"ANTHONY BOURDAIN, SUICIDE, AND US - A WAKE UP CALL FOR THE CHURCH" - by John Stonestreet and David Carlson, Breakpoint.org, June 13, 2018; http://www.breakpoint.org/2018/06/breakpoint-anthony-bourdain-suicide-and-us/ [AS I SEE IT: Of all the places where individuals gather, you would think that the Church family is where people would feel most free to be vulnerable. But much too often - whether it's suiciede or some embarassing addiction ("sin area"/"weakness") - to admit you're struggling and that you don't hae it "all together" as a Christian is still uncomfortable for too many in the Church. Every Church needs to provide groups and other resources that people can feel free to go to speak up about thiings like depression and thoughts of suicide. It's to the Church's shame that such for individuals to have such freedom is so rare. - Stan]
An epidemic of staggering and tragic proportions is sweeping the country. And Christians are not immune.
This man seemed to have it all. Celebrity chef, TV travel dude, and author Anthony Bourdain circled the globe, going to exotic places, eating the world’s best foods—whether at a West African fish hut or the finest restaurants in Paris. He lived in a multi-million dollar Manhattan condo. And last week, he took his own life.
Now, if you’ve ever watched the shows, “No Reservations,” or “Parts Unknown,” you know he was kind of a bad boy. Savvy and intelligent, yes. But irreverent, edgy, and sometimes profane. You couldn’t help but think, “This man needs Jesus.” Sadly, all that Bourdain had and had achieved was not enough to save him from what is now called “death from despair.”
And he’s not alone. His death came right after the suicide of New York handbag designer Kate Spade and a day after the CDC reported that between 1999 and 2016, suicide rates in all but one state in the U. S., across age, gender, and ethnic lines, increased. Suicides, in fact, are the second leading cause of death for people ages 15-34. Throw in the other “deaths of despair,” such as drug overdoses and complications from alcoholism, and we have a public health crisis of the first order.
Given the state of our culture, it’s not surprising. People seem more isolated than ever before, despite—or perhaps in part because of—being more virtually connected. Loneliness and depression are epidemic and rising, and the mediating institutions of communities, like families, churches, civic organizations are struggling, to say the least. Social ties are fraying at an astonishing pace.In our society, it’s increasingly difficult for individuals to be spiritually, mentally, and emotionally healthy.
And Christians are not immune. I think of Rick and Kay Warren’s son, Matthew. And my friend, Wisconsin Pastor Bill Lenz. Thank God the church is starting to wake up to the problems of suicide and mental illness. But only starting to wake up.
Today on a BreakPoint podcast, I talk with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, who’s the Director of the Bioethics Program at UC Irvine. “The time has come,” Dr. Kheriaty told me, “for the church to have a serious conversation about mental illness, about reaching out to those who struggle with mental illness, providing pastoral care for them and their families so that they can truly feel integrated into the Christian community.”
And that integration is essential. Dr. Kheriaty said, “The person who has a strong inner conviction of God’s love for them and his healing mercy and . . . feels supported by the Christian community, that person is going to have a significantly lower risk” of suicide, “even if they are struggling with a serious [mental] illness.”
I asked Dr. Kheriaty what advice he has for parents or family members who have a loved one who is struggling. First, he said, don’t lose hope. Recovery from mental illness is possible, but it’s a long, hard process. Second, speak to your pastor to see if he can recommend a mental health professional. If not, don’t be afraid to seek out a competent professional. Too often, Christians are automatically closed to the idea of medication, which he said may be helpful, even life-saving in some cases.
And then, what can churches do? Be aware, he said. The person next to you in the pew may be struggling. Pastors and church leaders: Pray for your members who are suffering. And vice-versa! Open the door to support groups for those who struggle with mental illness or their family members—much like we would for anyone struggling with a physical illness. If leaders lead—even with small steps—the congregation will follow.
So come to BreakPoint.org to listen to this podcast interview with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty. And be sure to subscribe to the BreakPoint podcast as well. Next to Jesus Himself, life is the greatest gift God has given us. And as His children, we have to do all we can to help our brothers and sisters hold on to life—and to Him.
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
RESOURCES - Find out what you and your church can do to offer help and healing to those who are suicidal or struggling with mental illness. Click here to listen to John’s interview with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty.
"The Church’s Response to Mental Illness and the Suicide Epidemic" - John Stonestreet, Dr. Aaron Kheriaty | BreakPoint.org | June 13, 2018; http://www.breakpoint.org/2018/06/dr-aaron-kheriaty-churchs-response-mental-illness-suicide-epidemic/
"Dying of Despair" - Aaron Kheriaty | First Things | August 2017; https://www.firstthings.com/article/2017/08/dying-of-despair""
"Suicide rates rise sharply across the United States, new report shows" - Amy Ellis Nutt | Washington Post | June 7, 2018;https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/06/07/u-s-suicide-rates-rise-sharply-across-the-country-new-report-shows
"Addressing Depression and Suicide in Your Church" - Amy Simpson | Christianity Today; https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2013/april-online-only/addressing-depression-and-suicide-in-your-church.html
When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy - John Piper | Crossway Publishers | 2007;https://colsoncenter.christianbook.com/darkness-not-lift-doing-while-wait/john-piper/9781581348767/pd/48765?event=ESRCG#CBD-PD-Description
This man seemed to have it all. Celebrity chef, TV travel dude, and author Anthony Bourdain circled the globe, going to exotic places, eating the world’s best foods—whether at a West African fish hut or the finest restaurants in Paris. He lived in a multi-million dollar Manhattan condo. And last week, he took his own life.
