Do you remember when Robin Williams committed suicide and thousands of people expressed a kind of bitter-sweet joy for the troubled soul who had finally found peace? Robin was a beloved actor who brought laughter to millions of people. He was rich, famous, and popular. It made no sense for somebody with his success to end his life. So we figured Robin must have suffered with some secret horror that made his life a living Hell.
Then we wrote millions of words congratulating Williams for finding the courage to escape his terrible existence. We told him we would miss him, but we understood that the grave was a better place to be. It would be selfish of us to ask Robin to keep living just because we loved him. We wouldn’t deny him the tranquility of death.
Cheslie Kryst won the title of Miss USA in 2019. She was a correspondent with Extra and licensed to practice law in North and South Carolina. She had been nominated for Emmy awards. It made no sense when she jumped from the 29th floor of her apartment building in New York. But we aren’t talking about her the same way we talked about Robin Williams. We aren’t applauding her for achieving perfect serenity.
Despite her obvious success, Cheslie was bullied on social media. The bullying affected her mental and emotional health. She was suffering some secret horror that made her life a living Hell. She killed herself to escape her terrible existence. But, because we are double-minded people with no foundation in truth, Cheslie’s death was a tragedy. We blame ‘social media trolls’ for her suicide. And we do NOT think this suicide was a brave escape from a miserable life.
The blame for Cheslie’s death does not belong on the shoulders of anonymous bullies. She killed herself because she believed that online bullying is serious abuse. She believed that bullies are powerful because YOU told her that. YOU told her that bullies have the power to destroy her self esteem. YOU told her that bullies force people to kill themselves. YOU told her to trust the hateful words of strangers on Instagram. She jumped off a building because YOU TOLD HER that’s what happens when bullies pick on people.
People kill themselves because they believe lies. Bullies tell lies. When you tell someone that bullies can hurt them, you become a bully yourself.
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
(Proverbs 9:7)
One Response
This is really good insight, Mr. Branyan. I’d never thought of it in those terms before, but I’ve never applauded suicide simply because it is assuming the responsibility of God over your own life. Whatever He allows is for our good and we can be safe and secure in Him. I’ve dealt with severe depression most of my life and have fought suicidal thoughts, but the knowledge of the Truth has stayed my selfish hand. It is sad when someone has killed themselves and I will always mourn those who do so, but to applaud one and ignore the others…it’s a duality I had not been able to put my finger on for a long time. Thanks for sharing.