Pastor Suicide

Faith.Man · Apr 23, 2011

Valley minister kills self after warrant served, police say

Looking for information on this story, I did a Google search. I was amazed how many pastors around the world have committed suicide. The Fox News video which I link below has an interview with a young woman who this pastor led to Christ previously. He was talking to her on the phone, encouraging her shortly before his suicide. What do you all think about the act of suicide itself? Why are so many pastors falling prey to this sin? What about mental illness? Is that an excuse?

Pastor Commits Suicide in Arizona - Fox News Video - FoxNews.com

sealacamp · Apr 23, 2011

Faith.Man said:
Valley minister kills self after warrant served, police say

Looking for information on this story, I did a Google search. I was amazed how many pastors around the world have committed suicide. The Fox News video which I link below has an interview with a young woman who this pastor led to Christ previously. He was talking to her on the phone, encouraging her shortly before his suicide. What do you all think about the act of suicide itself? Why are so many pastors falling prey to this sin? What about mental illness? Is that an excuse?

Pastor Commits Suicide in Arizona - Fox News Video - FoxNews.com

I am not sure but I would imagine that quite a few pastors get depressed with the state of the world and the magnitude of the task before them in the face of the sort of rebellion you see daily against God. Isiah and Jeremiah had issues with this as did others that have stood with God in the face of the insanity of this life. Some just give up and check out early because they just can't take the stress any longer, or so they believe. That is what I think is the issue but I may be wrong. Only God knows for sure.

Sealacamp

wpage · Apr 23, 2011

Almost 50% of Pastors are unhappy with their experience as Pastor.

It is extremely difficult today for Pastors to keep their congregation satisfied while serving Him.

Faith.Man · Apr 23, 2011

wpage said:
Almost 50% of Pastors are unhappy with their experience as Pastor.

It is extremely difficult today for Pastors to keep their congregation satisfied while serving Him.

What is the source of the 50% figure? I have questions I'd like to ask if I know the extent of the survey and who was included/excluded.

Vince53 · Apr 24, 2011

Jesus said that "The disciple is not above his master..."

Folks, I am not trying to be cruel, but the pastor who committed suicide was a disciple of Peter Ruckman, a wife-stealing enemy of Godly men.

Faith.Man · Apr 24, 2011

Vince53 said:
Jesus said that "The disciple is not above his master..."

Folks, I am not trying to be cruel, but the pastor who committed suicide was a disciple of Peter Ruckman, a wife-stealing enemy of Godly men.

For those like me unfamiliar with Peter Ruckman, here is some correspondence he had with Dr. James White.

</title> </head> <body link="#003399"> <html> <head> <meta name="description" content="Christian Apologetics, Theology, Information on Mormonism, Roman Catholicism, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. A reformed ministry dedicated to sharing the Gospel of God'

I'm sure Vince can supply additional links to any requesting more info.

Vince53 · Apr 25, 2011

Faith.Man, I appreciated your reply. During the 1950's, Peter Ruckman invented the doctrine that the King James Version IS the Word of God, and that it is sinful to use any other translation. He is a vehement enemy of Godly men, and his disciples have split into several groups that spy on and accuse each other. When I was in college, Ruckman stole the wife of a friend of mine.

I want to make clear that most Ruckmanites I meet are Godly people whom I consider "victims," not evil-doers. My prayers and sympathy are extended to the members of the church in Arizona where this occurred. In kindness, I advise the church members to abandon the building and go elsewhere.

Faith.Man · Apr 25, 2011

Vince53 said:
Faith.Man, I appreciated your reply. During the 1950's, Peter Ruckman invented the doctrine that the King James Version IS the Word of God, and that it is sinful to use any other translation. He is a vehement enemy of Godly men, and his disciples have split into several groups that spy on and accuse each other. When I was in college, Ruckman stole the wife of a friend of mine.

I want to make clear that most Ruckmanites I meet are Godly people whom I consider "victims," not evil-doers. My prayers and sympathy are extended to the members of the church in Arizona where this occurred. In kindness, I advise the church members to abandon the building and go elsewhere.

Thanks for the additional background and excellent advice.

JCFantasy23 · Apr 25, 2011

This is sad, as any suicide is. Theres likely a lot of stuff happening we don't know about. I'm sure it's a stressful calling, and the person may have been suffering from mental illness also. Again, how sad.

LiveInSpirit · Apr 26, 2011

Did anyone actually watch the video? The pastor was caught chatting with detectives posing as a 14 year old girl. He was documented exposing his genitals to the "14 year old girl" via his webcam. The police came to serve a warrant and he killed himself rather than face the punishment for his crime.

