his motive was to get revenge. GOD simply used both the situation Samson had gotten himself into and Samson’s willingness to be a sacrifice to enact judgment upon an evil people. It was in Samson’s humbled decision to offer himself as a sacrifice that he aligned himself with what is written in Scripture (John 15:13). Suicide is acting for one’s self; Samson offered his life for others.

There are no biblical examples of honorable suicide nor is there any reason to believe that anyone who committed suicide was ever saved. But will suicide prevent people from entering the Kingdom of Heaven? Though we have permission to call attention to sin and judge according to righteousness (John 7:24; 1Corinthians 5:9-13; 6:2-6), it is never our place to proclaim with absolute certainty whether someone is going to Heaven or Hell — there is only One Judge (Romans 14:4,10-12; James 4:12). Only GOD knows what happens with a person in their very last moment with their very last breath. Scripture also states that all sins (with the exception of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit) will be forgiven (Matthew 12:31-32) so long as we are in Christ and the Holy Spirit is in us. So, obviously, if a person is not saved, then that person who committed suicide wouldn’t be saved anyway. But what about the person who claims to be saved?

There is good reason to believe that suicide would be sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, and that means there would no longer remain a sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:26-27). Would the Holy Spirit ever tell someone to kill him/herself? Or is that something only Satan would do because he was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44)? Suicide is an attack on the image of GOD in man (Genesis 1:26-27) and an attempt to usurp GOD’s sovereignty over human life. If a truly saved person does not practice lawlessness but bears fruit by keeping with repentance (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:7-17; 1John 3:4-10; Matthew 7:16-20,24-25; Luke 6:43-44; John 13:17; 15:1-11; James 1:21-25), wouldn’t suicide be sinning willfully while cutting down the tree to ensure that no fruit would come from it? Suicide bears no fruit and destroys the tree. Dying daily to our flesh (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6:11; 8:13; 1Corinthians 15:31; Galatians 2:20; 5:24) does not mean literally murdering your body. Anyone who knows the truth yet willfully walks away from the truth would be guilty. It is written in James 4:17 that “one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Committing suicide is a willful rejection of the Holy Spirit. No one who has the Holy Spirit within them is able to make the claim that the Holy Spirit is telling them it’s acceptable to commit suicide. The very act of committing suicide as a “Christian” would be to either declare the Holy Spirit as evil (for telling you to commit suicide) or to rebel against the Holy Spirit (because He told you not to commit suicide). Either way, suicide is willfully sinning after knowing the truth. And true children of GOD do not reject the Holy Spirit in order to do what they know is wrong. Christians are called to endure until the end, not escape (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13; John 6:27; 1Corinthians 4:12; 10:13; 13:7; 2Corinthians 1:6; 2Timothy 2:10-13; 2Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 12:3-17; 1Peter 2:19-20). It is also written in Philippians 2:3-5: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (see also, Romans 15:1-3).

The bottom line is that we should not be willing to gamble with salvation or eternity. Even if forgiven, it does not mean that it’s right or acceptable (Romans 6; Hebrews 10:26-27; James 4:17). Life is a gift from GOD and your body is a Holy Temple (1Corinthians 6:19-20) that should be used for service to the Lord and others (Matthew 20:26-28; 23:11; 24:46; 28:18-20; Mark 9:35; 10:43-45; Luke 12:38,43; 22:26: John 12:26; Acts 26:16; Romans 1:9; 12:11; 14:18; 1Corinthians 4:1; 9:19; 2Corinthians 4:5; 6:4; 11:23; Galatians 5:13; 2Timothy 2:24; 1Peter 4:10). How is it possible to serve the Lord and others if you’re not here to do so?

To take a life — even your own — is to play the role of GOD. But GOD is the only One who should give and take away (1Samuel 2:6; Deuteronomy 32:39; Job 1:21). We are instructed to endure until the end and walk by faith (2Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:6). By giving up and quitting early, do you believe you will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21,23) or would you get told that you’re a “wicked and slothful servant” (Matthew 25:26) and get cast into the “outer darkness” (Matthew 25:30)? Is it possible for someone to have faith in Christ yet not have faith in His plan and to abandon the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20; Philippians 1:22-26)? Instead of taking our lives into our own hands, we should place our lives into GOD’s care and trust Him (Proverbs 3:5-8; Romans 14:7-8). If GOD brings you to it, GOD will bring you through it!

Conclusion:

An examination of Scripture reveals the Truth about suicide:

[1] Suicide is an option that some deeply troubled people will choose when facing seemingly hopeless circumstances. There may be perceived problems, but we need to be solution seekers. Suicide is murder and even our own lives are not ours to take.

[2] Suicide is a selfish choice and a tragic end to a human life.

[3] If we place our focus on the great commandment (Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:29-31) and the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20), we will know that suicide is not in alignment with GOD’s will because suicide is not in alignment with loving GOD and loving others (1Corinthians 13).

[4] Therefore, suicide is blatant rebellion against GOD’s will, it will never receive divine approval, and it is never justifiable. It is also written in 1Samuel 15:22-23 that “rebellion is as the sin of divination.”

