Rick Warren: Son was not afraid to die

Pastor Rick Warren opens up about his son Matthew and the mental health problems that he says led to his suicide.

[@mhouplin]

He's so awesome. Rick and Kay have made a difference in people's life globally!

[@GraceBride]

"Mental illness is not a sin" There is NO mental illness but the works of evil spirits. 1 Samuel 16:14 "Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him." The urge of killing myself came onto me when I was 8. It remained on me till I was born again when all my sickness left me. I remember while teaching in college, it was so tempting to just jump down from the 11th floor where I taught during a class break... 'then all would be peace,' I thought.

[@watermelonlover745]

Some people are too sensitive for this evil world

[@bobsmith3643]

Once you're saved. You're saved. Suicide or not, Jesus blood covers you.

[@expo1706]

You're very wrong. You can still go to hell.

[@bobsmith3643]

Again, it's up to Christ, not us to make that decision. Yes, it is one of the worst sins, but at the end of the day, the ONLY sin that is not forgiveable is to deny that Christ is Lord.

[@Ho-mb2wb]

@@bobsmith3643 What if you deny Christ at first and then change you mind?

[@5xmasterx548]

@@Ho-mb2wb the unforgivable sin is not what was just mentioned in that previous comment. Let me tell you what the unforgivable sin is. I might not get the story 100% right but basically here it is: Jesus performed a miracle, the pharisees saw him do it and said "he used the power of Satan to perform that miracle." Jesus told them that he used the power of the Holy Spirit to perform that miracle, not Satan. So the pharisees committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which is the unforgivable sin; they attributed a miracle to Satan, instead of the holy spirit. Blasphemy against the holy spirit is not possible to commit anymore because Christ is not here in the flesh to perform miracles.

[@evangelistkimpatrik]

Those who have not suffered depression should not be so quick to judge. In fact, we should be very careful not to judge anybody. That is God’s job!

[@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel]

So you get a pass on murder if you're depressed, Mr. Evangelist?

[@schleihe08]

The ignorance of depression is out of control in these comments. Who are you to say whether he is in hell or not? Jesus said you will be surprised at who sits at the table when you arrive. I wonder why He added that statement. After reading these comments it isn't surprising to me. Christians - they always know better, they always have the answers, they always are holier than the rest - and this is why so many cannot stand us. This doesn't represent the God I serve. That is human ignorance - pretending to know because you just can't make sense of it - and when you don't understand you judge. May God have mercy on your soul.

[@estheryouch1064]

+Blue Snow well said! :) thank you for this. :) God bless!

[@ritishroypatroo7075]

Blue snow. Very very very very very very well said. I suffers from bipolar disorder since 16 now And i can tell the church is very ill-informed about this issue. Jesus knows. It thats only which counts..

[@mhouplin]

Rick Warren is Awesome! God has used Rick to make more positive changes around the world then any one I know. Of course when you are at the top and that powerful you will always have the nay sayers and people who want to cut you down. The good thing is "with God on your side, who can be against you"! Michele Houplin

[@expo1706]

I seriously do think that God could have healed Mathew and delivered him.

[@abialex]

of course he couldve! but what you expect? this man IS NOT A CHRISTIAN!

[@romanstenseventeen314]

FWIW - I've crossed paths with parents of mentally handicapped children(ie-autism being one of them). They are among the most humble and quiet people you'll ever meet. They don't have a social life, why? B/c they are constantly not only over-protecting their children, but they are making sacrifice after sacrifice for them(ie-researching the best foods, vitamins, and other resources for them). And guess what - they are reaping the good fruits that they are sowing - while their autism children et al are not completely healed, per se, they have made alot of progress. What's my point here? The Warrens have been COMPLETELY the OPPOSITE - they just threw their son to the wolves(many psychiatrists, who just STUFFED him with MEDICATION), why? B/c they were too busy with their own careers - they have a $90m+ church to upkeep, they fly around the world to conferences(most of them non-Christian), to the ME(to meet with these Islamic dictators), they do events(ie-like at Anaheim Stadium a couple of times), they write books, they do tv/radio interviews, the list goes on. And not to mention too Warren was hanging out with Oprah Winfrey months before his son committed suicide. Odd how they said his son came to them in desperation weeks before he committed suicide...look where their priorities were! And for that matter too - look at some of these wicked Hellywood celebrities whose children died tragic deaths - Paul Newman and Sylvester Stallone just kept very low profiles(unlike the Warrens, who over-publicized it). Honestly - does anyone really think they have time to even spend a few seconds with their children?(And Warren admitted he also gave his son to the care of the RCC L.A. Archdiocese - seriously, if I had a son, I would NOT let Catholic priests touch him with a 10 foot pole!). No, I'm not completely defending these parents of mentally handicapped children(as some of them are lost) - but nonetheless just pointing out how it's sad to see even the lost world doesn't have this selfish, cold, arrogant and pompous behavior we see the Warrens displayed toward their children. 1Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Yes, the Warrens reaped what they sowed.

