Not sure where else to post this question, since most of the forums are restricted to Christians only but this is a subject I've been trying to learn about for quite some time and it seems that the answer is...a whole bunch of different things.
Some of the thoughts I've seen on the subject:
1. As long as you've accepted Christ, you're saved, even if you commit suicide.
2. Suicide is breaking one of the ten commandments; therefore; hell.
2b. Yes, it IS breaking one of the commandments, but, see #1.
3. Since people who commit suicide are likely mentally ill, they cannot fully understand their actions and are likely to be "pardoned" for them.
3a. Because of this they will go to heaven but "lose some rewards," whatever that means (hey, while I'm here, what DOES that mean? I see people say it a lot but I don't really understand it.)
4. There are no specific mentions of the consequences of suicide in the Bible, so there's no way to know.
So the answer seems to be a big honking "Yeah, we actually have no idea."
I was just wondering what y'alls' thoughts were on the subject and if there was an angle I haven't yet come across that you could enlighten me on.
i don't know that you will see this, but i wanted to post about it that others who have the same or similar thoughts about it would have some fresh input ...
first ... you are not unwanted by God ... He loves you and wants you very much ... i just wanted to say that ...
1. salvation ... you never lose your salvation ... your Salvation is Christ ... one can, however, fall so far theyfall right into hell ... but the Door of Salvation is always open ...
and yes, you are saved ... when He saves you, it isn't a mistake ... He doesn't make mistakes ... but, like i said one can fall away from Salvation ...
2. yes, suicide is a sin ...it is not, however, the unforgiveable sin ... it would be murder (with intent to harm ... malicious or evil intent) ... as you intended to harm yourself ...
therefore ... it isn't forgiven here ... it must go before God when the time comes there ... not here ... judgement hasn't taken place yet ... He is a merciful God ... mercy is relieving someone of their misery because one can ... He wants that none perish ... i can't tell you what the judgement will be for each individual, but i can tell you i believe He forgives those who have truly repented ... as i said suicide is not the unforgiveable sin ...
i'd like to take a minute and explain that to kill and to murder are two different things ... killing in self defense ... killing a deer to eat ... those fall under kill ... murder is a different thing as i posted ...
i believe ... but can not back up ... that the reason murder can't be forgiven here is most likely because the victim has a right to be heard ... and a dead person can't speak ...God is fair and just always ... also ... on the suicide ... there are sins of ignorance ... sins of youth ... all are weighed carefully by God ... a just God doesn't punish someone for something they don't know ... period ... the hook on that is we either learn it here ... or there ... issues don't go away just because someone murders themselves ... we just simply can't run away from life ... there is life after this and things will be dealt with ...
i'm not so sure they are most likely mentally ill ... people do this for many reasons ... sometimes it's grief over a loved one whose passed on ... or because they can't pay their bills or feed their children and become hopeless ... so many pains and hurts in lives i can't help but believe it's the spirit of anti-christ ... the one who carries hopelessness, depression, anxiety, etc. ... i think it's more likely the truly mentally ill is a much smaller number than it wouls seem ...
and as to the mentally ill ... as i said God is a God who is just and fair ... He is also full of much love and hurts for these ... He also has emotions ... we're made in His image ... and we have emotions ... His heart cries for the lost, the weary, the hopeless, the mentally ill ... all of them ... that's the exact very reason He sent Jesus ... for those exact people ... the needy ... widows ... poor ... He says it's very hard for the rich to get into heaven ... i won't speculate ... not my biz ... anyway ...
there is a way to know ... it's not the unforgiveable sin ... the unforgiveable sin is denial of the Holy Spirit and that's another whole thing ... but i promise you it's not suicide ... that's how you know ... through His Word ... all the answers are there
.. and yes, i've tried ... many years ago ... more than once ... i gave up because it justy wouldn't happen ... I believe it's because He held me up as He promises to believers ...
oh, i see i missed one ...
3. that would be assuming they've earned a reward ...
how can you be reward for something you didn't do or earn ... many will be in heaven, but they will be naked at the marriage feast with the Lord ... as our works are our garments ... and many will think they are saved but won't be because He never knew them ... meaning they never had a relationship with Him ... He wants a personal relationship ... for us to know Him and His ways ... and for us to exercise mercy ... many will be running around at that time trying to gain the relationship, but it will be too late ... the Door will have closed for the feast ... all were invited ... but few actually prepared and came ...
it
will then be taken up in the next span of time ... the next hereafter ... the 1000 year reign of Christ ... what one doesn't get here ... they must learn then ...then comes the final judgement ... there are scriptures that refer to the second death ... one way or another ... but it doesn't go away just because one checks out from here ... it would seem it would be harder then ... but i don't really know that ... i just know the Lord is mega patient ... but at some point enough is just enough ...
God judges on effort, intent, repentance, many things like that ... the Lord is huge on intent ... He says He doesn't judge like man ... man judges on what others have judged on that issue before ... the ways of the world ... God judges individually, on the intent of the heart ... He knows exactly what we meant and didn't mean to do ... it's why i detest the term karma ... people throw that word around like it's a rubber ball they can toss and not call it judgement ... with karma and people there is no forgiveness for intent ... anyway ...
people should be careful of them rubber balls ... they have a habit of coming back and smacking one right in the forehead ...
i sure hope that all helps someone ... this is a subject that is close to my heart ... it makes me incredibly sad to hear someone has taken this route ... for whatever reason they thought it was the worst day of their life and couldn't go ... tomorrow might have been the best day of their life and they missed it ... and the families they leave behind ... it shatters everything in them ... some are never the same again ... i can't imagine wanting to do that to my family ... and one time i was reckless enough and selfish enough to have tried ... but that's just mho ...
i pray the Lord opens eyes and ears ... that you may have everything you were put here to have ... and to be ... i'm just a wretch whose life at 60 leaves a trail of tears everywhere ... i'm so glad i'm saved ... may you all reach for that ... what do you have to lose ...
i guess i mean may you be "enlightened"
lilmiss