Here is an email question that I received with the response to follow:
Good Afternoon: I am writing to you under emotional pangs, as I wrestle with the Scriptures, and what I hear from certain others who are Christian.
The husband of a friend of mine committed suicide. My friend, I know well, and her love and defense of the Scriptures. But I only know of her husband’s belief by what she tell me, and his attendance to church. She said he prayed a lot and loved God, her and their children.
But he yielded to suicide. And from what I understand, this was a long term fight to avoid that. He subsequently said he was going for walk, and he was found in a park, after shooting himself.
Here is a man who “claimed” to love Jesus, but his actions to me, deny his having made Jesus Lord and Master over his life. Rather, he must have had Satan as master.
I used to believe in “free will” but after a long study of the Sovereignty of God, I changed my mind. That study took several years. So I can’t say this man had free will unless he remains outside of God’s Lordship, where he does what the flesh does…. denies the power, promises, and love that God has living within us.
The pastor at the services said what my friend said, he is in heaven, due to the Grace of God.
But how can a person be tempted to kill himself then actually follow through with it, if he has Life in him? And Hope. These reign over Death and Hell.
My Response
Thanks for the questions. These are very good questions, and necessary to struggle with.
You said: “But how can a person be tempted to kill himself then actually follow through with it, if he has Life in him?”
How could David have killed Uriah? How could Peter have denied Christ? How could John have fallen down and worshiped an angel? How could Paul struggle with sin the way he does in Roman 7? Why would Paul exhort Christians to “walk in the spirit and therefore not carry out the deeds of the flesh” if it was a foregone conclusion that Christians cannot walk in the flesh? How could the Galatians (whom Paul considers “brethren”) have turned back toward the law after knowing Christ? How could the Corinthians live as spiritual babes, living in strife, jealously, and envy?
The answer: we are all sinners.
My sister committed suicide. She had been with me at seminary and was one of my primary means of encouragement throughout my younger ministry years. She was a prayer warrior, an aspiring evangelist, and one of the most generous people I have ever known. She fell into depression—terrible depression. Depression is a powerful result of the fall that ends up taking a lot of people’s lives. What she did was sin. Yes, it was premeditated as well.
What sins, in actuality, are not premeditated? There are not many . . . mainly personality and spirituality characteristics such as outbursts of anger, jealousy, and faithlessness. But most other sins are premeditated. If God does not forgive premeditated sins—if somehow these are the sins that are not covered by the cross—we are all in trouble.
Some may say that all sins have to be confessed before death. Roman Catholics, in fact, distinguish between mortal and venial sins. Mortal sins are those that you cannot have on your soul at death. They are the really bad ones like murder, pride, adutery, using birth control, or missing Mass without a valid excuse. Traditionally, suicide has also been among these, since suicide is a murder which is impossible to confess.
However, I disagree. While I do not believe that all sin is equal in God’s sight, there is no biblical reason to say that there are some sins that destroy the grace of God and need special penance and others that don’t. To say that we cannot have unconfessed sin when we die is problematic in many ways. Biblically, Paul is clear that once we have faith in Christ we have been saved. This salvation is primarily from the ultimate penalty of our sin—eternal death. If we cannot truly be saved until we die with all sins confessed, then we cannot ever say that we are saved as Paul does. The best we can do is say we might be saved (i.e., if I die without any unconfessed sin). Salvation would always have to be spoken of as a contingent possibility, not a present reality. Yet Paul says to the Ephesians, “By grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2:8). Christ says in John 6:24, “Whoever believes in me has eternal life.” There is no contingency here. The question becomes, Do you really believe, and will that belief persevere (another question, another time)?
The practical problem is this: If you do have to die without any unconfessed sin, how are you to be spiritually aware enough to know of all your sins? What if you forget one? What about the time you sped through the school zone? What about the time you pridefully thought about your promotion at work? What about the time you envied your neighbor’s new sprinkler system? What about the time you said you were sick, to avoid something, and you really weren’t? From a practical standpoint, everyone will die with unconfessed sin. Most of these will include serious sins such as greed, pride, and envy. Are we all then bound for hell? This trivializes the cross, forgiveness, and sin.
