On the show we talked about suicide and if God can forgive a person who takes their own life. It's a tough subject because often times the people looking for answers are those that are left grieving. Because of that grief, answers tend to have exception and are less than direct.
Suicide is never acceptable, but is it forgivable? Judgement belongs to God alone. We can talk about our thoughts and read Scripture, but only God who knows who is saved and who is not. Having said that, here are my thoughts for what they are worth.
I believe it is very difficult for a person who ends their life to be saved. I do not say it's impossible, but it's also not probable.
Christians have been purchased. If we truly have given our life to Christ then we are no longer the owners of our body or life. We are also required to preserve our life, body & soul.
Suicide rejects the Christian desire for eternal life. If you don't wish to live the life God gave you now, why would you desire eternal life he promised? One rejects God's authority over life. A person must turn away from God to end their life.
I believe that if a person is a Christan, then they should be aware that suicide is wrong. If they have that knowledge and still decide to do it, chances are they will not be saved. They have committed a mortal sin and are in direct violation of the 6th commandment.
Scripture tell us that blasphemy is the only unforgivable sin. I don't know what happens between that end of life moment and a the ultimate destination. This all goes to the question of when a person is saved. I don't believe that happens in this life. Any person who takes their own life is not doing God's will and endangers the hope of salvation.
3 comments:
Suicide is never acceptable,
Did you know that it is commended in the book of 2 Maccabees?
I am aware of what you are refering to. Second Maccabees tells of Razis who, being surrounded by the enemy, fell upon his sword, choosing “rather to die nobly” than to fall into the hands of his enemy. He was not mortally wounded, but threw himself down from a wall and “manfully” died among the crowds.
Does this mean it is commended? If so, we must consider where Saul killed himself with his own sword in 1 Samuel, chapter 31. Should we toss that part of the Bible out claiming to commends suicide?
The point is, that throughout the Scripture immoral practices are to be found. They aren’t to be found in the Deuterocanonical books alone. But, of course, this does not mean that simply because they are in the Bible the books are promoting such practices.
I don't remember Saul's suicide being called noble.
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