WHAT REASON TO LIVE? |
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Suicide. Far too many people are choosing to die every year. I wrote the first edition of this article almost 20 years ago and its message still applies. The number of suicides in our well-off western world isn't decreasing. Instead, two decades of data show a notable and continuing increase. Suicide rates have increased significantly in nearly every state over the past two decades, and half of the states have seen suicide rates go up more than 30 percent. 16 Among people ages 15 to 34, suicide is the second-leading cause of death. 19 Some suicides have gotten more creative, provoking death by cop or choosing death behind the wheel of an automobile, unfortunately often killing others with them. Not all these deaths appear within formal suicide statistics, but they're as much suicide as if they personally pulled the trigger.
"He had success beyond his wildest dreams. He had money beyond his wildest dreams." - Celebrity chef and suicide victim's mother, expressing shock that he was "the last person" who would commit suicide. 28 As I work directly with at-risk children and youth, I've heard firsthand far too many children and teens say they want to kill themselves or that they'd rather be dead. Yes, children. I've personally had to intervene and restrain a first grade child who was actively trying to kill himself. Often, the suicide seemed to happen without warning: 54 percent of the people who killed themselves didn't have a previously known mental health issue. 16
Some popular groups, shows, movies, and musicians sell their messages of hopelessness directly to the masses. One website features a non-exhaustive list of "the best suicide movies." In 2017, the top television show on Google was a Netflix series about teenage suicide. Yes, an entire series featuring (some would say "glamorizing") suicide. Still another website lists "36 (mostly excellent) songs to sound track your suicide" - again, the song list is partial. Unquestionably, society's existing despair makes a ready market for their mass-marketed message.
Consider specifics on what the world offers as reasons to live, or to
give meaning in life. For many decades our entertainment,
including television, movies, music, sports, and even video games,
champion the idea that life's only real purpose is to have fun. If
your fun stops, change channels, apps, teams, or artist. A 2017 study co-authored by (Dr. Thomas E.) Joiner and published in Clinical Psychological Science investigated increased media use - social media, news on the Internet, computer and video games, etc. - and learned it is a potential contributor to the national jump in suicide rates among adolescents. 20
Amusement parks, cruise ships and restaurants assure us that they
cater to our every whim and it's not worth having unless it's done
"your way." This advertised call for continual
pleasure has become the creed and sole reason for living for the
American majority. Most of today's generation has never known a time
without possible continual entertainment. From televisions, to
computers, tablets, and cell-phones, excitement is ever present.
It should surprise us that school is boring - it can't compete.
And if I can't watch a short video on YouTube explaining it or
showing how it's done, it's probably not worth learning anyway.
A 2018 report noted that teens hospitalized for considering or trying
suicide doubled over a seven-year period, with the greatest increase
among adolescent females. "After hours of scrolling through Instagram feeds, I just feel worse about myself because I feel left out." 3 Cell phones and iPads didn't cause this spike in suicides any more than the previous generation's music or shows. Yet they all feed the idea that life isn't worth living if it isn't exciting, glamorous, or continuously fun. In the least, they claim, your life should never be sad or have hardship. One study showed a 19% rise in Google searches related to suicide after Netflix released the fictional series "13 Reasons Why," about suicide, on March 31, 2017. Searches included "how to commit suicide" and "how to kill yourself," with the study suggesting the show "could have led some people to actively contemplate suicide." 4 I'd argue the viewers already embraced society's "must have fun and no hardship" vision, with the show only stimulating specific thoughts on how to cure their sensed plight. Suicide takes more lives of our youth than automobile accidents. 20
If you ever wondered whether using sex in advertising helps to sell, here is the answer: it does. Actually, it is one of the strongest and most effective selling tools. The relationship between sex and marketing is a winning combination for almost any business. 5
If you're taking too long to amass these items, don't worry.
Your credit is good here. Don't allow time to stand in the way
of the immediate pleasure these commodities are sure to give
you.
