I have thought of suicide.  People are just so mean to me, and I don't know what to do.  I am scared.  I am hurt.  I try to ignore all the mean comments, but I can't.  What should I do?

Sincerely,
Down

Dear Down,

Suicide isn’t the answer; the answer is to surround yourself with better people.  We remember the days of feeling alone, neglected, and unwanted – but all that changed when we turned to the Bible.  Christians are never alone because we have the Lord as our strength and other Christians to encourage us.  God designed local congregations to build us up (Heb 10:24-25) because He knows that there are many bad influences in the world that try to corrupt us (1 Cor 15:33).  You need a faithful congregation, and we would love to help you find one full of sincere, honest people that love the Lord and love each other.  Please e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org, so we can help you find the godly people you need in life.

      Are our experiences a gift from God to learn about God and give Him the glory?  How does God use us in our life?

Sincerely,
Life Lessons

Dear Life Lessons,

If we place our trust in the Lord, everything can be a positive experience – there is a reason we are told to rejoice in the Lord always (Php 4:4).  God tells us that we can even rejoice in tribulations (Rom 5:3) because eventually, if we suffer faithfully, our tribulations produce indestructible hope… a hope that cannot be taken away from us.  God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him (Rom 8:28).  A christian can always say, “I am better for having been through it.”  On the other hand, if we are outside of the Lord, there are no guarantees that things will turn out well… just one more reason to build your life upon the Lord.

     Some versions like the King James Version have ‘he’ for Judges 1:19, other versions use ‘they’.  ‘He’ would assumingly be Jehovah, and ‘they’ would be the Israelites.  So is it really God or the Israelites who took possession of the land?

Sincerely,
Deed In Hand

Dear Deed In Hand,

Regardless of whether a translation uses ‘he’ or ‘they’ in Judg 1:19, it is referring to the Israelites.  Israel was the one that couldn’t drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had chariots of iron… God doesn’t have any problem destroying an enemy, no matter what weapons they have.

My husband stopped going to church with me; I am trying to be a "submissive wife" and do as God commands us. My question is: am I to stop going to church because my husband stopped? And if I go without him, am I being disobedient in God's sight? Please help me. As of right now (three weeks), I have not been to church, and it is crushing my heart!!! I want to serve God and do His will, but all I have to go on is the women in my church telling me that I must stop coming until my husband starts again, and if he doesn't return, I shouldn't either and that I can praise at home. Well, I do that, but I just want to make sure that this is the correct information about this subject. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Homebound

Dear Homebound,

Col 3:18 says that wives are supposed to be in subjection to their husbands “as is fitting in the Lord”, and not going to church definitely isn’t fitting (Heb 10:24-25). Jesus’ authority supersedes all other authorities in the world, including your husband’s (Eph 1:20-22). You are right to try and be submissive but not at the cost of your spiritual health. In the end, you will stand before God all by yourself (Php 2:12). It is wrong to stop attending the church’s meetings, and it is wrong for your husband to tell you not to go. Now is the time to stand your ground and choose godly behavior.

     What does the Bible say about someone committing suicide?  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Concerned For Consequences

Dear Concerned For Consequences,

Suicide is murder, self-murder, and is therefore very clearly a sin (Rev 21:8). The only difference between suicide and murdering someone else is that you don’t get a chance to repent after suicide. Suicide is a final decision and leaves no room for correction or for asking forgiveness. Therefore, in most cases, it would be fair to say that suicide will send you to hell. It is a willful act of disobedience against God without opportunity for repentance.

We here at AYP only hesitate to say, “All people who commit suicide go to hell,” because God never specifically makes that statement. The final judgment belongs to God (Heb 12:23), but we certainly wouldn’t want to face that judgment with our own blood on our hands.