Is Suicide Forgivable?

[Chad]

Below is an article I found and thought it was thought provoking. I'm not familiar with Denver Cheddie but the topic is an important one. Sharing to discuss and for us to learn.

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IS SUICIDE FORGIVABLE?
By Denver Cheddie

A preacher once related his experience at a Hindu funeral of someone who committed suicide. The pundit conducting the service stated that those who commit suicide have lost all chance of forgiveness. The preacher marveled how even a Hindu pundit could get such a revelation of truth. First of all I question whether that is really a truth, and secondly how much that pundit really knows about Hinduism.

There is one sin that is unforgivable – blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:31, 32). 1 John 5:16, 17 also speak of a sin unto death. The context of 1 John suggests that John has in mind apostasy as being that sin unto death, for which there is no forgiveness (cf. Heb 6:4-6; 10:26). It is difficult to say exactly what blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is, but I believe it is the same sin as apostasy. In any case, neither passage implies that suicide is the unforgivable sin.

Suicide however is unique in that it is difficult to repent of it after committing it. This raises the question of whether repentance is necessary for forgiveness. It is necessary for forgiveness in the sense of reconciling broken fellowship with God (Isa. 59:1, 2). Confession of sins and repentance are necessary to maintain an open relationship with God, not to maintain salvation. The context of 1 John 1 is fellowship with God (vs. 3). But as long as we are in Christ, the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us of all sin (vs. 7) whether or not we repent. We should confess our sins if we desire an intimate walk with God, but even if we do not, our salvation is not affected. Thus suicide is forgivable.

The real question is not whether suicide will prevent one for going to heaven – it will not. Only unbelief will (John 3:18). It is whether a genuine Christian will commit suicide. I personally do not believe that they would but in the rare event that they do, it will not deny them of heaven. What ultimately determines whether we go to heaven is whether we were in Christ.

Let me close with a scriptural example of someone who committed suicide - Samson (Judges 16:30). Samson was captured by the Philistines and he prayed to God for strength so that he could uproot the foundation pillars of the building and kill the Philistines together with himself. GOD ANSWERED HIS PRAYER. Samson killed himself and I don't think he got a chance to repent afterward. Did the Bible condemn Samson for his "cowardly act"? No instead, the writer of Judges boasted that Samson killed more people in his death than in his life. Hebrews 11:32,34 continue to boast about Samson, specifically how out of weakness he was made strong. Samson is listed as a hero of faith. Yes he had his issues, but this was not one of them. You could recast this event in whatever terms you wish, you could never escape the conclusion that Samson killed himself. Based on Hebrews 11, I doubt very much that he is in hell.

 

[RJ]

• To be "Born Again" as Jesus told Nicodemus, is your spiritual birth. He goes on, as with man, your human birth is the is a process of the flesh giving birth to the flesh and, your spiritual birth is the human spirit is given birth by the Holy Spirit, as Jesus confirmed.
• In Matthew 12: 31-32, Jesus , in a way, is making a play on words, a pun. We all know as Christians we are so designated because we have been "Born Again" or, have received the spirit of Jesus (Holy Spirit) inside us and saved for eternity. Jesus says that you can go so far as blasphemy (or speak against) him but you can't blasphemy the Holy Spirit....in other words, you can commit any kind of sin and be saved by belief and faith, but if you don't believe (and receive the Holy Spirit) that is a sin that, of course, is not forgiven and is called Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.. That is the same as Apostasy, the total rejection of God's grace and, therefore, rejection of the Holy Spirit.
• Only God can forgive and save and only he knows for sure whats in a man's heart!. Some, who are Baptismal Regenerationist, would say that who ever has not been water (emersed) baptised , has blasphemed the Holly Spirit. I do not believe that.
• Based on what scripture tells me, a person can be saved in or out of water. If he commits suicide after salvation, he is forgiven. If he commits suicide before salvation he is not forgiven.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

I personally do not believe that I have the right or the power to make a presumption of guilt in any such issue because God alone knows all the details that led to
anyone's decision to end their own lives. Mt 25:31- 32 seems to indicate that the final guilty/not guilty verdicts are to be made by Jesus alone without input from us.

SLE

 

[james1523]

Some believe we must repent from all our sins before we die, to enter heaven. Since a self-murderer has no opportunity, they would not enter heaven.

"Suicide however is unique in that it is difficult to repent of it after committing it. "
Difficult? It's impossible.

 

[Hekuran]

I'm with SpiritLedEd on this one. Better to trust in God's wisdom, love and justice than to attempt our own judgements or to devise rules where none are needed. It's not our place to second-guess God.

 

[Davy]

I was reading a magazine a short while ago, and it had an article in it about suicide. It is important to remember, the vast majority of people who commit suicide do not want to die, they just want the emotional pain they are suffering from to stop. If someone could take that pain away, they would no longer believe there is a reason to take their own life. Unfortunately, this emotional pain can take quite a toll on the human mind.

It made an interesting point, "according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, studies have consistently found that the overwhelming majority of people who die by suicide 90% or more had a mental disorder at the time of their death. Often, however, these disorders had not been recognized, diagnosed or adequately treated." The range of these condition can be quite considerable. From serious depression that impairs a persons judgment, causing them to not see a way out and spiral downwards into a very dark place, where they see no choice but to end their life. To more serious psychotic disorders that can be triggered by traumatic event in a persons life.

God is a loving merciful heavenly father. He obviously realises that many of these people who do this are not quite right in their own mind. The legal law of the land has a term, temporary loss of insanity, which gives extenuating circumstances and lenience to an accused person, in some cases letting them off completely. If humans can understand and show mercy to a fellow human who was put under extraordinary pressure, and did acts they would later regret, surely God will do the same.