Suicide

[sisterinchrist]

Just wanted to share that I have lost 2 of my brothers to suicide. One was dying with a terrible blood disease and a rare heart disease. His heart was growing rapidly inside his body, the Dr.'s couldn't understand why. At the time of his death, His heart was so big that it was crushing all the organs in his body, especially his lungs, so that is why he commited suicide, the other brother, was just tired of living, and ended it.

God bless to all

[yomotalking]

If a believer commits suicide, does s/he go to heaven or hell?

I'm always hesitant to post a response to these...because I would never want to encourage such a selfish act. That's what it amounts to, a selfish act that wounds more lives than just one.

It's not a selfish act, it's a desperate act.

Corey

Ditto

ditto

ditto

[Kabowd]

If a believer commits suicide, does s/he go to heaven or hell?

I'm always hesitant to post a response to these...because I would never want to encourage such a selfish act. That's what it amounts to, a selfish act that wounds more lives than just one.

It's not a selfish act, it's a desperate act.

Corey

Ditto

ditto

ditto

Desperation is the emotion that often drives it, but it is a selfish act nontheless. A person who is contemplating this cannot see beyond themselves in that moment, they are thinking of their own pain, their own relief, etc. They aren't considering the pain this act will cause to numerous other lives. So while I can agree that suicide is often done in desperation, that does not negate the fact that it is still a selfish thing to do (in most cases).

[mrcorey]

[Kabowd]

Desperation is the emotion that often drives it, but it is a selfish act nontheless. A person who is contemplating this cannot see beyond themselves in that moment, they are thinking of their own pain, their own relief, etc. They aren't considering the pain this act will cause to numerous other lives. So while I can agree that suicide is often done in desperation, that does not negate the fact that it is still a selfish thing to do (in most cases).

Well, I totally disagree.

How so? Honestly, I'm not trying to sound harsh at all. Some of the people I love the most in the world have struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. But unless there's a physical/mental disorder, as harsh as it sounds, suicide is a selfish act...there's no getting around it. Yes, people do it because they are hurting, they are desperate, they need help. But they also follow through with it because they are either forgetting about the people they will hurt, or they are doing it out of vindictiveness in hopes of hurting others, or they simply consider easing their own pain more important than what their death will do to those they leave behind.

Some of us have lost people we love, whether by suicide or some other tragic way, and know the deep, agonizing pain this wound leaves on a person forever. You can't tell me that when a person willingly chooses to cause this kind of pain to others (by taking their own life) that it's not being selfish. I'm afraid you're trying to ease your own mind if you're telling yourself it's not.

[Fiosh]

Desperation is the emotion that often drives it, but it is a selfish act nontheless. A person who is contemplating this cannot see beyond themselves in that moment, they are thinking of their own pain, their own relief, etc. They aren't considering the pain this act will cause to numerous other lives. So while I can agree that suicide is often done in desperation, that does not negate the fact that it is still a selfish thing to do (in most cases).

Well, I totally disagree.

How so? Honestly, I'm not trying to sound harsh at all. Some of the people I love the most in the world have struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. But unless there's a physical/mental disorder, as harsh as it sounds, suicide is a selfish act...there's no getting around it. Yes, people do it because they are hurting, they are desperate, they need help. But they also follow through with it because they are either forgetting about the people they will hurt, or they are doing it out of vindictiveness in hopes of hurting others, or they simply consider easing their own pain more important than what their death will do to those they leave behind.

Some of us have lost people we love, whether by suicide or some other tragic way, and know the deep, agonizing pain this wound leaves on a person forever. You can't tell me that when a person willingly chooses to cause this kind of pain to others (by taking their own life) that it's not being selfish. I'm afraid you're trying to ease your own mind if you're telling yourself it's not.

Or maybe they are so deep into depression and despair; so overwhelmed by emotional pain, that they are not even capable of considering what effect it will have on others.

Or maybe they believe that by killing themselves they will actually ease the burden of a loved one.

In any case, I believe it is the rare person who commits suicide without some influence of mental illness. Remember, our Father is full of gentleness and compassion for His children. I don't think one's salvation hinges on that one act. How many suicides do you think are committed just after uttering "God, forgive me, but I just can't take it any more"?

[Guest mom_of_Job_&_Josh]

Here's my opinion without throwing in a bunch of scripture......plain and simple......and again not a yes or no answer.

If you accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and truely believe in your heart that he died for you, rose from the grave, and is coming again, then you will go to heaven and you have everything to live for.

My problem comes here-

If you truely believe the above then you would never become desperate enough to end your own life. So I would have to question the persons sincerity of accepting Christ (which of course, is not my duty).

[mrcorey]

[Kabowd]

Here's my opinion without throwing in a bunch of scripture......plain and simple......and again not a yes or no answer.

If you accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and truely believe in your heart that he died for you, rose from the grave, and is coming again, then you will go to heaven and you have everything to live for.

My problem comes here-

If you truely believe the above then you would never become desperate enough to end your own life. So I would have to question the persons sincerity of accepting Christ (which of course, is not my duty).

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I think we need to be EXTREMELY careful here. Some of the most spiritual/godliest people struggle or have struggled with depression. C.S. Lewis is just one that comes to mind. I want to be very clear about my beliefs on depression and suicide.

One, there are differing degrees and forms of depression. I believe sometimes it is a physical/mental issue that needs treatment (much like any other physical illness like diabetes or anything else). People who suffer from this should not be condemned or criticized or considered "less godly" simply because they suffer from this malady.

Secondly, wanting to die is not necessarily a sin. I've wanted to die before just to be with the Lord and people I love .. to be at peace, and I don't think I was sinning when I felt that way. It's an emotion. Now, had I wallowed in this thought and let it turn into pity and selfishness, or had I acted on it...then it would've become sin.

Thirdly, sometimes these thoughts are an attack from satan to get us to give up.Yes, we need to trust in God and have hope and not give up. Much of Paul's writings are encouraging believers to press on and finish strong. But be careful not to criticize those who have had those thoughts of death. It's much more common than you may realize..and can actually happen to the strongest of people. David felt forsaken, Jesus felt forsaken, Job struggled with wanting to give up. Even Elijah at one point wanted to give up and die.

"He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed to die. "I have had enough, Lord, " he said, "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." I Kings 19:4

I'm certainly not saying it's okay to commit suicide, I completely believe it is wrong to take any life including your own. I just think we need to be careful not to judge ppl because they have struggled with those thoughts. The enemy knows our weaknesses and he is out to destroy our lives...with many ppl he uses hopelessness and despair. The last thing they need is for us to question their spirituality in the moment of their deepest need. However, I still stand by my statements that acting on those suicidal thoughts boils down to a moment of selfishness. For some yes, this is a symptom of a disease or an attack of satan on them...but nevertheless, when a person chooses to take their own life it is selfish because they are harming themselves without regard for how it will affect other people.