What The Bible Says About Suicide

Suicide What does the Bible say about suicide? "Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father's tomb." 2 Samuel 17:23

Is suicide the unpardonable sin, or does God forgive suicide? These questions have troubled the hearts of those who struggle with the temptation to end their lives and those who are left behind when a friend or family member chooses to take his or her life. As we look at this most sensitive subject that exposes our most intimate thoughts and feelings, we realize that the subject of suicide affects those who do not profess to know Christ as Savior and many believers as well.

Although the word suicide is never used in the Bible, there are several direct references to people killing themselves, and by definition, that is suicide. In 1 Kings 16:18, there is reference to Zimri, who reigned for a few days over Israel and then died in a fire that he started in his home. He was about to be overthrown and could not cope with defeat. Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, committed assisted suicide (Judges 9:53-54) rather than have it said that he died at the hands of a woman. Saul fell on his sword after losing a battle against the Philistines. When his armorbearer saw that Saul had killed himself, he followed in like manner (1 Samuel 31:4-5; 1 Chronicles 10:4-5). When he stopped allowing God to direct his life, Samson lost his unbelievable strength and suffered humiliation at the hands of the Philistines. Unable to tolerate the ridicule and the reality of his failure, in one final act of strength, Samson pulled the pillars down on himself and thousands of his captors (Judges 16:25-30).

The inability to cope with failure. The inability to deal with relationships. The perceived loss of position or status. The unbearable pain of humiliation and a meaningless life. These were some of the reasons given for those who committed suicide during biblical times. A closer examination of the alarming number of suicides today reveals five motivating factors: (1) a cause that a person is committed to; (2) a pact between two or more people; (3) feelings of meaninglessness; (4) circumstances that overwhelm an individual; and (5) an extended illness involving intractable or unrelenting pain (note the growing debate regarding assisted suicide).

No matter what mode of suicide a person chooses, if we were to somehow explore the thoughts of those who have committed suicide (or are contemplating it), I believe that we would find one of these five motivating factors. The death certificate may list drug overdose or gunshot wound as the cause of death; yet the underlying cause often is never discovered because of the self-imposed isolation that most people experience prior to their suicide. We see the result on the coroner's report, but the true cause can usually be found within the list of these motivating factors.

Over the last ten to fifteen years, we have watched the results of suicides stemming from adherence to a cause. This has been portrayed in grim detail in the media in the suicides carried out in bombings in the Middle East when a soldier storms a building with a truck laden with explosives. The murder of hundreds of soldiers was an honorable deed for the one who killed himself in the truck that slammed into the army barracks. To die for such a cause is noble for one who considers the cause life's motivation. The pictures of Guyana and the hundreds of bodies strewn across the ground were grim reminders that pacts between individuals can have tragic consequences. The followers of Jim Jones had a pact, and it resulted in their mass suicide.

A major cause of suicide is the despair of living without meaning or purpose. In a world overwhelmed with violence, divorce, homelessness, AIDS, and drug abuse, it is too often the norm to live life bouncing around without anything to hang on to that would give meaning and security to an otherwise lonely existence. In his book Fatal Choice, John Q. Baucom states that of all the suicides committed by teenagers in 1984, 80 percent had alcohol in their systems: "Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers. It is estimated that approximately 6,000 adolescents will take their lives annually.... During the past 25 years the teenage rate has tripled. One report indicates that nearly 12 percent of all school children will experience serious suicidal ideation at least once."

The fact that many children are finding suicide to be the logical choice underscores the impact that the pressures of life, even at such an early age, can have. They live in a world of isolation, rejection, and the perception that no one cares. Life becomes intolerable, and suicide becomes the "logical" answer. Depression is a key factor in most suicides. Circumstances can often be the precipitating factor in suicide. What one person can deal with, another might find overwhelming. This can encompass any number of things, such as divorce, the loss of a job, or financial distress. In one sad incident, the inability to deal with the death of a friend resulted in the suicide of a well-known professional football player. The young man lost control of his car while driving late one evening in Texas. A friend who was in the car died. Overcome with the reality of what had happened, the young man put a gun to his head and ended his life. His circumstance motivated his suicide.

The last of the motivating factors in suicide concerns the inability to cope with a debilitating illness and unrelenting pain. Assisted suicide has gained national and international attention in the media. Over the years, the idea of euthanasia has been discussed and debated, but never have so many sought to enlist the help of medical professionals in ending their lives. Euthanasia is defined in Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary, as "the intentional causing of a painless and easy death to a patient suffering from an incurable or painful disease." As people have become more aggressive in their "right" to end the suffering of terminal illnesses or the ravages of old age, the issue of assisted suicide has taken on monumental significance among many groups who wish to see euthanasia become one of the "rights" that all people possess. News reports are filled with stories of people seeking to end their lives with the help of a medical professional.