A significant minority finds their reason for living in something
different. They have a never-ending search for knowledge. For
some it's merely a stepping-stone to career success and prosperity.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-2 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." (NIV) |
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Ecclesiastes 2:1a I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." (NIV)
Ecclesiastes 2:1b But that also proved to be meaningless. (NIV) When conventional means of having fun lose their luster, the logical conclusion is to improve them. Yes, for many, that means chemical highs; drugs of choice. Perhaps the most common and sociably acceptable is the most widespread - alcohol. Solomon search took him here: Ecclesiastes 2:3 I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives. (NAS) Chemical dependent pleasure is equally meaningless. In fact, these substances cloud the mind and pervert wisdom. When the high wears off, you need more. Then you find it takes increasing amounts. This isn't a reason for living. It binds participants into the slavery of a hopeless cause.
I Kings 11:1-3 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter-- Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. (NIV)
One thousand women; talk about living out many men's fantasy. Yet,
even in the charade of marrying many of them, he couldn't find happiness. Solomon started with great inherited wealth. Yet he worked to amass more. Here too he looked for purpose in his work and the possession he could gain. Ecclesiastes 2:4-9 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well-- the delights of the heart of man. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me... (NIV)
Yes, Solomon became famous. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. (NIV) After these pursuits fail to satisfy people often give up hope. Some don't even try. They despair of ever finding hope in these before trying. It's no wonder that so many consider their life meaningless. Into this void one of the devil's greatest deceptions shows up: suicide. Just kill yourself. If life's not worth living, check out early. If life's meaning comes through pleasure, and the pleasure has stopped, why stay? If your sensed pain is too great, stop it. These and a host of similar reasons push people towards an abrupt premature end.
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Humankind's downfall is the Devil's goal. He doesn't care about you; he wants to destroy you. In fact, the Devil knows that he has already been defeated (John 12:31, 1 John 3:8, John 16:11, Colossians 2:15, etc.), and that his final destination is in the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). He's lashing out at God, trying to destroy as much of God's creation as he can. The faster he can get you to die without trusting in Jesus, the faster he has carried out his purpose. If the Devil can get you to kill yourself, he's deceived you into doing his job. Every thought of killing yourself is demonic temptation from hell's pit. Solomon, mercifully, never came to the point of despairing of life. He rightly called all these worldly pursuits "meaningless" in their ability to give anyone a reason for living and finally found the truth. It appears Solomon wasted most of his life, in the futility of chasing these common pursuits. Only late in his life did he discover the real reason for living: Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"... (NIV) Solomon spends the next few verses describing effects of growing old, but don't miss the heart of what he discovered. There's only one valid reason for living - worship and service of our Creator. Solomon especially warns people to not follow his example and only find this out when they're old. Don't waste the best of your life in the pursuit of the meaningless. How Solomon ends his book is a great contrast to the despair of his opening declarations of meaninglessness... Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. (NIV)
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV) The life we're given in Christ means forgiveness of all our sins and a permanent salvation. Jesus completely saves and forever stands ready to speak to the Father on our behalf. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV) Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (ESV) Now that's real life and real purpose! For those who have found salvation in Jesus Christ (John 14:6), we've received hope, hope that extends to eternity. Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV) Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you... (NIV, also read the following verses and Ephesians 4:4) Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV, see also 1 Corinthians 15:19). Because our hope extends to eternity, even if we suffer for the cause of Christ, as did the apostle Paul, we still have hope - a goal, and a reason for living. Plus we're never alone. God promises He'll never leave or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5-6), to help get us through the worst that life has to offer. 7 Yes, we still live in a fallen world where sin's influences run rampant, but we can rest in this assurance given to all who follow Him: Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (NAS)
What if you still feel tempted to kill yourself, even after placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ? It's like any other temptation. Seek the Lord's help to overcome it (1 John 5:4-5), to resist (James 4:7) or flee from it (2 Timothy 2:22). And don't forget you have an entire family, God's family, to help and encourage you (Hebrews 10:23-25). 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (NIV) God knows how you feel. Jesus experienced life's temptations in every way like us, yet He remained perfect and sinless. Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV) Hebrews 2:18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (NIV) Yes, Jesus experienced direct temptation to kill himself. Consider this meeting with the Devil during Jesus' time of testing in the wilderness: Luke 4:9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. (NIV) Jesus responded to the Devil's temptations (and misuse of scriptures) with the truth of scriptures (Luke 4:10-12). As our example, He clearly knew that His purpose was to serve God alone (see Luke 4:8). If that's similarly our purpose for living, we too will seek His will in every area of our lives (John 14:15). Experiencing temptation isn't sin itself, embracing the temptation rather than making it subject to Christ is where it becomes sin. Romans 13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 10:5b ... we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (NIV) What's the solution to despair of life? For multitudes still asking, "What reason to live?," there's only one. A world that dying needs to hear this Creator-designed solution from every Christian: Jesus. He's your reason to live!!!
