Can a Christian commit suicide?

[JohnPeter]

I would say, as in the case of Judas Iscariot, that anyone who commits suicide, other than for genuine medical reasons, is not living a God-centred life.

Anyone who is God-centered knows how to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and be shielded from death itself. Anyone who is striving to be God-like knows what it is to cast all their cares upon the one who loves them; they know what it is to give up self-centred worry and to let the tranquility of God safe-guard their hearts from self-mutilatory or self-maledictory actions.

If the condition is medical and leads to the person commiting suicide, we can say that something affected them deep down in their heart, and drove them to it. We also know that God knows all things, and is greater than our hearts, and knows who is saved and of Him, regardless of what their heart might say. In such a case, God would not forfeit the eternal life that He has given unto a tortured soul.

I am not condoning suicide, and it must never be an answer for us, if we are of sound mind, because JESUS is our answer. I am saying that in all things, God is able to adjudge who are His and who are not; regardless of the state of their hearts.

Amen.

 

[jenneefar]

I have such a hard time with this question.

I was always raised by my mother than if you commit suicide, you're deemed for an enternal life in hell. I can only hope that that is not true. There have been many good-hearted Christians to commit suicide. This is done to themselves and not toward others. We simply are just ready to go home and see our father.

Unfortunately, I will have to go with the invisible "I don't know" answer on this one.


Jenna

 

[vswift]

Noone can answer this question, because nobody knows. But I wouldnt be the one to find out..

 

[Neenie]

I believe that in some rare cases, suicide is justifiable before God.

 

[LonelyTraveler]

Yes.

God wouldn't lead me down this path if it didn't lead to Him.

 

[Psalms34]

Yes, certainly. There is only one sin that separates us from God, and that sin is not accepting Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour. That in essence is the unforgivable sin. I believe that God, Jesus, died for the whole world, to wipe away sin, though we can still sin, there is only one sin that can separate from God and that simply is not accepting Him.

That being said, doing so is not acceptable in most cases, the consequences for the believer is possibly the remembrance of that being their last action on this Earth cutting short the good works that God had set out for one to do. Though the consequences that separate one from God are yet white as snow, would it not be saddening to know that you could have been far better rewarded for things that could have been accomplished? But I don't want to descend into religiosity, salvation is not acquired by works, salvation is a free gift and there is no work for or against that can separate you from the decision that you made to follow Him. Nothing.

In some cases, suicide is carried out for other reasons, mental health being one. Sometimes the human mental health of a person deteriorates that they do such harm to themselves. Are they responsible for their actions in the most deranged of times? Such states of being can happen to anyone for a host of reasons and quite suddenly, be it physical or emotional, it happens. The natural state of a being is for self preservation, that is what is ingrained into the flesh, but sometimes that is interrupted by something. In many cases treatment can be applied if such tendencies begin to surface, be it emotional counseling to deal with situations or medical help to balance chemical reactions in the body that can spawn such thoughts.

So yes, the answer is yes, but that does not mean one should, for if that is the case, that one feels such tendencies, than seeking help is a priority.

 

[Svt4Him]

"Does someone go to hell for committing suicide?"
Those who are adamant that a person who takes his life is committing a mortal sin, and will go to hell, are basing their belief on church doctrine rather than on the Bible. Scripture is silent on the subject. There are no verses that say "He who takes his own life shall be damned." According to Scripture, only one sin does not have forgiveness, and that is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (see Mark 3:29 footnote). That means there is forgiveness for every other sin.
Some quote 1 Corinthians 3:17, which says that God will destroy someone who "defiles" the temple of the Holy Spirit. Yet, there is disagreement about what it means to defile the temple. Does this include suicide? Does it include illicit drug abuse (slow suicide), prescription drug abuse, cigarettes (deliberately breathing in poisons that will eventually kill), tattoos, over-eating (digging a grave with your spoon), or alcohol abuse?
God forbid that we add to the pain of someone who has lost a loved one through the tragedy of suicide, by making a judgment about their eternal destiny. God is the ultimate Judge, and we should therefore leave the issue in His hands. It would be wise to follow the biblical example and not come to any verdict in the case of suicide.


Quoted with permission www.livingwaters.com

 

[Premed4Christ]

Hi
I DO agree that all sin is sin. ONE sin separates us from God. This is why we need Jesus Christ's sacrifice over us.
The reason I partly disagree is, I think God does judge sin differently & on levels of severity. (unless you meant that in your post)?
We saw this in the OT. Not all violations of the law were equal in judgment - some were given death penalties, & others weren't.

