If a Christian Commits Suicide: Is Suicide an Unpardonable Sin?

[Fire7]

OK, I know that this has been one of those arguments of the ages. But all of my life I have been taught, matter of factly, that suicide is an automatic first class ticket to hell. I still am trying to find out where the scripture verse is that this doctrine is based on??? I have yet to hear a preacher quote a passage that points to suicide being an unpardonable sin.

I was surprised when I heard Curt Karr, a famous black gospel singer and worship leader, give his testimony on TBN about his unsuccessful suicide attempt. He made a comment that caught me off guard. "...I would have gone to Heaven...". This was especially surprising coming from a black preacher, being that black people were especially brought up in denominations (COGIC, Pentecostal, Holiness...) that strongly enforced the hellfire-and-brimestone message (me being black myself), and suicide being one of those things that our culture was especially taught was a NO-NO (there is even an inside joke within the black community that "only white people do that"...not meant to offend anyone, because we know that's not true.). He was the first preacher I heard say that he would have gone to Heaven after his suicide. So, obviosly, everyone does not agree that suicide will send you to hell.

I even heard a story a while ago of a preacher who's mother was also a preacher who shot herself in the head. Even prophetess Juanita Bynum, a couple of years ago, admitted that she was about to kill herself after her very public divorce. So, now I'm wondering about this issue of suicide. If it is an unpardonable sin, why are so many Christians doing it or at least contemplating it? And where did the doctrine of suicide come from?

 

[eternally-gratefull]

OK, I know that this has been one of those arguments of the ages. But all of my life I have been taught, matter of factly, that suicide is an automatic first class ticket to hell. I still am trying to find out where the scripture verse is that this doctrine is based on??? I have yet to hear a preacher quote a passage that points to suicide being an unpardonable sin.

I was surprised when I heard Curt Karr, a famous black gospel singer and worship leader, give his testimony on TBN about his unsuccessful suicide attempt. He made a comment that caught me off guard. "...I would have gone to Heaven...". This was especially surprising coming from a black preacher, being that black people were especially brought up in denominations (COGIC, Pentecostal, Holiness...) that strongly enforced the hellfire-and-brimestone message (me being black myself), and suicide being one of those things that our culture was especially taught was a NO-NO (there is even an inside joke within the black community that "only white people do that"...not meant to offend anyone, because we know that's not true.). He was the first preacher I heard say that he would have gone to Heaven after his suicide. So, obviosly, everyone does not agree that suicide will send you to hell.

I even heard a story a while ago of a preacher who's mother was also a preacher who shot herself in the head. Even prophetess Juanita Bynum, a couple of years ago, admitted that she was about to kill herself after her very public divorce. So, now I'm wondering about this issue of suicide. If it is an unpardonable sin, why are so many Christians doing it or at least contemplating it? And where did the doctrine of suicide come from?

Scripture states there is only one unpardonable sin. Rejection of Christ.

Sin is telling God he is wrong, and we will control our own lives.

suicide is telling God we will decide when we will die,

The doctrine of suicide being unpardonable comes from those who believe one can lose salvation. Since you can not repent from this sin (basically murder, only murdering yourself) then one can not be forgiven.)

 

[superdave5221]

Scripture states there is only one unpardonable sin. Rejection of Christ.

Sin is telling God he is wrong, and we will control our own lives.

suicide is telling God we will decide when we will die,

The doctrine of suicide being unpardonable comes from those who believe one can lose salvation. Since you can not repent from this sin (basically murder, only murdering yourself) then one can not be forgiven.)

I must disagree with you on this one EG. In my opinion, the bible is clear that we can turn away from the faith and be lost.

The unpardonable sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit, not rejection of Christ (Mark 3: 22-30; Matthew 12: 31-32). You may "reject" Christ as a youth, and yet accept Him later in life, being forgiven for the earlier rejection, i.e. it is not an "unpardonable" sin. The existence of an unpardonable sin should be evidence enough that Christians can be lost. Can you actually say that it is impossible for a Christian, who has ceased to live the faith, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit?

While believing that we can be lost, I am unsure of the effects of suicide. We know that Christ propitiates our sins before the Father, and that if we die with unrepented sins, that we are covered by Christ as our High Priest. Whether or not this includes sins against the body, which is indicative of a falling away from the faith, is questionable.

