Is Suicide a forgivable sin?

[Benjamin413]

Before I start, no, I am not asking for myself. I am not now nor have I ever contemplated or attempted suicide. I have just had a few friends and acquaintances who have.

A few verses come to mind with this though which makes me think not


“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19‬ ‭

If we commit suicide, are we not destroying our bodies which would be destroying the temple of the LORD? I know that there is nothing beyond Chris’s power and ability to forgive. But don’t you need to ask for the forgiveness? You cannot exactly ask for forgiveness after the fact.

 

[HTacianas]

Before I start, no, I am not asking for myself. I am not now nor have I ever contemplated or attempted suicide. I have just had a few friends and acquaintances who have.

A few verses come to mind with this though which makes me think not


“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19‬ ‭

If we commit suicide, are we not destroying our bodies which would be destroying the temple of the LORD? I know that there is nothing beyond Chris’s power and ability to forgive. But don’t you need to ask for the forgiveness? You cannot exactly ask for forgiveness after the fact.

The issue of suicide is one of the few "modernizations" of the Orthodox Church. There was a time that anyone who committed suicide was denied a funeral in the Church because it was seen as the ultimate rejection of God. But as more and more was learned about mental illness that stance softened a bit. People who commit suicide may be mentally unfit and not necessarily responsible for their actions. There is a Saint -I forget her name and the exact circumstances- who was surrounded by barbarian soldiers and chose suicide rather than be sexually defiled by them.

I suppose the truth lies somewhere between being unpardonable and perhaps being unpardonable. But it's not something I would want to find out the hard way.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

The issue of suicide is one of the few "modernizations" of the Orthodox Church. There was a time that anyone who committed suicide was denied a funeral in the Church because it was seen as the ultimate rejection of God. But as more and more was learned about mental illness that stance softened a bit. People who commit suicide may be mentally unfit and not necessarily responsible for their actions. There is a Saint -I forget her name and the exact circumstances- who was surrounded by barbarian soldiers and chose suicide rather than be sexually defiled by them.

I suppose the truth lies somewhere between being unpardonable and perhaps being unpardonable. But it's not something I would want to find out the hard way.

We actually have a few:
- walked into fires on seeing their brethren thrown into flames (e.g. St Agathonike according to Eusebius’s account, and separately St. Apollonia who endured terrible sufferings to the point of having her teeth extracted);

- threw themselves from rooftops at the risk of rape (e.g. St Pelagia of Antioch); and

- threw themselves into rivers to drown, fearing impending rape by drunken soldiers (e.g. St. Domnina and her two daughters Berenice and Prosdoce).

Eastern Orthodox Perspective on Members of Its Church who Suicide — Katina Michael

 

[sandman]

If it is a sin …and Christ paid the price for all of our sins ………it’s been forgiven.

Religion puts degrees on sin ….to God ….sin is broken fellowship, Not broken Sonship. Fellowship is in the flesh we have been born again of incorruptible spirit….. incorruptible is incorruptible.


I know it is very common and acceptable belief to refer to individuals ….using the scriptures that you used. But the temple is referencing the body of Christ ….. the “Ye are” is plural, it is not referencing the individual.

The individual is referred to as the tabernacle.

2Co 5:1

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2Co 5:4

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Before I start, no, I am not asking for myself. I am not now nor have I ever contemplated or attempted suicide. I have just had a few friends and acquaintances who have.

A few verses come to mind with this though which makes me think not


“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19‬ ‭

If we commit suicide, are we not destroying our bodies which would be destroying the temple of the LORD? I know that there is nothing beyond Chris’s power and ability to forgive. But don’t you need to ask for the forgiveness? You cannot exactly ask for forgiveness after the fact.

Welcome! I suspect if a person kills themself they do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. No Holy Spirit no salvation.
Romans 8
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Be blessed.

 

[BibleBeliever1611]

No, you don't need to ask for forgiveness for it because past, present and future sins are all forgiven at the moment you believe on Christ. Once you are saved you are always saved and suicide is not an exception.

 

[com7fy8]

Each person is different.

 

[longwait]

Before I start, no, I am not asking for myself. I am not now nor have I ever contemplated or attempted suicide. I have just had a few friends and acquaintances who have.

A few verses come to mind with this though which makes me think not


“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19‬ ‭

If we commit suicide, are we not destroying our bodies which would be destroying the temple of the LORD? I know that there is nothing beyond Chris’s power and ability to forgive. But don’t you need to ask for the forgiveness? You cannot exactly ask for forgiveness after the fact.

One of the 10 commandments says, "Do not murder". Suicide is self murder and therefore a sin.

