Lesson 3 Suicide

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03China has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, particularly among rural women.

中国是世界上自杀率最高的国家之一，尤其是发生在农村妇女当中。

Yang Fude, vice-president of Beijing Hui Long Guan Hospital, said China is the only country where suicides among women outnumber men.

北京回龙观医院的副院长杨福德说中国是唯一一个女性自杀人数超过男性的国家。

“It is also one of the few countries where rural suicides outnumber urban suicides,” he said on World Suicide Prevention Day.

他在“世界预防自杀日”那天说“中国也是农村自杀人数超过城市人数的少数国家之一，”.

Recent statistics show more than 287,000 people end their own lives every year on the Chinese mainland.

最近的统计数字说明在中国大陆因自杀而丧命的每年超过287,000人。

Stress and depression cause 70 to 80 percent of suicides in urban areas, where many of those afflicted jump off buildings, according to data released by the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center.

根据北京自杀调查和防预中心的数据显示，在城市70%到80%的自杀是因为压力和抑郁导致，那些痛苦的人很多跳楼自杀。

Half of the suicides on the mainland are of women in rural areas, who commonly drink pesticide to end their lives. They may do so because of family disputes, low-educational levels and restricted social communication.

大陆一半的自杀对象是农村妇女，她们通常喝农药结束生命。她们轻生可能是因为家庭纠纷，教育水平低和有限的社会交往造成。

Though suicide ranks fifth after cerebrovascular diseases （such as a stroke）， bronchitis, chronic emphysema, liver cancer and pneumonia, it is the leading cause of death for people aged between 15 and 34.

虽然自杀死亡排在脑血管疾病（比如中风），支气管炎，慢性肺气肿，肝癌和肺炎之后，但它是导致15岁至34岁人群死亡的原因之首。

A two-year survey by researchers at Peking University found over 20 percent of 140,000 high-school students interviewed said they had considered committing suicide. And 6.5 percent of the students surveyed said they had made plans to kill themselves.

北京大学研究人员经过两年的调查发现被采访的140,000个中学生中20%的人说他们曾考虑过自杀。这些学生中6.5%说他们有过自杀计划。

Our study from God’s Word today will not only open us up to the fact that suicide is a real problem in this world, but hopefully will give Christians greater insight regarding God’s Word as it relates to suicide and how we might counsel those who are considering it.

我们今天学习神的话语不仅让我们正视自杀成为这个世界的实际问题的事实，而且希望带给基督徒在学习与自杀相关的神的话语以及如何去心理辅导那些想自杀的人更大的启发。

Suicide is murder according to the Bible

根据圣经的观点自杀就是谋杀

clip image005 thumbGenesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.

创世纪9:6”凡流人血的 , 他的血也必被人所流 , 因为神造人是照自己的形像造的 .“

Why does God place such a tough penalty on those who commit murder?

为什么神对那些谋杀的人加以如此严厉的惩罚？
Why is suicide a form of murder?

为什么自杀是一种谋杀？

Romans 1:28-32 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

罗马书1:28-32他们既然故意不认识神 , 神就任凭他们存邪僻的心 , 行那些不合理的事 ; 29装满了各样不义、邪恶、贪婪、恶毒（或作 : 阴毒） , 满心是嫉妒、凶杀、争竞、诡诈、毒恨 ; 30又是谗毁的、背後说人的、怨恨神的（或作 : 被神所憎恶的）、侮慢人的、狂傲的、自夸的、捏造恶事的、违背父母的 . 31无知的 , 背约的 , 无亲情的 , 不怜悯人的 . 32他们虽知道神判定行这样事的人是当死的 , 然而他们不但自己去行 , 还喜欢别人去行 .

What must we understand about a person who is either willing to commit suicide or someone who has committed suicide regarding their relationship with God?

对于一个想要自杀的人或者已经自杀的人来说，关于他们与神的关系方面我们必须明白什么？
Which one of the Lord’s apostles committed suicide?