I would not want to risk my eternal future on it.

 

[trust_in_the_name]

It's a pretty straight-forward issue. Why are you assuming that there is a single verse that this doctrine is based on? Instead, consider the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). If preachers can't back this up from scripture, they don't really have any business teaching the word of God, since it's so common and easy to find throughout the scriptures. Here are just a few examples.

13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:13)

Committing suicide is not enduring to the end.

1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:1-6)

Committing suicide is not abiding in Christ.

22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Romans 11:22)

Committing suicide is not continuing in His goodness.

2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:2)

Committing suicide is not holding fast the word.

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:23)

Committing suicide is not continuing in the faith, grounded and steadfast. It definitely is being moved away from the hope of the gospel.

6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (Hebrews 3:6)

Committing suicide is not holding fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, (Hebrews 3:14)

Committing suicide is not holding the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, (Hebrews 12:25)

Committing suicide is refusing and turning away from Him who speaks from heaven.

4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. (1 John 5:18)

Committing suicide is not overcoming the world, but rather being overcome by the world and the devil.

People commit suicide because they have no hope, and thus they do not have Christ.

12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2:12)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3)

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Peter 3:15)

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:21-23)

3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I must disagree with you on this one EG. In my opinion, the bible is clear that we can turn away from the faith and be lost.

The unpardonable sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit, not rejection of Christ (Mark 3: 22-30; Matthew 12: 31-32). You may "reject" Christ as a youth, and yet accept Him later in life, being forgiven for the earlier rejection, i.e. it is not an "unpardonable" sin. The existence of an unpardonable sin should be evidence enough that Christians can be lost. Can you actually say that it is impossible for a Christian, who has ceased to live the faith, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit?

While believing that we can be lost, I am unsure of the effects of suicide. We know that Christ propitiates our sins before the Father, and that if we die with unrepented sins, that we are covered by Christ as our High Priest. Whether or not this includes sins against the body, which is indicative of a falling away from the faith, is questionable.

I would not want to risk my eternal future on it.

And I must disagree with you.

1. Scripture tells us we are sealed by the spirit who is our guarantee until when? We lose faith? Not, It states clearly until the day of redemption (our resurrection or the day our redemption is made final)

2. Scripture states we HAVE eternal life. If this life we HAVE is not eternal. God lied by calling it eternal.

3. Scripture states that "no one" Which would include us since we are a someone" can separate us from the love of God.

4. Hebrews states that if someone could fall away, they could never be renewed to repentance (they would be lost forever with no hope of being saved again)

5. John makes it clear in his epistle that those who have departed did not lose salvation, they departed for they were "never of us, for if they were of us they never would have left, but they left, that it might be made manifest (Make known) they were never truly of us. Which means they might have said they had faith. But they really did not.

Which answers your point about one supposedly having faith, then turning away, or losing faith. I know it is hard for us, But God is omniscient, He knew us before we were born, He knew everything we would do, think or say from the time of our birth until the time of our death. To think God is going to give someone eternal life, who he KNOWS truly does not have faith, but just a mere belief (if that) and would one day will walk away (proving they never had faith) is like saying God does not know what he is doing!

As for me believing someone who states they have faith can blaspheme the spirit, Yes I do think so, I also think God knew it and would not have saved a person knowing he would do it (God has a perspective we can not fathom, he knows all)

As for risking eternal future. Paul states we do not have a spirit of fear. A child of God does not have to fear losing his inheritance given to him (one being eternal life) So ALthough yes, I can and do fear Gods chasticement when I screw up, I or anyone else should fear God will kick us out of his family. Anymore that a child would have to worry about a TRULY loving father kicking him out of his family for screwing up.

If we have to fear losing salvation, Paul lied when he said we were NOT given a spirit of fear.

 

[dmdave17]

I think that we may be overlooking the obvious, here. Scripture tells us "Thou shall not commit murder." Suicide is, in effect, murdering yourself. You have usurped from God the decision of when you will die, and how.

