The Bible and Suicide

According to an article in the September 15, 2008 issue of the Kansas City Star, “Suicide is a bigger killer in Kansas and Missouri—and across the country—than homicide, though it often gets much less attention.”  More than 32,000 Americans a year kill themselves and according to 2006 federal government statistics, the suicide rate per 100,000 people is just slightly less than double the homicide rate.  In spite of our country’s prosperity, we are a nation losing hope.  It saddens me deeply that so many people are suffering because of it.

I have not personally lost someone close to me from suicide, but I’ve known several people who have lost relatives to this fate.   It is a common belief in the world that the suicide victim goes to hell when he or she dies because of the inability to confess his or her sins to God.  Because of this common view, loved ones of the victims often suffer grief exceedingly greater than they would if the death had not resulted from the victim’s own hand.

As Christians, it is important to know what the Bible says about suicide so we can offer some measure of comfort to those who mourn.  The bottom line is this:  Nowhere in the Bible does it say that a person goes to hell as a result of suicide.  Any person who is in right standing with God (i.e. they have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior) is exempt from hell, whether or not they died with unconfessed sins.  Most of us probably will die with unconfessed sin in our lives because oftentimes we don’t know we have sinned when it comes to matters of faith and adherence to every tidbit of God’s instruction for our lives. 

In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Bible says that by faith we are saved, not of works.  John 3:16 states that if we believe in God’s Son, we will have everlasting life.  Romans 8:32 says that nothing can separate believers from the love of God.  Because we did nothing to earn an eternal life in heaven, we can’t do anything to “UN-earn” that precious gift.  Suicide is a sin because it is murder (Ex 20:13), but it no more condemns us to hell than a little white lie if we have already believed in Jesus for the salvation of our souls.  If a loved one was a true believer, no matter the cause of their passing, they will be in heaven.  At least in this, we can take comfort in our sadness.

Who can you comfort with the truth you know?

Comments

[Kansas Bob]

I came across this last night.. an inmate at our KC jail asked me a question about it while I was preaching about hope.. I learned that he was dealing with it because his cousin had commited suicide.. it was so heartbreaking.

I hadn't really thought much about suicide until I read about how McCain had tried to commit suicide several times while a POW.

I agree that it is a larger issue than many of us think.

So many despair in trials.. life can be so dark.. and hope can be so elusive when it is in anything other than Christ.

[Janna]

Hi Bob...my heart breaks for those who think they have no hope for a better day. We just need to keep trying to reach them one person at a time. Thanks for your thoughts.

[Kansas Bob]

I linked back at my place ( http://redemption.kansasbob.com ) Janna with an excerpt from this excellent post.

[Janna]

Thanks, Bob!

[Mike]

Jana,

This is a powerful post and deals with an issue that the church largley ignores.

I was in a church once that lost a leading member to suicide. It was heart breaking.

Thanks for bringing us into the real world, dealing with real issues.

[M.E.]

Thank you, Jana. I have not personally known a suicide victim, but have known those who have attempted it. When you have friends among the mentally ill, you sometimes get to witness the true depth of despair that would drive someone to commit such a desperate act. As a teenager, I also knew depression that made suicide look like the only way possible to end the unending turmoil in my heart and mind. Thankfully I found the Lord and my reason to live and have hope during that extremely troubled time.

God bless you for having the courage to speak out and console those who are hurting.

M.E.

[Karen]

Thanks for posting this, Janna.
I've been at the aftermath of a suicide-that of a young neighbor. That trauma for the family is enough to deal with, much less someone implying their loved one is now in hell.

[Alex Tang]

Hi Jana,

Was directed here from Bob's blog. Thank you for that encouraging post. It is encouraging because people especially Christians who have lost a loved one to suicide suffers threefold; (1) the loss of a dear person, (2) the guilt of wondering if it could have been prevented, and (3) the fear that the suicide is now past redemption. It is good to be reminded that (3) is groundless.