Suicide

THURS., MAR. 1, 1990, 6:50 AM
FARM, STUDY

Your theme yesterday in class was this one which I have offered as a title. It is the word that represents killing oneself… or shortening one’s earth life. You wonder if there is enough for Me to say about this to constitute a full Teaching. Clearly you shall see, for you are here and writing.

Because of the perspective I have offered to you concerning life and death, the ideas about suicide you shall hear are somewhat different from the traditional Christian expectation. Yet you expect this. You just wonder how deviant I will be. Now you shall find out.

The key to judgment is exactly the same as for merit or demerit in ongoing life: to what extent are you being selfish and to what extent loving and sacrificial? Some suicides, particularly those in youth, are quite selfish in motivation. Life is not going the way the young person envisions. There is either some single crisis that arises which seems insurmountable or a build-up of several smaller set-backs. The “poor me” attitude prevails, and death seems to be the “way out.” Rarely does the selfish suicidal person have a close relationship with Me.

A relationship with Me always includes the perception that life is worthwhile, whatever the circumstances. Yet it should also give the assurance that life is everlasting and eternal, so that killing the body only ends an earth life, and not eternal consciousness and being. Many young suicides realize, after death, that they have given up a chance for spiritual growth that they chose, at least in part. Yet what results is not punishment so much as it is a now more difficult challenge. Consider the possibility, at least, that some who are in extremely difficult life circumstances are in such because of a “former” suicide. Hear again: this is not punishment, but just a mutual working out of justice.

On the other hand you have mused that I, as Jesus, ended My life in a form of suicide. I deliberately put Myself into a dangerous situation. I knew what could happen. When I was brought before Pilate I was not conciliatory. I did not act and speak in ways to preserve My life. I willingly made the sacrifice which brought salvation to countless souls who have accepted the mantle of forgiveness I have offered. How can this be justified? My motivation was to do as My Father wished and to give My life for the benefit of others. Was My death a blow to My disciples? Of course. Yet it still was the right action to take.

More often the suicide in older people is more like My sacrifice. A person could live on, and that life might have some benefit, but it also is a burden to some loved ones, and thus, in consideration and in love, the person lifts the burden from those who now can live life more positively. It is often a “tough call,” however, as to whether there is greater benefit in carrying the burden of an old disabled person or in being relieved of this responsibility. The motivation of the spirit has to be the final factor to be judged. And I do know that.

True sacrifice is always appreciated in the realms of spirit. Earth life is good, but when it is given up for the benefit of others this is a noble act. There is merit in maintaining earth life, and every life is of potential value to the growth of others. There also is merit in giving up earth life so that others might benefit.

At the time of the challenger accident I told you that those whose earth lives were lost had given their lives for a cause. In retrospect it can be said that this was not needed… that there should have been more caution. Considering even My premise that space exploration is a foolish waste of resources, their sacrifice was a noble one. The nature of the cause is not as important as the belief of the person or persons and the willingness to truly sacrifice.