suicide

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Status
Not open for further replies.
R

radioman

Guest
#1
Can anyone quote any verse or passage that clearly states that suicide is wrong. With the actual word suicide in it. Someone asked me this question at work and I couldn't think of one.

Looking for help
 
S

Slepsog4

Guest
#2
The term suicide came into the English language by way of Latin in 1651.

It would not be found in the KJV initially and apparently has not been used in many translations.

You might want to check out the NLT (New Living Translation) at John 8:22
or the GN (Good News Translation) at Prov. 20:2.
or The Message at Psalm 34:21 and Ecc. 4:5

The scripture explicitly condemns murder.
 
M

MaggieMye

Guest
#3
There is no verse with the word 'suicide' in it unless you are using a paraphrase version.

But it's all there: Thou shalt NOT KILL
Maggie
 
1

1Covenant

Guest
#4
Are you looking for a biblical principle or verse?
 

wattie

Senior Member
Feb 24, 2009
2,987
1,014
113
New Zealand
#5
Just look for verses about treating your body okay.. ie your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Also verses about being a good steward of what we have.. verses about having life-- and having it abundantly..

Not direct references to suicide.. but still cover it.. given how we are to look after ourselves and eachother.

But aside from that.. alot of christians believe suicide makes a christian lose their salvation.. but you won't find that in the bible. Don know why a saved person would do that.. but if they do.. God has saved them regardless of their rebellion if they had genuinely asked for salvation at some point.

Death does not mean the same thing to God as it does to us.
 
S

Slepsog4

Guest
#6
Outside of being mentally off bubble, suicide is the ultimate selfish act.

The person is so self consumed they do not consider the ramifications on those left behind... parents, spouse, children, siblings, coworkers, friends, etc.
 
F

faffie

Guest
#7
The second commandment is to love yourself. Suicide really breaks that commandment. I however feel that a person ready to commit suicide is mentally ill. They probably suffer from depression or rejection or something similar. I believe that Jesus even died for the sin of suicide, as long as the person Believe in the Gospel. Sometimes we do get ill, even if we are Christians. And sometimes that illnes or depression could lead to irrational decisions. But i would not neccessary say that people who killed them self is selfish or condemned.
 
Sep 2, 2009
249
1
0
#8
i think whats interesting is that suicide is only condemned in a few cultures. in others, it is seen as an honorable death. ppl should remember not to approach things with a biased perception.
 
A

ariannaaa

Guest
#9
The term suicide came into the English language by way of Latin in 1651.

It would not be found in the KJV initially and apparently has not been used in many translations.

You might want to check out the NLT (New Living Translation) at John 8:22
or the GN (Good News Translation) at Prov. 20:2.
or The Message at Psalm 34:21 and Ecc. 4:5

The scripture explicitly condemns murder.

wow best response ever
 
K

kaffeine

Guest
#10
its safer to think you will go to hell if you kill yourself unless you repent of it while your dying. suicide isn't the christian thing to do. I have to think that way because i get suicidal and have tried dying before. I just feel like god would send me to hell if i did it. but if your already dying a painfull death in war or sickness and kill yourself it's not as bad or if you become homless and lose faith thinking your going to starve and freeze to death in the street its not as bad. the best thing to do is trust god and let him kill you. those who endure to the end will be saved.
 
1

1Covenant

Guest
#11
As a biblical principle goes here are some points:

  • someone has already mentioned the fact that our Body is a temple. I think that is a good point.
  • Also this is what I told some youth once that were fascinated with this question...Can God forgive all sins and can someone commit suicide in act of sheer sinfullness and be forgiven - sure. BUT as Christians we have every right to look at the fruit in that person's life and while we are not the final say we can certainly say that the person that commits suicide does not display a life giving hope from the Spirit. In fact, he proclaims in his death that there was no hope, no help, and no peace in their life and therefore leave a testimony in their actions of being in danger of eternity apart from the One who gives hope, help, and peace in this life.
I hope that all of these responses have been helpful.
 
C

cptsd

Guest
#12
I am in a learning curve of living with cptsd, and hoped to find some support within this Christian web site. In sincere efforts of trying to learn how to live with this condition/disorder, and how to effectively communicate with others, while being inflicted (held hostage) with all the triggers and all the symptoms of the disorder. There has been a lot of judgment within this group regarding suicide and it being a selfish act, which I believe is out of ignorance and not love. Judgment comes when you try to interpret or conclude the motive behind an action, not the action itself. I don't think any man is capable of determining that.
 
