The Ranch

When I was in my early 20's I went on missional training camp in America for three months, it was called the 'Ranch'. It was in many way life changing with many life long friends coming from it. What suprised me reflecting upon the experince is the amount of people who went into ministry and there life has been rather horrid since.

The main leader, CEO if you like suicided.

Another leader came back to Australia planted a church, seperated from his wife, dropped out of ministry, probably divorced now.

What is reinforced in my mind is that, bad stuff happens in equal proprotion to Christians as Non-Christians.

If you look at divorce for example, the rates are pretty much the same for Christians and non-Christians.

Life it seems to me is non-discriminating no mater what you believe. 

To be Human

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Early this week I got the news that a friend of my had died, later on that I found out that it was suicide.

Although I hadn't seen or heard from him for a long time, the last time I was with him was intense and at the time formative for a young man like myself. He was a Christian of the evangelical charismatic persuasion. A leader who had influenced hundreds. The lead up to his death he was tortured by chronic illness and exacerbated with depression.

Christianity I don't think has ever been comfortable with suicide. I haven't.  For a Christian to die this way it retorts: Christianity is no place of peace. In many ways its the most selfish thing in the world; a complete violation of the Jesus second commandment to love your neighbour as your self.
For myself I detest the idea that it is a 'sin'. As most people in society say other than Christians (who prefer to use the word 'sin') we are only 'human'.
To be 'human', others understand the pain and suffering which a person undergoes to suicide. It casts no condemnation or judgement. Yet is still disappointed at the loss. An understanding that yes, we to maybe place in this situation one day.

Sometimes the silence of Jesus is deafening.