神的哪个使徒自杀了？

clip image007 2 b4288831f32482797b80f3887c709689Matthew 27:3-5 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 ”I have sinned,“ he said, ”for I have betrayed innocent blood.“ ”What is that to us?“ they replied. ”That’s your responsibility.“ 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

John 17:12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

约翰17:12我与他们同在的时候 , 因你所赐给我的名保守了他们 , 我也护卫了他们 ; 其中除了那灭亡之子 , 没有一个灭亡的 , 好叫经上的话得应验 .

John 6:70,71 Then Jesus replied, ”Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!“ 71 （He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.）

· Whether a person is trying to escape the pains of this life and knows not Jesus, or whether they knew Jesus, but no longer trusted his love and forgiveness for them （like Judas）， it is only a myth that one escapes any pain at all – because life outside of this world places us into an eternity in the world to come! This is why it is vitally important that we reach the lost with the message of hope and comfort that Jesus loves the unlovable and he deeply cares for each of us and wants to spend eternity with us in the kingdom of heaven. The following Bible story illustrates just one sort of man – who went from near suicide to receiving the gift of salvation the same night.

· 不管是一个不认识耶稣的人试图摆脱命中的痛苦，或是一个认识耶稣的人但不再相信耶稣的爱和耶稣赦免他的罪（就像犹大），以自杀来逃避痛苦根本就是妄想——因为在这个世界之外，另一个即我们永远的命运的居所将要到来。这就是为什么我们带给失落的人希望和安慰的信息至关重要，耶稣爱不值得爱的人，他深深地关怀我们每个人，并要和我们在天国共度永生。以下的圣经故事阐述一种人——在同一个晚上经历从几乎自杀的绝境到接受救赎的恩赐。

clip image009 thumb 4bdfe3724fe2eb73947b9a704d87f2feActs 16:22-34 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, ”Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!“ 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, ”Sirs, what must I do to be saved?“ 31 They replied, ”Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.“ 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

使徒行传16:22-34众人就一同起来攻击他们 . 官长吩咐剥了他们的衣裳 , 用棍打 ; 23打了许多棍 , 便将他们下在监里 , 嘱咐禁卒严紧看守 . 24禁卒领了这样的命 , 就把他们下在内监里 , 两脚上了木狗 . 25约在半夜 , 保罗和西拉祷告 , 唱诗赞美神 , 众囚犯也侧耳而听 . 26忽然 , 地大震动 , 甚至监牢的地基都摇动了 , 监门立刻全开 , 众囚犯的锁炼也都松开了 . 27禁卒一醒 , 看见监门全开 , 以为囚犯已经逃走 , 就拔刀要自杀 . 28保罗大声呼叫说 : 不要伤害自己 ! 我们都在这里 . 29禁卒叫人拿灯来 , 就跳进去 , 战战兢兢的俯伏在保罗、西拉面前 ; 30又领他们出来 , 说 : 二位先生 , 我当怎样行才可以得救 ?

How had Paul saved this man’s life?

保罗怎样救了这人的性命？
How only can we save the lives of those who are trying to escape life’s problems?

我们怎样拯救那些企图摆脱人生中的难题的人？

Job 1:21 ”Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.“

约伯记1:21”我赤身出於母胎 , 也必赤身归回 ; 赏赐的是耶和华 , 收取的也是耶和华 . 耶和华的名是应当称颂的 . “

· Life was given as a gift from God and it’s for him to decide when that earthly life comes to an end, not us! End of life issues that pertain to life support will be prayerfully considered by the family, and maybe the pastor or close spiritual advisors. But ”pulling the plug“ as they say in America must never be for the reason that we’re trying to escape the life that God granted us here on earth. He will give us the strength to endure whatever affliction we might have to endure.

· 生命是神赐的礼物，也由他来决定生命何时结束，而不是我们决定！有关依靠生命支持系统而活的人的生命结束与否，应该由家庭成员、也许是牧师或关系密切的灵性导师藉着祷告去考虑。但是像美国人所讲的”拔掉生命监测仪的插头“决不能成为我们摆脱神赐予的生命的理由。他将给我们力量去承受我们可能得面对的任何痛苦。

1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

哥林多前书3:16, 17岂不知你们是神的殿 , 神的灵住在你们里头麽 ? 17若有人毁坏神的殿 , 神必要毁坏那人 ; 因为神的殿是圣的 , 这殿就是你们 .

