Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

https://www.christianpost.com/news/i...nxiety-227028/

Inland Hills Church Pastor Andrew Stoecklein died Saturday after being on life support from attempting to commit suicide Friday morning.

"""It is also unclear how long the pastor had been battling depression and anxiety but in a blog post on the first anniversary of his father's death he revealed that life had suddenly become much harder without the man who was his hero.

"Life without you is harder than I imagined it would be. I miss you every day, more and more. I sit in your office and meet with people. I thumb through your library as I prepare the messages each week. I stand on your stage to communicate the grace and truth of Jesus. Your example of how to be a husband, father, pastor, leader, and follower of Jesus is literally all around me. And for that I am so grateful," he wrote.

By the time the second anniversary of his father's death came around in October 2017, Stoecklein was in the hospital to undergo two surgeries to remove a mass from his chest, according to a post on Instagram. It is unclear if this mass was due to sudden illness or injury.

"It took two surgeries this week to remove a softball size mass from my chest. Hoping and praying for good results and recovery. Thanks for the love and encouragement! And big thanks to my beautiful wife @kaylasteck for hauling me around and taking care of me," he wrote at the time.

He had also only returned to preaching about two Sundays after taking what he called a summer sabbatical. He explained it was about four months when the senior leaders of the church stepped in to lead while he took some time off to get better.

On his first Sunday back on Aug. 12, he praised his wife, telling his church that he had not been a "very fun person to live with."""

Inland Hills Church released a statement on its FB page: """Inland Hills Church grieves with heavy hearts as our Lead Pastor Andrew Stoecklein was welcomed into Heaven on Saturday night after battling depression and anxiety. It’s not the outcome we hoped and prayed for, and today we grieve as a church family. In his time leading Inland Hills, Andrew reached so many with his warm wit, passionate heart for God, and teaching that always, always pointed others to Jesus. The loving husband, father, son, and friend that he was will continue to inspire us in leading others into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

And in this tragedy, we encourage anyone who is hurting emotionally to ask for help. If you or anyone else is struggling, the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-TALK (8255) is a potentially life-saving resource.

May we be a beacon of hope for the community, to rescue the hurting and honor the God that Andrew served so well.

Andrew, we love you. And we always will. #godsgotthis #inlandhills"""

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Nice tatts

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

"""Inland Hills Church grieves with heavy hearts as our Lead Pastor Andrew Stoecklein was welcomed into Heaven on Saturday night after battling depression and anxiety."""


I don't believe one can take their own life and still be saved.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Amen

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

I think it should be viewed as when a child or a mentall ill person dies.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Interesting perspective.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

I read this news earlier today and watched some video. I sure hate it anytime a person following Christ, especially those in leadership. end up in a situation like this.

I believe in mental illness but I also believe in demons who love nothing better than to destroy people. Especially those in Christian leadership.

I used to be certain in my belief that any person committing suicide was doomed to hell but while I still think that is the case most of the time I do wonder in cases where people are not in their right mind if that is true.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Ok.
What is the biblical logic behind this thought? By the way, I disagree with you.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

thou shall not kill

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

:heeheehee

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

What do you mean "what is the Biblical logic behind this thought?" Do you believe people can kill themselves and be "welcomed into Heaven?"

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Never at any time growing up have I read so much about "mental illness" and "depression/anxiety" than today.

I'm not one who finds the devil behind every bush or around every corner; however, I believe this is a combination of the attack of the enemy of our soul and fulfillment of what the Bible says would happen in the last days -- "men's hearts failing for fear."

"What is the Biblical logic?" That this question is asked is terrible. Here's some logic: our bodies aren't our own. We're the temple of the HG. God alone is creator and finisher of all things, including our lifespan.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Suicide isn’t heart failure.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

I think the stress of the world we are living in is driving people insane.

9 year old kid commits suicide after being bullied for coming out gay. How does a 9 year old even know they are gay? because it is presented by entertainment media as something positive to be admired.

So, if your kid is in a public school and mentions that homosexuality is something that God says is wrong; and the kid goes home and commits suicide, will society hold the parents responsible?

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/08/28...mates-mom.html

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

sad thing about that kid.....hate to put blame on anyone, but parents get no free rides.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

I read that news article yesterday and what you said was my first thought. I have a feeling not only was he influenced by media but most likely by a very liberal family. Most 9 year olds are not thinking about sexuality in any way even with our modern media unless there is a home life pushing that.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Robin Williams committed suicide and his autopsy showed that he had a degenerative brain disorder...at one point does someone cease to be in charge of their decisions in a situation like this?



If they indeed are responsible 100% of the time, does that mean that out of character speech and actions during Alzheimer's and Dementia , let's say a Godly saint happens to be suffering, let's say it's really bad and they are reverting to a "Pre Christ" mindset, if that speech and behavior crosses some lines, are they now in sin or are they not held accountable because of their illness?