Christ’s death is a once-for-all remedy to our damnation. Because of this grace and forgiveness we should live a life that is pleasing to him, but some of us won’t do so well. That is what makes grace so wonderful and radical—indeed, beyond belief.
I don’t know whether the gentleman who went on a walk in the park was a Christian or not (my heart hurts just thinking of his walk), but I do know that the cross of Christ redeems us from all sin, no matter how severe, no matter how much premeditation. Were suicide less traumatic, were it just a push of the button, I doubt that there is any who would escape the temptation (we probably would not make it through our teen years!). Have mercy on this man. What he did was sin. What he did will have terrible and lasting consequences (just like any murder), but to think that this necessarily means he was not a Christian is unbiblical and well beyond our ability to judge.
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses (present tense; 1 John1:7) us from all sin, not just some sins.
Hope that is helpful.
131 replies to "Do People Who Commit Suicide Automatically Go to Hell?"
I struggle with depression and suicide. I have been for many years, since I was a teenager. Now, a mother of two, one would think I have reason to live….and I do! But post partum depression has taken over more than what I have ever experienced in life. When I was younger, I had many attempts. But now, I struggle to make sure I don’t make any attempts. One, because I love God and I want others to see Him in me even though I struggle. And two, because I love my family. So what do I do? I constantly seek help. I even went for medical help. When you suffer from post partum depression, it means your brain is not producing enough serotonin. So I take medication to help me produce more in order to have balance. Seek help! God put doctors and prayer warriors and each other so we can make it through this difficult path TOGETHER! Do I believe a suicidal person goes to hell if they go through with it? I don’t believe they do or don’t. It’s not my place. I’m not the judge. I just personally chose to believe in God instead. And that Jesus will continue to bring me through this with the help of all. When I have suicidal thoughts…I call someone. Just like an alcoholic going through AA; kind of like a sponsor. Just love each other. Forget about what happens later and concentrate on what happens now. A wife lost her husband. The children lost their father. They need us. Reach out to them with COMPASSION. God knows where that man is and it is between him and God.
Honestly, I’m not saying this to be mean, but something for one to think about..instead of wondering where he is while he is dead, ONE SHOULD WONDER ‘WHERE WAS I WHEN HE WAS ALIVE?’ what did you do to try to help him through his struggles. Obviously, he felt like he was alone and couldn’t bare it any more. Do you think only Jesus saves us and that is it? That Jesus alone takes us through life. We need each other and for that, we will all be accountable. Where was his pastor? Where we’re his brothers? It’s their fault he made the final decision but we can all help each other if we would.
i havent read the entire thread but i have prayed about many things one of which is the ability to understand. In other words iv prayed for wisdom and believe God has granted me some. I dont know everything and I dont claim to be wise. With that said NO i dont believe you go to hell if you commit suicide. First reason is the bible states that once you recieve the Holy Spirit no one can take that from you, it sticks with you forever. The second is the only unforgivable sin is denying Christ till the day you die. Third the argument tends to go like this: Well how do you ask for forgiveness and as the author of this website has stated there are sins that im sure we all have that we cant remember. Same difference suppose im cussing my mom out in the car and we hit a pole and die, how do i ask for forgiveness? The bible does say that the sins we havent been forgiven for will be shouted amongst the rooftops of heaven. The Lord weighs us at judgement with perfect scales, he knows all, and theres no hiding anything. Im sure we will have a good long talk about everything at Judgement. Personaly i am a christian and at a young age had suicidal thoughts which i later discovered were due to demonic spirits. The enemy attempted to persuade me to commit suicide and i couldnt figure out what my problem was because i had not one reason why i wanted to die. After resolving this problem with the Holy Trinity I made a commitment with God saying I would never contimplate this again and that he could put me through whatever he desired and i would endure it for his glory. I had suicidal tendacies when i was 14-15, now i am 27 and i will never forget that commitment… Two weeks ago my bestfriend commit suicide and i believe he knew the Lord and was in deep with demonic entities. He commited a sin where theres no turning back but i believe he has been forgiven. We had actualy had this conversation before, his cousin did the same.
