Is suicide a sin? I don't know. I am not God and it is not my place to judge the hearts of man. Yes, the Bible does state that "thou shall not commit murder". Is suicide murder -- some would say yes, some would say no. For myself, when I was in deep emotional agony, I was crying out to God -- in fact, the day I overdosed, I called several people, I reached out and tried to get help -- and there was no one to answer my call. In my mind, at that time, I believed that God was telling me to end my life. People need to understand that there is deep irrationality going on when you get to the point of taking your own life. Would I have gone to hell had I succeeded? Absolutely not!! Will a young child that dies unexpectedly go to hell? No, and likewise I believe that God who is The Judge and sees the hearts of all men will not send someone to hell who is sick and not capable of clear thought. The God I serve is full of love and mercy, and yes He is also to be respected and feared. He is Righteous and cannot tolerate sin -- but at that point, is suicide sin? I don't believe so, however, He is the Judge - and He who knows the hearts and minds of His children will make the right decision. One, that I am glad that I do not have to make. I am not saying that you can live like the devil all your life, and then lose your mental capabilities, take your life and go to heaven. I believe that because I was a born again believer at the time of my suicide attempt that I would have gone to heaven had help not arrived in time. This is not an easy question to answer or deal with. However, I believe if we look at who God is, and realize that He is not willing that ANY should perish, He will take into account what is happening in the heart and mind of His child.
Blessings,

From Judith Brown Email
Gail:
I have read your page and as one who has contemplated suicide and dealt with severe depression and anxiety, I can tell you that I do not believe it is an automatic trip to hell. I am born-again, and Holy Spirit filled and walk with the Lord, but I know also, that there are times when I feel there are just too many things happening to handle alone. Yes, the Lord does provide, but sometimes it is people and the Christian body that lets it's fellow members down. We are suppose to hold each other up; but just as the one lady in your page experienced, there are times when the church of New Testiment Church is too busy with personal lives and committees and gossiping and judging each other to see what is truly needed. So many times we think we know what this one really needs and what they need and we are really just judging them. We do not really know what they need because we have not really asked our Lord Jesus what they need or if He would let us see them by His eyes. So we just let them go their own way and ignore them so we can get our hair done or go shopping. This is tough to hear but I have seen too much of this in churches and no one really cares enough to look below the surface of what is really hurting in the body of Christ, or we would not see so much hurting and pain and suicides in the Christian communities. And it is growing. God knows all about it and it will get worse believe me. Judith Brown, Palestine, TX (You can add this to your page if you like)

From Randy: Email
Hi Gail,
I'm sorry I didn't get the email concerning the survey. Persoanlly, I believe the only sin that will send someone to Hell is the rejection of the Holy Ghost. The taking of one's own life is a "self killing", and God only knows what drives a person to do such a thing. Does the act itself send one to Hell? Only man puts degees on sin. We rate the sin of murder greater that the sin of telling a lie. Even though muder is a more grevious act, it's still a breaking of the law, just as telling a lie is. The scripture says that if we break one tittle of the law, we are guilty of breaking the whole law. Thank God that through the shed blood of Jesus Christ I've been set free from the law. No, the act of suicide doesn't send a person to hell. The willful breaking of the law, which we are all guilty of, doesn't send a person to hell. It's whats in their Heart at the very instant of Death which is the deciding factor.YBIC,
Randy Renigar

From Bro. Mike Email
Dearest Gail,
I just got back in the office today. I received your e-mail at home and forwarded it here to work, so I could study some of the answers a little more closely. As the EAP Rep here at Volvo, I deal with our employees who have lost loved ones to suicide, as well as having some of our employees commit it over the years. None on the job however.

As a young minister many years ago, I asked an elder at a prayer breakfast one morning, what his opinion was about it. This Elder was also a retired school principle. His answer was quick, but complex. "No one has ever come back to tell us, have they?" He said. We went on to discuss issues then, just as others have written about here in your responses.
Today, as an Associate Pastor and having served as a Youth Pastor, I have studied it even more over the years. I have lots of training through my work in dealing with grief and loss due to suicide. I, like everyone else, have my belief on the question, "Is it forgivable?"

