Suicide in ministry is not new, and has been rampant in some countries. I have been in discussion with a Church leader about the suicide of a high profile pastor this week. Let it remind us firstly of the extreme pressures of ministry. Yet I perceive it is a question of faith and works.
• There will be those who see a pastor in terms of faith (God called them, He is doing a work through them, and so on), andThese views tend to be split down the middle according to which side of redemption one is on: faith or works. One can encourage the former, and discourage the latter, but it is not something that will go away. If a pastor is aware of this dynamic, this should reduce disappointment, despair, and depression. OBSERVATION: In the BBC report, I picked up what may be a hollowed out, secularised faith: "Shortly before his death, Wilson tweeted about officiating the funeral of a 'Jesus-loving woman who took her own life ... But that doesn't mean Jesus doesn't offer us companionship and comfort,' he continued. 'He always does that.'"
• There will be those who see a pastor in terms of works (they should be behaving like this, they fall short like that, and so on).
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