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

These are good points and well worth considering. Another scenario.

If someone refuses treatment for a disease that is known to be highly treatable, what then?

If they subsequently die of the disease that they refused treatment for, are they guilty of committing suicide?

What if they were trusting God for a healing?

What about this scripture?

Job.7
[1] Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

Does this imply that our time is up, when it is up? or maybe we can control when our time is up?

In the OT God referred to the blood as the life many times, and says that the life is His IIRC. Maybe this means that suicide would be unforgivable. There is supposed to be only one sin that is unforgivable tho, right?

I don't feel comfortable being judgmental on these sorts of issues. Canned answers seem inadequate. Grace and mercy are what my hope would be in if this happened to someone in my family. (It has happened to someone in my extended family.)

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Just yesterday my wife overheard a 8 year old boy whisper under his breath that he wanted to kill himself.


Of course she had to report it and tell the dad...split family...said he wanted to do it because he was fat and ugly.


Suicide with kids is rare but it does happen.


In my EMS days I think 10 was the youngest attempt I saw.


Parents laying burdens on those children's shoulders that they cannot possibly bare.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

I agree.

Where's the father? I looked at several different articles, none mentioned a father; only the mother is quoted.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Here's something I found:

Seven Suicides in the Bible
1. [Abimelech] called hastily unto the young man his armour-bearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died (Judges 9:54).

2. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed with all his might; and the house fell...upon all the people that were therein (Judges 16:30).

3. Saul took a sword and fell on it (1 Sam. 31:4).

4. When [Saul's] armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died (1 Sam 31:5).

5. When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he...got him home to his house, to his city, and put his house in order, and hanged himself, and died (2 Sam. 17:23).

6. It came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died (1 Kings 16:18).

7. [Judas] cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself (Matt. 27:5).

J. L. Meredith, Meredith's Big Book of Bible Lists, (Inspirational Press, NY; 1980), pp. 143-144

Sampson is mentioned in Hebrews 11, the great "Hall of Faith" passage. And it is implied that after all was said and done, he was considered righteous. So, at least we see one manner of suicide forgiven. Which, though Scripture may not elaborate on it, means there might be others. But only God knows.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

not sure I would consider Samson suicide, more like taking one for the home team.:heeheehee

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lol

Rule # 1. It's not suicide... if you take enough people with you. :thumbsup

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If a Christian gets into a car accident and dies, but has yet to work through a long-standing hurt or grudge or __________ between them and one of their siblings or one of their parents-- does that Christian go to hell?

The most minor sin you can think of-- if you die before you are able to ask for forgiveness, I guess you're going to hell...


We are Apostolic through and through, but we are still saved by GRACE!

:goodgrief

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

are there minor sins? can you name a sin thats ok with God?

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

I guess I think of it like a prisoner of war or hostage situation.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Jihad Pranksters


"DID YOU SEE AMHEDS FACE WHEN HIS BOMB WENT OFF 10 SECONDS LATE????"

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

That was going to be my point. :highfive

There is a school of thought that pretty much has people either walking around nervous about dying before asking forgiveness for every sin or walking around a little self-righteous (or at a bare minimum unaware of just how easy it is to sin).

Even as Born Again Heaven Bound Believers in the Liberating Power of Jesus Name, one of our thoughts can be a sin.

Just. One. Thought.

So if you die before you have the chance of asking forgiveness for that thought which was a sin that you didn't even realize was a sin but just because you didn't realize it was a sin that doesn't make it less sinful so if you DIE without having REPENTED (having godly sorrow, right?) for that one single thought-- what happens to you?

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Gonna burn for trillions of enternities in God's perpetual energy powerplant, that's what.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

I can see that angle. Makes pretty good sense.

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LOL

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

I'm more along the school of thought that believes that all our sins were atoned for at the cross. God's elect (however one wishes to define them) are "forgiven" and "it is finished". When Christ died, all our sins were yet future, so the argument that sins after salvation are different doesn't sit well with me. For God's elect, unless they become reprobate backsliders, our sins are forgiven. Now, our sins do come with consequences, even severe consequences in this life. In addition, we can lose reward in eternity, and still be saved, even if it is yet so as by fire.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

If all our sins were forgiven at the cross, what is the point of repentance? Especially initial repentance of a new believer...

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

When we obey the Gospel, and we are born again, we enter into that which was secured by the cross.

We confess and repent of any sin so that sins work is stopped cold before it carries us away into reprobate apostasy by grieving the Spirit.

At least, that's my understanding.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Of you are not walking with Jesus you are lost. If you are walking with Jesus, he convicts you when there is unrepented sin. The blood is only available to those who are walking in the light.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

I think you have gone beyond scripture.

Re: Non-A/P Pastor Commits Suicide
 

Please explain.