Tonight i took it upon myself to search for what happens to a soul who takes his own life. At 19 i’ve been struggling with DEEP anxiety for over 3 years now with no end in sight. Daily i think of suicide now. Its gotten to the point i don’t even feel myself around my parents, i constantly feel stricken with illness around others, almost as if a demon lives within me. It gets hard to breathe to the point where i fully stop breathing and pass out, i can’t think anymore unless i’m in solitude. I love everyone around me but i hate them solely because of my anxiety, i can’t live in this body anymore. I just want to take my life and be in heaven. It never stops no matter what i try. This probably looks like reaching for attention who knows maybe at this point that’s what it is i don’t know anymore i just don’t want to be on this earth anymore. i can’t stand it anymore really i can’t. the only thing that keeps me on this planet is the fear of Gods wrath on a soul who takes his own life. A miracle wouldnt even save me now.
Nick, I am so sorry for your pain. If I could tell my sister anything before she died, I would tell her IT WILL COME TO AN END. Sometime. I don’t know when, but it will. If feels as if you are in this for good, but your brain has a way of reparing itself.
Nick,
Please don’t give up no matter what, because God loves you so much and wants you to live, until it is His decision to take you. Please don’t forget that, and know that all of us are praying for you to come out of this as victorious in Christ.
God bless and keep though you safe through this terrible time., and give you comfort that you will survive.
Nick,
I will not patronize you with easy answers. Life is hard. I have found this band’s music to be helpful to me when I struggle. Give them a listen and see what you think. They’re called Twenty One Pilots. These songs are specifically about struggling with suicide and despair and maintaining hope through it all. It’s good music too, not cheesy contemporary Christian stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktBMxkLUIwY
Just thought the links would appear, not an embedded video. Sorry about that. Hope it’s ok.
[…] further in two great articles: Suicide, Salvation, and Eternal Security by Bob Kellemen and Do people who commit suicide automatically go to hell? by Michael Patton. Every Christian dies with unconfessed sin and suicide is not the […]
[…] further in two great articles: Suicide, Salvation, and Eternal Security by Bob Kellemen and Do people who commit suicide automatically go to hell? by Michael Patton. Every Christian dies with unconfessed sin and suicide is not the unpardonable […]
[…] further in two great articles: Suicide, Salvation, and Eternal Security by Bob Kellemen and Do people who commit suicide automatically go to hell? by Michael Patton. Every Christian dies with unconfessed sin and suicide is not the […]
I have thought about this issue a lot. My background is Reformed Theology and I always thought no one can separate us from the love of Christ? Therefore, if you are saved even suicide can’t separate you from Christ… meaning you will still go to heaven.
However… as I read the Bible more I found out that there is a balance in God’s sovereignty and human’s responsibility. Even when it comes to salvation, God does not make us or force us to profess our faith. We do it by our will (responsibility of man); at the same time it is God who calls us, leads us to Him, and it is because He first loved us(shown by Christ’s death and resurrection) salvation is even a possibility for us. (God’s sovereignty)
Righteous works is a sign of a person who has true saving faith. “1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” If a person does not show good fruit in his life, it is a sign that He is not truly saved. Having said that what is suicide? I do not believe people committing suicide decides one day he will commit suicide? It is something that is meditated for a long time. It is a continual thinking of killing oneself and one day they get the enough courage or reasons to kill himself. It is sin to think about killing someone even if you don’t physically murder. ie Matt 5:22, 1 John 3:15)
So a person thinking continually about killing oneself according to 1 John 3:9 is not actually saved. (He is deceived that he is saved, but he is actually not.) Because he is living a lifestyle/habitual/continual sin of murder.
I believe this problem arises from churches nowadays not teaching the importance of living a life of repentance and running away from sin. “Christians” intermingle with sin and say that everything is good and safe and they are at peace when the Bible says else wise.
