(Image by Milada Vigerova)
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
SUICIDE, MENTAL ILLNESS + THE MIND OF CHRIST
My statements thus far haven’t been politically correct, and they may even come across as harsh. But, again, the purpose of this piece isn’t placation, but to offer an honest and candid view of suicide per God’s Word, which is objective. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). The Word keeps it real. It reveals not only God’s heart but exposes the deceit and desperate wickedness in ours. When it does that, we can either be angry and hard-hearted or humbled by conviction unto repentance. To that end, it is important to dissect suicide by how God sees it so that those who receive the truth would avoid the act. With that said, let’s now use God’s sword to dissect claims that suicide is forgivable if the individual had a mental illness.
While it’s popular in the world and among some Christians to absolve one of the sin of suicide if they suffered mental illness, there is no Biblical case for it. First, let’s highlight how there isn’t a single sin the Lord excuses because of one’s mental health. There is no such thing as “Go and sin no more, unless you’re mentally ill.” And we need to be honest - what we count as “mental illness” is what the Scriptures count as spiritual oppression or double-mindedness (Judges 9:23; 1 Samuel 16:14-23; 1 Kings 18:21; Matthew 4:24, 5:15, 9:23; Mark 5 and elsewhere). Scripture says “a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). But there is hope, as the double-minded can be cleansed if they draw near to God (James 4:8).
Second, God, who created us, charges us in His first and greatest commandment to love Him with all our heart, soul and MIND (Matthew 27:37). The first and second commandments are upon which all the Law of God hangs, so it’s odd the Lord never saw fit to offer a concession for a “chemical imbalance” were this truly something with which Christians were expected to contend. The mere use of the term “chemical imbalance” in our culture can be best compared to the “double-minded” instability discussed in the Scriptures. Moreover, even the medical community admits the notion of a “chemical imbalance” in the brain is a hypothesis and tends to oversimplify explanations for mental illness.
Third, God’s Word makes a repeated case for mental stability being the fruit of one who abides in Christ. Such is one who delights in God’s Word and meditates on it day and night, he is thus PLANTED like a tree by rivers of water (Psalm 1:2-3). Put another way, as Isaiah declares about our God, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3, my emphasis).
Whenever we are “out of our mind” or “not in our right mind”, it’s a sign that our mind is not on Christ, thus we must return our focus on the Lord.
Indeed, we are human beings living in a fallen world, so even Believers experience times of depression, heartache and grief. But, we also have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us and, in America at least, we have the Lord’s Word readily available to us. We may know situational sadness, but overall the mark of a Believer entails our general sense of peace and joy. “For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22). If we experience the opposite of any of these things, we are not walking by the Spirit in that area, but by the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). As such, we are encouraged to guard against worry, anxiety, double-mindedness, outbursts of wrath, a lack of self control, despair, etc, which happen to be the very characteristics of what the world calls “mental health issues”. In the Word, though, they are simply the symptoms of a carnal mind. “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:6-11).
Preachers and teachers of the prosperity ‘gospel’ certainly do lie when they claim that God guarantees our physical health in this life. Now, we are encouraged to and should pray for physical healing, and if the Lord honors our supplication, AMEN! But physical healing isn’t something He guarantees or will grant to everyone. We know this because even the Apostle Paul wasn’t healed of the “thorn” in his flesh, even after praying three times for its removal (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). His protégé Timothy also had stomach problems and “frequent infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23). We also know this because the Word is clear that our physical bodies are perishing and perishable (2 Corinthians 4:16; Matthew 10:28; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44). It isn’t until Christ returns that we will receive our glorified bodies that no longer experience aging, sickness, disease or death (1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:52-54; 2 Corinthians 5:4-5).
But our mind? That is being renewed even now! “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). And those born again of the Holy Spirit have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
No matter how popular the world’s philosophies and explanations of things, WE aren’t to be conformed to this world but transformed by the RENEWING of our MINDS that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). And His good, and acceptable, and perfect will requires that we, being new creations, glorify Him in the earth and grow from glory to glory in the grace and KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:10; 2 Peter 1:5-11, 3:18; John 15:8). We may not be perfect outwardly, but we are being perfected inwardly. And again, whose mind is stayed on Christ, HE will keep in PERFECT PEACE. This is all pointing to a spiritual renewal that anyone in Christ can and will access if he/she abides and remains in Him (1 Peter 1:10-11). Since GOD SAID He didn’t give us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a SOUND MIND (some versions translate “sound mind” as “self-control”), we ought to believe we have the spirit of power, love and a SOUND MIND (2 Timothy 1:7).
(Image by Alina Grubnyak)
Indeed, the brain and the mind are not the same, for the brain is part of our physical bodies and is susceptible to physical disease just like any other organ. Yet, there aren’t any known brain diseases that result in suicide. Again, even medical experts admit the notion of a chemical imbalance in the brain doesn’t truly explain mental illnesses, and they also admit they don’t fully understand the mind. For while the brain can be seen, the mind can’t be seen or diagnosed by physical or natural means. And an honest look at the Scriptures points to it, as well as the heart and soul of man, as part of our inward self.
I share all of this not to attack anyone sincerely suffering, nor am I suggesting anything concerning their medical treatment. I am not a doctor, and this is NOT medical advice. It is simply an admonishment for spiritual renewal and growth in Christ Jesus, in conjunction with a reminder for prayer and casting our anxieties on the Lord. So be “anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and MINDS through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Someone with God’s peace is someone in God’s continual presence, and such a person isn’t easily overcome with despair (2 Corinthians 4:8-10). And if we find ourselves tempted to despair and battling suicidal thoughts for any reason, that’s our cue to examine ourselves and cling to the promises of God. Job suffered greater than any mortal in the history of mankind and even he refused to “curse God and die”, which seems to have been his wife’s foolish suggestion that he kill himself (Job 2:9).
As Believers, we have to remember that though we suffer in this life, suffering is TEMPORARY, and it is for our sanctification that we are refined for life eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17; Psalm 30:5). If in the midst of suffering we need to lament and cry out to the Lord, we are actually welcomed to do that. There’s a whole book called LAMENTATIONS, Job lamented, and even King David pours out his heart to the Lord in the psalms. But we lament not to charge our Lord with evil, but to express our need for, dependence on, and hope in Him. Cry out to Him when you need to, but may we NEVER “curse God and die!”. May we NEVER turn away from Him believing He’s turned His back on us. Let patience have her perfect work. Even the Lord’s chastening is a sign of His love for us (Hebrews 12:6). So, when we endure suffering, whether through persecution, the guaranteed trials of life, or even as a consequence of our own actions, let us draw near to God and He will draw near to us (James 1:4-8; 4:8-10).
