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/

[mazda77]

What?! You mean they don’t become civil servants in purgatory?

I thought that was all pointed out in specific detail in Beetle-guise!/sarc

[Spunky]

I had my son tell me some time back that the ONLY thing that kept him from suicide was the thought of going to hell.

I don't know if one would go to hell or not, but if one believes it would, then I am thankful for that belief.

[bubbacluck]

Or falling on a grenade to save others.

[silverleaf]

Read “Too Bruised to be Touched” by Father Ron Rolheiser
I shared that with many a grieving person who lost a loved one. At least some were grateful and reassured that their loved one was not condemned to hell by God, maybe just by people who take it upon themselves to act on His behalf

http://www.parentsofsuicide.com/Cookbook/too_bruised.html

http://www.jknirp.com/miscon.htm

[Osage Orange]

I suppose the people of Masada.....thought differently.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Being that murdering yourself is the last act on earth there is not chance for repentance.”

Being that Christ paid for all that person’s sins, past present and future, he is forgiven already. If he truly entrusted himself to Christ, he will be in glory.

[stuartcr]

How could anyone actually prove if they do or don’t go to heaven?

[stuartcr]

Sounds relative...

[stuartcr]

What about suicide missions in the military, or being a martyr?

[informavoracious]

What about the people who jumped from the Twin Towers to avoid burning alive?

[re_nortex]

BRIDGEKEEPER: Hey, it's against the law to commit suicide around here!

CLARENCE: Yeah, it's against the law where I come from, too.

[Albion Wilde]

Now, the hard part is what do you tell the family of a suicide who want to believe that their loved one is in heaven anyway.

My sincere suggestion is to just keep one's mouth shut. It really is not for us to know or judge.

Is overweight person who has a heart attack from obesity a suicide, and denied heaven? How about the smoker or drinker who dies from the chronic effects -- a suicide, only slowly? What about the chronic worrier, even if he or she is sincerely concerned about his or her grown children, who strokes out from anxiety? What about the person who skipped some work-related duty to leave on time, and is hit by a car and killed on the way home? Did they commit suicide because they consciously shirked their duty, and then were in the wrong place at the wrong time?

And if any of the above are technically suicides, should we comment upon it to the survivors -- "You know, if only they had done what they were supposed to do, they would be able to go to heaven; but as it is...."

I think not.

[freedomson]

Not true. You should read the parable of the sower.

Matthew 13

[Responsibility2nd]

Did the Apostle Paul consider suicide???

Philippians 1:21-23
New International Version (NIV)

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Osage Orange]

So let's see.......

I see a situation..that's life threatening for others..and if I intercede..I'm reasonable sure I will die. Is that suicide?

Say...I know, after days on end of warfare...I'm going to die, and my family is going to die or be tortured. Probably cruelly..and they might make me watch. I've given the good fight, I've suffered much..as has my family. And we decide to not give our enemies the satisfaction..not cause us cruel pain and suffering.

You remember that last part of the movie "Last of the Mohican's"? IF that was real....do you think that those characters were going to hell??

[stuartcr]

Why tell them anything? It’s not like you really KNOW what happens, do you?

[G Larry]

Without citing chapter and verse:

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

The only unforgivable sin, is sin against the Holy Spirit.

That is “despair “.

Having said that, you can not know the heart and mind of a suicide victim, at that critical moment, and you are NOT in a position to judge.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: What about the people who jumped from the Twin Towers to avoid burning alive?

I believe that God takes into account the situation the person is in.

For instance, Lying is a sin. However, if you lie to protect an innocent life, you are not held morally culpable.

Example:

EXODUS 1:15-20

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

[stuartcr]

Sounds relative

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

The fallacy of the argument put forth is the use of a false analogy i.e. suicide is like the disease of cancer. That is certainly debatable as cancer is a biological disease and suicide a psychological issue. How can the suicide dying by violent methods, a gun or a rope repent? Have you ever been rendered unconscious by a violent blow? I can say by personal experience when struck violently enough to render one unconscious one thinks of nothing one just experiences a tremendous shock.

The bible does not adequately cover suicide. The one clear suicide that I remember being in the bible is that of Judas Iscariot. No judgement was rendered in the book on his suicide as a suicide.