Now, if you’ve ever watched the shows, “No Reservations,” or “Parts Unknown,” you know he was kind of a bad boy. Savvy and intelligent, yes. But irreverent, edgy, and sometimes profane. You couldn’t help but think, “This man needs Jesus.” Sadly, all that Bourdain had and had achieved was not enough to save him from what is now called “death from despair.”
And he’s not alone. His death came right after the suicide of New York handbag designer Kate Spade and a day after the CDC reported that between 1999 and 2016, suicide rates in all but one state in the U. S., across age, gender, and ethnic lines, increased. Suicides, in fact, are the second leading cause of death for people ages 15-34. Throw in the other “deaths of despair,” such as drug overdoses and complications from alcoholism, and we have a public health crisis of the first order.
Given the state of our culture, it’s not surprising. People seem more isolated than ever before, despite—or perhaps in part because of—being more virtually connected. Loneliness and depression are epidemic and rising, and the mediating institutions of communities, like families, churches, civic organizations are struggling, to say the least. Social ties are fraying at an astonishing pace.In our society, it’s increasingly difficult for individuals to be spiritually, mentally, and emotionally healthy.
And Christians are not immune. I think of Rick and Kay Warren’s son, Matthew. And my friend, Wisconsin Pastor Bill Lenz. Thank God the church is starting to wake up to the problems of suicide and mental illness. But only starting to wake up.
Today on a BreakPoint podcast, I talk with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, who’s the Director of the Bioethics Program at UC Irvine. “The time has come,” Dr. Kheriaty told me, “for the church to have a serious conversation about mental illness, about reaching out to those who struggle with mental illness, providing pastoral care for them and their families so that they can truly feel integrated into the Christian community.”
And that integration is essential. Dr. Kheriaty said, “The person who has a strong inner conviction of God’s love for them and his healing mercy and . . . feels supported by the Christian community, that person is going to have a significantly lower risk” of suicide, “even if they are struggling with a serious [mental] illness.”
I asked Dr. Kheriaty what advice he has for parents or family members who have a loved one who is struggling. First, he said, don’t lose hope. Recovery from mental illness is possible, but it’s a long, hard process. Second, speak to your pastor to see if he can recommend a mental health professional. If not, don’t be afraid to seek out a competent professional. Too often, Christians are automatically closed to the idea of medication, which he said may be helpful, even life-saving in some cases.
And then, what can churches do? Be aware, he said. The person next to you in the pew may be struggling. Pastors and church leaders: Pray for your members who are suffering. And vice-versa! Open the door to support groups for those who struggle with mental illness or their family members—much like we would for anyone struggling with a physical illness. If leaders lead—even with small steps—the congregation will follow.
So come to BreakPoint.org to listen to this podcast interview with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty. And be sure to subscribe to the BreakPoint podcast as well. Next to Jesus Himself, life is the greatest gift God has given us. And as His children, we have to do all we can to help our brothers and sisters hold on to life—and to Him.
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
RESOURCES - Find out what you and your church can do to offer help and healing to those who are suicidal or struggling with mental illness. Click here to listen to John’s interview with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty.
"The Church’s Response to Mental Illness and the Suicide Epidemic" - John Stonestreet, Dr. Aaron Kheriaty | BreakPoint.org | June 13, 2018; http://www.breakpoint.org/2018/06/dr-aaron-kheriaty-churchs-response-mental-illness-suicide-epidemic/
"Dying of Despair" - Aaron Kheriaty | First Things | August 2017; https://www.firstthings.com/article/2017/08/dying-of-despair""
"Suicide rates rise sharply across the United States, new report shows" - Amy Ellis Nutt | Washington Post | June 7, 2018;https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/06/07/u-s-suicide-rates-rise-sharply-across-the-country-new-report-shows
"Addressing Depression and Suicide in Your Church" - Amy Simpson | Christianity Today; https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2013/april-online-only/addressing-depression-and-suicide-in-your-church.html
When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy - John Piper | Crossway Publishers | 2007;https://colsoncenter.christianbook.com/darkness-not-lift-doing-while-wait/john-piper/9781581348767/pd/48765?event=ESRCG#CBD-PD-Description
The epidemic of suicide in this country is testament to the human need for love and salvation. In a sense, it's harder to admit having mental health issues as a Christian because there's the false belief that God takes away all our problems. In reality, God helps us through all our problems and even uses them to bring us closer to him. Dr. Kheriaty makes a good point about the importance of each person having a "strong inner conviction of God's love for them and His healing mercy and... feels supported by the Christian community". In the end, it's not other people's opinions or our status in life that matters - it's God irreversible, unfathomable, overwhelming love poured out on the cross and through the saints. Let us be the church to everyone around us and let everyone know that they are loved!
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