No, I do not want Christians to kill themselves.
But have you ever noticed that Jesus, Paul, Peter, nearly all of the early Christians, and most of the great Christians throughout history would be considered “suicidal”?
No, it is not that they were depressed about life, or were thinking of killing themselves.
Instead, they risked their lives to love and serve others. And when the threat of death reared its head before them, they rushed head-long into it.
The Gospels tell us that Jesus headed resolutely toward Jerusalem, knowing that He would be arrested and crucified. Paul also, was warned repeatedly against going to Jerusalem, but he went anyway. Peter and the other apostles faced imprisonment, torture, and even death in their task of taking Jesus to the ends of the earth.
They did not live safely. They took risks which would be described today as “having a death wish.”
Today, in the United States, we plan and prepare and try to do everything to keep ourselves and our children safe. But maybe it is we are are living suicidally, killing our spirits and our souls in an effort to avoid sickness, pain, and death.
So what are you going to risk? Life and limb, or your bank account and health?
