When the Unthinkable Happens

Suicide is a serious problem that affects all societies and appears to be increasing in many. Sadly, even the church is not immune: we all know of neighbors, friends, family members, or ministers who have taken their own lives. But, as Dr. Ron Gleason observes, evangelical Christians are often unprepared to minister effectively when this tragedy strikes. Writing as a seasoned pastor deeply rooted in the Reformed tradition, Gleason is not content to discuss suicide in the general and remote sociological terms we usually encounter; he treats the problem as an urgent ethical concern that exposes failings within Evangelicalism itself.

Gleason deals with common questions, such as: "Is suicide unforgivable?" "What about self-sacrificial acts?" "How does suicide relate to euthanasia?" "Is it permissible to terminate medical care?" and many others. Anyone who takes up this volume will be helped, encouraged, and better prepared for having done so.