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Common questions on suicide Q: Why do some suicidal people kill others before they die or during their death event? A: Most fall into three categories. Remember, each has lost hope in finding meaning in life or any reason for living. They've embraced the lie that if life is too painful, or without enough pleasure, it's not worth living. Having tried or sought trying the world's materialistic solutions - they now blame others for standing in their way. In their minds, some individual, group, or the whole world, is responsible for their inability to find happiness and purpose in their chosen pursuit. Again, they don't realize that whatever they choose, apart from Jesus, is no reason at all. They express their anger in a manner that blames, and tries to punish, other people for all their felt pain and problems. The second reason some suicidal people kill family members or close friends is that they believe they're sparing those individuals from the pain of living. They sincerely believe they're sparing those individuals from life's meaninglessness existence and pain. Finally, some are mad at God, blaming Him for all their problems. They harm people in vengeance against God. Q: What reasons do people give for committing (or trying) suicide? A: In no particular order...
Q: What are suicide's effects? A: Someone dies. Their effects of selfish act then impact others, whether grief or self-incrimination or self-blame. Many family members and close friends carry a burden of guilt that they somehow failed. Often there's a ripple effect, like throwing a rock in a pond; others now consider suicide as a way out for themselves. Glowing eulogies for the suicide victim, perhaps prominently featured in press reports, with counselors promising they're "in a better place," sometimes fuel other's ideas who may already be considering this act. Q: How do people kill themselves? A: Media have sensationalized means such as shooting one's self, slashing wrists, hanging, jumping off a building or cliff, or drug overdoses. People often employ these in real life. Websites have come and gone over the years featuring lists of possible means, including one featuring a long list of movies and shows with suicides in their story line. 8 Another website has a top ten list of "Common Methods of Suicide," individually describing in detail "How it's done" for each entry. It also lists possible "results from failure." 9 Guns were the most common method used for suicide, accounting for almost half of the people who died. 16 According to the CDC (May 5, 2010) motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers - over one-third of all deaths. Of teen motorcyclists, half are single-vehicle crashes. 12 Further, in almost half of all teen-vehicle crashes the driver didn't use a seat belt during the crash. 13 Don't overlook what's called "Car Crash Suicide." Many auto accidents are hard to classify as intentional. This makes them a significant way of masking a suicide. 11 While percentages are hard to quantify, estimates across all ages feel up to 5 percent of vehicle deaths may fit into this category. 14 Other accidents and deaths have semi-suicidal drivers using a "flirt with death" approach, not openly wanting to die. But if their reckless actions happen to end in death, the universe wanted it. (Some take this approach because they feel that God won't blame them for "an accident" but He would if they willfully killed them self). A related method, with increased popularity, is to provoke someone else to kill you. With this method, the person may commit a crime and incite a police officer to shoot them (perhaps by pointing an unloaded weapon at the officer). 15 Q: Are many people committing suicide? A: Suicide rates vary by area and seemingly have up and down cycles. An often quoted thirty-year-old statistic for North American teens gives an overall perspective... "Every 78 seconds a teenager attempts suicide. Every 90 minutes one succeeds." 17 Other studies show that as many as 1 in 5 people have tried suicide. Our own surveys, of mostly teens, show about 1 in 5 have considered suicide. (See the inset text box for further statistics). A new study led by Vanderbilt University, published last month in the academic journal, Pediatrics, reports a more than doubling from 2008 to 2015 of school-age children and adolescents hospitalized for suicidal thoughts or attempts. 