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And she was a Christian: Why Do Believers Commit Suicide?

Peter Preus

4.44 · Rating details · 9 ratings · 4 reviews

The author argues from Scripture against the common assumption that a Christian who commits suicide dies as an unbeliever.

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Paperback, 183 pages

Published 2011 by Northwestern Publishing House

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Small Catechism, with Explanation by Martin Luther

On Being a Theologian of the Cross by Gerhard O. Forde

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Feb 10, 2018 Jeremiah Gumm rated it it was amazing

A thought-provoking book that ably addresses the suicide of a Christian and the stigma attached to suicide. While I had some questions in a couple places, the author provides plenty for further discussion and consideration. Above all, the author keeps the focus on Christ and his grace.

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Aug 26, 2013 Jim B rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Pastors, family of depressed individuals

Shelves: christian, nonfiction

It is important for understanding this book that the author does not treat at any length the subject of suicide of someone who is not a Christian. The book's title is not only a reference to his wife's suicide following a long struggle with depression, but also to the paradox faced by people who know Christians who give ample evidence of the faith in Christ, yet commit suicide.

Treatment of this subject is overdue among Christians who do not shrug off the commitment to Biblical Christian theology It is important for understanding this book that the author does not treat at any length the subject of suicide of someone who is not a Christian. The book's title is not only a reference to his wife's suicide following a long struggle with depression, but also to the paradox faced by people who know Christians who give ample evidence of the faith in Christ, yet commit suicide.

Treatment of this subject is overdue among Christians who do not shrug off the commitment to Biblical Christian theology. Historically (at least since the legalization of Christianity -- Preus points out an alternate view among early Christians) any suicide has been equated with rejection of the Christian faith and due to a lack of faith.

Some of the harsh treatment of suicide has been from a well meaning effort to curb the temptation to commit suicide. In another source, I read about the extremes that this mindset reached in the Victorian era -- a time of extreme modesty in writing about body parts and private matters -- when suicides were described in lurid detail ("brains spattered against the wall") to prevent romanticisation of suicide, a common problem among young people today.

Preus has observed that suicide can occur when a person is overwhelmed by suffering, and desires to escape the pain or suffering, but has not rejected his convictions that Jesus has died for his sin. So he develops this theme through a series of paradoxes which people often comment about at a suicide and explains the paradoxes using Biblical teachings regarding grace, justification by faith, the essence of faith, etc.

The book will be comforting to family members of suicides.

I felt that the author's writing is not as clear in this book, partly because he is so emotionally close to his topic, and he restricted himself to making the case against assuming that all suicide is a rejection of the Christian faith. Someday someone else may write a more straightforward treatment of the subject, but this author covers every conceivable topic connected with his case, and has the added advantage of having lived the situation he writes about.

This is a "must read" treatment of a topic surrounded by ignorance and stubborn and usually unintentionally) hurtful discussion. At the very least, every clergyman should ponder the final section of the book, "Gospel relief for the hopeless." Because God blessed me with a parishioner who was able to tell me her need for what I could offer and shouldn't offer, I have not only seen the truths of this chapter (which I know will be rejected by some clergy), but have seen that the love and the gospel approach Preus recommends is what is needed in dealing with depression. ...more

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Apr 24, 2015 Emily rated it really liked it

This is a very important book, yet was very difficult to read. Having been touched by suicide this year, I sought out a resource that might answer some of the questions I was having about suicide, mental illness, and the grace and forgiveness of Christ. I found the answers I was looking for in this book. It offers explanations, reasoned arguments backed by scripture, and lots and lots of Gospel.

I reached point where I had to take a break from steadily reading, and that was when I realized that ...more

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May 21, 2015 Luke rated it it was amazing

A wonderful book that wrestles with the horrible, tragic paradox of a Christian who commits suicide, using solid theological arguments to provide great comfort for those left behind. And it shows just how vitally important it is that we confess so strongly that our salvation is a gift of grace through faith along in Jesus Christ alone. What we believe matters. The church has not done enough with mental illness and we are not comfortable with it, but Scripture and the Lutheran confessions offer s ...more

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