Questions about Suicide

[Beckijhn]

Recently a friend of mine commited suicide.  I felt that God had put me in his path for a reason.  My hubby left me 8 months ago and his wife (of 25 years) had left him before I met him.  Anyway after many months of being run over by a lawyer and denied seeing his kids he killed himself.  He never accepted Jesus.  He was chased out of the church at 17 (about 35 years ago) by holier than thous and never looked back.  I know he's in hell and I'm sad I didn't have a bigger effect in his life.  I don't know what God put me there for.  That's neither here nor there and I know he's in hell now, but this has brought up a discussion between my prayer partner (best friend) and I...

She believes that if you commit suicide you go to hell.  I don't know if I believe that.  Thinking back to the kids that held off the Nazi's in the Warsaw Ghetto - they held them off for three days or so and when they were being captured they killed themselves.  I would have done the same - rather than be an 'example' in the hands of some rather ticked off Nazi's. 

So is there grace and mercy even in suicide? 

This isn't about my friend, he straight out told me that religion worked for me and that was great, but it wasn't for him.  This is about the act of suicide in general.  I've never known a Christian who has killed themself.  Jesus is HOPE and people with HOPE wouldn't be as likely to do that.  What do you think?

 

[Gerry]

Tough Question. Tough because in Christendom there are two schools on salvation. Those who hold to OSAS and those who believe you can fall from Grace. To pursue this in this forum will not likely deepen our fellowship but will more likely open a debate on the issue of OSAS. But we must trust God in this as in all circumstances. I am sorry for this horrible and sad experience.

 

[ikester7579]

Sorry to hear about your friend. Suicide is of the Devil, because it messes up God's timeline for you and what God had in store for your life. Every man has an appointed time to live and an appointed time to die. There's no way around this. But, You do not know whether or not while your friend was fighting with his demons before he did this thing, He may have cried out to God. And asked for forgiveness. I cannot say if that will make up for what he did. But we are not God. He is the Supreme Judge. He knows whats in every heart and mind. And I know he will be judged fairly when he is put before the throne of judgement.

 

[Blade]

I am sorry for your lost. Jesus knows their heart. There mind is so confused and lost

 

[kern]

"If you commit suicide you go to hell."

That's an odd viewpoint because many Protestant denominations believe that being saved cleanses all of your past, present, and future sins as well -- which would include a suicide at the end of your life.

There might be some worry in a system like the Catholic one where some sins are "mortal sins". But Catholic teaching is that depending on the situation, the responsibility for such a sin can be diminished and that we should not imagine that anyone who commits suicide goes to hell.

-Chris

 

[*Drops~Of~Jupiter*]

First let me say I am SO sorry to hear about your friend. It's never easy to lose someone you care about, and if you ever need to talk or anything just let me know, ok?

"I've never known a Christian who has killed themself. Jesus is HOPE and people with HOPE wouldn't be as likely to do that. What do you think?"

I've known one Christian who killed himself (my friend's father). He was active in church and he loved his family and he loved God even more. What everyone apparently didn't see about him, though, was how unhappy he was. He had a lot of pressures from his job, and he and his wife were having problems as well. In his letter, he said that he couldn't handle life anymore and that he wanted to be with God.

 

[Beckijhn]

Thank you for responding. You are right I don't know what was in his heart when he died. He did this act in a selfish and heinous way so I think it was done in bitterness and anger and "I'm gonna show you", but only God knows his heart.

I didn't want to start a debate, I just wanted some input because I don't know what to think right now, and I thank you for your responses.

 

[kern]

Since depression is now understood as a clinical problem that sometimes requires medication rather than just "being sad", suicide may be literally not the person's fault. It's not always done to rebel or out of anger or anything like that.

-Chris

 

[Mr.Cheese]

I think it's between the person and God. Really. I had a friend commit suicide and we were all so mad at him. But I had a cousin who was mentally ill commit suicide and I miss her. Her poor mind was so broken and it finally won. It took her.

For you all I can say is thet there are some questions in life that don't have answers. There are situations that you try to file away in their own little box and they defy any attempt you can make to resolve the issue. Don't try to think what you could have done different to change what has happened.
It's confusing.
It's easier said than done.
*hug*

 

[seangoh]

Beckijhn, i don't have a friend who committed suicide but one who nearly did while i tried to persuade her to come off it. Anyway, regarding people's salvation, we must believe that God is fair towards everyone. His standards of judging is not the same as most of us believe. His judgements will be very fair.
And when He comes the 2nd time, it is the time of judgement.

In Rev 22:12
"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

He will give the rewards and mete out punishments during the great day of the Lord. Do not dismay for your friend is not in hell now, nor anyone else is now in heaven or hell, otherwise there wouldn't be a need for the 2nd coming.

John 5:28-29
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Lastly, the only funeral sermon in the New Testament really applies to such situations as given by Paul.

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. " 1 Thess 4:16-18

I've a friend in hospital right now fighting for her life and have asked people to pray for her(look in the prayer forum). She's only 20 yrs old but yet such a thing could happen. I'm still young and haven't had many friends pass away yet but i know when that time happens, the words of Paul will be in my heart, looking forward to the day when my friends and I will be reuinited, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

[sbbqb7n16]

It's up to God to judge... and He is a fair God, so I know He will make the right decision. Seeing as there is nothing you can do to change their path, comfort and console the ones around him.

And if you want to know "do you go to hell if you commit suicide?" Don't commit suicide and you won't have to worry God will judge fairly on those that do