Do Those Who Commit Suicide Go to Heaven?

Christian Post ^ | 04/09/2013 | James Watkins

[SeekAndFind]

"I'm sitting here with a loaded shotgun. I want my family back or I pull the trigger," Al* threatened over the phone. "And don't call the cops. I'll kill them before I let them put me in some institution."

What could I say to this troubled parishioner? His wife and son had left him, he had been demoted at work, and he felt the church was unsupportive of him.

"Well, God loves you and I love you."

"Yah, yah. But if I commit suicide, I'll go to hell! Right?"

Al's question brought up the age-old question: Do Christians who commit suicide go to heaven or hell? In second grade, my Sunday school teacher had hanged herself. "How could someone who led her class in singing 'Happiness is the Lord' be so sad?" I had questioned.

My questions continued into my adult life and ministry as

I talked with survivors of suicide attempts and read actual notes left by those claiming to be Christians who succeeded. For instance, sixteen-year-old Matt left the following note before ending his life with a .22 rifle:

You that heard me preach saw how God changed my life. He can change yours too!! When he does, you better not turn back. Discipline yourselves now!! Draw near to God through Jesus Christ now!!! If you don't . . . you may some day find yourselves hopeless. It's your choice.

GOD FORGIVE ME FOR NEGLECTING YOU AND FOR BECOMING SO COLD!! TAKE CARE OF MICHAEL AND MOM. HAVE MERCY ON MY SOUL. AMEN."

And then a barrage of questions from Genny, a once bright, intelligent Christian women who since heart failure had become mentally impaired-and was well aware of her disability. Genny repeatedly tried to overdose with her heart medication. "Why didn't God just take me when my heart failed? I want to go home to be with Jesus."

I've come to two conclusions as I've dealt with questions of Al, Matt, Genny, and others:

Christians are not exempt from depression and, at times, despondency.

William Cowper, who wrote the popular gospel song "There Is a Fountain" proclaiming Christ's forgiveness and love, repeatedly attempted suicide. Even saints like Moses, Elijah, and Jonah went through periods of extreme depression and, yes, suicidal thoughts (Numbers 11:10-15, 1 Kings 19:1-5, and Jonah 4:9). I half joke that I would have committed suicide during junior high, but I knew if

I did, my parents would kill me. (The first part of that sentence is no joke.)

I believe the Bible is clear that we go to heaven or hell based on our relationship to Jesus Christ.

Yes, suicide raises many spiritual and psychological questions, but one thing is certain:

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it (Ephesians 2:8-9). We obtain heaven only by our belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior. And we go to hell only by our rejection of Jesus Christ as our Savior (Hebrews 6:4-6).

After nearly an hour, Al finally agreed to unload his weapon and meet his wife and son at the local police station. He has since been reconciled with his wife and found a church where he feels more accepted.

While I still fear the midnight calls from those contemplating suicide, I am assured that God dearly loves those who feel so depressed and desperate, and He will judge their actions with His mercy and justice based on their relationship with His Son.

* All names have been changed.

-- James Watkins is the author of 16 books and a public speaker. His website is: http://www.jameswatkins.com/

[TalBlack]

“#6 We are promised Eternal life when we become a believer in Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you can suddenly lose your salvation, he would have to be a liar, because Eternal means forever.”

Still haven’t bothered to look up “penitence”, have you.

[jps098]

I already know the meaning, but that does not change any of the truths I presented to you.

[stuartcr]

I know what you mean. Lots of people just call me names when I ask about their beliefs. I haven’t figured that out yet.

[Wanderer99]

Considering that we now live in a commie cesspool, I wouldn’t blame anyone for committing suicide. It’s basically just an escape from torture and imprisonment...before the enemy can break you down.

[vpintheak]

What’s to reply? Life is a gift from God. We are His, and when we take a life that isnt ours, it is murder. I will not argue any further about it. Scripture is pretty plain and people twist it to fit what they want.

[vpintheak]

BTW, I just attended a funeral of a friend of mine who suffered for years with MS. It got pretty bad toward the end. You know what he did the whole time? Praised God thru it all!

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

That’s inspiring. TY

[TalBlack]

“Truths”?! You can do what you want because Jesus died on the cross? Sorry, Pal, NO! You are deluded. It would be interesting to hear WHO taught you this. I can’t fathom it.

[jps098]

I read the Bible. The verses are they for you to read.

1 John 5:10-13 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

I know.

What part of ETERNAL do you not understand?

I do not put God in some box. He knew every sin every person would commit before He created the universe. It is not like God is surprised by an action or thought we have. If He was He would not be God.

It is sad you cannot wrap your mind around this. For you to arbitrarily decide what sins God has not forgiven is to place yourself in His stead. I will simply take Him at His word.

[Osage Orange]

So you will not argue. Fair enough. Although I didn't think I was arguing..

How about just answering a question?

Do you think the folks at Masada are in heaven or hell?

Pretty straight question...with a one word answer from you.

TIA....

[Osage Orange]

Love it!!

I've had some friends and patients just like that..!!

[Thumper1960]

Not in my mind.
Just wondering aloud about the murky areas we confront each day.
Since the Creator knows all, intimately, could exiting this world by our own hands and means be a fulfillment of the Creator’s will?
This weekend, when I have a full pot of coffee, I’ll likely sit out and ponder some more with the limited intellectual faculties He blessed me with.
Cheers!

[TalBlack]

“For you to arbitrarily decide what sins God has not forgiven is to place yourself in His stead. I will simply take Him at His word.”

I have NOT done this. Try again. Your problem seems to be that you see what you WANT to see rather than what is there.

“GO AND SIN NO MORE” is a pertinent verse. You see “go and sin all you want, you are forgiven.” Big difference

[jps098]

I can sin all I want, but as a follower of Jesus, I don't want to sin. But I do know that if, and when I do, his blood has already paid for it. I do not take sin lightly, but you seem to put suicide in some special class of sin that is not in the Bible. Suicide would be a last sin and nothing more.

Don't you realize that the woman at the well told to "Go and sin no more", still committed sins later? Hopefully she stopped being an adulteress, but if you think a person can "sin no more", you need to read all of 1 John 5.

Look, you are going by your feelings. If you want to go through life missing that the Gospel is Good News, go ahead. I will not live my life in bondage.

Everyone will have a final sin, and the good news is that they ALL were paid for thousands of years ago.

Assuming you are a true Christian, you can ask Sampson about his request to destroy his enemies and himself at the same time someday.

[jps098]

Actually read all of 1 John. Chapter 1 will show you your state, if a person thinks they can “Sin no more.”

[TalBlack]

“Actually read all of 1 John. Chapter 1 will show you your state, if a person thinks they can “Sin no more.””

The “sin” in the quote is a reference by Jesus to a SPECIFIC sin (that aside if the advice comes from the Saviour it MUST be good and practicable or do you know better than Jesus?). Thus you prove my point. You've got to lose your loathing and ego when you pick up your Bible. I'm serious. I'm not being a wiseass; you SEE what you WANT to see.

[jps098]

Huh? You make no sense to me. I have no idea what you are getting at proving your point??

As I said before, live in bondage as your wish. I know where I'm going and I know it is none of my doing. If you think you can never sin again, good luck with that.

[Wanderer99]

The ONLY positive thing about life is that we eventually die. Everything in between is grim and hopeless.