Suicide - When does it become a sin?

[lister4ever]

Now please dont anyone think i am suicidal or anything, this is a purely academic inquirery.

Now by my understanding of the bible, to take the life of a human is a mortal sin, something you go to hell for right? That includes ones own life, since who are you to take what God has given? Now, if one ends ones own life, then you die with an unforgiven mortal sin, and so go to hell, but i wonder... when exactly does it become a sin? Is it when you inflict the deadly wound, such as slitting your wrists or such like, or is it only at the moment of death that the sin is commited? Is there truly no hope for salvation for a suicide victim?

 

[12volt_man]

Now please dont anyone think i am suicidal or anything, this is a purely academic inquirery.

Now by my understanding of the bible, to take the life of a human is a mortal sin, something you go to hell for right? That includes ones own life, since who are you to take what God has given? Now, if one ends ones own life, then you die with an unforgiven mortal sin, and so go to hell, but i wonder... when exactly does it become a sin? Is it when you inflict the deadly wound, such as slitting your wrists or such like, or is it only at the moment of death that the sin is commited?

The Bible doesn't really tell us whether or not suicide is a sin.

There are a couple of schools of thought on it, though.

The first is that it is a sin for the reason you mention, that is, that it is murder.

I have a couple of problems with this. The first is that, as I've pointed out before, the word translated as "murder" in the Bible is "ratsach" and we don't see this applied anywhere to suicide.

The second is that I believe that God takes into account our competency to understand our actions. If sin is, at it's core, rebellion, then it has to be volitional. Since I tend not to believe that people who kill themselves are in their right minds, then I must believe that God, who is infinitely just, must take this into account.

That having been said, there's very little Biblical evidence one way or the other so I wouldn't argue with anyone who disagrees.

Is there truly no hope for salvation for a suicide victim?

If the person is reconciled to God through Christ then he is saved. If not, then he is not saved. Suicide doesn't affect this.

 

[Serapha]

Now please dont anyone think i am suicidal or anything, this is a purely academic inquirery.

Now by my understanding of the bible, to take the life of a human is a mortal sin, something you go to hell for right? That includes ones own life, since who are you to take what God has given? Now, if one ends ones own life, then you die with an unforgiven mortal sin, and so go to hell, but i wonder... when exactly does it become a sin? Is it when you inflict the deadly wound, such as slitting your wrists or such like, or is it only at the moment of death that the sin is commited? Is there truly no hope for salvation for a suicide victim?

Hi there!

Now by my understanding of the bible, to take the life of a human is a mortal sin, something you go to hell for right?

Sin is sin, it is disobedience to God's will for your life, whether it is stealing, or dishonoring a parent, or taking someone's life. To take a life is against God's commandments for mankind.

That includes ones own life, since who are you to take what God has given?

God is the judge, and God knows the intent of the person at the moment of death. God knows the mental state of each person, and "willful" disobedience requires a conscientious decision from a sound mind.

Now, if one ends ones own life, then you die with an unforgiven mortal sin, and so go to hell, but i wonder... when exactly does it become a sin?

When it is willful disobedience to God's commandments make with a conscientious decision from a sound mind.

it when you inflict the deadly wound, such as slitting your wrists or such like, or is it only at the moment of death that the sin is commited? Is there truly no hope for salvation for a suicide victim?

There is hope for a suicide victim. Again, God is the judge. No one knows the mental condition of any person at the second of death. No one knows the last second thoughts of a suicide victim.

~serapha~

 

[Caelum]

In one of his "Table Talks," Martin Luther himself commented: "I don't have the opinion that suicides are certainly to be damned. My reason is that they do not wish to kill themselves but are overcome by the power of the devil." Luther goes on, however, to express concern that this statement not be misunderstood or misused in a way that would downplay the danger and seriousness of this sin in the minds of people (Luther's Works, American Edition, Vol. 54, p. 29).

 

[Caelum]

Duplicate.

 

[Ainesis]

Hi,

I am not sure about the answer, but it reminded me of some Scripture I was reading last night. Romans 14:23b says "...whatsoever is not of faith is sin." It seems to me that suicide is an act that embodies hopelessness or faithlesness. IOW, the absence of faith seems to produce the stimulus leading to a suicididal frame of mind.

Either way, I don't know that it is an unforgivable as some doctrines propose. But in the end, God will certainly judge all.

 

[SFBay]

Yes, suicide is a sin ("thou shall not kill"), but I don't think it's unforgivable. I don't think suicide will damn a person to hell. Only denying Christ will.

Besides, most people who commit suicide have some sort of mental illness, and I don't think God will hold it against them.

