Is suicide always sin?

[Peter Tran]

Going into war soon, this thought came about to me. I'm never sure what position I might end up upon, what if I find myself within a position where suicide is the absolute best option, not only for myself but for the welfare of others.

Or am I supposed to live through everything, even though the situation would only present death to me, and using what life I had left to exploit me (information).

 

[DonnyT]

Going into war soon, this thought came about to me. I'm never sure what position I might end up upon, what if I find myself within a position where suicide is the absolute best option, not only for myself but for the welfare of others.

Or am I supposed to live through everything, even though the situation would only present death to me, and using what life I had left to exploit me (information).

That is a tough situation and may you never have to see it, but I believe Jesus died for our sins; so, if one was to commit suicide as a believer for a greater good, I think God would spare him.

 

[Peter Tran]

Thank you, I was thinking the same thing. Would God really punish me for doing a greater good.

It goes along with the other sins, such as lying.

 

[Jpark]

Going into war soon, this thought came about to me. I'm never sure what position I might end up upon, what if I find myself within a position where suicide is the absolute best option, not only for myself but for the welfare of others.

Or am I supposed to live through everything, even though the situation would only present death to me, and using what life I had left to exploit me (information).

Only God knows. While we can say murder is definitely sin, we cannot say if suicide in capture for the welfare of others and country is sin or not. God looks at the heart and only He knows if it is a sin or not.

 

[Peter Tran]

Only God knows. While we can say murder is definitely sin, we cannot say if suicide in capture for the welfare of others and country is sin or not. God looks at the heart and only He knows if it is a sin or not.

I see, I'd give it much comtemplation before committing an act like that.

 

[Apeleutheros]

Would Jesus have killed Himself?

 

[Peter Tran]

Would Jesus have killed Himself?

No, he wouldn't have...

You make a great point, but Jesus was never presented with a situation where the welfare of others were at stake. Well, not that I know of at least.

I mean, what about Marytrs?

 

[ittarter]

Thank you, I was thinking the same thing. Would God really punish me for doing a greater good.

It goes along with the other sins, such as lying.

I'm going to take the unpopular view here, and suggest the opposite.

First, I wonder if the idea of the "greater good" is really at home in a Christian worldview?

You might notice that God isn't exactly against human suffering So we can't use the idea that "Committing suicide will result in less human suffering."

Second, people can rationalize any action, but when you get down to it, we have very little control or understanding about the consequences of our actions beyond our own (very small) worlds. The ending of one's own life, in the Christian mindset, is taking God's prerogative from him. Thus there is no situation where it can possibly be right.

 

[calledbyname]

To give some scriptural basis to your question, i think theres some really helpful passages in 1 Corinthians and in John,

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "19Or 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."

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 "16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple."

So suicide is wrong because you do not have the right over your own life, God has died on the cross for you so "you are not your own".

But saying that, verses from John come to mind,

John 15:13 "13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends"

Which possibly can be taken as another wording of "loving your neighbour as yourself" but i suppose the ultimate expression of this is literally laying down your life.

Any thoughts?

 

[ittarter]

To give some scriptural basis to your question, i think theres some really helpful passages in 1 Corinthians and in John,

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "19Or 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."

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 "16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple."

So suicide is wrong because you do not have the right over your own life, God has died on the cross for you so "you are not your own".

But saying that, verses from John come to mind,

John 15:13 "13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends"

Which possibly can be taken as another wording of "loving your neighbour as yourself" but i suppose the ultimate expression of this is literally laying down your life.

Any thoughts?

The last one is pretty interesting. 1 Corinthians has nothing to do with death but rather of sinful (especially sexual?) behavior.

One could argue that Jesus' actions led intentionally to his own death, but I've never heard anyone say that Jesus committed suicide.

So what is the difference between "laying down your life" and "committing suicide"?

Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps the major difference is, with the first, your intent is to help others, and with the second, your intent is to end your own suffering.

Anyone want to expand further?

 

[Wirraway]

intent would be important. a soldier who rolls over on a live grenade isn't intending to kill himself, but is intending to save the lives of his fellow soldiers.

 

[pdudgeon]

i'll agree, suicide is finding a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

if you were taken prisioner, you don't know in advance whether or not you'll be killed. you also don't know whether the information you hold might not have been changed since your capture, troup positions changed, etc.

most forces, when they know that sensitive or secret information has been compromised, will change their plans if possible, including timing, method, line of attack, etc. So killing yourself in that situation is playing into the hands of the enemy.

but even if you are captured, you might be left behind when the enemy flees, (saving their own life is more important to them than taking yours or dragging you along with them) or your own side might attack the enemy and release you.

if you find yourself in a situation that looks hopeless, WAIT! time has a way of changing things.

 

[Dionysiou]

yet another paragon that isnt black or white, time would tell, perhaps you could do as steven did and "commit your soul unto God"

 

[EveryTongueConfess]

For the grenade example that is clearly exaggerated, it is true many do that, and that is good, but in the aspect of being taken prisoner you don't know whether you will die or not

Perhaps you should live it out and put faith in God?
I'm not sure and it is definitely a hard choice but I agree, if it is FOR SURE going to help others - you probably want to do it and God will judge your heart
Sorry if I didn't help :O

Bless you for serving and keeping us safe, and wise to talk about this to a forum

 

[JCFantasy23]

Going into war soon, this thought came about to me. I'm never sure what position I might end up upon, what if I find myself within a position where suicide is the absolute best option, not only for myself but for the welfare of others.

Or am I supposed to live through everything, even though the situation would only present death to me, and using what life I had left to exploit me (information).

I don't think it's a sin when it is not a fully conscious decision. There are some truly mentally ill people, or those who suffer great trauma and tragedy, who suddenly break and are no longer sane in their actions. Some just say, everyone who commits suicide is mentally ill - not always true though. And even if so, most mentally ill can still make rational decisions about that kind of thing. But sometimes a breaking point from illness (or grief, etc.) makes the mind so cloggy they are no longer 'legally sane' so to speak.

 

[powerpoint]

OK, simple answer.

1 Jesus forgives all sin.

2 Suicide is a sin.

3 Jesus forgives it

Why do we need to over-complicate it? Nowhere in scripture does it say suicide is the unforgivable sin.

Also, consider Sampson, who killed others (and himself) is listed in Hebrews 11 in the chapter of faith.

 

[GraceChurch]

When one lays there life down to benefit others this is not suicide as we understand suicide otherwise technically Jesus committed suicide, because he had a choice whether he should die or not but laid his life down for others to benefit which I believe is what you’re saying Peter.

When someone commits suicide because of their inability to reconcile themselves to life or as a result of depression this suicide is a testimony that Satan through circumstances prevailed and the Church failed!

William

 

[Lord Herdsetk]

OK, simple answer.

1 Jesus forgives all sin.

2 Suicide is a sin.

3 Jesus forgives it

Why do we need to over-complicate it? Nowhere in scripture does it say suicide is the unforgivable sin.

Also, consider Sampson, who killed others (and himself) is listed in Hebrews 11 in the chapter of faith.

Reason and understanding......it burns!

 

[New_Found_Faith]

Going into war soon, this thought came about to me. I'm never sure what position I might end up upon, what if I find myself within a position where suicide is the absolute best option, not only for myself but for the welfare of others.

Or am I supposed to live through everything, even though the situation would only present death to me, and using what life I had left to exploit me (information).

Nothing is "always" anything. In that instance, if one committed suicide to protect others, suicide might be considered a selfless act of love.