And having received salvation, the assumption is that we try to follow God's Word. Not that we always succeed, but we acknowledge our sins and repent as best we can. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to bet my eternal salvation on my last action in life being a sin I couldn't repent of.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I think that we may be overlooking the obvious, here. Scripture tells us "Thou shall not commit murder." Suicide is, in effect, murdering yourself. You have usurped from God the decision of when you will die, and how.

And having received salvation, the assumption is that we try to follow God's Word. Not that we always succeed, but we acknowledge our sins and repent as best we can. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to bet my eternal salvation on my last action in life being a sin I couldn't repent of.

Did Jesus pay the penalty of sin on the cross?

Is murder a sin?

Since Christ paid the debt for that sin, and since as you stated suicide is a form of murder. Then how can someone pay for a sin christ already paid for?

If we had to repent of every sin before we died, very few (if any) would make it. Because most of us sin every day and do not even realise we are doing it. There is not a man woman or child on earth that could remember every sin they ever, or do commit. This would be impossible. so to say one must repent of every sin is nuts. for no one would have hope.

 

[superdave5221]

And I must disagree with you.

1. Scripture tells us we are sealed by the spirit who is our guarantee until when? We lose faith? Not, It states clearly until the day of redemption (our resurrection or the day our redemption is made final)

2. Scripture states we HAVE eternal life. If this life we HAVE is not eternal. God lied by calling it eternal.

3. Scripture states that "no one" Which would include us since we are a someone" can separate us from the love of God.

4. Hebrews states that if someone could fall away, they could never be renewed to repentance (they would be lost forever with no hope of being saved again)

5. John makes it clear in his epistle that those who have departed did not lose salvation, they departed for they were "never of us, for if they were of us they never would have left, but they left, that it might be made manifest (Make known) they were never truly of us. Which means they might have said they had faith. But they really did not.

Which answers your point about one supposedly having faith, then turning away, or losing faith. I know it is hard for us, But God is omniscient, He knew us before we were born, He knew everything we would do, think or say from the time of our birth until the time of our death. To think God is going to give someone eternal life, who he KNOWS truly does not have faith, but just a mere belief (if that) and would one day will walk away (proving they never had faith) is like saying God does not know what he is doing!

As for me believing someone who states they have faith can blaspheme the spirit, Yes I do think so, I also think God knew it and would not have saved a person knowing he would do it (God has a perspective we can not fathom, he knows all)

As for risking eternal future. Paul states we do not have a spirit of fear. A child of God does not have to fear losing his inheritance given to him (one being eternal life) So ALthough yes, I can and do fear Gods chasticement when I screw up, I or anyone else should fear God will kick us out of his family. Anymore that a child would have to worry about a TRULY loving father kicking him out of his family for screwing up.

If we have to fear losing salvation, Paul lied when he said we were NOT given a spirit of fear.

Hello again,

I respect your opinion and scriptures. However, we will have to agree to disagree. I could go on at length to disprove your opinion, but I have no wish to do so.

This issue has been debated at length in other threads, where I have defended my view, I think adequately, but others may not think so. At any rate, it has been worn out in here, and has become quite contentious at times, therefore I have no desire to resurrect it.

It really doesn't matter anyway, for I have no plans to lose faith in my Lord and Savior. And I know that He won't abandon me! See ya in heaven bro!

 

[trust_in_the_name]

Scripture states we HAVE eternal life. If this life we HAVE is not eternal. God lied by calling it eternal.

Eternal life is eternal life. That doesn't mean everyone who at some point believes will in the end receive eternal life.

 

[loveasaweapon]

Fire7--

I agree with pretty much everything Eternally-gratefull said. If the matter were dying for sins we have not had a chance to repent for, what about all the people who die in sudden accidents that were not their own doing? That suicide is an act we bring on ourselves doesn't make us any more or less guilty of any sin. Sin is sin.

And as to the issue of salvation...I am very familiar with both sides of that argument. Without getting overly theological, I will say this--our faith (saving faith) is not something we obtain. It is a gift from God, completely unmerited, never earned in any way. It is not something we can simply give back to God and say I don't want it, any more than Lazarus could have said, "no thanks Jesus, I'm okay with being dead." James said that faith without works is dead. The works are the result of salvation though--they are there, and must be there, because of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. But those works are never something you must do to maintain your salvation.

 

[Zilla64007]

back to OP
is suicide the unforgivable sin? no.

