VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2], 3, 4 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 21:40:53 10/23/09 Fri
Author: Scott
Author Host/IP: 74.99.47.197
Subject: Re: seeking
In reply to: Grayce 's message, "seeking" on 15:57:47 10/22/09 Thu

During all the years of my pastoring I find suicide the most troubling situation and takes the utmost following of the Holy Spirits leading in being responsible in the care for the grieving. The following paragraphs would be my answers to your questions. Of course always in keeping with the seeking and leading of God's Holy Spirit.

Although I do consider suicide as murder and it being the last action taken before standing in front of God, I also think one would be very unwise to bring this up as a point of discussion after the fact. God is our supreme judge and Him only. *He is the only One that truly knows of this persons eternal standing. He also is the creator of Grace and sees the end from the beginning. I've buried three suicide victims and despite my troubled feelings for them I share with their family how that their loved one is in the hands of the most fair, understanding, gracious God that loved, saw and understood their complexities more than anyone of us ever could and that He loves all of us more than we could even love our own children. No one really knew the full situation and problems involved but God. The rest is in His hands.

You must all ways keep in mind once again death and funerals are after the fact. *You are now speaking to the living not the dead. *Its not the time or place or your job to determine that individuals eternal destiny. A funeral and discussion with survivors of any death is all about God, His Grace, His Son Jesus and the care and comfort for those who must carry on. If you are speaking unto unbeliever God's seed of the gospel promise will be planted and will not return void; if you are speaking unto christians they will be reminded of Christ and his grace of which is sufficient to heal their wounds and will be encouraged in their Lord.

Now as for "Love", I believe it is the very key that unlocks the human heart. The very nature of God. Perfect love being the pure manifestation of God. In Galatians 5:23 in speaking on the fruit of the Spirit "Love" is the first and all Godly fruit can be possible with love. The Bible even states that against such there is no law (or there is no need for the law).

True love touches the heart more quickly than anything else. Love is the voice of God in words and most importantly in actions. Love is the badge that Christ gave His disciples and Love is the only thing that will reconcile us to God.

I am truly the least of all disciples but I hope that my little bit can be of some help to you. "Be encouraged in the Lord".

Pastor Scott

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

  • Re: seeking -- Rev. Mark McManus, 08:06:22 10/28/09 Wed
  • Re: seeking -- Sandi Stevens, 08:23:49 11/05/09 Thu
    Forum timezone: GMT-6
    VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
    Before posting please read our privacy policy.
    VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
    Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.