[@bobsmith3643]

I believe that many aspects of mental illness are demonic, but the reality is who causes the demonic to oppress someone? Is it the person, the person's family? No, because nobody asks to be attacked by demons as a whole. Thus, how could Christ blame someone for an attack that they didn't ask for, or plan. Satan is truly real, but I do not believe and cannot believe that Christ is out to get us and that God is out to harm us, and much of the Evangelical community makes it seem like God is all into that. I don't understand?

[@romanstenseventeen314]

Bob Smith And let's not forget about our battles with the FLESH. Paul documented it in Romans 7:5-25. You ALMOST NEVER hear about this preached in today's 501c3 corporate church system. It's all and good that they preach about our joy in the Holy Ghost(which I agree with 100%). However, let's look at the WHOLE picture as well(our battles with the flesh will be ongoing until we die, or until the rapture). But these "churches" are afraid to preach about it for fear they'll scare away some of their member$. With that being said - Warren talked alot about how discouragement is one of the biggest sins in the bible. Odd how he openly expresses his own discouragement(and how his son was suffering). But en yet he falsely accuses everyone else of being hellbound for feeling discouraged? Hypocrite!

[@bobsmith3643]

Morgan Hester I guess for me, I know I'm a hypocite, a sinner, a fallen person, and that's why I need Jesus. In my up's, my down's, and everything. I've struggled for years with bipolar, and I can tell you that the Church needs to embrace mental illness more, and understand that some if may be demonic, but we also need to realize that some people can't help it. This doesn't mean they are bad people, and of course sin plays a big factor, however I truly believe that Jesus is the way, and that I need him. We need to empahsize more that the Church should welcome hypocrites, sinners, that's what Jesus wanted, because they do the best job of leading people to the faith as a whole. Just my thoughts.

[@ears2hear46]

What message is sent when one suggests you can commit suicide and still go to heaven?

[@iradivadvideos]

It suggests saved means saved.

[@mysticoversoul]

Life is a gift from God, and to take your own life is a rejection of that gift. Depression is not an excuse for suicide. It is intended to teach all human beings to be more loving and caring of themselves AND of one another. Depression is symptomatic of the lack or inadequacy of such love and caring in our lives. And that love can only come from the deep spiritual realization that the life we live is a gift from God, a gift lovingly given from the source of all life -- God.

[@deeanderson4164]

Unless you have been that depressed you have no idea how ugly and hopeless such depression can be. I would not wish it on my worst enemy.

[@Joyjoy-ih1ie]

Yah, it is a rejection of life, but its not there life they are rejecting its there pain.

[@kayn6099]

Pastor Warren doesn’t understand. He is talking about who his son had the capability of being but that means nothing when you’ve lost hope. The issue is HOW DO I KEEP ON HOPING. Depression is the lack of hope.

[@Felix-rc4wv]

The lack of evangelicals is the understanding and discernment of the spiritual realm. Although the bible speaks countless times about demons and unclean spirits, little is understood by evangelicals and even the worldview of Christians tosses aside spiritual torment. The spirit of suicide was on Rick Warren's son. Physical methods and all tools from the natural mind cannot help spiritual torment. We need to take spiritual warfare spiritually according to Ephesians 6. If we were not in warfare why would Apostle Paul speak on the spiritual armor of God? If we were in a physical war, would we not behave and think differently? Many things afflicting us may be due to iniquities and sins that unclean spirits have rights to. May God give us a spirit of wisdom, revelation and discernment. May the evangelicals learn from the charismatics and humble themselves.

[@sevilletulips]

I think Warren merely suggested that his son had always wanted to die; as young as 17 when he asked his dad why he couldn't just die.

[@bpolarscam]

The connection between psychotropic drugs and suicide is not coincidental.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its Canadian counterpart to require that drug companies include a “black box” warning. Psych meds made me suicidal.

