Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
On the Death of Robin Williams
I remained fairly silent in the immediate aftermath of the death of Robin Williams while I was trying to process it. Like most of us in the American culture, I grew up watching much of his work. I remember the first time I saw him appear on Happy Days. I recall, as a kid, watching Mork and Mindy. I saw him grow into a multitalented comedian and actor. At the same time, as I was trying to grow spiritually, I was extremely disappointed in much of what he did. His vulgar language in movies and performances made it so that I couldn’t watch much of his work (we need to be honest about this part of his career). When he was clean, I thought he was brilliant and hilarious. For the rest, I had to walk away or hit the mute button. Without question, however, he has been a significant influence in our culture across multiple generations.
His suicide is disturbing to all of us. This is true culturally because of his status, but it is also true because it reminds us of others, loved ones, who have taken the same path and shows us that people who appear happy outwardly may be deeply hurting inside. I am in no position to judge his mindset at the time he did this. I know he was suffering. He was depressed. He was in the early stages of Parkinson's. He was worried about his career. I understand.
Yet what I want to get across here is this: suicide is never a good answer to our problems. Never. I say this with no intent to judge the heart or mindset of Robin Williams, but I don’t believe that because he was so well loved that this makes his action one to lift up as good or desirable. Whatever the state of his mind and thinking at the time, we must never imply or indicate that suicide can be an acceptable way to deal with this world’s woes. I know what people say. “You don’t know what it’s like.” “You have no right to say that because you haven’t been in his shoes.” “You are not in a position to judge.” “You just don’t understand.”
First, let me just tell you this without getting into unnecessary details: I am not totally ignorant here. I’m just going to leave it at that because it won’t do me or anyone else any good to go into details. But sometimes people say, “You don’t understand,” when they themselves don’t understand what the person to whom they are speaking has been through. We live in a fallen world, and we all endure our own measures of suffering and hardships. Some have it more severely than others. Yet we are in this together, and we need to pull together to help each other understand that something much greater and better awaits if we will learn to look at these matters properly.
Second, when we support suicide as plausible, regardless of the situation, what message are we sending to others who are presently suffering from severe depression? That suicide is inevitable or a viable option? What are we telling those who are fighting their own battles and their own diseases? Give up? It’s okay to end yourself? Then, what message are we sending to those who have fought these and even more severe battles, but have overcome? I cannot tell you how encouraged I am by godly people who suffer from depression, cancer, brain tumors, and other debilitating illnesses and who, in the face of such personal tragedies, maintain a godly spirit and encouraging attitude! Many are those who have suffered severely and triumphed. They can teach us great lessons about dealing with the fallen nature of this world.
Third, the message we need to be sending is one of compassion and love. We know that those who would kill themselves aren’t thinking properly. They believe that there is no hope left. There is nowhere else to turn. We need to present that message of hope with a sense of compassion and mercy. If we know they are struggling so deeply, we need to do what is necessary to get them help. Perhaps every Christian should be acquainted with someone who can provide professional help when such is needed. We cannot just say, “get over it,” and walk away. We need those conversations about how to help the distressed, especially those with clinical depression, and we need to know where we can turn. Never ignore the signs, and never give up the fight. Further, let’s never forget that we need to do all of this within a context of a biblical worldview and a robust prayer life. We must never set aside God’s truth to deal with hard and dangerous circumstances, no matter the depth of difficulty. If anyone does understand, it is our Lord! Go to Him in all matters.
Fourth, this is exactly why we need to be preaching the message of Christ more broadly and more overtly. God has dealt with this fallen world through Christ, and His actions lead to the hope of life (1 Peter 1:3-5). This message needs to be proclaimed loud and clear. We have no idea what problems people are going through. We don’t know but that the person we give that message of hope to was feeling lost, lonely, and hopeless. “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances” (Proverbs 25:11).
Those who have passed on are in the hands of a just and merciful God. We are not the ones who judge. Even so, God has left us a revelation of His will, and when we teach that, we aren’t being judges; we are being faithful to His message.
I pray that God would comfort the family of Robin Williams. I pray that God would comfort all those who lost loved ones like this. Even more, I pray that they find renewed reason to seek the Lord while He may be found. Please know this: It is not in death that one is free, but in life (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10). “For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.”
Debating the fate of Robin Williams or others who have committed suicide does no one any good. They are in God’s hands. Let us focus on the ones with whom we may share Christ and the good news of hope. There is, after all, only one hope (Eph 4:4), and if we don’t share it, who will?
— In Pressing On Magazine, September 2014