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

哥林多前书6:19-20岂不知你们的身子就是圣灵的殿麽 ? 这圣灵是从神而来 , 住在你们里头的 ; 并且你们不是自己的人 ; 20因为你们是重价买来的 . 所以 , 要在你们的身子上荣耀神 .

· As Martin Luther said in his small catechism, ”Not with gold or silver, but with the innocent blood of Jesus“ we were bought back and redeemed from the corruption of this world that leads to eternal disaster. If we’re owned by Christ then suicide cannot be an option for the Christian – no matter how difficult life might become.

正如马丁路德在小教理问答中所说，”不是用金银，而是用耶稣无辜的宝血“把我们从这个通向永远的灾难的腐败世界中赎回。如果我们属于耶稣的话，基督徒就不可以选择自杀——无论活得多么困难。

Hebrews 12:4-7 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ”My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.“ 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.

希伯来书12:4-7你们与罪恶相争 , 还没有抵挡到流血的地步 .5你们又忘了那劝你们如同劝儿子的话 , 说 : 我儿 , 你不可轻看主的管教 , 被他责备的时候也不可灰心 ;6因为主所爱的 , 他必管教 , 又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子 .7你们所忍受的 , 是神管教你们 , 待你们如同待儿子 . 焉有儿子不被父亲管教的呢 ?

· Keeping our eyes on the prize （heaven through faith in Jesus Christ） will help us get through the difficult days where we might otherwise feel like giving up. Accepting the Lord’s hand of discipline in our life is never easy, but it is always necessary. As the writer states, we are being treated as heirs or sons of heaven.

· 把目光专注于奖赏（即通过相信耶稣基督进入天国）将帮助我们度过可能想要放弃的困难时刻。在我们的生命中接受神的管教不是容易的事，但永远是必要的。正如作者所述，我们被接纳为天国的儿女和后嗣。

1 Timothy 4:12-16 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

提摩太前书4:12-16不可叫人小看你年轻 , 总要在言语、行为、爱心、信心、清洁上 , 都作信徒的榜样 . 13你要以宣读、劝勉、教导为念 , 直等到我来 . 14你不要轻忽所得的恩赐 , 就是从前藉着预言、在众长老按手的时候赐给你的 . 15这些事你要殷勤去做 , 并要在此专心 , 使众人看出你的长进来 . 16你要谨慎自己和自己的教训 , 要在这些事上恒心 ; 因为这样行 , 又能救自己 , 又能救听你的人 .

· Paul reminds a young pastor, by the name of Timothy that perseverance is to be one of the trademarks of the Christian faith. The world is watching how we suffer and there ought to be a distinct difference between the way Christians suffer and the suffering of unbelievers because their suffering is without hope and ours is not without hope, but with the confidence that our Savior is there with us （Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you）。

· 保罗提醒一位年轻牧师，提摩太，恒心是基督教信仰的标志之一。这个世界正在注视着我们如何受磨难。基督徒受磨难和非信徒受磨难的方式应该是有明显的差异，因为他们的磨难没有盼望而我们的磨难不仅有盼望，而且确信救主与我们同在（我永远不会离开你；我永远不会离弃你）。

clip image010 thumbRomans 8:28, 31-32 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

罗马书8:28, 31-32我们晓得万事都互相效力 , 叫爱神的人得益处 ,就是按他旨意被召的人 .

31既是这样 , 还有甚麽说的呢 ? 神若帮助我们 , 谁能敌挡我们呢 ?32神既不爱惜自己的儿子 , 为我们众人舍了 , 岂不也把万物和

他一同白白的赐给我们麽 ?

· A Continual reminder to each child of God – God gave up what was most precious and dear to him – his own Son, so that we could have life through his work! Let that be a continual reminder to each of us of just how our Father in heaven feels about us his children.

· 不断提醒神的每个孩子——神舍掉对他最珍贵，最重要的——他的爱子，以致我们能籍着他的救赎大业获得生命！以此不断提醒我们每个人我们的天父怎样视我们为他的孩子。

Psalm 49:7-9 No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him— 8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— 9 that he should live on forever and not see decay.