[@sevilletulips]

Warren didn't say it took courage to suicide, neither did I. I won't get into the debate of what he preaches/doesn't preach. You believe what you want. His book didn't help his son, neither did it help thousand others I'm sure. Mental illness is not a sin but suicide is. But there's also grace & mercy of God. If you killed yourself, only God would decide where you would spend eternity. This would be between you & God & I would not judge.

[@EvangelistAnitaMartirRivera]

If he "wasn't afraid to die" then he would not have been afraid to live.

[@GraceBride]

It does not take courage to suicide. I was wondering why Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life had not helped his son, nor had his Daily Hope offered any hope. Sin is the root of human problems and there is only one remedy for sin. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which Rick Warren has not known or preached; he has preached another gospel, a counterfeit one that looks like real to seekers.

[@thewatcher8573]

He was like Mantis, a super empath.

[@moonrocks5862]

Imagine you were one of the people that pushed a person like this to the edge

[@watermelonlover745]

Christians are under constant persecution especially pastors ...it's a stressful life

[@ears2hear46]

"mental health" or spiritual torment?

[@cristinadesio8174]

I'd like to know.

[@ears2hear46]

are you suggesting depression cannot be spiritual?

[@morrowrail]

Yes. Spiritual is a meaningless word.

[@scottevans748]

Next time a friend or family member contracts cancer I hope you don't take James 5:14-15 literally: "14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." Don't work. So don't stand over too many coffins before learning to rightly divide God's Word and quit making Him subject to ridicule by falsely claiming Israel's promises.

[@mareksumguy1887]

James 5:14 IS to be taken literally! If it "don't work"... it means the "elders" don't have the faith! I know of countless cases where the prayer of faith has healed the sick!

[@lesliereyes9786]

Taking your own life also known as "suicide" is a sin ... Simple as that... And where do sinners go ? ... Exactly.

[@mikelorla8941]

and who are these sinner? exactly! throw yourself in that same mix. If you think you are not a sinner then you must be perfection. Doubt it, so the other alternative is that you are a SINNER. But wait you don't want to be judged by the things you say or think or do, do you? No you say Christ died for your sins. Your sins but what about these "sinners"? No Christ didn't die for their sins too, did he? Yes and mercy triumphs over judgment. But will be judged the way you judge. God have mercy on you.

[@dianal3336]

By your words we are all going to hell Linda, lol. We are ALL sinners. We are only saved through the blood of Jesus Christ! We sin everyday, even as saved people. The beauty of being saved is that we have a God who immediately forgives us if we REPENT from our sins. That shouldn't be mistaken that we should continue sinning over and over and expect not to have any consequences. If you are a saved person, and repented of your sins but then screamed at your child and minutes later got in a car accident , do you think you would go to Heaven? You didn't have time to repent, so where does that put you??? We cannot judge a person who committed suicide if they had accepted God and where trying their best to lead a Christian lifestyle. That is up to God to judge if that person goes to heaven or not. He can only see a person's heart and what was going through their mind in those moments.

[@morrowrail]

Mental health. The latter is nonsense.

[@ritishroypatroo7075]

So many connoisseur here, who knows everything about mental issues. Believed me keep the judgement for Jesus. When you dont know what is mental illbess please dont talk. I want to vomit reading your comments.

[@scottevans748]

I'll let you have the last word -- knowing full well that you don't.

[@GraceBride]

"You'd better be careful taking the scripture literally or you could end up like Mark Wolford who took Mark 16:18" WOW! Now I understand where you are from! I do take Mark 16:18 literally! Mark 16:18 has been LITERALLY fulfilled in the Apostle Paul! And my little life is full of God's miracles as well! However Mark 16:18 is not for you to perform magic shows like Mark Wolford. Matthew 4:6-7 has fully demonstrated how Mark 16:18 should be understood! You do NOT understand the Scriptures.

[@scottevans748]

Of course you would know this how? By empathizing? Sorry, you're human too and it'll be wonderful when you wake up to that and let Jesus be God and you be you... in need of a Savior like everyone else. Aren't evangelists supposed to be more keenly aware of this than others. Forgive me if I'm wrong, Anita, but commenting on someone's suicide in such a succinctly aloof matter reeks of self righteousness, if you'll forgive me for saying so.

[@hopeholding289]

Maybe he was an empath.

[@Jess1234]

Makes no sense u have parents money and God ? What else u needed,

[@scottevans748]

I've got to leave now, as I'm committing horrendous barbarous acts of imaginary violence against you in my head, Lord forgive me. Lady Bride or whoever you're really Gaga too much. Such sanctimony. It's truly nauseating LOL