Preaching on Suicide: a challenge to pastors from Chaplain Craig Johnson
The last decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan has affected the men and women who make up our military in a number of ways. Certainly one of the most devastating after-effects of the war has been the dramatic increase in the rate of suicide among veterans of the conflicts.
There is a conspiracy of silence surrounding suicide. It is a hard subject to broach, and this very silence is one of the things that keep many in our society (including our nation’s military men and women) from dealing honestly with the scourge.
Part of this silence comes from the many myths surrounding suicide. These myths include the idea that it is dangerous to ask a depressed person if they are thinking about suicide (for fear that you might be putting an idea in their head).
But we need to talk about suicide, and to talk about it openly. The women and men who have put themselves in harms way for the sake of our country come to church to find answers to their most pressing problems. Their very life might very well depend on the answer you give them on this issue. In most congregations around the country, someone sitting in the pews has a direct relationship with a soldier, sailor, airman or marine: a son or daughter, a friend, a niece or nephew, a grandchild.
However else we might deal with the issue of suicide, one thing is certain: our collective silence on this issue will not make it go away. If you could save a life with just one sermon, wouldn’t you do it?
This Veteran’s Day Sunday, preach a sermon on the issue of suicide to your congregation, and encourage them to take the issue seriously with those they love.
Resources for soldiers dealing with Post-Combat Stress:
Armstrong, Keith and Suzanne Best. Courage Under Fire: Coping Strategies for Returning Troops. Tacoma: Avril, 2006.
Daniels, James Jr., Emily Howden, Richard Kuhlbars. Silent Wounds: The Hidden Cost of War. Irmo, SC: Virtual Life Solutions, 2007.
Hart, Ashley B. An Operator’s Manual for Combat PTSD. Lincoln: Writer’s Showcase, 2000.
Orange, Cynthia. Shock Waves: A Practical Guide to Living with a Loved One’s PTSD. Center
City: Hazelden, 2010.
Resources for preaching on suicide:
Brown, Sally A. Cross Talk: Preaching Redemption Here and Now. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008.
Castuera, Ignacio, ed. Dreams on Fire, Embers of Hope: from the Pulpits of Los Angeles After the Riots. St. Louis: Chalice, 1992.
Ekblad, Bob. Reading the Bible With the Damned. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2005.
Hughes, Robert G. A Trumpet in Darkness. Philadelphia: Sigler Press, 1997.
Jeter, Joseph Jr. Crisis Preaching. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998.
Long, Kimberly Bracken. The Worshipping Body: The Art of Leading Worship. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009.
Powery, Luke. Spirit Speech: Lament and Celebration in Preaching. Nashville: Abingdon, 2009.