20 On average, there are 123 suicides per day. 25 Q: Is suicide sin? A: When God said, "You shall not murder" in His ten commandments (Exodus 20:13), it covered murder of any human being including kill yourself. Yes murdering yourself is a sin. The Devil was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). He caused Job to lose everything he owned, his family, and his health. Yet, God wouldn't allow Satan to kill Job. I'm sure that Satan would've liked to have convinced Job that life wasn't worth living, so Job would do what God prevented Satan from doing (Job 1:1-2:9). Q: Do people that commit suicide go to heaven? A: People ask this question for many reasons. Some want to hear they'll "go to a better place" if they choose to kill themselves. Even declared Christians considering suicide sometimes want to know if this choice will automatically send them to hell. It's important to stress that rejecting the gospel of Jesus Christ, refusing to put your faith and trust in Him assures you will face God's condemnation (John 3:18). Only those who have followed Jesus Christ, in faith, find eternal life (Romans 8:1). Those who have trusted in Jesus have found hope in Him - a reason for living (Psalms 62:5-6). In contrast, what message does committing suicide give? It tells people the person had no hope, no reason for living. If Scripture's standard is any example, suicide is evidence of person's heart condition. Examine all cases of suicide in the Bible, from king Saul to Judas, and they were either in rebellion against God or even possessed of Satan (Luke 22:3). This said, if the person is a true believer (and only God knows, read 2 Timothy 2:19), any sin cannot separate them from God (or condemn them again - read Romans 8:1 again). Size of the sin doesn't matter. If a believer perhaps told a lie, and suddenly dies, that sin doesn't condemn them. Jesus died for their sins, past, present and future (1 Peter 3:18, Titus 2:14). For sure, had they lived God would've unquestionably convicted them of their sin by the Holy Spirit of Truth living within them (John 14:16-17; 16:13). God convicts all believers of sin, leading them to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10)! Some suicides are rash decision (similar to many sins) without much thought - unfortunately an irreversible one. Mood altering prescription drugs may have helped some people to this point, enabling them to do something they, in their right mind, would never consider. We may never know; only God sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Yet no one should ever presume on God's grace, or use His grace as an excuse to sin (Romans 6:1-2) by committing suicide. This God-given warning should be enough: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. (NIV)
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End Notes 1. $69 billion is the value used as one of four featured statistics on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website in 2018. $70 billion is the most recent value as cited by the CDC, see end note 16. 2. In 2015 the rate was 14.2 deaths (per 100,000) for boys versus 5.1 for girls. In 1975 it was 12 for boys versus 2.9 for girls (with almost similar rates and ratios in 2000 and 2001. 3. Caitlin Hearty, Littleton, Colorado. NY Post, 2017/11/14 4. '13 Reasons Why,' more doc visits on suicide. Anupam B. Jena, Josh Gray and Cass R. Sunstein. USA Today, May 18, 2018. 5. A headline on the website "Psychology for Marketers" as viewed on May 12, 2018. 6. A supposedly more scientific study found that men think about sex 19 times per day and women 10 times per day (from Journal of Sex Research). Yet this study was by self-reporting, using a hand-clicker. The research team, led by Terri Fisher, focused on students as Ohio State University. The fact they were being asked to continuously record thinking about sex unquestionably skewed the results. Try asking anyone to record thinking about a unicorn and they'll find themselves thinking about unicorns. Plus, using a sampling of young people on a University campus can't be assumed as normal to men in other settings and age ranges. Another German study, using more randomized self-reporting and a wide age-range of adults, recorded approximately once per day! Hollywood doesn't want this latter statistic incorporated in their ethos. (This note draws on material published in BBC's Future, entitled "How often do men really think about sex?" 06/17/2014). 