Why should a christian NOT commit suicide?

[Endtime Survivors]

Does God really need us to share the gospel anyways? I understand that's the mean he wants to use though. But he doesn't need us.

"Need" is a tricky concept to apply to a being who can exist outside of time, space, matter. To me it makes more sense to say that God wants us. Spreading the gospel isn't for God's sake but rather it's a part of our training in becoming servants of God. If we're not prepared to teach others the values of Heaven then we'll be less likely to apply those values ourselves and we could end up being responsible for their ignorance.

 

[Radrook]

All my life I heard that those who commit suicide will go straight to hell. So don't deceive yourself. You might find yourself in hell and not heaven if you kill yourself. Why is it wrong? Because only God has the right to give life and to take it.

According to you God also has the right to roast people alive forever. Is there anything at all that he doesn't have a right to do in your opinion?

 

[rockytopva]

Man is a prisoner who has no right to open the door and run away... A man should wait, and not take his own life until God summons him. - Socrates

 

[Geralt]

the issue is whether a person who desires to kill himself is qualified as a christian.

 

[JacksBratt]

If a christian kills himself, he still goes to heaven, right? If God truly forgave him and accepted him in his kingdom, he won't change his mind later. Even if a sin like self-murder is commited.

So, other than perhaps not being a usable tool in God's earthly projects (such as bringing others to christ), and perhaps bearing a bad testimony to those left behind, why shouldn't a child of God prematurely die (that is, not by a "natural" cause, but by a willful choice)? I understand the motives may be selfish, but still.

If we will die anyways, and if we'll go to heaven anyways, then what's wrong with hastening it? Selfishly speaking, it only seems advantageous. Are there only altruistic reasons for not doing it?

Thoughts?

Suicide is a huge display of selfishness and causes a lot of hurt for the people who love you and you leave them here with a huge loss.

You are also telling God, in fact, that you know better than Him, when your work is done on this earth.

It's not going to take away your salvation but it is a huge display, to God, of your selfishness and disregard for Him, His plan for you and to your loved ones and your role on this earth, in their lives.

 

[dayofgrace]

If a christian kills himself, he still goes to heaven, right? If God truly forgave him and accepted him in his kingdom, he won't change his mind later. Even if a sin like self-murder is commited.

So, other than perhaps not being a usable tool in God's earthly projects (such as bringing others to christ), and perhaps bearing a bad testimony to those left behind, why shouldn't a child of God prematurely die (that is, not by a "natural" cause, but by a willful choice)? I understand the motives may be selfish, but still.

If we will die anyways, and if we'll go to heaven anyways, then what's wrong with hastening it? Selfishly speaking, it only seems advantageous. Are there only altruistic reasons for not doing it?

Thoughts?

What does the scriptures say?

 

[JoeP222w]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, (20) for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

All throughout the Bible, God teaches on the sanctity of life. Life is not cheap, nor meaningless. If someone commits suicide, it is not an automatic proof that they are not Christian, however, it seems to clearly indicate that they have misunderstood the truth of God.

 

[Strong in Him]

If a christian kills himself, he still goes to heaven, right? If God truly forgave him and accepted him in his kingdom, he won't change his mind later. Even if a sin like self-murder is commited.

So, other than perhaps not being a usable tool in God's earthly projects (such as bringing others to christ), and perhaps bearing a bad testimony to those left behind, why shouldn't a child of God prematurely die (that is, not by a "natural" cause, but by a willful choice)?

Well you offer two very good reasons yourself.
1. God allows us the amazing privilege of working with him. He doesn't need us, he knows that sometimes we will make mistakes or miss opportunities, but he allows us to work with him anyway. Assuming a Christian is mentally healthy, why would someone NOT want the fantastic privilege of working with the king of the universe?
2. Yes, I think it would be a bad witness to those left behind - an "I'm going to heaven so blow you" kind of message. Suicide causes enormous distress to those left behind; imagine their thoughts if they read a note which said, "I believe in God now, so I'm going off to meet him".