Christ told us what the unforgivable sin was in Mark 3: blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
while yes, suicide is a sin, it can be forgiven, but does that mean it is okay to commit suicide? by all means, no. it is taking your own life into your hands and not trusting that God loves you, has a plan for you, and will give you the strength needed to endure. If any of you are in that frame of mind, act immediately and get help. the last thing Satan wants you to know in that period is that there are people who care about you.

concerning salvation... we are saved by grace through faith, and works are evident of our salvation... but like every other person on this planet, we have free will to do as we please, and if we choose to deny God, He WILL deny us in heaven.
Jesus Christ has always called for patience, endurance, perseverance... not "you can do whatever you want and still get away with it, because once you're saved, you're always saved"...

i believe that if I choose to turn away for good- (not some overnight theme)- but truly choose to denounce Him, turn my back, go back into sin, and live a life of unrighteousness, yes, i will be like a dog turning back to its own vomit.
now, while i completely disagree with Calvinism on all points, that does not make me unsaved, or a non-Christian

 

[zeroturbulence]

Its not the unpardonable sin, which means that IF YOU SURVIVE your attempt, you can ask for forgiveness.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Eternal life is eternal life. That doesn't mean everyone who at some point believes will in the end receive eternal life.

Your right, not everyone who believes will recieve eternal life. The question is, did they ever have it. And my position is no they never did.

The point I made is at this moment, You, those around you, and myself can know we HAVE IT at this very moment. Paul states those of us who trusted in Christ have it (present tense) If one has it, and it is called Eternal (By God himself) then it can never end under any circumstance, For if it could ever end, It could never be called eternal. Thus to say "eternal life" may or may not be eternal in nature (or one who has it could one day lose it under ANY circumstance) would be to call God a liar when he himself stated it is eternal.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Fire7--

I agree with pretty much everything Eternally-gratefull said. If the matter were dying for sins we have not had a chance to repent for, what about all the people who die in sudden accidents that were not their own doing? That suicide is an act we bring on ourselves doesn't make us any more or less guilty of any sin. Sin is sin.

And as to the issue of salvation...I am very familiar with both sides of that argument. Without getting overly theological, I will say this--our faith (saving faith) is not something we obtain. It is a gift from God, completely unmerited, never earned in any way. It is not something we can simply give back to God and say I don't want it, any more than Lazarus could have said, "no thanks Jesus, I'm okay with being dead." James said that faith without works is dead. The works are the result of salvation though--they are there, and must be there, because of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. But those works are never something you must do to maintain your salvation.

Thank you. I think many people forget and look at sins in the eyes of finite man. We see sins which we think are horrible sins (like murder, Adultry and rape) and then compair them to much lesser sin (a white lie, Wanting what someone else has (coveting) or not doing what we should have done (which God calls a sin), and many others.

However, when we look in the eyes of God, and see his perspective, He thought even eating a forbidden fruit was worthy of Spiritual death, and seperation from him. Scripture states if we break even the least of all the law, we have been found guilty of breaking the whole law. or in other words, if we commit the sins we deem to be "lesser" we are just as guilty as a person who has commited a "Horrible" sin in the eyes of God, and the penalty for that sin is spiritual death (Unless the sin is redeemed or removed from our account, and forgiven by God.

The other way God sees sin is its affect on society, and those whom God loves. He knows Murder, rape and adulty are sin's which can destroy society and those in it, So in the secular or temporal world. God has imposed stronger punishments for these sins as a means to detour people from being tempted to do them. But this does not mean in the eternal perspective there are lesser punishments for lesser sins. For all sin leads to death, no matter how bad we think they are.

As you so rightly said, A person who is the phone with her mother, and lies to get out of something, and a moment later is killed by a drunk driver. would have no more hope thna a person who commited suicide if our eternal salvation is based on having to repent od a sin to have it forgiven. even worst, there are many sins we probably do not know we commit, or forget we even did. if repentance is essential after every sin, very few would make it.

 

[Crazy4GODword]

Well in my opinion you are playing God making the decision. But if you are in a mental state for any reason then i believe it is forgivable as long as the person is a Christian and knows Christ.