7. A man called Job experienced some of the worst that can happen in this fallen world. He lost his possession, his employees, his means of income, and all his children. Then he personally suffered in agony of sickness. Yes, he lamented the day he was born (Job 3:1-11) and yet recognized that he could take nothing with him when He died (Job 1:20). In life he still trusted in God and knew without doubt that better waited in the resurrection, regardless of what happens in this life. He longed for the day he would see His savior: Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me! (ESV) 8. The original website I viewed when writing the first edition of this article is now gone, but Ranker.com, whose tag line is "vote on everything," features "The Best Movies About Suicide." This is part of their collection called "Famous Suicides: Lists about notable people who chose to end their lives on their own terms..." Other titles in the collection include: "Suicide notes of famous people," "Actors who died by suicide," "Famous athletes who killed themselves," and "Popular suicide sites around the world." 9. A summary of the Frater.com list, notably leaving out the "How it's done" (as viewed on 6/6/2018): 10. Drowning. Results From Failure: Oxygen deprivation can cause severe and permanent brain damage. 9. Electric Shock. Results From Failure: Deep burns... 8. Exsanguination. Results From Failure: Extreme loss of blood causing the heart to dramatically slow eventually depriving the brain of oxygen. Also, most often, deep scars and tissue damage. 7. Jumping. Results From Failure: Shattered femurs from impacting with water up to severe bodily harm from impacting with any solid surface. 6. Suffocation. Results From Failure: ... long-lasting to permanent brain damage. 5. Carbon Monoxide Inhalation. Results From Failure: CO molecules irreversibly attach themselves to human hemoglobin and the result is often fatal even if one backs out. 4. Poisoning. Results From Failure: ... Lasting effects can include internal organ damage 3. Hanging. Results From Failure: Brain damage... 2. Drug / Alcohol Overdose. Results From Failure: Severe to permanent organ failure... 1. Gun Shot. Results From Failure: ... severe to permanent bodily damage can occur as well as blood loss, organ and tissue damage, and brain damage. 10. One hundred and fifteen people die daily in the United States from opioid abuse. Many start with a legal prescription. Addiction can occur within five days of use. (NBC News 6/7/2018) 11. Quoting a 1995 study: "death by automobile offers a unique opportunity for concealment of suicide intent." (Academic Journal Article: Accident or Suicide? Single-Vehicle Car Accidents and the Intent Hypothesis by Dennis L. Peck and Kenneth Warner, as published on Questia.com and cited in The Brutal Truth About Car Crash Suicide by Samantha Allen on thedailybeast.com, 03/15/16). 12. Specifically: "Among bikers ages 16-19 involved in fatal crashes in 2008, 49% were involved in single-vehicle crashes." (Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics, cited by the legal firm Edgar Snyder & Associates, 6/7/2018). 13. From 2016 US National Statistics: "Of crashes with available seatbelt usage information, 47 percent of young drivers killed were unrestrained at the time of the crash." Plus: "Nearly 60% of young drivers involved in fatal drinking and driving crashes didn't use a seat belt." (Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics, cited by the legal firm Edgar Snyder & Associates, 6/7/2018). 14. That same 1995 study noted that the percentage of vehicular fatalities that are actually suicides could be anywhere from 1.6 to 5 percent, with the precise number impossible to calculate because "a significant albeit unknown proportion of vehicular deaths classified as accidents are in fact suicides." (Academic Journal Article: Accident or Suicide? Single-Vehicle Car Accidents and the Intent Hypothesis by Dennis L. Peck and Kenneth Warner, as published on Questia.com and cited in The Brutal Truth About Car Crash Suicide by Samantha Allen on thedailybeast.com, 03/15/16).
