Christian Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Suicide--forgivable?

I just don't know what to think. Christians are called to persevere, right? We're told that life has inherent worth, even in the face of pain and adversity, right?

But what about special situations? I think of the teenagers who are driven to despair by bullying, which these days is made 100x worse by facebook and other online social sites. I think about people who've known nothing but pain their whole lives. I think about people who may be facing chronic, painful illness with no one to care about them, and I think...

...what if a lot of suicides are really our society's fault, not the fault of the individuals involved? What if suicides are more an indictment of a society that rips people to shreds and expects them to "deal with it," "take responsibility," or "pick themselves up by their boot straps" ?

I personally would not commit suicide, hopefully. I mean, maybe if I had terminal cancer or something I'd consider it. Maybe...

...but what about people who get pushed over the edge? Does God really judge them that harshly? Having known the pain of a severe psychotic break, I can see why "crazy" people kill themselves so often. We always blame "mental illness," when the real problems seem to be: social class, stress, family dysfunction, sin, and the mental health industry. I can't even imagine what life is like for very poor people with severe mental problems. I'm blessed to have a white collar family behind me, and the mental health industry *still* tried to destroy me.

Anyway, just a random question. I don't think people should go around killing themselves like ancient stoics or anything, but I do wonder if suicide is, in some instances, forgivable.

Thoughts?
 
Forgivable? A dead person can't ask forgiveness. GOD forbids suicide...and wouldn't give that as an option to HIS loved son
 
I just don't know what to think. Christians are called to persevere, right? We're told that life has inherent worth, even in the face of pain and adversity, right?

But what about special situations? I think of the teenagers who are driven to despair by bullying, which these days is made 100x worse by facebook and other online social sites. I think about people who've known nothing but pain their whole lives. I think about people who may be facing chronic, painful illness with no one to care about them, and I think...

...what if a lot of suicides are really our society's fault, not the fault of the individuals involved? What if suicides are more an indictment of a society that rips people to shreds and expects them to "deal with it," "take responsibility," or "pick themselves up by their boot straps" ?

I personally would not commit suicide, hopefully. I mean, maybe if I had terminal cancer or something I'd consider it. Maybe...

...but what about people who get pushed over the edge? Does God really judge them that harshly? Having known the pain of a severe psychotic break, I can see why "crazy" people kill themselves so often. We always blame "mental illness," when the real problems seem to be: social class, stress, family dysfunction, sin, and the mental health industry. I can't even imagine what life is like for very poor people with severe mental problems. I'm blessed to have a white collar family behind me, and the mental health industry *still* tried to destroy me.

Anyway, just a random question. I don't think people should go around killing themselves like ancient stoics or anything, but I do wonder if suicide is, in some instances, forgivable.

Thoughts?

18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines." 1 Samuel 28:18-19


4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me." But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. 5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him. 6 So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day. 1 Samuel 31:4-6


Just as Samuel had prophesied the death of Saul and his sons, it came to pass.

Saul committed suicide, yet Samuel said he would be with him [in paradise].


JLB
 
Interesting view on the subject:

[video=youtube;ddvU6zUb-5w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddvU6zUb-5w[/video]
 
I hope that he would have mercy on me. I have no idea if he would or not. The fear of dying and going 2 hell has been the only thing stopping me b4.
 
If you're really saved, all sins are forgiven for your whole life, prior and post saved, which would include suicide.
 
Could you share some scriptures that say that?

People who kill themselves have just ZERO faith in God. Even the leapers did not just wait around and die, and by making some choice they turned the whole famine of a Kingdom. By Killing yourself, your letting God know that your situation is just so bad the God does not care enough, or love enough or even have the ability to change things around.

What a better way to make a statement that tells God what you think about Him and His word. What you think about His love, His ability.

Our bodies and spirit were bought and paid for with a precious and very high price. God sets us in the Body of Christ as He wills, and we are his workmanship created for his purpose. As a believer you don't even own the property rights to kill yourself.

We are suppose to have the joy of the Holy Spirit, hope all things believe all things.

I am not the judge, but saying the mental health is to far gone, Saying the bullies are to many and big, saying the sickness is to terminal, saying the pain is just to great, is the same thing Israel said about them giants being to big.

Them giants were not bigger than God.

It did not work out well for Israel.

Mike.
 
People die of cancer, heart attacks, the flu, broken bodies, they also can die of a broken mind.

In the words of Jesus

Mat_5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Luk 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Luk 10:31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Luk 10:32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
Luk 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
Luk 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Luk 10:35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Luk 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
Luk 10:37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
 
"Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin "- Mark 3:28

Suicide isn't the same as blasphemy of the holy spirit, which was discussed here. Please don't anybody commit suicide, I'd feel like I gave you a license to do it and would have to hunt you down in the afterlife to give you a hard time:grumpy. Life is no accident, people are created on purpose. Even if you don't know your purpose yet, God has one in mind for you.

I think the idea behind not being forgiven for suicide is that it's a sin (murder) you can't ask forgiveness for, because you're dead. The problem with that is I'm sure there are sins I've done which I forgot to ask forgiveness for. There are sins of commission (requiring action), the ones where we do the wrong thing, and there are sins of omission (inaction), the ones where we don't do the right thing. The sins of omission are the ones I'm sure I can't begin to keep track of or ask forgiveness for.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16

I'm so glad it says believes in him and not "asks" him for forgiveness.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,<sup> </sup>neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
 
Last edited by a moderator:
if you're a bullied teenager, life will get better and you'll get those experiences that heal you when you're an adult(it's kind of bittersweet) and if you're at the last months of your life, in pain, with everything said and done, it won't get better probably?

i think it would be healthy to divorce the contemplation of suicide from christian philosophy. i've heard of cases where people 'take the shortcut to heaven' and that's just sad. also i've heard of cases where people prolong their suffering because they fear hell more, which is also sad. i don't like really like this idea of God as this bureaucrat who arbitrarily sends people, who #"¤& up their lives to the way or other(or even make the right choice, concerning them and their closest), to hell.
 
Every sin is forgivable, except to refuse the Holy Spirit to speak thru you when forced to take the mark.
 
If you're really saved, all sins are forgiven for your whole life, prior and post saved, which would include suicide.

Could you share some scriptures that say that?


JLB

Question: Did Jesus say that he would forgive all sin apart from blasphemy?
Question: Is salvation a gift?
Question: Can any of God's children be taken from his hand?

Unless you twist the real answers to those questions, you will have your answer.

Regardless if it is a sin or not, you are forgiven for suicide because it is not Blasphemy.

Whether or not a believer would actually do that is another topic.
 
The thread owner, I believe, sees suicide itself as a SIN...thus: suicide--forgiblvable? Which also seems to mean, 'is the sin of suicide forgivable'?. My stance is obvious: suicide is a sin. It is murder! I have always asked the question, 'would CHRIST encourage someone to take his/her own life? I need obvious answers.

So, if you think suicide is not a sin and is justifiable, then, to you, there is no such question as forgivable or not. But when you call it a sin, which is what it is, then you are left with your Christian discernment power, 'forgivable or not?'. Not forgivable!

Only those who are alive can ask forgivness and get one. If we think that it is forgivable...then common sense tells us that other sins we deliberately committed before dying are forgivable. E.g. A 'tempted' rapist rapes a lil girl and was shot by the girl's dad, and he dies. He was a Christian but struggled with hormones, his sin is forgivable. I doubt if this is what the bible teaches.

I wouldn't give a watered down version of the world of God so that unbelievers may digest it
 
Back
Top