A Sensitive Subject—Suicide
Suicide is a choice to intentionally take one’s own life. It comes from the Latin words sui (“of oneself “) and cid (“to kill”).
In America there is a suicide every 13 minutes. Thirty-eight thousand deaths yearly are attributed to suicide, and the figure is increasing. It’s the leading cause of death among 15-24-year-olds, and for those in their mid-40s to mid-60s there has been a 30 percent increase in the last decade. Ironically, psychiatrists have the highest suicide rate among the medical professions.
People in the Bible who either took their lives or wanted to die includes: Saul, Moses, Elijah, Jonah, Zimri, Ahithophel Abimelech and Judas. Samson collapsed a building on himself, but I view this as martyrdom since he is honored in Hebrews 11 for his redemptive heroics.
Here’s the deal: Suicide is not God’s will, and although it is not the unpardonable sin (unbelief and rejection of Christ), it is a most dangerous and very serious sin. Amidst the worst struggles of life, God always remains “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Heb. 6:19).
Sadly, there are countless millions who have no relationship with God to avail themselves of His help in the time of need, although some do cry out in their anguish, and only God knows what transpires in those closing seconds. We do well to avoid speculation here.
Others suffer from genuine mental illness, debilitating depression and biological disorders that can cloud/impair their judgment so they do not think clearly and rationally in the throes of their crisis. Yes, suicide is sin, but is it at times a sin not leading to eternal death (1 John 5:17)? Again we need to tread very carefully here.
If a person is genuinely saved as a result of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, family and friends should hold fast to the salvation promise of John 5:24 where a person “has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” Rom. 8:38-39 states, “neither death nor life… shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
On the other hand, Christians should never presume on the grace of God and risk gambling their eternal destiny by suicide. Every one of us should walk in a healthy fear of God as we reflect on warnings in Scripture.
Heb. 10:26-31 cautions about sinning willfully and calls the genuineness of our salvation into question.
Rev. 21:8 declares that murderers (suicide is a grave sin equivalent to murder) “shall have their part in the lake of fire.”
“If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Cor. 3:17).
This divine tension in which God keeps us is a beautiful and mysterious thing. He is the Author of life who ultimately has the authority to give and take this precious gift. We affirm this and say with Job, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I shall have nothing when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and they were His to take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21, TLB).
Jesus revealed Satan as a “murderer” and the “father of lies” (John 8:44). It is this enemy of our soul who whispers “Life is not worth living “… “I can’t go on”…”It’ll only get worse”…”I’d be better off in the next life”… Yet while the “thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy,” it is Jesus who reminds us, “but I have come that you might have life and have it in abundance” (John 10:10).
