The spiritual side of Suicide

Spiritual from the Dictionary:
Relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.

Wiki:
Traditionally, spirituality refers to a religious process of re-formation which “aims to recover the original shape of man,” oriented at “the image of God” as exemplified by the founders and sacred texts of the religions of the world.

So let’s take a common issue when dealing with depression:
Guilt, Shame and Condemnation

First question: Does this issue relate to the physical side or the spirit and soul of a person…..

I think we can all agree, it definitely has a spiritual side to the issue of
Guilt, Shame and condemnation.

Guild refers to our sense of having done something wrong, either in reality or in our imagination. It relates to real or imagined actions or inactions which have caused real or imagined harm to others.

Shame on the other hand relates to our sense of who we are. We feel that in some way we have fallen short both in our own eyes and in the eyes of others.

The parent who says ‘What you did was naughty!’ might induce guilt. The parent who says ‘You are a naughty child!’ might induce shame.

What modern Psychology says about Guilt:
Guilt is a normal feeling, everyone feels guilt. It makes sense. We all make mistakes and we all feel bad about them. It’s just plain human.
95% OF MENTAL ILLNESS GUILT IS A WASTE OF TIME

“All that guilt just chips away at your brain, your mind, your sanity and your happiness. All that guilt is just black poison set out to make you have a very bad day.

And once you’ve felt the guilt, expressed it and made amends, let it go already. Talk back to the guilt. Tell it you’re not listening. Tell it it’s not reasonable. Tell it you’re bigger and better than it. Because you are.
And you deserve to feel better. You deserve to breathe without guilt. We all do”

Does this approach make any sense at all, if you are having issues with Guilt and Shame, do you believe that this remedy will work for you……I doubt it…
and to “Tell it, it is not reasonable” ….really…..

This is not the response of most mental health experts, but many of these experts, never discuss the spiritual side of these issues, is it any wonder that the depression and suicide rates are growing, surely we can give a better answer to people who struggle with these issues ………

There are much better answers to these spiritual problem of GUILT and SHAME, that most every person that suffers from depression and suicidal thoughts are having to deal with.
How about the spiritual side of these issues…..
….Hopelessness
….Traumatic Experience
…..Personality Disorders
….Drug Addiction / Substance Abuse
….Eating Disorders
…..Social Isolation / Loneliness
…. Relationship problems

All these issues that can bring on suicidal thoughts have absolutely a spiritual side. We just want to focus on the spiritual problem of Guilt and Shame here, and the real reason it is not mentioned much is because Psychology does not want to discuss the possibility of Sin…..

Does psychology and psychiatrists teach people to practice moral responsibility, or do they justify, rationalize, and excuse immorality and blame shifting?
What about the need to acknowledge sin and error, repentance, and be forgiven by God?
How does psychology and psychiatry harmonize with the Bible standards of Christianity?
Psychology Often Views Guilt as a Disease for Which the Sinner Is Not Accountable
Psychology Often Teaches People to Blame Others for Their Failures in Life.
When we participate in sinful behavior, we cannot excuse ourselves by saying or thinking that we should not be held accountable because we could not help ourselves.

Psychology Often Urges People to Accept Themselves as They Are Without Changing Their Sinful Conduct
The popular psychological expression, “I’m ok, you’re ok.” Nobody is wrong. Nobody is any more right than anybody else. Just accept yourself as you are and accept everybody else as they are.

The gospel teaches us that Jesus was crucified to save men from the consequences of sin (having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and that God will remember our sins, no more Heb 8:12
But if all conduct is as good as any other, then there is no such thing as sin, no such thing as consequences for sin, and therefore no need for Jesus to die!
All humans have Guilt, Shame, and Condemnation from past sins. To ask a person to forget past sins, or to ignore, the guilt shame and condemnation, is preposterous, and makes no sense.

The only remedy, and the everlasting remedy, for a Christian, is, the promise of (I will remember your sins no more Heb 8:12). This promise, will bring a clear conscious, will wash away, all Guilt, Shame and condemnation, that comes from past sins.

This is one reason (and there are many) why there is no comparison to the freedom setting truth from the Word of God, to any man made remedy from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, trauma, eating disorders, cutting, Anger and Rage, Suicidal Thoughts, and any other oppression’s.

We must address the spiritual problem, when the spiritual issues are overcome, then the person can taste the freedom that Jesus has provided.
No human Psychotherapy (talk therapy) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (changing underlying beliefs) can ever compare with the truth from the Word of God, to help set a captive free.
Once the spiritual battle is won against any of these oppressions like, Depression, Anxiety, Fear, PTSD, Bulimia, panic attacks, Bipolar, trauma anxiety, Stress, (psychological Disorders), Feeding and Eating Disorders, Cutting – Self-Injury, the battle in the flesh can be overcome much easier, but, there is no freedom until the spiritual battle is won, because the essence of these disorders are spiritually based.

If you have been oppressed for a long time, these words may be hard for you to believe, but the words of Jesus are clear:
“I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).
“I have come to set the captives free.” (Luke 4:19)
Who the Son sets free is free indeed.” (John 8:36)
“If you continue in my words, then you are my disciples indeed, and you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
“And they overcame him (the devil) by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” (Rev. 12:11)

When we go to God through Jesus Christ, to get our sins forgiven, it brings tremendous hope, it lifts the souls, and it can bring a sense of peace that is supernatural. Why would we not want to tell people about the grace and mercy of God, to get our sins forgiven, and as the bible says, to cleanse of conscience of all guilt, shame and condemnation.

If you want to become a Christian and get a brand new life from God, email me at [email protected]

People need more than the knowledge that other people love them. They need meaning. They need hope. They need to know that there is a a point to their lives, a reason for being. When people get to understand, that God is our reason, our foundation, our truth, our purpose, and the substance of our lives, that we are not mere accidents. We are not clumps of dust that grew randomly from the Earth and somehow developed consciousness and a moral code and the capacity for love. That doesn’t make sense, and we all know it doesn’t make sense, and we will literally kill ourselves trying to make sense of it.

There is spiritual character to humanity, and we all innately recognize it. We find despair when we reject it and try to separate ourselves from it and from ourselves.

Hope is found when we embrace who we are, as children of God, and we keep our eyes and hearts focused on eternity, on home. God wants us there with Him, more life to be lived, and we can live it in peace and joy, purpose and fulfillment, knowing that there is a meaning and a point to all of this, and acknowledge that there is a spiritual side to life that need to looked at and understood.

Author: Pastor Pat Buckley
Published Jul 13, 2018 @ 16:16