1. Almost all suicide by cop victims were white males (over 90%). 2. They most often carry weapons such as guns, but only 1 in 2 if the weapons are loaded at the time of the incident. 3. Around 17% actually used fake weapons. 4. Nearly the same amount attempted suicide by cop due to something involving their children. 5. Quite a few of these individuals had a history of substance abuse, domestic violence, or had attempted suicide before. 6. When females did attempt this sort of suicide, around half were white. Over 40% of these individuals were also single, but half had children. 16. Article: CDC: U.S. Suicide Rates Have Climbed Dramatically, June 7, 2018, published by NPR. Using data from the CDC's report: Vital Signs: Trends in State Suicide Rates - United States, 1999-2016 and Circumstances Contributing to Suicide, June 8, 2018. 17. National Center for Health Statistics published 1990. 18. Forty-five percent of people without known mental health problems had relationship problems. Almost forty percent of those with mental health problems had the same. (CDC's report: Vital Signs: Trends in State Suicide Rates - United States, 1999-2016 and Circumstances Contributing to Suicide, June 8, 2018) 19. Article: Suicide rates rise sharply across the United States, new report shows. Washington Post, June 7, 2018. 20. Article: The teen suicide rate has more than doubled: Here's how you can help save your child by Larry Villano, USA TODAY, June 8, 2018 21. This is one of two reasons featured in the book, Why People Die by Suicide, by Dr. Thomas E. Joiner, a psychology professor at Florida State University. His second is "A disconnection from others," which summarizes many of the other points on my list. 22. The rise in suicide rates was highest in the central, northern region of the U.S., with North Dakota seeing a 57.6 percent increase since 1999. Nevada was the only state with no increase. Delaware had the smallest increase at 5.9 percent. (CDC: U.S. Suicide Rates Have Climbed Dramatically, June 7, 2018, published by NPR). 23. A study of children at emergency departments for suicide attempts show half of suicide cases occurred in children ages 15-17, with children ages 12-14 accounting for 37 percent, and 12.8 percent of cases involving kids ages 5-11. (Suicide attempts increasing among American high school kids, study finds, Fox News, 05/16/2018). 24. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) rates suicide as the 10th leading cause of death in the US (as viewed on 6/8/2018). I'm not sure why there's a discrepancy with other published values, but the rate has fluctuated some of the years. 25. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP); Suicide Statistics as viewed on 6/8/2018. 26 A decade and a half ago, when I was doing an earlier update of this article, white men age 65 and older were most likely of all demographic groups to commit suicide, accounting for 20 percent of all cases. By 2016, the highest suicide rate (19.72%) was among adults between 45 and 54 years of age. The second highest rate (18.98%) occurred in those 85 years or older. Ages 55 to 64 were 18.71% and 65 to 74 were 15.38%. (The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP); Suicide Statistics as viewed on 6/8/2018.) 27. USA Today published an article by this title, written by Liz Szabo, on 6/9/2018. 28. Anthony Bourdain's mother quoted on ABC's Good Morning America, 6/11/2018. 29. Statistics originally from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Association of Suicidology, plus the 1997 National Suicide Statistics and Facts, and The Surgeon General's Call to Action To Prevent Suicide 1999. Updated using 2015 and 2018 CDC statistics. 30. James 1:17; Romans 11:29; Matthew 5:45; 1 Timothy 4:4. 32. Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 2:20; Psalms 64:10; 97:12; Romans 5:2-3; 12:12; Philippians 4:4; Ephesians 2:8-10.
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The original 1999 version of this article is available here. ©1999/2006/2018 Brent MacDonald, LTM/DTI - Cottage Cove Urban Ministries
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Most
suicides no longer make the news, especially in large urban areas,
unless there's an outbreak in one area, or school. The exception, of
course, is media's fascination with self-inflicted deaths of people
of power, prestige, and fame. In the past three days, as I
worked on this article's update, news of three prominent suicides
flooded the airwaves. A wealthy prominent fashion designer, a
celebrity chef, and the sister of a queen, each decided to die.
What
makes a middle-aged man decide to die? What makes a teen want
to no longer live? What makes a six-year-old child feel death
is their only choice? Simply put, all these people feel that
life isn't worth living and it's "time to check out
early." They have no reason to live. They feel their
life is meaningless or pointless and endlessly cry out without answer
"Why am I here?"
This
secular generation's pop psychologists, commentators, and counselors
are eager to offer their tidbits of help - especially following any
publicized or prominent cases of suicide. They generically claim
there's many reasons to live, that life is worth living. Their
reasoning rests in possessions and people to give meaning in life.
