It's almost impossible to make the claim that suicide will not send a Christian to hell without appearing as though you're advocating the taking of one's life. I've seen many people make the argument that suicide is not an unforgivable sin, only to be accused of heresy or abandon for the sanctity of life. But I don't write this to make suicide look harmless or pure. It's not. God does not wish for anyone to take their own life - if a person does so, they are trying to usurp the authority of God. Suicide may seem like a way of relief to we who are in despair, but it only punishes those we leave behind - it leaves them with guilt, questions, and agony. We have no right to do so to those we love.
Having said that, it's not my wish to defend suicide, but only to refute a teaching that is not Biblically based, despite being taught and believed by many Christians. We all have a duty to rebuke false teachings, no matter how well-intended they may be. In this case, it's the teaching that suicide is an unforgivable sin, even for a saved person; that suicide is a one-way ticket to hell, despite Jesus' death and resurrection. Again, I write these things not to defend or encourage suicide, but only as a way to, firstly, refute an incorrect notion concerning the Bible, and to perhaps assure those with saved loved ones who have taken their own lives that their sin - and suicide is indeed a sin - did not negate Jesus' covenant.
First, let's look at suicide from a mental and emotional point of view. The human instinct is to survive. If one's brain has seemingly lost that instinct, and instead harbors the opposite and a longing to die, something is wrong. I'm not saying that their obviously impaired mental judgment relieves them wholly of responsibility; I only say this to provide insight to what's going on in their heads. I've attempted suicide once, on January 8, 2006, and I'm glad to say I failed. Further, for the better part of the next year, I planned again to take my own life. But the hand of God delivered me - that terrible year came and went, but I did not go with it. Since then, there have been times when I desired so strongly to die that I've considered ending my own life. But love has preserved me. Praise God! "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
Now, let's talk about what is truly "the unforgivable sin."
Many Christians develop their notion that suicide is an unforgivable sin based on the suicide of Judas Iscariot. But they're missing the bigger picture beyond Judas' noose. Judas will not inherit the kingdom of God, not because he hanged himself, but because of his betrayal of Jesus Christ into the hands of sinners. Judas not only betrayed our Lord, but was not a godly man before that - John's account mentions that he would regularly steal the money kept by the disciples. (But even so, I find it an example of God's unfathomable grace that, for a time, Judas Iscariot was an apostle - given authority by Jesus to heal the sick and cast out unclean spirits - imagine! The man who would betray our Lord, given the power by the same Lord to do amazing things to proclaim His kingdom!)
The actual "unforgivable sin" cannot be committed today, because those who committed this sin are no longer alive. This sin was the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit spoken by the scribes and Pharisees who rejected Jesus. They attributed His works to Satan. Mark chapter 3 reads: "Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” - because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”" These people - the "wicked and adulterous generation," as Jesus called them - have all since died.
The unforgivable sin today is more of an unforgivable state - the state of unrepentant rejection of Jesus as Lord.
Now let's look at the argument that the suicide of a saved person will revoke their salvation.
"Even a Christian goes to hell if they commit suicide."
Why does this particular sin nullify Christ's work on the cross? Does His death not atone for all sins of those who accept Him?
"But there's obviously no way for them to atone for it afterwards, because they're dead."
So the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is incomplete? This is what's implied if some additional human chore is needed. Our only responsibility is to accept it or reject it. How can we call Christ's atoning blood complete if a sin still needs some human action to be considered forgiven?
"The person took their own life! That's wrong!"
It is wrong. But what if a saved person gets into an argument with a loved one and says heated things they didn't mean, then moments later, suffers a heart attack? Or if two unmarried people fornicate, and on the way home they're killed in a fatal car crash? Because they didn't have time or chance to 'atone' for that sin by some special prayer, confession, or deed before they happened to die moments later, does that prevent them from entering into eternity with Jesus?
"Those sins are not as bad as suicide."
There are sins that are more severe than others. But all of them boil down to disobedience to God. Romans 6:1 tells us that, just because we're saved and under grace, doesn't mean we should go about sinning, shrugging it off with 'I'm already saved.' That's not living under grace - that's attempting to trample it. But even so, no mistake made by a saved person is bigger than the body and blood of Christ. To say so is to say the sacrifice of God is not sufficient without human works. If this is the case, we should begin stocking up on animals for sacrifices to atone for our sins, because the blood of Christ is somehow negated by certain wrongs.
There is no Scriptural evidence to support the claim that the sin of suicide negates the cross for a saved person.
The person who takes his or her own life will give an account on the Day of Judgment, as we all will, and the sin that ended their mortal life will surely be among the things they must answer for. The premature ending of their own life will leave many chances to minister to others undone, and unclaimed rewards in heaven. But it does not hinder one of Christ's sheep from entering into His eternal pasture which He has promised to those who believe His word - even if their minds and hearts were so tormented or broken they felt they could not wait for their Shepherd's comforting staff.
Suicide is a sin against God. But it is also, in most cases, a sign of something terribly wrong with the mind - a broken heart can drive the mind to fragility, and vice versa. If someone you know has contemplated or attempted suicide, or even alluded to not wanting to live anymore, minister to them as much as you're able, and encourage them to seek professional help. We must also remind them there is no hopelessness in Christ. He can lead us through the most pitch black of darkness, the most grueling and agonizing of sorrows, the most devastating of losses and loneliness.
The Bible never promises a rainbow-riddled fairy tale world for believers. In fact, the Bible promises pain and hardship. But we're also promised abundant life, both on earth and in eternity. Giving up in pain and idly waiting for death is not living. To say that death is our release from sin and misery is to say death is our savior, not Jesus. This is one of the many lies in which the devil delights.
Let us not relegate suicide prevention and awareness to copy-and-paste posts on social media. Everyone who ever took their own life, saved or not, had a story. It's our job as Christians, as ambassadors for Christ who died and rose again, to be compassionate and loving, even in the midst of our own heartaches, to take the time to hear another's story, another's despair. While a person in distress still breathes, let our focus not be to drill into their heads the sinfulness of suicide - they know this well. I knew it well, but as with any other temptation, my flesh and my mind warred against me to the point that I allowed myself not to care, at least for the moment. Rather than a lecture on sin, let our focus be to show them the love of Christ who longs for them to continue on with their brothers and sisters through the valley of the shadow of death, shining the light and unkillable hope of His Gospel in a dark and ugly world.
For more information on how to help the mentally ill, please visit nami.org.
