My friends often try to tell me not to kill myself because I won’t go to heaven. I ask them where is the proof? They either say “you shall not murder” or they say you can’t repent after you kill yourself. I say there are tons of people who die with sins, known and unknown, that they did not get to repent for when they died (ie drunk driving crashes, being murdered, dying in sleep, etc), so do they automatically go to hell too? No answer. There are several people who committed suicide in the Bible.
Saul’s Armbearer (1 Samuel 31:5)
Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23)
Zimri (1 Kings 16:18)
Judas (Matthew 27;3-5)
Samson (indirectly committed suicide)
The Bible did not say that any of these people went to hell. The Bible does not directly answer this question….if the Bible said suicide would still mean going to heaven, this world would have been depleted of humans a long time ago.
From what I have read and understand, Murder and suicide are not unpardonable sins. The only unforgivable sins are rejecting Christ(Mark 16:16) and blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
However, God’s grace does not automatically mean we are free to sin as much and as wildly as we want. People always tell me that God wants more for me and my life and not to give up.
John 8:44 says that Satan is a “murderer†and the “father of lies.†The feelings of despair that lead to suicide are caused by some of his lies.
So what’s the true answer on suicide and heaven? Does anyone know? How do I stay strong in an environment of hate and despair? How can I keep “faith” when the people around me who I love tell me they hate me and they don’t care if I live or die?
6 comments
I found your question ironic because i have an exam tomorrow on this subject and i was ditching revision only to come find this question…. quite a coincidence isn’t it.
If you look at the Bible in a historic point of view that are contradictions. There are points that overlap each other, mainly because it was written by different writers. Like take a look at the Fall and the Christian Creation Story. These are two alternative points with different styles of writing.
The Bible is very vague about it’s ideas of hell. It does not give enough description on this to make the judgement on what punishments are right and wrong. Like i said as there are many writers there are different views. Therefore you can interpret things in the Bible in your way. Suicide ethically and morally is seen as wrong, which is why it has only been seen in this way. I haven’t read the Bible myself so i cannot comment on whether it is in a positive light, but i doubt it because ethically it has always been seen as wrong “thou shalt not kill” 10 commandments, and a very strong point in itself. I am sorry if i’m being offensive in any way. I’m not Chrisitan myself, but i know a lot about the faith and i know about the sitatuion you’re in.
You can keep the faith by knowing that one day things can and will get better. I love philosophy and the one thing i know is that life has a balance of good and bad. You always always get the balance but you have to wait to get it. Jesus did say “for everything there is a season”. You earn what you get. As for other’s hating you and feeling the despair work hard and try to do what you can to get out of the position you are in. There is always a solution, you just have to find it.
Stay Strong, You can get through this
Shadows
Hi ive just started reading the bible here. That part bout the unforgiveble sin against the holy spirit brought some doubts on whether the bible can be trusted completely. Im not religious but i have faith in god that god’s love forgives everything. Its strange cuz now im going through so much pain n i cant even feel the connection with god. I guess deep down inside i know its still with me otherwise i would ve killed myself a hundred times. I ve pushed everyone away in life or they dropped. But i cant push god away, i tried to it didnt work. This is the one thing thats keeping me alive.
Shadow, where did jesus say that ? I being trying to find reading materials about jesus christ, his life as a human being and the essence of his teaching, havent found anything besides the gospel. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks
I too am very intrigued by this question. Two people I dearly loved have committed suicide. Part of what keeps me here and suicidal. IF big IF there is something after…and IF (again big IF) there was that possibility of meeting again in the afterlife… doesn’t that mean if I want to spend eternity with two of the people that loved me the most I HAVE to do it at some point.I’m not religious and someone asked in an earlier post if we believed God would just take us out of our misery.. but if that’s the case, wouldn’t He have already?
I’m sorry for commenting with more questions than answers but I appreciate you asking something I have been too afraid to ask.
@ Wannabfree Erm i’ve written in my book that it’s in the Ecclesiastes 3:1 I was wrong sorry, Jesus did not say that quote. My tutor gave incorrect information. I’m not sure who said that quote, but Jesus did mention similar things which i had got confused between. Sorry about that but that quote itself is very true.
Regardless my point still holds life unfolds at it’s own pace, not fast not slow, everything happening at the right time for it.
I think that you have to be realistic about things.