Teens and suicide

A 14 year old boy who was a student at my daughter’s school took his own life this week. She believes that this boy was bullied at school for being gay.

My heart is heavy. We have lost one more child to the confusion and cruelty of adolescence. One precious son, brother, cousin, nephew, grandson, friend, and fellow student to my daughter. He was lost before he had a chance to work it out and figure it out for himself like the rest of us do through a lifetime. I’m heartbroken. I can’t imagine what his family and friends are going through right now. I know that Jesus wept that day.

The sadness and sorrow of this terrible tragedy is beyond measure.  Unfortunately, stories like this are becoming more common.

So, it begs the question:  What do we as Christians, and the church, say when something like this happens?  What message do we send to the kids left behind?  What help and guidance do we offer kids who are trying to navigate the rough terrain of sexuality that is thrust in their face everyday?  This is so CRITICALLY IMPORTANT!  No longer can we afford to remain silent.  The church needs to take a stand on the issue of homosexuality in our public schools and give our kids a fighting chance.

Those who advocate for homosexuality/bisexuality are loud.  They have the media, TV shows, celebrities, the music industry and news organizations to spread their message.  Our kids are bombarded with theses liberal messages all day long.  What chance do they have to turn from this if the church is silent about this issue?  How can we say nothing?

We must fight for them.  We must do more.

We need to know what God wants us to say and do about this.  What do we say to teenagers who are exploring homosexuality?  What do we say to teens who know someone who claims to be gay?  We think, ‘What Would Jesus Do?’  It all starts with love.  We need to send a message of LOVE and HOPE.  Love to this precious boy and others like him.  Hope for the lost in this young generation.  We need to approach this subject with extreme tenderness and grace.  But, we must also equip teens in practitcal ways.

I am not equipped in any way to know the answers to most of these questions.  This is a really difficult subject.  But, I am sending out a plea to the leaders of our churches.  Let’s start the conversation.  Let’s start a movement to take back our schools and our teens.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.  But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:21-24

When I was probably a sophomore in high school I had a friend from school and church who committed suicide.  He was dealing with sexual preference issues, and probably bullying as well.  I remember the call.  After the words penetrated my brain and I hung up the phone I went outside.  It was a beautiful spring day.  I sat down on the front steps.  I watched cars whizzing by and people mowing their lawn.  I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs ‘STOP’!  Yet, the world kept spinning, people went on with their lives right before my eyes.  I couldn’t believe it, because my world had stopped.  The earth was no longer spinning.  The day would not turn into night and the night would certainly not turn back into day.  Life would never be the same.