2011 Winter - Higher Things Magazine (with Bible Studies)

Page 22

When a Loved One Commits Suicide By Rev. Peter Preus

Grieving for a loved one who has committed suicide in one sense

H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 22

is like grieving for any Christian who has died. You feel a deep sense of loss. You question “Why?” You wonder how you will cope without this parent, husband, wife or child. In another sense, grieving for a suicide is very different. You want to say,“He was a Christian!”“She was a Christian!” But how can you be so sure, when you were told not so long ago that those who commit suicide do not go to heaven? Until recently, many in the church believed that suicide was an unforgivable sin. The truth is, most people who take their own lives are suffering from a very serious illness known as severe depression.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.