Suicide from a Biblical Perspective. Part 1.
Phew, heavy subject… a very heavy topic, with a huge mountain of emotions and sadness… Whether you think about it yourself, or whether you know someone who has tried it… it is a painful subject.
In this series, we want to look at it from a biblical perspective, seen from the eyes of an experienced expert…. right…tried twice, but thank God, didn’t work…
Let’s start with the following statement:
If you commit suicide, you will always go to hell. Because that is a sin that God will never(!) forgive.
Do we know that expression? Yes, unfortunately we have heard it ourselves and that statement is not biblical. It’s nowhere in the bible. Full stop. But what does the Bible say?
The bible is VERY clear:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
John 3:16
Not the way you die (or have lived) determines whether you go to heaven or not, but your faith, by God’s grace, determines that. And if you do, the following applies to you:
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2
But…. we are not there yet… because this does not mean that the bible approves of suicide, quite the contrary. It is a sin to intentionally end your life. Full stop.
You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:13
Clear enough right? And yes, that sounds harsh, so let’s take a look at a softer text with a little more explanation:
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
It is God who has given you life, so that life belongs to God and not to yourself to determine when it is ready… To consciously stop earlier is therefore a sin. And God doesn’t want that.
We can also look at it in a broader perspective. Now take this Bible verse:
You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:3
God is above all. To determine for yourself when your end is, is to put yourself above God. And with that, you play your own idol, and that is a no-go. Even clearer?
Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.
Leviticus 18:21
Sacrificing yourself or someone else for a false god is not allowed. Full stop. And yes… there are people who have put themselves above God, have become their own little god and God is against that. And not just a little.
God has a reason for that, a very beautiful and good reason… which gives hope:
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
See what that verse says?
To do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do
God has a plan for you and me. And yes, sometimes we don’t understand that plan, but that plan is there. A good plan, with a beautiful eternal future. And that gives hope, no matter how difficult it is today… there is a plan for you and me…. really! And it is up to God to determine when we may stop working on this goal, for He knows when His good plan is completed. Deliberately thwarting his plan (in whatever form) is a sin.
And yes, we understand that this is quite tough to read… perhaps very tough… but hang in there, we’re not there yet.
Does suicide appear in the bible? Yes, certainly. It is (unfortunately) nothing new, and we can also find it in the Bible.
Abimelech, (Judges. 9:52-54); the prophet Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23); Zimri (1 Kings 16:18); Saul and his armor bearer (1 Samuel 1:1-6; 1 Chronicles 10:1-6), Samson (Judges 16:28), and Judas (Matthew 27:3-5) are sad examples.
And today? Christians also commit suicide. How is that possible?! Let’s take a closer look at that… in part 2. (click)
