Why is Suicide Wrong

[Desk trauma]

Either way, he's not performing any more assisted suicides.

Thankfully he's gone and no longer the face of physician-assisted suicide in the US.

 

[2tim_215]

Unless it's God's will. Didn't Samson commit murder, and suicide, when he brought down the Philistines' temple? Of course, you say that's not murder or suicide. That's self-sacrifice. It was God's will that Samson would be the instrument to serve His justice on His enemies. And so, by logical extrapolation, how can you know if any suicide isn't God's will? Many tragic events may seem senseless to us, but I always hear Christian believers say that God is sovereign, and has a purpose for everything. And if one believes this, then no one can really judge if any particular suicide is, or is not, sinful.

And BTW: I'm sure the 9/11 conspiritors didn't think they were committing murder or suicide either. They no doubt believed they were making the ultimate sacrifice to serve justice on their God's enemies.

In Samson's case when he pulled down the pillars with his superhuman strength that God had returned to him God could have brought him through it if he wanted to but Samson didn't care at that point. He had been disobedient to God throughout his life and basically was judged by God and lost his life. I don't consider that suicide. Similar to the Navy Seal who lost his life trying to rescue those boys in Thailand, he may have been on a "Suicide Mission" but I'm sure he was attempting to commit suicide. God could have saved Samson from death but chose not to.

 

[jayem]

God could have saved Samson from death but chose not to.

That's my point. Samson's death was God's will. An omnipotent and sovereign God could save anyone if he chose to. He could cause a handgun to jam. Or an overdose victim to be found in time to get a life-saving Narcan injection. Or a jumper to be tackled and physically removed from a dangerous height. In fact, I've heard Christian believers say that an interrupted suicide is a sign that God still has plans for someone's life. If that's true, wouldn't it follow that a completed suicide is a sign that God intended the victim to die? So how could you know in any particular suicide case if it resulted purely from human volition, or was actually part of God's plan?

 

[dreadnought]

Try telling that to the Canaanites!

But that doesn't pertain to this discussion, does it?

 

[dreadnought]

Actually it was to not commit murder.

There is a difference.

It depends on the translation you read, but is it okay to murder yourself?

 

[2tim_215]

That's my point. Samson's death was God's will. An omnipotent and sovereign God could save anyone if he chose to. He could cause a handgun to jam. Or an overdose victim to be found in time to get a life-saving Narcan injection. Or a jumper to be tackled and physically removed from a dangerous height. In fact, I've heard Christian believers say that an interrupted suicide is a sign that God still has plans for someone's life. If that's true, wouldn't it follow that a completed suicide is a sign that God intended the victim to die? So how could you know in any particular suicide case if it resulted purely from human volition, or was actually part of God's plan?

Because if God wanted you to die He could take it in many. When someone decides to take their own life then have made themselves God as God is the only one who has the right to decide who lives and who dies. It's sort of like the guy who jumps off the roof because he thinks that God's going to save him. Not a good idea.

 

[jayem]

Because if God wanted you to die He could take it in many. When someone decides to take their own life then have made themselves God as God is the only one who has the right to decide who lives and who dies. It's sort of like the guy who jumps off the roof because he thinks that God's going to save him. Not a good idea.

OK, you're saying that if it's God's will that you should die, he could accomplish it in many ways. What I'm asking, is why couldn't he use suicide as one of those ways? Couldn't God have ordained that Saul would be defeated in battle and kill himself by falling on his sword? It was certainly God's plan that Jesus would be crucified. So couldn't it also have been part of that plan that Judas identify him to the Romans? And that Judas would die by hanging himself (and/or falling from a cliff and spilling out his entrails. Scripture mentions both scenarios.) Why cannot God compel someone to commit suicide, if he has decided that he should die?

 

[Doug Melven]

Why cannot God compel someone to commit suicide, if he has decided that he should die?

John 10:10 Jesus said, "The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.I am come that you may have life and have it abundantly".

Note who wants to kill and who gives life.

 

[W2L]

Jump out of a burning building right into Hell fire. 1000 times hotter. More acrid (sulfur) smoke.

Not a wise choice.

Why hellfire? Do you believe a person who commits a sin is going to hell for that one sin?

 

[W2L]

People who commit suicide are sometimes wanting to escape inner pain, much like the people who wanted to escape the flames and jumped from the towers.