 

[Bob Crowley]

I had a somewhat prophetic pastor when I was still Presbyterian as I've often said on this forum.

What I haven't advertised is that the eldest son of the pastor committed suicide about six months after I joined the church. I didn't get to know him very well as I was a new Christian and hadn't been in the church long. He was also a bit difficult to get to know.

There were five other sons who did pretty well in their respective trades and careers, but the eldest had what they then called "manic-depression". I suppose these days they'd call it "borderline personality disorder" or some other technical term.

Speaking to one of his brothers quite some time later, when he was "down" he was really "down", and for quite long periods. Sometimes he'd be in the manic phase, but most of the time he was very, very depressed.

The same pastor predicted circa 1990/91 that "I think you'll be doing a cleaning job. You won't like it much, and you won't do it for long, but I think the Lord will just want you to hear about a ghost" and "I think you've seen this ghost before."

Now by that time I knew just how accurate his predictions were as I'd been in his church for the better part of nine years, but even so I thought it was over the top - ghost? Seen this ghost before? So I basically forgot about it.

But fast forward to 2006 I did a cleaning job for about four months (not long), didn't like it much, and "heard about a ghost." When this happened, I started casting my mind back, and remembered an incident in which I'd seen this ghost before circa 1970.

Not too many pastors or priests could make that sort of uncanny prediction or know about an unsettling incident in my own life which I'd never told him about and indeed had tried to forget.

The "ghost" was a former manager of an old store in Ipswich (west of Brisbane) who had committed suicide sometime in the 1960's if the staff of the store were correct.

I think at least part of the reason that I was given the peculiar prediction and experience was to learn that suicides are not necessarily condemned. I think the "suicide" was doing part or all of his purgatory by being bound to the old store where he'd committed suicide.

No doubt suicides are taking a risk, but I don't think they're necessarily condemned out of hand. God is the final judge - not us.

By the same token, I don't think the pastor's eldest son was necessarily condemned either. The pastor and his family didn't say much, and were rather stoic about it in my experience. But I know it hurt. I believe Pastor Rick Warren's son committed suicide also after battling mental illness, and probably around the same age as my old pastor's son. Was he necessarily condemned? I don't think so, but then I'm not God, and neither is anyone else except God.

Pastor Rick Warren's Son Matthew Commits Suicide After Lifelong Battle With Mental Illness

That's my take on the matter, and it's due to the pastor's prediction and my experience, along with my Catholic, ex-Protestant faith. If "the LORD will just want you to hear about a ghost", He'd have had His reasons. That was the pastor's wording.

Incidentally he also predicted I'd become Catholic.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

The retreat master at the monastery I went to, told us about St Padre Pio and how a mother
had gone to him in distress as her son had committed suicide by jumping off of a bridge. The
mother asked Padre Pio if her son was in hell ? He said he would pray and get back to her on it.
After a few days, the mother went to Padre Pio who told her that her son was not in hell, that he had repented prior to hitting the ground and drawing his last breath.

The monk then added, "the moral of the story is, if you're contemplating committing suicide, make
sure you jump off a really high bridge so you have time to repent before you hit the ground."

 

[Carol Walker]

Before I start, no, I am not asking for myself. I am not now nor have I ever contemplated or attempted suicide. I have just had a few friends and acquaintances who have.

A few verses come to mind with this though which makes me think not


“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19‬ ‭

If we commit suicide, are we not destroying our bodies which would be destroying the temple of the LORD? I know that there is nothing beyond Chris’s power and ability to forgive. But don’t you need to ask for the forgiveness? You cannot exactly ask for forgiveness after the fact.

If one is a Christian, I would think one's relationship to God would sustain us enough so suicide wouldn't even be an option. But there are periods of life when one's circumstances can seem awful, and like there's no way out.
1st Corinthians 6:19-20 states: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body." As Christians, we belong completely to our Lord and Father. I'm fairly sure that on those grounds alone suicide isn't an option, but if you feel it needs more exploration, I'm interested in what you have to say.

 

[Benjamin413]

If one is a Christian, I would think one's relationship to God would sustain us enough so suicide wouldn't even be an option. But there are periods of life when one's circumstances can seem awful, and like there's no way out.
1st Corinthians 6:19-20 states: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body." As Christians, we belong completely to our Lord and Father. I'm fairly sure that on those grounds alone suicide isn't an option, but if you feel it needs more exploration, I'm interested in what you have to say.

I am not sure, which is why I posted this question.

I know someone who was strong in their faith who took his life. From what I heard, leading up to it he had gotten himself and his family into deep financial trouble and could not see a way out.

 

[Carol Walker]

I am not sure, which is why I posted this question.