L

lil-rush

Guest
#14
I am in a learning curve of living with cptsd, and hoped to find some support within this Christian web site. In sincere efforts of trying to learn how to live with this condition/disorder, and how to effectively communicate with others, while being inflicted (held hostage) with all the triggers and all the symptoms of the disorder. There has been a lot of judgment within this group regarding suicide and it being a selfish act, which I believe is out of ignorance and not love. Judgment comes when you try to interpret or conclude the motive behind an action, not the action itself. I don't think any man is capable of determining that.
Why would you come onto a Christian site and expect to find people who condone the act of suicide? And it isn't just this group that finds suicide to be selfish. It's a common belief that suicide is selfish.

It would make sense to come onto a Christian site asking for people to pray for you and counsel you about your affliction, and I am sure you would find many people willing to pray for you and talk to you about it, but don't ask people to condone you killing yourself.
 
J

Jezreel

Guest
#15
In the word of God,the men like Saul, because the spirit of God left him, he ended up falling upon his own sword. Also, Judas . Jesus said it would have been better if he had never been born so that there makes me feel very sad for Judas. I do understand about how a person would want to take their own life because I have been there myself. I had self destructive behavior for most of my life and did not understand why. I would do very dangerous things such as drinking too much and going out surfing on big waves etc. It was a miracle I didn't end up drowned from the surfboard hitting me in the head and knocking me out. I had also attempted years before with an overdose. One day I did get a revelation about wanting to die. I suddenly realized, "if I want to kill myself, that will end up giving me nothing, but, if I truly want to die, then I should turn this all around and DIE TO MY FLESH!! So instead, I went into a mourning that would bring me life here on earth. The word says, "the sorrow of the world works death, but godly sorrow works to repentance". That was when my life here on earth did a huge growth spirt in the Lord when I got the revelation to die to myself. That would be a good prayer for those who are wanting to commit suicide. They can ask the Lord to help them turn it around to die to theirself. Blessed are they that die in the Lord henceforth and do rest from their labors for their works do follow them. (Revelation)
 
D

dustyzafu

Guest
#16
Why would you come onto a Christian site and expect to find people who condone the act of suicide? And it isn't just this group that finds suicide to be selfish. It's a common belief that suicide is selfish.
When telling someone who is contemplating suicide that suicide is selfish, the hope is that the person will be shamed into deciding to live longer. It has become such a standard, reactionary response that even the nicest people use it, but it's recognized among mental health professionals - those who at the end of the day have to answer for their advice to suicidal folks - that it's cruel and unhelpful to try to add additional guilt to someone who is probably already swimming in it.

The standard response, flinging that one word out there as though it solves the problem, does not usually work. Calling someone fat will not make him thin. Calling someone a jerk will not solve his anger issues. Telling an addict that he's an addict and that taking that next hit is selfish probably won't stop him. Why not? Because the people you're talking to aren't stupid. That "one word solution" you just gave them? They already knew it. People contemplating suicide are aware of the potential impact of their actions on those around them.

And let's assume that the suicidal person argues with you about suicide being selfish. At the end of the day, though, would you rather have convinced the suicidal person that you're right about suicide being selfish or would you rather have helped him? The two are not the same thing in practice or theory. You need to decide whether you'd like to be right about this idea or useful.

Finally, lots of things are selfish, from taking a little too long in a hot shower to spending too much time in front of the computer. Clearly, that one idea alone isn't going to stop us from being selfish on a daily basis. We often can't motivate ourselves to get off the couch; what makes us think "selfish" is the answer when dealing with someone in pain? I submit it's nothing but rhetoric that one learned and hasn't thought about enough.

...and I am sure you would find many people willing to pray for you and talk to you about it...
This is the beginning of a good response. Pity.
 
C

carpetmanswife

Guest
#17
I must admit ..yrs ago i contemplated suicide, quite seriously in fact. I was in a deep depression and felt completely hopeless. looking back , now i can see that i had been decieved into thinking that i lived in a hopeless situation , as long as there is breath in your body things can change , and guess what ..thats what life is a series of changes ,so had i done the awful deed i would have missed out on so many wonderful things in my life ..yes things did get better , life doesnt stay the same , only now that its over tho..can i see that , if possible to anyone considering this..plz get professional help there is no shame in sayin somethings seriously wrong..bottom line is NEVER EVER give up things will get better life changes and the day WILL come when you look back and say " Thank You God for not letting me do it " i can personally testify to that :)
 
L

lil-rush

Guest
#18
When telling someone who is contemplating suicide that suicide is selfish, the hope is that the person will be shamed into deciding to live longer. It has become such a standard, reactionary response that even the nicest people use it, but it's recognized among mental health professionals - those who at the end of the day have to answer for their advice to suicidal folks - that it's cruel and unhelpful to try to add additional guilt to someone who is probably already swimming in it.