 

[Fun_Fundie]

Well...I think doing anything that harms your body is sin, so even attempting suicide is sin...I don't think death actually has to occur for it to be sin.

So, to answer your question, when the wound occurs.

 

[Knight]

Christ taught that it is not the action alone that is sinful but rather the heart intentions behind these actions that are sinful.

I'll use murder as an example. We all know it is sin. However, In Matthew 5 Christ taught that the anger behind this action was just as bad in God's sight.

The same would apply to suicide since you're murdering yourself.

 

[Rafael]

Suicide is a bad thing, but I like to think the best for a person driven to such despair. I would hope in God's mercy and love for those that fall into such a circumstance.

 

[Whitestone]

I would not really equate suicide to murder, but to taking the life and body that the Lord has given and destroying that.

Whitestone

 

[Rosa Mystica]

Objectively speaking, suicide is always considered a grave sin (from the Catholic viewpoint). However, when committed due to a mental illness or extreme anguish, culpability may be diminished (due to an inability to fully consent to the sin).

Just my .02.

 

[TheThirdLink]

People who want to inflict pain like that to themselves are in a great deal of agony that they cannot excuse/stop on their own power. I've been there a few times myself. Graciously, the Holy Spirit stopped me from committing suicide. But those kinds of people need our prayers and love the most.

 

[leah-bygrace]

Now by my understanding of the bible, to take the life of a human is a mortal sin, something you go to hell for right? That includes ones own life, since who are you to take what God has given? Now, if one ends ones own life, then you die with an unforgiven mortal sin,....

As a child growing up Catholic, I was always taught that suicide was an immortal sin that would result in eternal damnation (hell).

But now, since there is little evidence to support this doctrine, I don't think this is true. I have accepted the belief that the only thing that can send someone to hell is the denial of Christ.

 

[devoted daughter]

I find it difficult to believe that God would condemn the actions of someone in that much pain and suffering, especially if they have reached out for help here, and done all they could to heal. Although I don't know for sure what happens since they haven't finished their lessons here, maybe the lessons go on after they leave here, and they have to lend assistance to the one's they leave behind that will suffer for such actions. I have nothing in the bible to support this, but I have the faith in my own relationship with Him that says He is forgiving and loving as our Father.
I wouldn't want to bet my soul on it though.
God bless
DD

 

[bliz]

All of us will die having committed sins for which we have not repented, if only becasue in our sin nature we all commit sins without even being aware that we are sinning. And remember, to even think of dong something is to have done it.

So, no matter how we die, we will all die in a sinful state, which makes all of us no different in God's eyes from someone who dies having committed suicide. If we are Christians, Jesus died for all of us sins once and for all. We do not have to keep an active record of what sins we committ and the date and time we asked for God's forgivness. We could never do it and no one would ever make it to heaven.

There is only one sin that God will not forgive, and it is not the sin of suicide.

None of that, however, is to view suicide as a benign choice. The pain and troubles that are left behind for the family and friends, especially for children, are horribel and their impact is very long lasting.

 

[Emmy]

To take a life which has been given by God is a sin.We know however,that God sees our hearts and is also a loving and compassionate Father. It is absolutely true and important that anybody who is driven to such a drastic deed,needs our prayers,love and understanding,if possible before the great tragedy happens in reality.Help us to have a discerning spirit dear Lord.In love Your sister in Christ Emmy.

 

[Blazin4Christ]

To commit suicide is wrong considering it is murder, because your taking a life God gave, and plus its very cowardly, its liek you can't face life so you just commit suicide, its a bad idea

 

[janelle123]

i struggle wiht this question a lot...because their is a lot of suicide people out their, and my teacher (i go to a christian school) she was sexualy and physically abused by her parents, and then she tried to commit suicide, but while she was doing it she was reading the bible, someone found her before the pill worked and she is obviously still alive today...but she was sure she was going to heaven. she was talking to us in class and she made it sound that suicide was okay. i dont believe that. i think suicide is totally wrong, its a sin, but then again, does God forgive us for this? well, he forgives us for all our sins so im assuming that he forgives us for this, but i dont think its right. you are killing yourself to get away from your problems, but you are also giving others your problems by doing that. thats my thoughts and what i think of suicide. i dont think its right and i dont think its the right way out of life...

 

[laura_killian]

I AGREE WITH JANELLE! our teacher realy made suicide seem liek a good thing, and I was thinking, if Heaven is so amazing, and I will get there anyways, why dont I just commit suicide now to save going through rough times? if I knwo im going to heaven, commiting suiceide means nothign to me, its just he quickest way to get to the most amazing place in my dreams....suicide is wrong, your killing somehitng. its murder. just like abortion and murdering somone else. whats the differnt between killing yourself or someone else?