Sin is our enemy that is why Christ came. If we are still under…
Premeditated means you thought of something before hand. Usually anger is expressed at the time of dislike or aggravation. I was taught that committing suicide was an unforgivable sin.
One can actually commit sin without going to hell because God does not punish sin for his children. I wrote an E-book on this and you can get it free at http://www.truthaboutchristianity.org for better understanding. Dont get me wrong, this is not a license to keep commiting sin but if mistakenly you do God will not punish you and you will go to heaven at last.
There is so much ignorance and judgmental comments to your post that I hardly know where to start. I do believe that those of us who believe in Christ are saved from hell. One thing lacking here is that people just don’t get it…the BRAIN is an organ of the body..just like the heart, etc….it can and does get ill!!!! You don’t “commit cancer” do you? SO why say that those with mental illness “commit suicide?” They died…like others with disease and that is that! People are condemning others on this very site as they themselves claim to be Christians. I hope they become informed and will be more understanding of those who have mental illnesses….because “there but for the GRACE of God go I.” Who knows…they could die in their shameful sin of judging and oops…lose their salvation? To God be the Glory.
To all fellow Christians who think they’re better than the murderer, the adulterer, and the liar: sorry to break it to you, but you’re not. We are all murderers, liars, and adulterers continually and habitually. There is not sin that man will not commit: we all share the same evil in our hearts. God’s law has not yet been written on our hearts yet. So don’t act like you have superior faith of love for God. You don’t. Nothing happens apart from the will of God: if it was God’s will, you would commit suicide. Only Jesus can judge–you know what you are when you exclude people from God by your own judgement? A Pharisee. People practice the compassion of God towards people they can relate to. And sometimes not even then. Those who commit suicide have experienced such despair that you can never understand it. But we all like neat little boxes don’t we, where only the unsaved commit terrible sin and only bad people suffer and fail. Guess what people, God is close to the broken hearted, because you guys aren’t. And He will bind up their wounds.
[…] further in two great articles: Suicide, Salvation, and Eternal Security by Bob Kellemen and Do people who commit suicide automatically go to hell? by Michael Patton. Every Christian dies with unconfessed sin and suicide is not the […]
Hi, i know my post is a little late. I have been trying to research this myself. Currently I am 18 years old…in my younger teenage years i may have been considered “suicidal”. I did a lot of selfish things. Then my niece hung herself. This made me look at the situation differently. I have not attempted killing myself. I do not want to. I love God and what he has given me. But unfortunately i am not perfect. I have been wondering if it was true that people who commit suicide go to hell. In a way i believe that it isn’t for me to say if they do or not. I was not as close to my niece as when were young children. From what i was told, she did go to church. And i hope that in some way she had her heart in the right place. I think a lot of psychological disorders run in my family. I was baptized this past year and it felt really great. Then i got married…we always went to church. but here recently we have fell short. I do have faith in God. I pray and thank Him all the time. I want to be the Christian i need to be.. yet, i know i’m not. I wish i could have more closure about my niece..i do miss her as well as the rest of my family.
@Mark and anyone who passes judgement on others. It makes me sick to think anyone takes what is in the Bible and use it for condemning or passing judgement on others. Mental illness is a real illness. If Mark had a heart attack would God punish him for eating to much cholesterol? NO. I work with people (mind you good hearted people who love God) that have mental illness. And suicide is often the form of death that takes them out. Please put your pointed fingers away and do what Jesus would want you to do. Pray for them and their families to find peace in our beloved Creator. I pass no judgement on man and do so because I know we all sin and have our crosses to bear. It is sadly people like Mark that turn people away from Christianity and also God, and that is more of a doubt in God’s love than suicide in my opinion.
SORRY: BUT 1 Corinthians 3:17 doesnt change because you want to believe in the ‘grace of God’ or that ‘sins are different in the eyes of God’. For ‘believers’ that kill themselves, they are destroyed. Gehenna is the synonym.
