FORT DES MOINES CHURCH OF CHRIST. Love God Love People Serve Everyone Fort Connections. Suicide a Biblical view

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1 FORT DES MOINES CHURCH OF CHRIST Love God Love People Serve Everyone Office: Fort Connections Service Times: Sunday School 9 AM Worship 10 AM Mike Demastus November 2015 Suicide a Biblical view The following is a short excerpt from a suicide note written by a young girl who committed suicide. I performed her funeral service. (This is shared with permission from the family. No names are included to protect the family s identity). Here are some of her final words: I have so much pain that I cannot bear it anymore. I know that ending your life is not the right way. But let me ask you what is the right way? Honestly, there is no right way I want to cry all my pain out, but my body is drained. I want to scream, but I have no voice. I want to not worry about anything anymore. No one understands me and they can t ever help me, and I can t help myself, there is only one more answer for me. Those words, written from a troubled young girl make me incredibly sad to this day (even though it has been a number of years since she committed suicide). Not once in her five-page note did she mention God or Jesus or the church. They were glaringly absent from her life and I found out later, they were absent from her family s life as well. But that has since changed for this family praise God! For many years, the conventional thought of many in the church is that suicide is an unforgivable sin. Thomas Aquinas, being catholic and believing that confession of sin must be made prior to departure from this world to the next, taught that suicide was the most fatal of all sins because the victim could not repent of it. This is based on the fact that if a person dies while they are committing a sinful act, they are unable then to confess that sin and ask for forgiveness. This is an incredibly damaging and unbiblical view. Merely from our own personal standpoint, this idea can be easily refuted. All I need to do is ask you two questions. First of all, do you sin? The obvious answer is yes. And secondly, have you confessed each and every sin that you have committed in your life. The obvious answer is no. There are sins we forget, there are even sins that we commit that we are not aware of. And so by that logic, each of us would still be susceptible to the eternal fires of hell and still unable to receive the grace given through Jesus Christ. But Scripture tells us that is not the case. You see, the problem with the view that suicide is unforgivable is that it represents a gross misunderstanding of Scripture. We are saved by the grace of God, not by works. Ephesians 2:8 & 9 tells us, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. Those who want to say that suicide is unforgivable attempt to make suicide an elevated sin a sin that is heightened to a status that even God himself cannot forgive. There are two problems with this. First, such a stance limits the conditions by which God can or cannot forgive someone resulting in us essentially placing God in a box. Secondly, there is only one unpardonable sin that is ever mentioned within the Bible. Matthew 12:31 says, Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Sometimes in our desire to have things cut and dry, we run head long into extremist views without allowing compassion and mercy to be present. Suicide cannot be condoned, and it should not be dealt with lightly. I dare say that not every person who has committed suicide will go to heaven and not all of them will go to hell either. In essence, those decisions are God s, not ours to make. To remove your name from our mailing list, please notify us by secretary@godsfort.org or call

2 Book Look By MargE DeRuyscher Volume 3 Psalms of Discipleship by Robert Alden is the book look for November. The Psalms have a variety of subjects: teaching, correction, rebuke. All are aimed at helping the reader consider ways to spiritual growth. Devotion to worldly learning should not be greater than learning God s way and laws. Praise and thanksgiving draw us closer to God a thought to keep in mind in this season. Missions Ministry Update By Jim Meisch Christian Holyland Foundation is the mission for November. There are CHLF PRAYER CARDS in the back of the church. Pray that God and the Christ will be seen in the lives of your fellow Believers living in the Land, whether they be Jews, Arabs, Israeli or Palestinian. Pray for Peace that only He can bring. ********************************************************* Praying for Muslims, A Guide for Effective Intercession for 2016 are available to order. There is an appropriate topic each week. As you read about and pray for specific subjects, needs and peoples you become informed about Islam and Muslims. If you are interested in receiving a free guide please contact Shannon or Jim by the end of November. Scripture Memorization for November: Philippians 4:6-7 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 10 Biblical Reasons to Memorize Scripture: 1. Jesus Memorized Scripture! Jesus quoted from 24 different books roughly 180 times! 2. We are called to memorize Scripture! Colossians 3:16 tells us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 tells us to bind God s law on our foreheads, teach it to our children, talk about it wherever we go, and make it an integral part of our lives. 3. Memorizing Scripture renews our mind and transforms our lives! Romans 12:2 says, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Keeping the truth of Scripture fresh in our minds helps us in the transformational process that God desires. 4. Memorizing Scripture helps against temptation! In Jesus time of temptation in the wilderness, he countered Satan s deceitful words with words of truth found in Scripture. I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11). Please also look up Ephesians 6:10-20! 5. Memorizing Scripture helps to keep your life pure and helps you to live in obedience! Knowing God s Word through the memorization of Bible verses is a great way to guard your life and actions according to God s Word. How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word (Psalm 119:9). 6. Memorizing Scripture allows us to more readily encourage other believers! Paul exhorts the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 to be ready to encourage other believers with the truth. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. Knowing Scripture is a vital part of ministering to others. 7. Memorizing Scripture allows us to share with unbelievers better! We are urged in 1 Peter 3:15 to always be ready to give a defense for our hope in Christ. We should memorize Scripture so we can walk unbelievers through the salvation message and help them understand their sin and need for a Savior. 8. Memorizing Scripture gives us a better understanding of God and His will! When we know God s Word and obey it, we are able to experience God at a deeper level and experience the freedom that comes only through obedience (John 8:31-32; 14:21). The deeper we know God, the deeper we know His will for us. Romans 12:2 says that when we renew our minds and are transformed, we will be able to, discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. *Continued on the back page* 2