I know someone who was strong in their faith who took his life. From what I heard, leading up to it he had gotten himself and his family into deep financial trouble and could not see a way out.

My condolences, sir. That sounds like a horrible situation.

 

[IntriKate]

No it isn't the unforgivable sin, only God can even judge who goes home to him and who doesn't. Many Christians die before they can repent unless some assume they are perfect without sin... so to suggest suicide is instantly a place in hell is insensitive, arrogant and blatantly putting oneself on the cross trying to do GODS job.
In my life I have lost both my brother and my son to suicide so shame on the ones lacking in sensitivity, grace and love.
I know my son loved Jesus, he wasn't coping with the loss of his son my grandson and none of you know others internal struggles so I sure hope you don't die before repenting of your judgemental attitudes if hell awaits for not being perfect at death as you basically state.

 

[SeventhFisherofMen]

“Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
Romans 10:6-7

While I do view suicide as a sin (and I don't think anyone's disputing that) all I know is it's not my place to say who makes it to Heaven I can only pray to Jesus and ask Him to accept those I love and care about into Heaven. He is the one who is in charge and I trust Jesus knows what He's doing

 

[Carol Walker]

As far as the unforgivable sin is concerned, I believe Jesus said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was a sin, but I don't recall Him saying anything about suicide in that context. Of course suicide is still a terrible choice, for all concerned. It's also a confusing choice for a Christian, given all that the Bible says about the importance of life, of how we belong to God, about the sinfulness of murder, etc. But as for unforgivable...I'm not sure, but I'm inclined to think it is not....

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

G.K Chesterton I think had the truest opinion regarding the suicide.

"Not only is suicide a sin, it is the sin. It is the ultimate and absolute evil, the refusal to take an interest in existence; the refusal to take the oath of loyalty to life. The man who kills a man, kills a man. The man who kills himself, kills all men; as far as he is concerned he wipes out the world. His act is worse (symbolically considered) than any rape or dynamite outrage. For it destroys all buildings: it insults all women. The thief is satisfied with diamonds; but the suicide is not: that is his crime. He cannot be bribed, even by the blazing stones of the Celestial City. The thief compliments the things he steals, if not the owner of them. But the suicide insults everything on earth by not stealing it. He defiles every flower by refusing to live for its sake. There is not a tiny creature in the cosmos at whom his death is not a sneer. When a man hangs himself on a tree, the leaves might fall off in anger and the birds fly away in fury: for each has received a personal affront. Of course there may be pathetic emotional excuses for the act. There often are for rape, and there almost always are for dynamite. But if it comes to clear ideas and the intelligent meaning of things, then there is much more rational and philosophic truth in the burial at the cross-roads and the stake driven through the body, than in Mr. Archer’s suicidal automatic machines."

The quote's from Orthodoxy, but I'm quickly grabbing it from a google search.

 

[public hermit]

If we commit suicide, are we not destroying our bodies which would be destroying the temple of the LORD? I know that there is nothing beyond Chris’s power and ability to forgive. But don’t you need to ask for the forgiveness? You cannot exactly ask for forgiveness after the fact.

No one asks forgiveness for all their sins by stating each one in particular. It's not possible since we rarely know our own hearts, and if we do we know them then we know they are sometimes beyond us. So, the idea that one has to specifically ask forgiveness for every particular sin is absurd. Obviously, if one is legalistic, perhaps that's a problem, since Christ is not strong enough to forgive without the sinners help.

People commit suicide for all kinds of reasons, some of which are beyond them, e.g. mental illness. To make a blanket condemnation of all suicides is epistemically gross, since in order for us to make a lasting judgment about another persons we would have to know details that only God does. You know, we shouldn't presume to be in a position to judge. Besides, do you really think God judges us based on one act, usually made in desperation? Would you do such a thing? Surely, God is more loving and aware than we are. If you who are evil know how to give good gifts...

I say, leave the judgments about the everlasting destination of others to God, even judgments concerning suicide. That seems the most prudent path forward.

 

[Carol Walker]

No one asks forgiveness for all their sins by stating each one in particular. It's not possible since we rarely know our own hearts, and if we do we know them then we know they are sometimes beyond us. So, the idea that one has to specifically ask forgiveness for every particular sin is absurd. Obviously, if one is legalistic, perhaps that's a problem, since Christ is not strong enough to forgive without the sinners help.

People commit suicide for all kinds of reasons, some of which are beyond them, e.g. mental illness. To make a blanket condemnation of all suicides is epistemically gross, since in order for us to make a lasting judgment about another persons we would have to know details that only God does. You know, we shouldn't presume to be in a position to judge. Besides, do you really think God judges us based on one act, usually made in desperation? Would you do such a thing? Surely, God is more loving and aware than we are. If you who are evil know how to give good gifts...

