Just A Thought

A small group of grade-school children gawked as lawmen swarmed over the neighbor’s house and property. An ambulance was summoned. We sixth-graders were shocked and dismayed to discover that our schoolmates’ 21-year-old brother had taken his own life. Yesterday he was alive; today he was gone… forever. In my Montana town, in the late 60s, we were not accustomed to such loss. Even today, few things are as difficult to deal with as the suicide of a loved one.

Suicide has become a significant problem in our society. ABC News recently reported that, according to The World Health Organization, suicide claims more lives each year than war and homicide combined. Worldwide, almost 1 million people take their own lives each year -- a figure which exceeds the annual death toll from war and murder. Furthermore, for every suicide, there are also 10 to 20 failed attempts, resulting in injury and emotional trauma. (www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/ 200409/s1195536.htm)

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the United States roughly one individual commits suicide every 17 minutes, and the total number of suicide deaths exceeds 30,000 annually. The CDC goes on to point out that the strongest risk factors for attempted suicide in youth are depression, alcohol or other drug use disorders, and aggressive or disruptive behaviors. (www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/suifacts.htm)

Our country has recently been embroiled in a vicious debate over America’s involvement in the Iraqi war, because of the many lives that have been lost. Meanwhile, a more serious killer continues taking the lives of the young and old, alike, as if it were a sniper silently picking off his victims – over 80 people every day! What is to be done? How can these lives be saved? How can war be waged against the invisible enemies of depression, abuse, discouragement, hate and despair?

The Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders (www.minddisorders.com/ Py-Z/Suicide.html)
has scientifically concluded that there are some factors that lower a person’s risk of suicide. Five of those factors are as follows:

1. A significant friendship network outside the workplace
2. Religious faith and practice
3. A stable marriage
4. A close-knit extended family
5. A strong interest in or commitment to a project or cause that brings people together

It would appear that we all have some home work to do; some home work that could be as significant as stopping a war. As I read those factors it occurred to me that all of those factors can be provided by a strong, Bible-based church. Could it be that as families break up and church attendance deteriorates in our society, suicides increase? If I were the devil I would convince people to leave their homes and their churches. Without those two protections we are all easy targets for depression, addictions, despair, etc.

It has been my experience that a healthy church goes a long way toward saving lives. Here are a few blessing a church can provide:

1. Classes for children and youth.
2. Trusted friendships.
3. Planned activities that include the whole family.
4. Ministry to individuals that make them better spouses, parents and children.
5. Opportunities to be involved in life-saving projects.
   

Many churches, such as the church I pastor, are full of people whom God has healed of depression and addictions that could have led to suicide. Many families in our assembly have been restored or strengthened as a result of their involvement in church activities. The truth is that God not only saves eternal souls, but He saves people’s lives by giving them deliverance, peace, joy, and power. Who knows, your involvement with such a church could save your life or the life of someone you love.

There are many lives that need saving right in our own neighborhoods. I would like to extend my commendations to every one who is working to save lives by making their marriage work, by loving their children, or by being faithful to their local church. Thanks for being part of the solution to this grave problem. Thanks for saving lives!

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Friday, September 28, 2007