Now, I freely confess that like Elijah in 1Kings 19:4, I have prayed for GOD to take my life and bring me Home. I confess that there have been many days I desired to depart from this world because I know I am not of this world (John 15:18-20; 17:14-19). But because there have been many days I desired to depart, there have also been many days I felt connected with the words of Paul in Philippians 1:21-30: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”

Just like the Roman jailer of Acts 16:25-34, the answer is not suicide. In fact, the answer to being saved is to follow Christ and obey His commandments, enduring until the end. The Holy Spirit would never command anyone to commit suicide. Instead, Jesus tells us to take up our crosses and follow Him.

The Seven C’s of Christmas

For many people, Christmas is a time of joy and celebration; however, for some people, Christmas is a time of stress, frustration, anxiety, sadness, or depression. If you have either lost the Christmas joy or have never had Christmas joy, this message is for you.

I want to give you The Seven C’s to overcoming the grinch and obtaining Christmas joy:

1. Comparison
2. Confinement
3. Conviction
4. Christ
5. Contentment
6. Contribution
7. Camaraderie

In “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” the Grinch is depicted as a grouchy creature, secluded in a cave. The Grinch lives on a cliff overlooking the cheerful, optimistic community of Whoville. The Grinch hates Christmas and the festivities celebrated during the season; he is irritated by the happiness of others and derives pleasure from spoiling other people’s enjoyment. Maybe you are a grinch. Perhaps someone else in your life is a grinch. Either way, joy can be obtained and retained. From the story of the grinch, there are seven (7) biblical principles we can learn and apply to our lives:

(1) Comparison 

The first thing mentioned in the story of the Grinch is that every Who liked Christmas a lot, but the Grinch did not. The Grinch stood on a cliff, looking down on the Whos; his focus was on who they were, what they did, and what they had. Comparison creates the “I can’t” moments. The Grinch compared himself with every Who in Whoville – he compared himself with every Who’s smile, joy, laughter, and celebration. The comparison led him to realize that he did not possess what they had. And because he did not have what they had, he allowed himself to become miserable. Comparison produces envy and envy produces hatred. That hatred will either be directed toward the person being compared or the very person doing the comparison. The Grinch had pride; therefore, his hatred was directed toward every Who in Whoville. (Because the problem couldn’t possibly reside within himself, right?) …Are you comparing your life by others’ blessings? Comparing yourself to others will negatively affect how you view yourself; consequently, how you view yourself will determine your attitude and then your actions. GOD created you to be unique. Embrace your own blessings and stop concerning yourself with what others have.

“Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”
(Galatians 6:4-5) -NLT

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
(Proverbs 14:30) -NIV

“Do you think I care about the approval of men or about the approval of God? Do you think I am on a mission to please people? If I am still spinning my wheels trying to please men, then there is no way I can be a servant of the Anointed One, the Liberating King.”
(Galatians 1:10) -Voice

(2) Confinement

The Grinch lived in a cave by himself. He isolated himself. He had confined himself to his loneliness. Is it any wonder why others’ joy irritated him so much? The joy of others only revealed and amplified his own misery. The sound of their laughter seemed to be directed toward his insecurities. The others’ joy called attention to the very thing he was lacking. When you isolate yourself, you are an easy target for Satan. Evil will invade your isolated and unguarded mind and infiltrate your thoughts. Remember: the lion seeks to attack the one who gets separated from the herd.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
(1Peter 5:8) -ESV

“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”
(Proverbs 18:1) -ESV

“In the same way that iron sharpens iron, a person sharpens the character of his friend.”
(Proverbs 27:17) -Voice

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) -NLT

(3) Conviction

Examine the definition of the word, “grinch.”
Grinch: an unpleasant person who spoils other people’s fun or enjoyment or dampens the pleasure of others.

 “I was brushing my teeth on the morning of the 26th of last December when I noticed a very Grinch-ish countenance in the mirror. It was Seuss! So I wrote about my sour friend, the Grinch, to see if I could rediscover something about Christmas that obviously I’d lost.”
(~Theodore “Dr. Seuss” Geisel; December 1957 edition of Redbook)

Are you placing your focus on the negative aspects surrounding this Christmas season? Are you placing the focus on yourself and your problems? Is it possible that you need to rediscover something about Christmas you have obviously lost (or never found)? We are all familiar with the Grinch who stole Christmas, but we often neglect to see ourselves as the Grinch. Are you being a grinch without realizing it? The Grinch originated from a moment when Dr. Seuss confronted himself with the truth he saw in the mirror. Are you willing to confront yourself with the truth? We often discover truth and enlightenment when we face and conquer our own demons. Are you ready to admit your shortcomings? If you have unrighteousness within you, are you ready to repent? Allow the Holy Spirit within you and He will bring Truth; with Truth comes conviction and that is why Truth sets people free (see John 8:32).