Besides, they add, your premature passing will hurt too many other
people. As if to punctuate this, some toss out the statistic
that suicide yearly costs the United States $70 billion dollars 
If that video game isn't exciting enough buy a better video game or
get a better gaming machine. Whatever you do, never allow yourself
boredom! Your life has to be post worthy. If your latest
social media updates aren't as exciting or dramatic as your friend's,
you're missing out. Forget about relishing a long-term memory
on Facebook, excitement must be in the moment on Snapchat. Your
life must be faster, a thrill a minute. Anything less is
boring; someone might stop watching or - worse still - never
look. In 2014 researchers said you had 8 seconds to get
someone's attention, this became 5 and now some say it's 2.7.
To stay relevant your life becomes a series of click-bait. 
Two-thirds
of children hospitalized for thinking about or trying to kill
themselves were girls. And yet, boys still commit suicide at
almost three times the rate of girls. 
Many
who don't commit or consider suicide try to find a solution for
their problems and lack of pleasure in chemical improvements.
Today's society markets this well too. Just look at the
advertisements; anyone holding a beer is surely having more fun.
Alcohol is an abused happy-drug of choice for millions responding to
the advertisements. For some respondents, their addiction is a
merely a slower way of committing suicide. Illegal drugs - from
heroin to crack cocaine - have growing followings for those looking
for faster and greater highs. Legal and illegal use of legal
drugs, especially pain killers, is the chosen means of dulling the
pain for countless others. 
"Just
say no to drugs" now means "just say no to socially
unacceptable drugs." Again, there's a public epidemic
using happy-drugs of choice that are legal, over-the-counter, and
prescription medicines. Can't sleep because of pressures, problems,
or guilt... take a pill. Feeling depressed for whatever reason -
Prozac and its imitators to the rescue. For hosts of people these
drugs become the only way to lead a "successful happy
life." It's not surprising children's versions of the same
behavior and thought-adjustment drugs have gained widespread
acceptance. If these medicines provide adults a happy life, why not
kids too? A growing trend has siblings of children using such drugs
"borrowing" their pills to experience it for
themselves. They don't want to miss out on the better life and
feelings these chemical improvements glowingly offer.
Search
for continual pleasure has become an art form tied to sex. To fill
the insatiable lust of the eyes, advertisers use sex to sell
everything from soap to cars. Television shows and movies push
the few remaining boundaries to market their products. The
wild-west of shows produced for internet-only resembles pornography
of a previous generation. Nudity is a staple in all genres, and
blatantly sexual acts are no longer relegated to yesterday's low
budget triple-X sleaze films. Any questioner of this trend
hears: "Sex is natural," "the body is beautiful,"
"it doesn't hurt to look," and other choice phrases.
"If it feels good, do it," has become a modern life rule.
Oh, but they'll add, "make sure you do it safely." As
if sinful choices can exist without consequences. Pleasure as
an all-costs pursuit has embraced everything from premarital and
extramarital sex to homosexuality and bisexuality. Supporters
encourage everyone to accept these as the new normal, merely
"alternative" lifestyles and choices. Yes, they
advertise sexual satisfaction as a reason for living.
Beyond
using sex for selling and an offered reason for living, another idea
rivals it for frequency. Make it big! That's right, live
the western dream ("the American dream"). This dream
is to amass possessions and wealth. Buy that big house, that
prominent condominium. Drive the sportiest car, the best SUV,
or that trendy electric car. Amass a huge savings account, a
broad investment portfolio, a pile of crypto-currency, and a fat
retirement savings account. And don't forget to fill your
living space with the latest toys and best electronics. Just
listen to the advertisements, they guarantee this stuff will make you
happy. To get these goods, work must consume you. Work
harder and longer and allow everything (and everyone) else to take
second place. 
Don't
worry about the cost, or all that interest, your immediate pleasure
is more important. Welcome to our modern, western, reason for
living. Some go even further with work; they find the work
itself is their reason for living. They live for the thrill of
the deal, pride of the job, or a conquer-at-all-cost business
philosophy - winning at work means winning at life. Amassed
items are merely perks, but not their purpose. Besides, what
successful person has time to enjoy those hoarded possessions
anyway? There's work to do.