First of all let me say that we have to be careful what we write. Words written have a different impact than words spoken face to face, because we do not know if the person reading our words, understands our implications. We cannot see their facial expressions to know if our words confuse them, therefore we have no recourse to explain our view and our interpretation is left up to them! Therefore, I would never counsel someone contemplating suicide, or even thinking about it, over the net. The least I would do is talk with them on the phone if I could not reach them personally. So, for those of you out there who may be looking for an answer to justify your questions or considered actions, this forum is not it!!!!

Jesus told us that there was only one unforgivable sin, which is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. As complicated as that sounds, it can be summed up by saying; refusing to accept the witness of the Holy Spirit to your heart that you need the Savior, Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit convicts us in our hearts of our sinful life and pleads with us to ask forgiveness and we reject that; we are actually saying to Him, that we know best and He does not. Therefore I conclude that the only true unforgivable sin is not accepting Christ as our Savior. St. John summed it up in his first epistle in chapters 3 and 4. Read them prayerfully and carefully. (1 John 3 and 4)

However, I do not hold to the belief of eternal salvation just because we accept Christ at one point in our life. I base this view on what Jesus said in His prayer to the Father in St. John, Chapter 17, verse 12. Judas was the son of perdition mentioned here. Although the Scripture had to be fulfilled, Judas was not predestined for destruction, but chose to do what he did. We must remember, God speaks of things as they have happened, even before they did. John's Gospel was written well after Judas's suicide. Judas could have repented had he chosen to. It was not the fact he committed suicide that condemned him, nor was it his betrayal. It was his refusal to repent and ask Christ to forgive him. He died with unforgiven sin in his life. Peter denied Christ but later repented. He did not allow the circumstance, (as Sister Mary wrote about in her response to you here), overtake him as Judas did. Judas was one of the original 12. If he could be lost at the end, so can I; by choice though and not by Christ. God is ready and willing to forgive all our sins, if only we will (and can) confess them. That is in St. John's Epistle as well. (1 John 1: 9,10.)

When I talk with young people, or anyone for that matter, concerning suicide, I am always quick to asses their reasons for inquiring about it. As I said, if I am dealing with someone who is considering it but needs the assurance that God will forgive them for it: They ARE NOT going to get it. God is not into permission, but rather forgiveness. If we have to ask forgiveness for something before we do it, then we are really asking permission. God will not give us permission to sin! He is not an Old Grandfather type figure that says, "Well, kids will be kids." He hates sin. Not those who commit it. Therefore, one should always consult Him if there are any questions about actions one is planning on taking.

I believe there are instances in suicide that God may forgive the people. He did give Samson the power to do what he did you know. But there again, more than once God has given men the ability to do what they wanted to, even though it may have not been (or be) His will for their life. So, is suicide forgivable? I don't know. It could be, if God so chooses. I think we try to "split hairs" sometimes when we talk about grace and forgiveness. One person puts a gun to their head and pulls the trigger. That is suicide. Another will exceed the speed limit, loose control of the vehicle and hit a tree and die. That too, is suicide. We know the difference is in the intent of the heart and mind. But we have not the power to judge on intent. Only God alone does. My answer is the same as the Elder's. "No one has ever come back to tell us."

For the one who would ask me if it is forgivable, with the intent to commit it I answer with: "If you have enough mentality to have to ask, then it is not." My answer to the families of those who have lost others by suicide I answer with: "We do not know if they are in heaven or not. We can believe they are if we want to. What we know is; God is the Judge and He always judges rightly. What we have to do is make sure we get there ourselves!

Br Mike <><

Michael S. Ingo
UAW Employee Assistance Program Rep.
Volvo Trucks North America, Inc.
New River Valley Truck Plant
Dublin, Va. 24084
540.674.7761