For unbelievers, there is no question they are in hell.
Ill leave it to you to correctly interpret the above scripture. “destroy’ is a pretty clear word. But dont try to comfort yourselves thinking that those that off themselves have eternal life.
No reason to be sorry. You are the one that takes scripture literally and does not seak the deeper meaning. Try following the words of Christ and become a Christian. Not get wrapped up in the words of Paul and stay what you are now, a Paulinian.
Puddin, please be sure not to take I Cor 3:17 out of context. The reason Paul wrote 1 Corinthians was to address divisions in the church. Paul has been talking about how the Corinthians follow different leaders (Peter, Appolos, Paul, etc) rather than following Christ. In chapter 3 he talks about how these leaders all work together and build upon a foundation.
So each member builds upon this same foundation. You can’t build on one foundation without building on all parts of what was built by each of the leaders and in total, the whole foundation is Christ. But if one leader is followed and not the rest then it’s like building with straw. The church won’t stand, but rather be burned up.
By verse 16, Paul starts setting up how he is going to elaborate on this later in the letter. The ‘temple’ referred to here is not each individual, but the corporate Body of Christ. Verse 17, Paul is speaking harsh words against anyone who would divide the church, because if they divide the church, they won’t have a church to be part of. The word used is phtheiro. It’s not sysnonymous with Gehenna.
So this passage has nothing whatsoever to do with suicide.
Something that I feel is often overlooked is how a person’s mental well being can be seriously affected by physiological changes and imbalances! There are times in our lives when we are much more likely to feel stressed and vulnerable. I can remember feeling low and very vulnerable at various times in my life, due to hormonal changes. Fortunately, most of the time this has been transitional and not been a problem for me, just a fact of life… Most women (likely some men too) may have experience of from time to time. Am usually a happy well balanced person with no history of depression at all! As a registered nurse, I do know of other women who have suffered severely and long term- how awful this must be to endure! I just feel this does need to be acknowledged, it certainly has helped me to understand how physical symptoms can undermine a person’s rational thoughts and feelings of well being!
Thank you for this. Because of this, I think I have a little more hope of seeing some people I miss and a couple of blood relatives I’ve yet to meet.
I believe that If you have accepted Jesus as your saviour and you committed suicide, then you have to be saved, Christians die of cancer, sickness in their bodies, well killing yourself is obviously a mental sickness,Jesus over paid our debt and as wrong as suicide is, it’s not unforgivable, obviously these people are so tormented that they see no way out..I believe in Gods mercy and thank God people aren’t our judges..we have no idea of these poor souls heartache .. Thank God Jesus does…,
Okay i dont have a comment but more of a question. I didnt read all the comments before mine so if anybody else asked the same question n got a answer i would please like to know as well. If suicide sends u straight to hell then what about samson from the bible. Did he not kill himself, but was a man of god. So does that mean he’s Going to heheaven?
People who are driven by despair to suicide are already in hell, a hell in the own mind, do you not all think the tremendous guilt induced by religion makes this worse? Where is the compassion?
And all this ‘we are all sinners’ stuff, I tell you religion has caused more guilt and despair than anything! I was brought up a catholic and was taught to feel guilt and shame about everything…..in later life a therapist told me that without the catholic religion he should would have less anguish and tormented people to deal with.
Religion and the division it creates has also caused unimaginable conflict and strife in the world…so reclaim your minds for yourselves and stop being manipulated by religion, which throughout history has been used a tool for control.
People who are driven by despair to suicide are already in hell, a hell in their own mind, do you not all think the tremendous guilt induced by religion makes this worse? Where is the compassion?
And all this ‘we are all sinners’ stuff, I tell you religion has caused more guilt and despair than anything! I was brought up a catholic and was taught to feel guilt and shame about everything…..in later life a therapist told me that without the catholic religion he should would have less anguish and tormented people to deal with.
Religion and the division it creates has also caused unimaginable conflict and strife in the world…so reclaim your minds for yourselves and stop being manipulated by religion, which throughout history has been used as a tool for control.