If they are mentally ill and believe in Christ, then i believe they will be forgiven.......This topics can relate to alztimer disease being forgiven in heaven as well...WE do not know, God is the keeper and divider and the Judge.

 

[moemoe03]

eternally-gratefull is the one who is trully right on this discussion.... just sayin

 

[MaggieMye]

Suicide is not THE unpardonable sin, but the question is: After you've committe suicide, HOW can you then, when dead, ask for forgiveness?? You CAN'T. So that sin stays on your soul. Do you get into heaven with sin on your soul?? There can be no sin in heaven.

Maggie

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Suicide is not THE unpardonable sin, but the question is: After you've committe suicide, HOW can you then, when dead, ask for forgiveness?? You CAN'T. So that sin stays on your soul. Do you get into heaven with sin on your soul?? There can be no sin in heaven.

Maggie

Then according to you, no one can make it to heaven. For it is impossible for everyone to know every sin they ever commited (even after they are saved) thus everyone will die in sin.

Thank God this is not true!!

 

[MaggieMye]

For it is impossible for everyone to know every sin they ever commited (even after they are saved) thus everyone will die in sin.

My....how you negate the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, who comforts and COUNSELS us. Do you not think HS can bring to our minds the things that we've done so we an repent? IF...and I do mean IF...a person is always seeking to be obedient and live a Godly life, there will not be much, if any sin, because the life is lived with the understanding that repentence is a DAILY, if not hourly thing. IF.,,...IF we hold every thought captive to th word of God, then we are constantly confessing any negative thoughts that we CHOOSE to dwell on, as sin, and repenting.
But do not be so vain or nieve as to think that one can plan a suicide with the plan of before taking the last breath to say "Father Forgive me", because that is sin with INTENT, knowing full well that suicide is murder of self.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

For it is impossible for everyone to know every sin they ever commited (even after they are saved) thus everyone will die in sin.

My....how you negate the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, who comforts and COUNSELS us. Do you not think HS can bring to our minds the things that we've done so we an repent?

Do i think he can? Yes, DO I think he does? Maybe, DO I think we listen? No. It still does not mean we will know every sin.

Let me ask you. DO you know the whole word of God. Do you know every sin that is possible to commit? The HS will not force feed the word into you. If you are doing something you do not know is sin, Because you have not matured enough in scripture. The Holy Spirit can not help you


[QUOTE]IF...and I do mean IF...a person is always seeking to be obedient and live a Godly life, there will not be much, if any sin, because the life is lived with the understanding that repentence is a DAILY, if not hourly thing. [/QUOTE]

Do you know what the word repent means? It means a change of mind or heart. One can not repent daily, They either have repented (changed their mind about sin) or they have not. and disagree with God that a certain thing is a sin.

Just because someone may have repented concerning a certain sin, does not mean they will not be tempted and fall in that area. If they fall, they do not have to repent again, they already repented.

Now if your talking confession, the word fits. However to say one must do the work of remembering every sin, and making sure they confess that sin in order to have that sin forgiven is to preach a gospel of works. and makes one earn the GIFT god is offering mankind. which would make it not a gift. but a reward. and not freely given due to grace, but earned because of our work of confession. Anyone who thinks it is not a work to confess when you know you did something wrong has not went to a parent and had to let that parent know he committed a horrible crime (all sin is a horrible crime against God no matter how insignificant the sin may be to us).

IF.,,...IF we hold every thought captive to the word of God, then we are constantly confessing any negative thoughts that we CHOOSE to dwell on, as sin, and repenting.

Better yet, if we set our minds on the things of the spirit, we will not fullfill the lusts of our sin nature.

However, no one will be sinless. Thank God he did not give us a spirit where we again have to fear as a slave, but a God of love, where we can come to him as our "abba Father" knowing we have his complete forgiveness before we even came.

But do not be so vain or nieve as to think that one can plan a suicide with the plan of before taking the last breath to say "Father Forgive me", because that is sin with INTENT, knowing full well that suicide is murder of self.

If repentnace of every sin after we sinned was essential for salvation you would be correct. But first, I doubt I know anyone who does not agree with God that murder is sin, and suicide is murder. so someone can not repent (change their mind) on something they already agree with God on. And second, Again, unless your preaching a gospel of works, which is no gospel at all. you should rethink your position.