And, we even see this in our civil justice system:
Example: if a woman is starving and steals food to survive, that's SIN. Theft is theft.
Now take a pedophile, and look at his crime against an innocent child by kidnapping her & molesting her then murdering her.
Would it be right to punish the woman who stole to eat with equal penalty of life in prison as the pedophile/murderer?
I don't think any of us would.

I think you're on the right track tho, with how we elevate & lessen sins according to our personal preferences.
We easily ignore gluttony & gossip, then slam the pot smokers which probly isn't right to categorize them like we do.

But God is just, He will fairly reward and punish to the level of our actions & motives.
While I agree all sin IS sin - and any of them outside salvation will keep you separated, the penalties will be different for levels of severity (for the lost) - while Christians can lose reward.

Mt. 11:22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.​

I think that the varying punishments prescribed in the Old Testament had more to do with the legal system than with the way that God views sin. Remember that at the time, the only government they had was ruled by God. But at the same time, I do believe that God sees sins differently (for example, I cannot believe that He views, say, speeding, the same as someone murdering a Christian for their faith), but in terms of salvation, both are equal. I think we're more or less saying the same thing, though .

 

[Premed4Christ]

It is also interesting to note that in some ways it appears Paul may have struggled with this very thing. I do not remember the reference, but most of you are probably familiar with the 'To live is Christ, to die is gain' passage. This appears to be Paul struggling with the desire to go home and be with the Father. Ultimately, Paul chose to live and do Christ's work on earth, which was the right choice. But I think the fact that even Paul struggled with this can give us some insight into the issue.

 

[newleaf]

Thanks for your answers. I too, struggle with this. I desire to be away from sin, and into the presence of God. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings here though, and I find if I hold on, eventually, the depression goes away. Please pray for me, as well as the other Christians who are going through deep emotional pain.

One more thing, it seems that Sampson killed himself using the power of God. Does it not?

 

[DArceri]

Suicide is showing a lack of faith and trust in the LORD. It is not a God honoring act. I personally believe if one is a true believer, he will find comfort in the Lord when he seeks Him in times of trouble. However, if he is weak in his faith or a "baby christian", I can see why that might happen and in that case I believe that it is God's call, for only He sees into the heart.

 

[Nadiine]

Suicide is showing a lack of faith and trust in the LORD. It is not a God honoring act. I personally believe if one is a true believer, he will find comfort in the Lord when he seeks Him in times of trouble. However, if he is weak in his faith or a "baby christian", I can see why that might happen and in that case I believe that it is God's call, for only He sees into the heart.

Well, I know a Pastor of a church in Michigan that committed suicide in his church office. (I know this becuz my brother went to the church) He was a veteran Christian.

I know we can't say if people truly are saved or not - we ultimately don't know that for sure, only God does becuz He knows the heart.
But satan is extremely powerful & if we aren't careful, oppression and despair can take over us. Paul said to always be on guard from our adversary & to take heed lest we fall.

 

[diamondjoust]

a Christian can't commit suicide, because Christ said to Martha at Lazarus' graveside, 'whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die'. But putting semantics aside, a true Christian will go to heaven no matter what sin he or she commits after being saved, because salvation was not gained by our works but by grace through faith in what Christ was to God as crucified, and therefore cannot be lost by a person's works of any sort. The biblical sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which "has never forgiveness", can only be committed by a person who is not a true Christian, because Christ was addressing unbelievers, and if it applied to believers in Christ that would contradict hundreds of other verses of scripture, and make them a lie. Having said that, suicide is not a proper, dignified, or victorious way for a Christian to leave this scene, and cuts short one's stewardship which has reward in this life and the one to come. Some people get in desperate straits, and God only knows what so many millions of Christians have really suffered in a way unseen and unknown by many of us today. I think we should learn from the sufferings of others and take courage from those who have gone before, even Jesus who ever lives to make intercession for us at the right hand of the Father.

 

[DArceri]

Well, I know a Pastor of a church in Michigan that committed suicide in his church office. (I know this becuz my brother went to the church) He was a veteran Christian.

I know we can't say if people truly are saved or not - we ultimately don't know that for sure, only God does becuz He knows the heart.
But satan is extremely powerful & if we aren't careful, oppression and despair can take over us. Paul said to always be on guard from our adversary & to take heed lest we fall.

Yeah, that's terrible. I'm just wondering why the inner peace of God is not inside the hearts of all christians. I've never even contemplated suicide and I can't image how I could ever get to that place with Jesus in my life. That is why I think it happens when a person feels God is so distant from him. If God was close to him, I really feel the thought of suicide would be gone. God is love and peace within.