I am by no means a fan of Ruckman or Ruckmanites, but Ruckman isn't the sole issue here nor is depression among pastors. The man was a pedophile.

bendslikeawillow · May 30, 2011

He killed himself rather than be exposed for the pervert he was. In this case, I don't think it had much to do with his calling. Except of course, that he may of gotten into the priesthood in order to have easy access to young girls. He was probably a man of very little or no faith to begin with.

FundamentalistJohn · Jun 3, 2011

wpage said:
Almost 50% of Pastors are unhappy with their experience as Pastor.

It is extremely difficult today for Pastors to keep their congregation satisfied while serving Him.

I wonder if the problem is with trying to keep their congregations satisfied? In the Scriptures I read Elders are to please God. We all know that at times that is going to displease man.

NvxiaLee · Jun 3, 2011

Pastors should be the morally exceptional men among us, not the more troubled men among us.

Vince53 · Jun 12, 2011

NvxiaLee said:
Pastors should be the morally exceptional men among us, not the more troubled men among us.

Quote of the week.

UberLutheran · Jun 13, 2011

1) He was never a Christian to begin with.
2) He is burning forever in Hell.

Good riddance.

Faith.Man · Jun 13, 2011

UberLutheran said:
1) He was never a Christian to begin with.
2) He is burning forever in Hell.

Good riddance.

I thought Atheists don't believe in Hell.

Traveller and Wiley · Jun 14, 2011

Faith.Man said:
Valley minister kills self after warrant served, police say

Looking for information on this story, I did a Google search. I was amazed how many pastors around the world have committed suicide. The Fox News video which I link below has an interview with a young woman who this pastor led to Christ previously. He was talking to her on the phone, encouraging her shortly before his suicide. What do you all think about the act of suicide itself? Why are so many pastors falling prey to this sin? What about mental illness? Is that an excuse?

Pastor Commits Suicide in Arizona - Fox News Video - FoxNews.com

I wouldn't say mental illness (although, obviously, mental illness can be a factor) as much as it is usually a matter of emotional distress.

Is it a sin? Yes. Is it an unforgivable sin? Can a born again believer outsin Christ's ability to forgive?

Faith.Man · Jun 14, 2011

Traveller and Wiley said:
I wouldn't say mental illness (although, obviously, mental illness can be a factor) as much as it is usually a matter of emotional distress.

Is it a sin? Yes. Is it an unforgivable sin? Can a born again believer outsin Christ's ability to forgive?

That's a slippery theological slope you're going down!!! I could ask you if anyone can out-sin Christ's ability to forgive? Is being born-again by choice or election as the Bible states.

Traveller and Wiley · Jun 14, 2011

Faith.Man said:
That's a slippery theological slope you're going down!!! I could ask you if anyone can out-sin Christ's ability to forgive? Is being born-again by choice or election as the Bible states.

Being born again is clearly by election, but does that mean that we can lose our salvation? And, keep in mind, that I'm not talking about an ongoing pattern of willful disobedience, such as 1 John tells us demonstrates that we were not saved to begin with, but about a born again believer who commits an egregious sin and worries that it may cause him to lose his salvation.

Just look at the number of people in this thread and other suicide threads who believe that suicide negates a person's salvation. I don't believe that it does. If a person is saved and has Christ's righteousness imputed to him, then all his sins are going to be covered and cleansed by Christ's blood.

Remember, our salvation is based on Christ's faithfulness, not ours.

Faith.Man · Jun 14, 2011

Traveller and Wiley said:
Being born again is clearly by election, but does that mean that we can lose our salvation? And, keep in mind, that I'm not talking about an ongoing pattern of willful disobedience, such as 1 John tells us demonstrates that we were not saved to begin with, but about a born again believer who commits an egregious sin and worries that it may cause him to lose his salvation.

Do you believe in a sovereign God or not? That should answer your question. I believe in a sovereign God.

Traveller and Wiley said:
Just look at the number of people in this thread and other suicide threads who believe that suicide negates a person's salvation. I don't believe that it does. If a person is saved and has Christ's righteousness imputed to him, then all his sins are going to be covered and cleansed by Christ's blood.

Remember, our salvation is based on Christ's faithfulness, not ours.

True. Only God knows for sure what motivates a person to suicide. Mental illness, real mental illness may cause people to do things they would not ordinarily do. God, being fair and just, would surely take this into account. At least, that's what I believe.

PS: To me, election means God is Sovereign. If God's will is accomplished by election, how can our actions cause us to lose our salvation? Our will cannot trump God's will (or Sovereignty).

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