Is Suicide Murder?
We should refer to Scripture directly before deciding if suicide is a sin or not a sin, whether forgivable or not, and what Christ's sacrifice covers. Also the Word gives us daily guidance for living and walking rightly.
Q: Is suicide murder? I have struggled with contemplating suicide, but I know, for a fact, that I will not intentionally take my own life as a believer, and I know that these suicidal thoughts are a direct result of a brain injury that I suffered last year.
That brain surgery saved my life, but my brain and the chemistry of my brain has been completely altered in good ways and bad ways. The old me is no longer here. I am on a medication as part of the healing process from this surgery for seizures while scar tissue heals in my brain, it is causing me serious anxiety and occasional, mild, seizure-like activity in my brain. A side effect of that medicine are potential, suicidal thoughts.
I have asked God many times to just take me already, yet I am still here. I do not question God as to why He does things or allows things to happen or not happen (to include why I am still living and existing on this earth).
I wonder about someone who only saw suicide as the more, humane way to go rather than suffer the slow death of their diagnosis. When Robin Williams was diagnosed with ALS, I kind of empathize with him. But what should we do? He decided to take his own life instead of enduring such a slow and agonizing, inevitable death that comes with such a disease.
A: Suicide is considered "self murder." But there are a few circumstances that might make it seem complicated.
While I agree that medications can be a factor some can't control, you seem able to, but others might not be able to overcome it. We have to also consider if one is actually saved or not saved. We do not know if it is the medicine itself or if the medicine doesnt inhibit something to where you are now more susceptible to Satan and demons whispers to harm yourself, [like when someone is drunk, yet Scripture tells us not to be drunk but to be in a self control state of mind bcuz the Holy Sprit dwells in us]. But we do know that others who do choose to harm themselves either are whispered to by Satan or think their troubles all ends at death. It doesnt. For the unsaved it catapults them to an early state of eternal torment and wrath in Hell. Yet no one warns them or tries to reason with them about that; it should be a main reason that they cling to life & don't choose to die.
Because the world doesnt talk about truth, spiritual truths, nor truthfully, they suppress truth to avoid reality. So if they die in their sins they cant un-die and go back or fix things. It's eternally fixed. So if they die before they live their full life the unsaved basically exited "the only Heaven theyll ever know". Meaning life on earth. Even though it is sin stained, it would be the only "good" they would experience. If that makes sense. But they have no idea what they are jumping into thru deaths door because they are blind to grasp it. They think it is a way to end suffering and pain they feel but that is far from the truth.
Scripture says, No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Cor 10:13
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. Matt. 24:14
and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:15
Euthanasia is still suicide it is still murder and that is usually 50/50 whether a guardian is the one who ends their life, which isnt self murder but homicide murder.
Robin chose to take his life. It wasn't his right to take it and it is wrong that in recent years our government legalized it. Our country no longer values life from the womb to tomb. And it is always greed and finances as the reason guardians do so.
Who kills but the devil and those who belong to him?
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies John 8:44
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. John 10:10 a
Who seeks forgiveness, restoration and comfort in Christ, but those who belong to God?
Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; [restored sanity] Luke 8:35
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control 2 Timothy 1:7
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10b
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:20
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid John 14:27
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:6-8
We need to be in the Word daily and holding to it, seeking answers and comfort in it to live and esp in the hard times. Scripture says of we "resist the devil he will flee from you". Dont be tempted to harm or kill yourself, ignore demons and cling to the promises in Scripture. "God is in you" and "for you", "with you" and "the Holy Spirit guides you". Scripture also says "none can harm you" so "do not fear demons or men, but God."
"Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you."
"Your Word is the light to my path"
As far as suicide goes, someone rightly noted it is a sin you cannot repent of and seek forgiveness of. While believers sins have been taken care of at the cross. But when we sin we are to seek forgiveness and restoration so our fellowship with God is not broken. We can go to the throne room of God through our Great High Priest and Mediator Jesus. How can we do that if we are dead. Let us not be like Judas who had worldly sorrow and killed himself, but be like Peter who was convicted and was forgiven and restored by Jesus to fellowship after. Had he not been alive and had that chance he could not be restored. So on this topic it is quite serious, so do not test God.
You shall not put the LORD your God to the test. Deut. 6:16
Jesus said to Satan, 'Again it is written, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." Matthew 4:7
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.
Children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 4: 1, 4-6
We who have God dwelling in us, and who love ourselves and others do so because He is in us. If we love ourselves and God in us we would not harm ourselves, which is now also the temple of God.
whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.1 John 4:7b
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit...whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:13,16
Those in Christ are of sane mind and wouldnt be like the insane unsaved & demon possessed in NT who harmed the body it was in, or those who kill themselves. Those who are saved would not commit suicide for God dwells in them. And he walks with them and helps them endure through tribulations and trials, and discipline too.
So, it is very hard to imagine a born again one committing suicide, but false converts abound as do overall all the unsaved ones.
Regardless, we should never try to play God and decide our end date. God has plans for and in and through our suffering and whether ALS or cancer, we have no right to end it.
For those who passed on already, if they were saved Christ's blood covers them and all their sins were dealt with on the cross, so while we have to consider the above and balance it with this truth, we can rest assure that anyone whose name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life is saved. False converts and those not saved wont be saved. Yet those who were saved and had mental problems due to accidents or sufferings caused in the world by the Fall, might be covered either through retardation or salvation before that problem happened. We do know we can hope because of Christ hope exists and when we get to Heaven we will find out.
In the mean time, we need to focus on Christ, ensure we ourselves are saved, read the Word daily and obey it, pick up our cross and carry it, and leave the past things in the past. We are to move forward and live and do what he valls us to do as good & faithful servants, until He returns or calls us home.
Related resources
Helps and resources on anxiety, depression and suicide topics, as well as grief helps.
Examine yourself to ensure you are not a false convert
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