The standard response, flinging that one word out there as though it solves the problem, does not usually work. Calling someone fat will not make him thin. Calling someone a jerk will not solve his anger issues. Telling an addict that he's an addict and that taking that next hit is selfish probably won't stop him. Why not? Because the people you're talking to aren't stupid. That "one word solution" you just gave them? They already knew it. People contemplating suicide are aware of the potential impact of their actions on those around them.

And let's assume that the suicidal person argues with you about suicide being selfish. At the end of the day, though, would you rather have convinced the suicidal person that you're right about suicide being selfish or would you rather have helped him? The two are not the same thing in practice or theory. You need to decide whether you'd like to be right about this idea or useful.

Finally, lots of things are selfish, from taking a little too long in a hot shower to spending too much time in front of the computer. Clearly, that one idea alone isn't going to stop us from being selfish on a daily basis. We often can't motivate ourselves to get off the couch; what makes us think "selfish" is the answer when dealing with someone in pain? I submit it's nothing but rhetoric that one learned and hasn't thought about enough.
Seeing as how I don't think I would be able to convince anyone to stop from committing suicide no matter how hard I tried, I was not trying to guilt her into anything. I was stating the facts.

I'll be honest, I have an instant emotional response to the mention of suicide and that is anger, and as such, trying to get me to be sympathetic about it is rather difficult. It is much easier for me to deal with someone who states she is suicidal but looking for help then to deal with someone who states she is suicidal and is looking for people to tell her suicide is okay.

I have friends who have told me they have tried to commit suicide, who know suicide is wrong, and who are looking for advice. Those people I can help because my initial response to people asking for help is not anger. Sure, it is wrong that I feel that way, but it comes with having to deal with friends who have dealt with the selfish act of suicide. One friend who had someone in her life commit suicide, I even know why the person who committed suicide did it, and I understand why the person did it, but I still have no sympathy for that person because of how it affected my friend.

Yes, I understand people who want to commit suicide are emotionally unstable, but people who have to deal with the aftermath are just as emotionally unstable and it is those people I care more about because they are still living.
 
D

dustyzafu

Guest
#19
I was stating the facts.
As long as you admit that you weren't trying to help, that's fine.

Yes, I understand people who want to commit suicide are emotionally unstable, but people who have to deal with the aftermath are just as emotionally unstable and it is those people I care more about because they are still living.
This is no reason to treat the suicidal person as already having committed suicide and in need of your negative opinion.
 
C

cptsd

Guest
#20
Why would you come onto a Christian site and expect to find people who condone the act of suicide? And it isn't just this group that finds suicide to be selfish. It's a common belief that suicide is selfish.

It would make sense to come onto a Christian site asking for people to pray for you and counsel you about your affliction, and I am sure you would find many people willing to pray for you and talk to you about it, but don't ask people to condone you killing yourself.
Lil rush, I didn't come onto this site asking for people to condone suicide. I said I was in a learning curve of living with cptsd and hoped to find support here. What I did question was the responses to the topic of suicide regarding some members who have expressed feeling suicidal. I observed that many, not all, responses were cold hearted, projecting guilt, shame and condemnation and not of love, empathy and seeking understanding. There is a high rate of suicide with cptsd, suicidal thoughts are one of the symptoms, one of many, many symptoms. I am a Christian, I have been on my knees for a very long time, only the Lord knows my heart.

You have made some comments out of assumption....such as ...."they should think about the people they are leaving behind" You are assuming that all people who commit suicide have loved ones and people in there life to leave behind. I would agree many do, but there are people who take their lives for who are alone, have no one in their lives. You can't assume that everyone has living parents, children or friends. There are also people who might feel that their lives are a living deficit to their loved ones because of illness. Another person disability can very well become an emotional, physical, and financial deficit on the people around them, on their loved ones and taking their lives might actually be an act of selflessness, not wanting to be a deficit or burden on others and not out of selfishness as you imply. It doesn't take away the impact that suicide would have on those left behind, but there are some situations where there is more suffering from a person living than dying. Suicide is a sin, but to say it is out of selfishishness, it is not always so, but it always out of suffering. You would have to know that persons life, you would have to live in their shoes, we are all a sum total of our life experiences and you can't say how or what you would feel or do unless you've lived it. I used to think like you about a lot of things, some things in life can change your perspective once you experience them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.