Dear friends and readers,
Peace and grace to all of you in Jesus Name!
Recently a dear lady wrote and said she knows of several cases of recent suicide and wanted to know if I thought a believer who took their own lives would still go to heaven? I answered her of course but began thinking that perhaps this issue may also be of concern to other folks in the body of Christ.
Some topics inspire far more finesse than others to answer and for some people who have experienced a suicide in their family, even discussing it can dredge up a plethora of horrible feelings that can plague a person an entire lifetime. Very many years ago I myself had a relative who took his own life at the point of a gun. I will always wonder what it was that drove this really nice guy to the point that he could no longer cope with life.
Suicide in any form is a horrible thing. But it is happening more and more throughout the world by both believers and even more so unbelievers. The Center for Disease Control in the United States (CDC) released statistics from 1999 through 2016 in which there was an increase in American suicides that rose nearly 30%. They claim that suicide is now the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.A.
How long do you take to drink your coffee in the morning? 30 minutes or a bit more of quiet time perhaps? Well during that 30 + minutes roughly 3 people have taken their own lives because it is happening everywhere at a rate of 1 death every 12 minutes around the clock.
Many people are feeling deeply entrenched inner pain and choose forms of escape through alcohol, drugs, or eventually self inflicted death. What brought that on for these people? Health issues? Loneliness? Despair, Mental problems? Hopelessness or even a deep seated feeling that their lives are meaningless? Of course every case is different and unfortunately in many cases there is no warning for loved ones or friends. Feeling desperately sad or lonely is an uncomfortable thing for many folks to discuss rendering them in the end with no help.
Bottom line; In 2016 alone at least 45,000 Americans took their own lives and those numbers are
going up. Of course the question for us today is whether a follower of Christ would lose their salvation because they took their own life? I thought long and hard about writing this because I certainly don't want my opinion to push someone over the line and say "well if that's the case why not? If you are reading this and are contemplating taking your own life, please don't. Get some help and that could easily begin with your pastor, a friend you can trust are even if that is not possible, there are several Governmental agencies who have counselors for these things. Look in a phone book, check your computer, or call a Police department and ask for "suicide prevention hot lines".
As to followers of Christ committing suicide? I can only answer from a Biblical view point and having said that I believe in teaching what the Bible does say, not what it does not say. A note however regarding this subject; This is one of those hot button topics and has been for millennia past. Lots of opinion one way or the other but the Bible is as always that real source for life's problems.
Every human being, including followers of Christ still bear within themselves the marks of a fallen nature that we all inherited from our forbearers, Adam and Eve. And we know that Christ can overcome ANYTHING! But sometimes in the "heat of battle of everyday life" we can lose track of that---all of us can and no one is immune!
Ask yourselves what the requirements are for eternal salvation? 1). Both John the Baptist and Jesus Himself said "Repent for the kingdom heaven is at hand" Mathew 3:2. 2). Then in Romans chapter 10 verses 9-10 the requirements of salvation are clearly stated "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED"!
PERIOD, no exceptions! Our relationship with Christ should be a matter of complete and utter joy but for some folks, even though they love the Lord with all their hearts, sometimes events of life can surge to the point of breaking. An utterly sad situation yet true.
There is not one single word, sentence, paragraph or scripture that says a believer who commits suicide will lose their salvation. If someone tells you there is, tell them to show you because they will not be able to do so. O, they may try and give you some obscure denominational stance but you will not find it in the Bible. Jesus said in John 18:9 (speaking to the Father) "Of those whom you gave Me I have lost NONE"!
No a true repentant follower of Christ who commits suicide is not automatically consigned to an eternity in hell. To say otherwise is blatant false doctrine.
I will leave you with a scripture that simply cannot be argued with or against; John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life".
Fear not, if you have endured the pain of a relative or friend who is a believer in Christ but took their own life, YOU WILL BE REUNITED WITH THEM FOR ALL ETERNITY!
There is always hope in Christ.
God bless,
Pastor Rance.