Apart from this;
1. Two commands that Jesus gave were to preach the Gospel and make disciples, and to love as he loved us. If a Christian who is fit, healthy and happy, kills themselves knowing that they haven't kept, and won't be able to keep, those commandments; how is that good, or doing what God wants?
2. James said that faith without deeds is useless; not that we have to work to be saved, but we express our faith and love for God in what we do. God is love - and he expressed that love by creating a universe and people in his image. God loved us even in our sin - and he expressed that by sending his spotless Son to die for us. Surely we show our love for God by obeying his commands and serving him?
3. We're needed here. We are told to pray "thy kingdom come on earth, as in heaven." If all Christians are in heaven, who's going to witness, campaign for peace and justice and extend God's kingdom on earth?

Altruistic reasons? How about our love for the God who saved us?

 

[AlexDTX]

If a christian kills himself, he still goes to heaven, right? If God truly forgave him and accepted him in his kingdom, he won't change his mind later. Even if a sin like self-murder is commited.

So, other than perhaps not being a usable tool in God's earthly projects (such as bringing others to christ), and perhaps bearing a bad testimony to those left behind, why shouldn't a child of God prematurely die (that is, not by a "natural" cause, but by a willful choice)? I understand the motives may be selfish, but still.

If we will die anyways, and if we'll go to heaven anyways, then what's wrong with hastening it? Selfishly speaking, it only seems advantageous. Are there only altruistic reasons for not doing it?

Thoughts?

My first thought, is that we are in Heaven already. When we die we simply see where our spirit is which is blocked from view by the physical.

My second thought is my dear friend who was a Christian and committed suicide indirectly. His wife divorced him because of the influence of a lesbian which devastated him so much he went back to a drug addiction. He overdosed on drugs and died.

I believe he is in heaven because I believe in the amazing grace of God. We are not saved by works, nor is our salvation lost by sin. We are saved by faith in Jesus alone.

However, I do not believe that was God's will for him.

 

[RaymondG]

It's not a matter of God changing his mind but potentially there is the question of why a person is rejecting the gift they have been given in salvation. Salvation is not just "fire insurance".

cool. I like that...."Fire Insurance" I always said, "after-life Insurance" but yours sound cooler.

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[JohnKing67]

If a christian kills himself, he still goes to heaven, right? If God truly forgave him and accepted him in his kingdom, he won't change his mind later. Even if a sin like self-murder is commited.

So, other than perhaps not being a usable tool in God's earthly projects (such as bringing others to christ), and perhaps bearing a bad testimony to those left behind, why shouldn't a child of God prematurely die (that is, not by a "natural" cause, but by a willful choice)? I understand the motives may be selfish, but still.

If we will die anyways, and if we'll go to heaven anyways, then what's wrong with hastening it? Selfishly speaking, it only seems advantageous. Are there only altruistic reasons for not doing it?

Thoughts?

I'm not so sure a Christian goes to Heaven if they commit suicide. It's taking a life, which is murder. Then again it may depend on the mental state of the person. Whether they knew what they were doing at the time they did it.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

If I may politely say, you're wrong. Christians do commit suicide. Unless you want to argue that anyone ending their own life isn't really a christian? Maybe they did lack trust in God, or maybe they just didn't want to go on with this earthly life? Or maybe both.

Yes, Christians can commit suicide but that does not mean that they would be saved if they were to do so.

For the Bible clearly condemns suicide.

1 John 3:15 says no murderer has eternal life abiding in them. A person who takes their own life is a self murderer.

1 Corinthians 3:17 says, "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."



...

 

[RaymondG]

I have to say, I understand the concerns listed here. I was so afraid of God and his hell fire that when I got "saved" the first thing I wanted to do was die, so i had no chance to sin again and get sent the the burning hell that was my destination from the time I was born... so hard to escape it! What Adam did was so powerful.....no hoops and laws to follow to accept Adams gifts of death.....Jesus and his gift of life.....no so much.

Take me now Lord, Im ready!, I cried. I couldnt kill myself because murder is a sin.....and it is obviously murder to kill one self as well.

That's what i get for drinking too much Milk and not trying to get to the meat.

Anyways, I am persuaded that Heaven is something you find while you are alive.... If you dont find it now....there is only one place to go after......and there is no repentance it the grave.

So obviously, killing yourself stops you from being able to find heaven and if you are to find heaven in your lifetime, you pass from death to live and you will be alive forever......

Seek ye first the kingdom. All who seeketh...finds.

 

[AJTruth]

Can you please provide scriptural support for the varying rewards in heaven concept. Thanks.