 

[jayem]

John 10:10 Jesus said, "The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.I am come that you may have life and have it abundantly".

Note who wants to kill and who gives life.

"See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand."
Deut. 32:39

"The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up."
1 Samuel 2:6

"It is all one; therefore I say, 'He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.'"
Job 9:22

"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Matt 10:28

"But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!"
Luke 12:5

 

[2tim_215]

OK, you're saying that if it's God's will that you should die, he could accomplish it in many ways. What I'm asking, is why couldn't he use suicide as one of those ways? Couldn't God have ordained that Saul would be defeated in battle and kill himself by falling on his sword? It was certainly God's plan that Jesus would be crucified. So couldn't it also have been part of that plan that Judas identify him to the Romans? And that Judas would die by hanging himself (and/or falling from a cliff and spilling out his entrails. Scripture mentions both scenarios.) Why cannot God compel someone to commit suicide, if he has decided that he should die?

The problem with that is,what if god doe not want you to take your own life (for whatever reason) and you do it anyway? Them you've put yourself in the place of God and disobeyed Him. Of course you can't know one way or the other but God is the only one who truly has the right to decide who is to live or to die. I don't want to seem heartless nor do I believe is. You put out some good verses which support this. Saul failing on his sword was probably an accident pre-ordained by God. The problem is that I don't believe he'd ever compel someone to kill themselves. You never see this in scripture. If someone is in that much pain, I can see them praying for death but praying for forgiveness and God to heal them to me is a much better way to go.

 

[2tim_215]

911 Story:
https://people.com/human-interest/911-survivors-reflect-escape-south-tower/
There are other survivors too I believe.

 

[Dave-W]

Why hellfire? Do you believe a person who commits a sin is going to hell for that one sin?

For that particular sin? No. But most people who commit suicide are NOT Christians anyway so their fate is clear.

If the suicide victim was a true Christian, many believe in OSAS so those that believe that would probably go ahead and do it. They believe they would be saved anyway. Some believe that any and every little sin will throw you into hell. (they way I was raised) so they would not do it.

My opinion is that salvation can be lost, but one has to make a clear decision to break the covenant (like getting a divorce) in order to lose it. So unless one has renounced their faith before doing it, they are probably ok.

 

[2tim_215]

I don't want to be dogmatic about it, but I would say there's definitely a possibility that hell might be in the offing, therefore I wouldn't take a chance with it because killing is a sin. No one has a right to take another's life or to kill anyone, including themselves with the exceptions of the military and law enforcement I believe.

 

[Primary0]

There are people who are happy and healthy; and they just enjoy life. But there are people who suffer a lot in this life. There are people who are disabled and they see the people who are not disable being able to do stuff that they cannot do. It makes them want to kill themselves. And some people deal with actual pain, not emotional, but physical pain. Why can't they just end it all?

Sometimes it seems unfair to say that it is wrong to kill yourself, for those who are actually suffering. (Just to let you know, this is not me).

I watched a video on 9/11 attack, and people were jumping out of the windows. These people were going to die anyways. Then I watched a family who talked about their son. This was a Catholic family. They were talking about an unknown man who jumped out of the building, but they couldn't tell if it was their son or not. The picture was blurry. But you can tell that he was a cook just like their son by the clothes he was wearing. But they were pretty sure that it was not the son. They were saying that he knew not to commit suicide, for it is a sin against God. They were disappointed that anyone would even ask if that was their son. That was the only reason why the believe he wasn't their son. They couldn't tell by the picture. It was a little blurry, but you can clearly see what clothes he had on.

So, the question is, would they be disappointed if that was their son? Why would God tell someone that they have to suffer through the pain?

This guy was in a burning hot building, and breathing all this smoke. Do you know what that is like? Well, I'm sure you do. But it hurts your lungs. Why wouldn't he jump to alleviate the suffering? Sometimes suicide is the only option.

Not if they go to hell.

Can you evaluate reality on the other side of the coin? Will it be better or worse?

 

[Sam91]

911 Story:
https://people.com/human-interest/911-survivors-reflect-escape-south-tower/
There are other survivors too I believe.

Praise God!

 

[2tim_215]

Praise God!

Wonderful story. God can do some amazing things when we let Him.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

The Lord told us not to kill.

The Lord told us not to kill.....another person.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Thankfully he's gone and no longer the face of physician-assisted suicide in the US.

Today it's Oregon's "Death with Dignity Act".