3 Fort Facts Total Income for September: $10, Total Expenses for September: $$11, Don t forget to set your clocks back an hour this coming Saturday night before you go to bed! You get an extra hour of sleep on Sunday, which means you can make it to church for Sunday School at 9:00 am! We are having a Thanksgiving Potluck Saturday, November 14th at 5:30 PM at the church! A sign-up sheet will be passed around on Sunday. Write the date on your calendar and make plans now to attend! If you have any questions, please see Jennie Abel! 3

4 Birthdays 11/5 Danny Selsor 11/6 Shawn Kinman 11/6 Justin Hunerdosse 11/10 Jo Gramentz 11/11 Bruce Peterson 11/16 Bob Saylor 11/18 Macy Croy Sue McMillen 11/23 Mike Demastus 11/23 Tina Sieburns 11/24 Deanna Ohnemus 11/25 Angie Croy 11/25 Doris Eagan 11/27 Patty McMichael Anniversaries: Special Dates to Remember Christmas Play Practice is every Sunday after worship! 11/8 Board Meeting 11/12 Elders Meeting 11/14 Thanksgiving Potluck 11/17 Missions Meeting Server Schedule 11/01/15 11/08/15 11/15/15 11/22/15 11/29/15 Greeters Dan/Cathy Charity Nate/Deanna Kirk/Ashley Teressa Scripture Celeste Kirk Charity Ben Parker Praise Team Mary/Mike Nate/Tlkrs Abel's/3:16 Special Service DVD/Tlkrs Offering Meditation Lonnie Doren Jim Nate S. Carter Communion Meditation George Richard Nathan O. Kirk Makya Server Terry Roy Jacob Nathan O. Jaida Closing Prayer Doren George Lonnie Bob Hunter Stewardship Terry/Austin Nate/ Nursery/ Melissa/ Toddlers Tammy Jacob/ George Justin/ Lindsay Doren/Shawn Bruce/Miles Dale/Richard Forrest/Ben Duran/ Natalie Ashley/Kirk Junior Church Diane #2 Natalie #3 Lindsay #4 Cleo #5 No Jr. Church Commuion Prep Terry/Bev Terry/Bev Terry/Bev Terry/Bev Terry/Bev Communion to the Sick Jim Richard Nathan S. Nate/ Deanna Kirk Security Jacob Karl Richard Mike Jim 10 Biblical Reasons to Memorize Scripture (continued) 9. Memorizing Scripture makes us wise! By memorizing the Scripture we are able to have that wisdom with us at all times. Luke 2:52 says that even Jesus grew in wisdom during His earthly life. Why should we not do the same? 10. Memorizing Scripture makes us prosper Spiritually! This promise is shown in Joshua 1:8, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 4

5 November 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 FALL BACK!!! Board Meeting after Worship Mission Meeting at 7: Elders Meeting at 6: Thanksgiving Potluck No Bible Study 26 Happy Thanksgiving!