1 Cor 3:
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

(Gold & silver = Good works don't in Christ's name. Hay, wood & stubble = no works, selfish works, even bad works)

13 Each one’s work will become manifest, the Day will disclose it, it will be revealed by fire, & the fire will test what sort of work each one has done

(Every deed/work will be tested)

14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives ""he will receive a reward""

(Gold & silver deeds/works, will receive a reward)

15 If anyone’s work is burned up, "he will suffer loss", "though he himself will be saved"

(Hay, wood & stubble deeds/works will bring, shame & loss = OF """REWARDS""" not SALVATION)

Rereading verse 15: He "Will SUFFER LOSS", though he "HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED"

The believers works will be tested ""NOT THIER SALVATION" Hay, wood & stubble will be burned up & rewards can be lost, but, the believers soul still be saved. God will not cast off a believing soul for any failure of sin. The believers salvation foundation is the finished (REDEMPTIVE) work of Jesus Christ.

Again, he shall suffer loss, shall fail in obtaining a reward. NOT in obtaining salvation! Maramatha

 

[AJTruth]

Suicide is murder and sin. However, not the unforgiveable sin.

Having said that, we must add that murder, suicide, or any other sin is not the deciding factor regarding salvation. A person's eternal security is determined by, and only by, their relationship to Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

If a person who is unsaved commits suicide, they have simply sent themselves to eternal punishment faster than they would have gone had they died a natural death. Regardless, they will be in eternal separation only because they have rejected Christ, not because they have committed suicide. But what if a Christian commits suicide?

The Bible says that when we are in Christ, our salvation is guaranteed because His Spirit dwells in us (2 Corinthians 5:5). That same Spirit is put into the hearts of all those who believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 1 John 5:13).

The Bible also makes it quite clear in Romans 8:38-39 that nothing can separate a Christian from Christ's love, not even suicide. If no "created thing" can separate us from the love of God, as the verse says, then no person (not even our own selves) can separate us from His love by any act that we do including suicide.

A Christian will exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and will be protected from sin as they abide in Christ (John 15:4). However, if a Christian falls and commits the terrible sin of suicide, that sin would still be covered by Jesus' blood.

Christians are not immune to the despair that leads to suicide; the enemy is a great deceiver (John 8:44) who wants us to forget that victory is ours in Christ (John 16:33). Still, suicide is a very serious sin against the Creator.

There is no circumstance which justifies a person, especially a Christian, to take his or her own life. We are supposed to die to ourselves, not kill ourselves. Sorrow over our sins or mistakes should lead us to repentance rather than self-harm so that we can be restored and not destroyed, for it is God's heart to repair and restore that which is broken (Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20). Even when things look incredibly bleak and hopeless.

Moses murdered a soldier (we see him later on the Mt of Transfiguration) King David had Bathsheba's husband killed. Paul was the overseer of Stephen's & many other deaths. I'm pretty sure next to Jesus Himself. Paul is responsible for turning the most people to God.

Finally, there is only ONE unforgivable sin. Rejection of Gods grace found in Christ = UNBELIEF. Maranatha

 

[Radrook]

Suicide is a sin depending on the motive and circumstances. God doesn't pass judicial decisions involving capital punishment without evaluating all relevant factors involved first.

 

[Guide To The Bible]

If a christian kills himself, he still goes to heaven, right? If God truly forgave him and accepted him in his kingdom, he won't change his mind later. Even if a sin like self-murder is commited.

So, other than perhaps not being a usable tool in God's earthly projects (such as bringing others to christ), and perhaps bearing a bad testimony to those left behind, why shouldn't a child of God prematurely die (that is, not by a "natural" cause, but by a willful choice)? I understand the motives may be selfish, but still.

If we will die anyways, and if we'll go to heaven anyways, then what's wrong with hastening it? Selfishly speaking, it only seems advantageous. Are there only altruistic reasons for not doing it?

Thoughts?

You don't know for sure what will happen to you. Don't assume you will be or feel better off. Or assume what you think heaven will be like for you. Feelings change with time so hang around as you never know what will happen tomorrow.

 

[newlightseven]

God says endure until to the end.

I don't judge a person who commits suicide because I know my own struggles are sometimes hard to bare, but there are many out there who are struggling to the point of death and are in pain 24/7.

God judges with just weights. Unless something is wrong with your mental mind, or you are physically in overwhelming pain I don't think it is good to take your life just because.

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm