Suicide: Unforgiveable sin?

Question

is suicide an unforgivible sin?

Answer 1

THE tragic news of a suicide does not close a chapter in the lives of relatives and friends; it opens one—a chapter of mixed feelings of pity and anger, sorrow and guilt. And it raises the question: May we entertain any hope for our friend who took his or her life?

Although self-inflicted death is never justified, never righteous, the apostle Paul did hold out a beautiful hope for even some unrighteous ones. As he told a Roman court of law: “I have hope toward God . . . that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.”—Acts 24:15.
Many theologians have long dismissed any suggestion that the resurrection of the unrighteous might offer hope for those who commit suicide. Why?

Centuries ago, churchmen introduced a non-Biblical concept: immortal souls that leave the body at death and go straight to heaven, purgatory, Limbo, or hell. That concept clashed with the Bible’s clear teaching of a future resurrection. As Baptist minister Charles Andrews asked: “If the soul is already blissfully in heaven (or is already justifiably roasting in hell), what need is there for anything further?” He added: “This inner contradiction has remained to plague Christians throughout the centuries.”

One result of such errant theology was that “since Augustine’s time [354-430 C.E.], the church has condemned suicide as a sin,” says Arthur Droge in the Bible Review, “a sin beyond redemption, just like apostasy and adultery.”

Jesus told a criminal sentenced to death: “You will be with me in Paradise.” The man was unrighteous—a lawbreaker rather than a distraught suicide victim—guilty by his own frank admission. (Luke 23:39-43) He had no hope of going to heaven to rule with Jesus. So the Paradise in which this thief could hope to come back to life would be the beautiful earth under the rule of Jehovah God’s Kingdom.—Matthew 6:9, 10; Revelation 21:1-4.

For what purpose will God awaken this criminal? So that He mercilessly can hold his past sins against him? Hardly, for Romans 6:7, 23 says: “He who has died has been acquitted from his sin,” and “the wages sin pays is death.” Although his past sins will not be accounted to him, he will still need the ransom to lift him to perfection.

Only God can fully understand the role of mental sickness, extreme stress, even genetic defects, in a “suicidal crisis,” which, the National Observer noted, “is not a lifetime characteristic [but] often a matter only of minutes or of hours.”
Granted, one who takes his own life deprives himself of the opportunity to repent of his self-murder. But who can say whether one driven to suicide might have had a change of heart had his fatal attempt failed? Some notorious murderers have, in fact, changed and earned God’s forgiveness during their lifetime.
Thus, Jehovah, having paid “a ransom in exchange for many,” His Son, is within his right to extend mercy, even to some self-murderers, by resurrecting them and giving them the precious opportunity to “repent and turn to God by doing works that befit repentance.”

The Scriptures encourage us to see ourselves, not as immortal souls, but as valuable creations of the God who loves us, who treasures our being alive, and who looks forward with joy to the time of the resurrection.

4000 years had passed from Adam & Eve, Jesus said to a Religious Leader that no one had gone to Heaven, and millions of people had passed away in death. This is a quote from the King James Bible:

John 3:13 " And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven,"
it seems to me, this would eliminate the "immortal soul" belief, not only that, if you go to Heaven or Hell when you die, you completely do away with the resurrection that the Bible speaks about, because the resurrection is suppose to take place after Jesus comes the second time, and that has not happened.

Answer 2

A sin - yes. Unforgivable - no. I have never heard of a suicide victim that wasn't messed up somehow. Either by mental illness or duress. God will take that into account.

Was the person a Christian that sinned like we all do or were they not saved at all? That's the real variable. Saying you don't have time to repent is religious legalism. You could jump off a bridge and repent on the way down and that criteria would be satisfied. There are many real Christians who die and don't have time to repent whatever sin they did that day - I doubt they go to hell.

People must try to pull through whatever they trials they are enduring.

Answer 3

The tragedy, destitution and hopelessness that would cause someone to take their own life is not something that a just and loving God would punish. Those facing the end of their lives with terminal illnesses can and do reach a point where they come to the logical conclusion that their quality of life will not be worth the expense and effort or that they do not wish to live with certain debilitating conditions. They have a right to death with dignity.

Euthanasia or suicide is no more interference with God's will than keeping bodies on respirators or feeding them intravenously when they would otherwise die.

Those who consider it an unforgivable sin, are more concerned with their own feelings and fears than the welfare of the individual who has died. And think what such an attitude is doing to the surviving loved ones.

Answer 4

In April of this year my brother-in-law committed suicide by hanging himself in his back yard. I found him.

Ten years ago my stepbrother killed himself by putting a shot gun in his mouth and blowing his head off. My stepdad found him.

In both of these very personal instances both people were very messed up on drugs and alcohol.

When you ask if suicide is forgiveable or not...that all depends on what religion or denomination you ask. If you ask me, I would hope so. In Christianity you are taught that God is a merciful and forgiving God. Then he should know when someone is so messed up that they have lost their way. And if they choose to go home and be with him then He and we should rejoice in that.

On the other hand this same Christianity also teaches us that it is a sin to commit suicide. So which is it? I have to take comfort in the fact that God is merciful and forgiving and one day I will see these lost loved ones soon. Then again, maybe they are already here.

This is something that everyone will disagree on in some way. You have to make your own judgment. I have to say this though. I hope you did not ask this question because you are thinking of suicide. This is a very tragic thing to happen to the family and it is a very selfish thing for someone to do.

My brother-in-law made a choice not to watch his children grow up. Imagine having to explain to a 3 year old boy and a precious 5 year old girl that their daddy is gone and never coming back. And he made that choice never to see them again. Nothing is worth that.

No matter what anyone who is reading this is going through, if you EVER consider suicide then you are a very selfish person. DON'T DO IT! Talk to someone. Call a hotline or something. But nothing is worth putting your family through that.

Answer 5

Suicide is a deadly sin but to say unforgivible I cannot for through repentance God can forgive any sin. We as humans have no right to decide to end our life only God from above say when our precious time is up.

Answer 6

Absolutely not! Although suicide should never be an option (my friend killed herself...don't put your friends and family through that pain), it is not the unforgivable sin. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (the rejection of the offer of Christ's salvation before you die or He returns) is the only unforgivable sin.

Answer 7

The unforgivable sin is:

To attribute to Satan the miracles that the Holy Spirit has done.

Mark 3:29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"--
Mark 3:30 because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."

He being Jesus.

Answer 8

In my belief they won't be connected to anyone they knew, loved or were connected to in this life. Its not a very good thing to do if you loved people you were close to. It isn't supposed to be done.

I'm not Christian so I don't follow their doctrine of sins, but I'm just giving you another take on it.

Suicide isn't a good thing in any religion that I can think of except for a few extremist cults which think self sacrafice is the way to be saved.

Answer 9

Yes,it is a sin ! No matter forgive able or unforgivable,to kill yourself is not easy , you must be in deep deep depression,pain, trouble or without a choice .But before your selfish action,think about how many people would suffer from your death,your parents who raised you up,your spouse who needs your love,your children who needs you much,your friends and all the people who're care of you.Don't ask how much you want to die but ask yourself how much they don't want you die.

Answer 10

Yes. Suicide is murder (murdering yourself)

The Bible says :

Exodus 20:13
"You shall not murder.

Matthew 5:21
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'

Matthew 19:19
Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.' "

James 2:11
For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

AND murderers go to hell.

Revelation 21:8
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Answer 11

I don't know for sure my son-in-law just committed suicide in june he had his Bible laying next to him so I think he was searching for help, he was very depressed but wouldn't go get help. I was raised that it is unforgivable but when someone is not in their right mind it's hard to say. I don't want to think that he is in hell. The Bible says that God is an all merciful God, so I think God has mercy on those who are not thinking clearly.