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The Cause of Rick Warren's Son Suicide?

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Breaking News

AP News. Popular evangelical Pastor Rick Warren asked members of his Southern California church for prayers as he and his family coped with the apparent suicide of his 27-year-old son.

The church said on Saturday that Matthew Warren took his own life at his Mission Viejo home.

Matthew Warren struggled with mental illness, deep depression and suicidal thoughts throughout his life, Saddleback Valley Community Church said in a statement, after his body was found Friday night.

"Despite the best health care available, this was an illness that was never fully controlled and the emotional pain resulted in his decision to take his life," the church said.

Allison O'Neal, a supervising deputy coroner for Orange County, declined to release the cause and manner of death pending an autopsy of the young man.

Rick Warren, the author of the multimillion-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life," said in an email to church staff that he and his wife had enjoyed a fun Friday evening with their son. But their son then returned home to take his life in "a momentary wave of despair."

Over the years, Matthew Warren had been treated by America's best doctors, had received counseling and medication and been the recipient of numerous prayers from others, his father said.

"I'll never forget how, many years ago, after another approach had failed to give relief, Matthew said 'Dad, I know I'm going to heaven. Why can't I just die and end this pain?'" Warren recalled.

Rick Warren was to this Society the Christian Pope

In 2008, the church sponsored a presidential forum with Barack Obama and John McCain. Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney were invited to a similar forum last fall, but Warren canceled it several days beforehand, saying the campaign had become too uncivil.

Warren was named the top newsmaker of the year for 2009 by the Religion Newswriters Association. He gained attention that year with his invocation at Obama's inauguration, as well as with comments he made in the aftermath of California's Proposition 8, which overturned gay marriage.

Cause of Death

Rick Warren's son Matthew has committed suicide at the age of 27 after a long battle with depression. The Orange County Sheriff Coroner's office told the MailOnline that the estimated time of death was Friday at 10am and said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Who’s to Blame?

Only God has the final answer but we must ask ourselves this “How long will a weakened church (there is only One Church) continue with its religious Sunday morning games? How long will God’s people shuffle along in this society without the power to set the captives free? They are hard questions and they may even make you angry as you read them. We know Bad things do happen to Good people every day but the word says healing and deliverance are the children’s bread. Usually, we Christians just let things pass until they get close to home but we pray these things awaken His Body to be all she should be.

Editor’s Note:

My heart goes out to Brother Rick Warren and family. There are many unanswered questions that only the Lord can answer in due time. I didn’t agree with many of his doctrinal positions but I have not stopped praying for him and his family since I heard the news.