诗篇49:7-9一个也无法赎自己的弟兄 ,—— 也不能替他将赎价给神 ,——叫他长远活着 , 不见朽坏。

· Suicide victims are not concerned about the eternal welfare of their soul and future resurrection, but are only concerned about escaping the pain of this life that seems to outweigh their ability to cope with that pain. God sees us with eternal value and as his children we must continue to see our eternal value in his great plan for us in heaven.

· 自杀受害者并不考虑自己灵魂的永恒福份和将来的复活，而是只考虑如何摆脱似乎令他们无力应付的此生的痛苦。神视我们为他的儿女，有永生的价值。我们应当不断看到我们在神为我们预备的天国中的永生价值。

Matthew 16:26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

马太福音16:26人若赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什么益处呢。人还能拿什么换生命呢。

· So many in this world think that life is about making a living, and often that entails a living of comfort and ease that is relatively painless. All the while, their efforts in making a good, comfortable life here on earth in many instances has caused them to neglect the one thing needful and that is making a life with Jesus, the Redeemer of our soul. When the Christian finds that there is eternal value in his life – he will also begin to find earthly value in whatever position of life he finds himself in – wealthy, poor, handicapped etc.

· 因此这个世界上，很多人认为人生就是挣钱谋生，这样经常需要一个舒适和相对来说没有痛苦的安逸的生活。自始至终，他们在努力创造一个美好，舒适的世俗生活，在很多情况下这使他们忽视一件必要的事情，就是建立与耶稣，我们灵魂的救赎者同在的生活。当基督徒在生命中找到永恒的价值时——他将在生命中的任何位置上找到属世的价值——富有，贫穷，残疾，等等。

Conclusion

结论

As God’s children, let us always remember that if we seek God’s kingdom first, ”all of these things [necessities of life - Matthew 6:25] shall be given to us as well“ （Matthew 6:33）。 Paul tells us in Philippians 2:12-16 that God works in us. He did not say all would be good, but it can work together for good （Romans 8:28）。

作为神的孩子，让我们总是记住如果我们先求神的国，”这些东西[ 生活所需——马太6:25]

都要加给我们了“（马太6:33）。保罗在腓立比书2:12-16告诉我们神在我们心里运行。他没说一切

都将是美好的，但万事会互相效力而有益（罗马书8:28）。

Suicide is never a solution for the child of God! One may say, ”I cannot go on – I’m going to end it all!“ But it is not the end. We will continue to exist and must answer to God in eternity （2 Corinthians 5:10）。 The best way to end unbearable suffering and pain is to be faithful in submission and obedience to God and go to Heaven where these things will be absent from us forever.

自杀永远不是神的孩子的解决办法！有人说，”我无法继续活下去——我要结束自己的生命！“但这并没有结束。我们将继续存在，必定要在永生中向神交代（哥林多后书5:10）。结束难以忍受的痛苦的最好的方法是忠实地顺服神，从而永远进入无忧无虑的天国。

Revelation 7:14-17 I answered, ”Sir, you know.“ And he said, ”These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

启示录7:14-17我对他说 : 我主 , 你知道 . 他向我说 : 这些人是从大患难中出来的 , 曾用羔羊的血把衣裳洗白净了 . 15所以 , 他们在神宝座前 , 昼夜在他殿中事奉他 . 坐宝座的要用帐幕覆庇他们 . 16他们不再饥 , 不再渴 ; 日头和炎热也必不伤害他们 . 17因为宝座中的羔羊必牧养他们 , 领他们到生命水的泉源 ; 神也必擦去他们一切的眼泪 .

Revelation 21:1-4 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

启示录21:1-4我又看见一个新天新地 ; 因为先前的天地已经过去了 , 海也不再有了 . 2我又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降 , 预备好了 , 就如新妇妆饰整齐 , 等候丈夫 . 3我听见有大声音从宝座出来说 : 看哪 , 神的帐幕在人间 . 他要与人同住 , 他们要作他的子民 . 神要亲自与他们同在 , 作他们的神 . 4神要擦去他们一切的眼泪 ; 不再有死亡 , 也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛 , 因为以前的事都过去了 .

1 Corinthians 6:12 I will not be mastered by anything.

哥林多前书6:12我总不受他的辖制 .

The apostle Paul

使徒保罗

最后更新于 2013年6月27日星期四 17:36

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