I say, leave the judgments about the everlasting destination of others to God, even judgments concerning suicide. That seems the most prudent path forward.

I kinda see where you're going with this, but I have an issue with it. Well, more than one.

The OP didn't say that we should (or even would) ask forgiveness for each sin we commit. But some sins can be repented from individually. They stick out in our minds, and we mention them by name because we feel especially sorry for them, or because we feel like they deserve special mention. From what Benjamin413 is saying, it would appear that he views suicide as one of those special sins. I'm not sure where you got the idea that he meant all sins.

How are we to judge God's actions? Yes, the Lord can judge us based on a single action. He is omniscient and therefore not only knows why we committed that particular act, but also what we could have done to avoid it. If we don't know our own hearts very well (which makes sense) then saying that the Lord wouldn't judge us based on a single action doesn't apply because the Lord doesn't see or think like us. Also, how is any action a single action? Every thought, every move, each is composed of thought processes and decisions and motives. Each has an agenda. Whatever act we commit, we made a multitude of moves to get there.

What kinds of details would we have to know in order to make a supposition on the spiritual state of someone after they commit suicide? You said "we would have to know details that only God does". But what of the Scriptures? They speak of suicide, do they not? People have studied the Bible for centuries and come out with all kinds of different answers. But that doesn't mean that there are no certain answers to find, only that we'd have to be very careful about how we look for them, how we test them.

Also, this one is more my own opinion than an actual wrong, but still...what's the use in saying "let us leave certain judgments up to God"? If we're supposed to be Christians, than one of the best ways of carrying that out would be to learn/figure out what kind of person would most glorify our God. And part of doing that is trying to understand the degree to which an action is sinful, why it's sinful in the first place, and how we can avoid that kind of disobedience. I would have thought this kind of work would bring us closer in understanding to our Father.

 

[Carol Walker]

G.K Chesterton I think had the truest opinion regarding the suicide.

"Not only is suicide a sin, it is the sin. It is the ultimate and absolute evil, the refusal to take an interest in existence; the refusal to take the oath of loyalty to life. The man who kills a man, kills a man. The man who kills himself, kills all men; as far as he is concerned he wipes out the world. His act is worse (symbolically considered) than any rape or dynamite outrage. For it destroys all buildings: it insults all women. The thief is satisfied with diamonds; but the suicide is not: that is his crime. He cannot be bribed, even by the blazing stones of the Celestial City. The thief compliments the things he steals, if not the owner of them. But the suicide insults everything on earth by not stealing it. He defiles every flower by refusing to live for its sake. There is not a tiny creature in the cosmos at whom his death is not a sneer. When a man hangs himself on a tree, the leaves might fall off in anger and the birds fly away in fury: for each has received a personal affront. Of course there may be pathetic emotional excuses for the act. There often are for rape, and there almost always are for dynamite. But if it comes to clear ideas and the intelligent meaning of things, then there is much more rational and philosophic truth in the burial at the cross-roads and the stake driven through the body, than in Mr. Archer’s suicidal automatic machines."

The quote's from Orthodoxy, but I'm quickly grabbing it from a google search.

So, G. K. Chesterton already supposed that whoever took their life was lost? Because when you are a Christian, a certain and true child of God, there is no going back. There is no absolute evil that you can commit to take yourself from the arms of God. To do something like that would imply one was never a Christian in the first place.

And where is Chesterton getting this idea of suicide being the ultimate and absolute evil? All that he says afterwords about how all creation is insulted makes little sense in certain circumstances. In earlier posts, people have cited examples of those who took the option of suicide over something they considered worse, such as rape or slow death through torture, etc. Some of these people were Christians. Maybe they were trying the attain the "blazing stones of the Celestial City" sooner and with less pain. And what is this about an "oath of loyalty to life"? We have an oath of loyalty to God, and while it does say that God is Life, that does not seem to be what Chesterton is getting at. Imagine the worst circumstances that you could be in, and remember that you always have the option to take your own life and escape.

Now I'm not arguing that suicide is a good option. I regard it as a sin, an option to be avoided at all costs, but there are exceptions to the rule. There are circumstances when killing yourself might actually be the better alternative. The Bible says, in 1st Corinthians 6:20, "Therefore, glorify God with your body." Sometimes, there is such a thing as a fate worse than death. Personally, I believe in trying to live through whatever happens until the Lord brings you out on the other side stronger and mightier in His Name than you were before. But it's not like the Lord turns all away who falter. Some people cannot see an end, or never reach one at all. Some take their lives in that situation. That's why this issue is of such great importance. One that must be combed over many times by many people until an answer is reached.