SUICIDE

Suicide.  I’ve been asked to write on this, and must admit that I find myself struggling. Not because the article is hard, but because I have been there and it conjures thoughts that I would just as soon leave buried.  Many are in this same boat and struggle to find answers when there seems to be none.  So the next question is how to approach this topic.

The Bible records three instances of it in the scripture. King Saul, when defeated in battle and about to be captured by enemies, killed himself by falling on his own sword rather than be taken alive and tortured (1 Sam.31:4). One of David's advisers when he was rejected by David (2 Sam.17:23), went home and hung himself. And Judas, after betraying Jesus, hung himself (Mt.27:5). The scriptures in these instances are silent as to the eternal fate of those who did them. So, the question remains, is it something God overlooks? Is it sinful? Is it unforgiveable?

Answer to the questions comes from the question, do you love God?  Jesus states in Mt.22:37 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  Elsewhere, Jesus states “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (Jn.14:15)

• Is suicide something that God overlooks?  No.  The fact that God recorded the instances that are in the scripture shows us that He does not.  Is someone who commits suicide, someone who loves God?   God calls us to trust Him in all things, even the dark times (Psa.23). When we do not, we do not love God with all of our heart. We are trusting in our own understanding (Prov.3:5;28:6; Job 13:15;  Isa.12:2). 
• Is that sinful? – Yes  If we do not love God, if we are not for God, Jesus says we are against Him (Lk.11:23)
• Is it unforgiveable?  Of that, we cannot be the judge. God is the judge of eternal destiny, and only He knows the hearts of men (Jn.12:47,48)  All that you and I can know is what His word says, and with reference to this topic – it is not loving God to take one’s own life.

Here are some things to consider.

• Jesus states, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10)  The thief in this passage is Satan, who comes to steal, kill and destroy.  Why should we allow the evil one to take from us, what Jesus Himself said that He came to GIVE us?
• Regardless of what you call it, suicide is an act of murder, killing, that taking of a human life that you have judged and devalued as unworthy to live. Jesus in Mt.5:21,22  reaffirms the law of God, “you shall not commit murder.”  When a person devalues their own life and judge it unworthy to continue and take their life, they are murdering themselves.  They are taking a life, that is not theirs to take. Especially for a Christian this is true because Paul states, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

Perhaps the predominant question is, is it unforgiveable?  The only answer that I know to this question is 1Jn 3:4  Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. As discussed above, it is sin in more than one way. When we put ourselves outside of God, how can we home to be invited in by God? 

I mentioned before, that I have been there. Yes, I have thought about it – on more than one occasion. These thoughts were what kept me going.  I love God…with all my heart. I cannot choose my own will above God’s when He gave His Son to be killed for me. That, would be thoughtless and selfish.  As much as people think that the world is better off without them, this is a lie. Those thinking about suicide rarely take into consideration how it will make others feel or how it will affect the future of those lives that we have influenced. Especially your spouse, children, mother, father and immediate family will be traumatized forever because of the thoughtless act of one individual. Would you be that selfish?

This is not a pleasant topic to write about, nor is it a pleasant one to think about.  If you are, then seek professional help. Understand that God and people love you and want you here. It is not hopeless. Christ died to give you hope, life, and life abundant!

Jim