We need to consider the reasons why suicide is wrong and why it is not the way to avoid painful circumstances. As an act of rebellion, suicide is a sin against God. These are some of the reasons why suicide is wrong: It violates the Ten Commandments. Nowhere does the Bible condone a person ending life to escape circumstances. Life is a gift from God. Suicide is an expression of self-hatred, and the Bible says we are to "love our neighbors as ourselves." Suicide usurps the power that belongs only to God. A person who commits suicide short-circuits God's will for his or her life.

It is an expression of lack of faith. Philippians 4:19 states, "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." This applies to financial needs and emotional and physical needs. Suicide is an act of selfishness. It hurts the cause of Christ.

With this in mind, we can understand why there are so many questions concerning whether God forgives the person who commits suicide. After all, suicide is an act of rebellion against God. Fortunately for all of us, however, God's grace is without prejudice. Whoever believes will be saved. Nowhere in the Bible does God compartmentalize sin and reserve grace only for those who commit "acceptable" sins. There is no such thing. Does God forgive suicide?Yes, He does.

 If the person who committed suicide at  some time accepted
 Jesus' death on the cross as payment for  his sin debt and asked Him
 into his life, he is forgiven. Absolute  assurance of forgiveness is
 found in Romans 8:1: "There is  therefore now no condemnation to
 those who are in Christ Jesus." If a  person has ever taken that step
 and received Christ as Savior, nothing can  alter the truth that, as
 children of God, we are forgiven. Even  when we rebel against God, He
 is faithful to keep His Word. On the other  hand, there is no such
 assurance for the one who commits suicide  and has never taken that
 step of faith in Christ, except the  assurance of eternal separation
 from God.</p>
 The fact that God's grace is sufficient  and that forgiveness is
 available even in the case of suicide  should never be taken as
 permission to follow through with the  temptation to commit suicide.
 Suicide is never the right decision. No  one enjoys suffering. All of
 us sympathize with those who hurt, both  physically and emotionally.</p>
 However, 2 Corinthians 12:9 is our  assurance that in our weakness,
 God's grace is sufficient, and that is our  hope when life becomes
 intolerable. When nothing we try works,  God has promised that He is
 able to sustain us.</p>
 If you have struggled with the meaning of  life or are
 experiencing overwhelming pain (physical  or mental) and are
 considering taking your life, I urge you  to take these steps to get
 the help you need in your time of trouble.
 Cry out to God. Read Psalm 34 and ask God  to renew your mind
 with these verses:</p>
 "The righteous cry out, and the LORD  hears, and delivers them out
 of all their troubles. The LORD is near to  those who have a broken
 heart, and saves such as have a contrite  spirit. Many are the
 afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD  delivers him out of
 them all. He guards all his bones; not one  of them is broken"
 (Psalm 34:17-20).</p>
 Call someone and ask for help. Don't let  pride get in the way.
 Much of Satan's power to convince those  who feel unloved and
 hopeless is found in his ability to keep  them isolated and removed
 from those who can lift them up.</p>
 Ask Jesus Christ to give you new hope and  to give your life
 meaning. His life indwells you, and His  resources are constantly
 available in your most desperate moment.</p>
 If you are not the one struggling with the  issue of suicide but
 have a friend or someone in your family  who seems to have given up,
 there are some things you can do to help  that person.</p>
 Be able to recognize clues the person may  be giving, either
 consciously or subconsciously. Look for  symptoms such as depression,
 signs of hopelessness, lethargy, and so  on. Listen for threats and
 words of warning, such, "I have  nothing to live for." Be aware of
 whether the person becomes withdrawn and  isolated from others.</p>
 Trust your judgment. If you believe there  is an imminent threat
 of suicide, trust your instincts. Don't  let others dissuade you from
 loving intervention.</p>
 Tell others. Don't worry about breaking a  confidence if the
 person is obviously contemplating suicide  or says he or she has a
 plan. As soon as possible, involve the  help of others, such as
 parents, friends, spouse, teachers,  ministers, physicians, anyone in
 a position to assist the distressed  individual.</p>
 Stay with the person. If you believe the  person is in danger of
 carrying out the plan, do not leave the  person alone. Wait with the
 person until medical help arrives or the  crisis has passed.</p>
 Listen. Encourage the person to talk to  you. Refrain from
 giving pat answers that could further  depress the person who is on
 the verge of giving up. Listen and  empathize with the person.
 Urge professional help. Stress the  necessity of getting help
 for the individual.</p>
 Be supportive. Show the person that you  care. Do what you can
 to help the person feel worthwhile and  valuable to you.
 Suicide is not the answer to life's pain,  whether it be
 physical, mental, or emotional. Christ is  the answer and in Him
 alone will we find healing from the  problems that ultimately cause a
 person to end life before God has chosen  to do so.</p>
 "Do you not know that your body is  the temple of the Holy Spirit
 who is in you, whom you have from God, and  you are not your own?
 For you were bought at a price; therefore  glorify God in your
 body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20</p>
 This material has been taken from:</p>

The Glorious Journey by Dr. Charles Stanley Used with permission. Thomas Nelson Publishing, Nashville, Tennessee

Related Resources:

Suicide: Is It An Unpardonable Sin? For a complete selection of materials, please visit our In Touch Bookstore.