Others go further. Pursuit of knowledge is their life - their
purpose is understanding, digging deeper, analyzing, and always
knowing more. The latest theory on life's meaning or possible origins
consume their time and thoughts. But don't worry; a little more
study, a little more research and surely we'll find the answers!
Modern knowledge and scientific theories are the god and creed
followed by these intellectual elite. They often proselytize
seeking universal conformity to their current belief, claiming all
must believe and practice their reason for living. 
A
final few feel they've found the best - or a better - reason for
living. It's not money or material goods; it's people. Their entire
reason for existence revolves around one or a few people, perhaps a
parent, a spouse, or even children. A boyfriend or girlfriend
fills this void for many young people. Through living to please
or care for their chosen focus of attention they've given themselves
a seemingly noble reason for living. They know other people
have relationship problems - spurned, betrayed, or used - but this
will never happen to them. Obviously others failed because they
didn't give their all. Their pouring-into-a-person reason for
living seems permanent until something - or everything - goes wrong
or someone dies. 
This
summary list of well-promoted reasons for living unquestionably
could be longer. This generation embraces these and similar
reasons with reckless abandon. This brings us to a great
question: Why are we seeing increasing numbers of people choosing or
wanting to die? Obviously, hosts of people have found these
motivations inadequate reasons for living. Perhaps the entire
foundation our society is building on is sinking sand. This
brings many back to the question: Is life meaningless? Know
you're not the first to think so...
Solomon's
first sought meaning in learning. He purposed to examine and study
everything around him. His conclusion reveals much: "For with
much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief
(1:18)." The entire world's knowledge can't give
purpose. Further, examining everything others have done and
discovered sheds no light on a reason for living (1:14). Any
who think they will succeed in a knowledge quest, where Solomon
didn't, should consider the gift God uniquely granted him...
Surely
living to have fun, enjoying all life's pleasures is a reason for
living. Those seeking purpose in these pursuits commonly lament a
lack of finances to have the fun that'll truly make them happy:
"With more money, I could live life the way it should to
be!" Society's rich and famous become role models for
these pleasure seekers. Surely they're having fun, they
have the means. Solomon had wealth to find pleasure in every
way imaginable. His was the wealth of an entire kingdom,
but he still couldn't find purpose...
Solomon's
search for pleasure didn't end with wine. In fact the one pursuit
that likely consumed much of his time and thoughts was lust. Over
years we surveyed teens and adults on their reason for living and
many teens (especially guys) wrote "sex." No surprise
here. If we believe our entertainment; everyone's doing it. A
widely quoted, yet untrue, statistic is that guys think about sex
every seven seconds. 
He wanted and gained more. He was willing to compromise principles
and beliefs to get them and keep them happy. Solomon effectively
became a slave to his passions and lusts. And the objects of his
affections caused him problems all of his life (and not just because
he had 1000 mothers-in-law!). All who would find pleasures in
forbidden relations will also suffer God-intended consequences
(whether in premarital, extramarital, homosexual, or other forms, as
mentioned in scriptures. God designed sex as something pleasurable
and desirable but only inside marriage). Sexual conquest and fantasy
isn't a reason for living, it's merely another form of bondage.
He had fans coming from all over the known world (1 Kings 10:24). He
was living out the dream of millions. Yet he found no meaning...
The
only valid reason for living comes in knowing and following God.
Finding life in Jesus Christ brings anyone hope and purpose. It's no
surprise that Jesus, after warning of the Devil's schemes, contrasts
the life found in Him:
For
those trusting in Jesus, God is working out everything for good -
even evil events or bad things that happen. What a great hope and
assurance we have knowing He's in control!
15.
The Guardian (10/6/2015) records 12% of all US police shootings as
suicide by cop in 2015. Details on who's dying this way come
from Health Research Funding's article "6 Surprising Suicide by
Cop Statistics," 8/20/14...