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
(Proverbs 1:7) -ESV

“My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.”
(Proverbs 3:11-12) -NLT

“If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it—how shortsighted to refuse correction!”
(Proverbs 12:1) -MSG

(4) Christ

Sincere repentance and acceptance of Christ as our Lord and Savior is prerequisite for salvation. After we confront our own demons, we need to make Jesus the focus. Jesus is the center, the core. We don’t have CHRISTmas without Christ. Jesus came to be the sacrifice who would save us from ourselves. We simply couldn’t live up to the perfect standard of holiness that is required for us to dwell with the perfect and holy GOD, but Jesus came to be the Bridge that would forever reunite us with GOD. This season is for our Savior. We celebrate the fact that GOD loves us so much that GOD became human in order to willingly sacrifice Himself for us (John 10:17-18) — He died so that we may live! We celebrate that Jesus was born into this world from a virgin in order to be the sinless sacrifice who would save us from ourselves. Because we could not reach GOD by our works, GOD came to us out of His grace and mercy.

“As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ ”
(Matthew 1:20-21) -NLT

(5) Contentment

Once Jesus is the focus, we will no longer have the focus on others or ourselves. If we truly realize how bad many people in this world have it in life, it should be easy to be content in any circumstance we find ourselves. This is the opposite side of comparison or envy. This is how you battle those thoughts of comparing yourself with others. The moment you start to compare yourself with others to see how they might have it better than you, you also have an opportunity to see how you have it better than others. There are, in fact, prisoners in the United States who live in greater comfort than those who are considered to be free in third world countries, who are skin and bone, starving to death. The truth is that you are blessed and your life could always be worse than it is right now. The truth is that you are exactly where you need to be right now for GOD to take you to where He wants you to go so that He may bless you. Our focus is not to be on the world and its ways. In fact, this world is going to come to an abrupt end and we will live in eternity on a new earth under new heavens (Matthew 24:36-44; Revelation 21). Neither the Christmas season nor Christmas Day itself is about receiving gifts or possessing anything of monetary value – it is about celebrating salvation through our Savior! To find contentment, you need only to change your perspective. To find contentment, you need only to focus on Christ.

“Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship. Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete.”
(Romans 12: 1-2) -Voice

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
(Philippians 4:8-9) -NLT

“For I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
(Philippians 4:11-13) -NLT

(6) Contribution

The Grinch stole all of the Who’s material possessions – everything of monetary value! And as the Grinch stood on the cliff, waiting to hear mourning and crying from Whoville, he heard joyful singing instead. After hours of pondering and self-examination, the Grinch finally realized that material items don’t bring joy; in fact, he discovered that the joy had already been within them. That’s when the Grinch decided to return to them all of their gifts. Like Scripture tells us, it is better to give than to receive. The Grinch discovered joy in the act of giving. Why? Because to love others is to put them before yourself. What can you give? Your time? Love? Financial support? Maybe you’re good at cooking meals and can feed someone? Maybe you’re a gifted musician and you can play music for someone? Maybe you’re an excellent artist and you can draw a picture for someone? Perhaps you can simply be there for someone and provide a listening ear. There is always something you can do; there is always a way to give.

“I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
(Acts 20:33-35) -NLT

“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always ‘me first,’ doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Love never dies.”
(1Corinthians 13: 4-8) –MSG

(7) Camaraderie

After giving the [stolen] gifts back to everyone in Whoville, the Grinch joined the Whos for a feast. Understand this: GOD did not design us to do life alone.

I admit that I chose the word, “camaraderie” only because it started with the letter “c” and allowed alliteration. But the actual word I should use is “fellowship.” Our English word, “fellowship” is the translation of the Greek word, “koinonia.” This Greek word is derived from the root, “koinos,” which was a prefix in ancient Greek. If you were to add this prefix to words meaning “living,” “owning a purse,” “a dispute,” and “mother,” you would get words meaning “living in community together,” “owning a purse in common,” “a public dispute,” and “having a mother in common.” So, we see that the root of the word, “fellowship,” means “to hold something in common.” The Greek word, “koinonia,” was used to describe corporations, labor guilds, partners in a law firm, and the most intimate of marriage relationships. From the usage of the word, we can conclude that fellowship is a word denoting a relationship that is dependent on more than one individual. It is an interdependent relationship. Koinonia is used nineteen times in the New Testament and in addition to being translated as “fellowship” it is also translated by the words, “contribution,” “sharing,” and “participation.” A close study of the usage of this word shows that action is always included in its meaning. Fellowship, you see, is not just being together, it is doing together! Fellowship is a relationship of inner unity among believers that expresses itself in outer co-participation with Christ and one another in accomplishing GOD’s will on Earth.

By now, you should realize that you are already blessed. So, who can you bless today? Blessing others will bring you joy. Do you want to experience true Christmas joy? Then bless others. Remember what Christ told us:

“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
(Matthew 22:37-40) -NLT

“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
(Matthew 9:13) -ESV

“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.”
(Micah 6:8) -MSG

I challenge you to go bless others this Christmas and create the joy you seek to attain for yourself. Spread Christmas cheer and do it openly and loudly for all the hear. And if we love with a lasting impression, perhaps those who do not believe will catch a glimpse of Christ that will remain with them until that seed grows into understanding. Go. Create joy. Bless others and praise GOD as you go.

[ To read why I am a Christian, read my other article, “Why I Am A Christian” ]