Do Christians who commit suicide go to hell?

Tidal

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Taking one's own life is a sin. It comes under the commandment which says, "Thou shalt not murder" which means ourselves too.

That's just a catholic interpretation, but many of us don't much care about catholic interpretations..:)
Anyway if suicide really is a sin, Jesus said ALL sins are forgiven (except blasphemy against the holy spirit).
We all feel sorry for people when they kill themselves, so I'm sure God feels sorry for them too.

If somebody is in chronic pain or mental anguish, suicide is an 'escape clause', but if somebody is simply a bit fed up they should certainly think twice about doing it-
"Elijah came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord ," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." (1 Kings 19:3-7)
 

billy t

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Christians who know about Islaam yet reject it will go to hell. How they die is irrelevant to them burning.
 

mabi

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Well, Jesus walked knowingly into death. He died for us, but he chose to do that.

People who mistreat their bodies are slowly killing themselves.
And, God would know exactly why any individual would choose to end their life. It’s not usually a decision that is made instantly. It could be the result of bullying or trauma. Or the trauma of a mental illness.

Those that say it’s weak are fortunate enough not to have gotten to a place where they could no longer cope. If they had been through exactly what that person who made that decision had been through, only then could they understand. It’s always so simplified in my opinion. It’s something that starts from birth and the tools you were given. And God knows every single truth of it. So no. I 100% don’t believe you would go to hell for that alone.

I have to say it was when I was literally at the top part of a mountain and I told God off and was very suicidal that he just totally spoke to my soul. I know he knew why I was like that. Why I was graced with that response right then I don’t know. But I was and don’t think if had killed myself he would have blamed me for it. Maybe some other people but not me. And if I went to hell then so should the people that drove me to that.

It’s not like God is stupid or intellectually unsophisticated. This is just my belief. I hope it’s not offensive. It’s from my heart.
 

floss

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Christians who know about Islaam yet reject it will go to hell. How they die is irrelevant to them burning.
Will I go to hell if I believe only in Allah but rejected Muhamad as the final prophet? (Looking for a simple answer if possible)
 

phipps

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That's just a catholic interpretation, but many of us don't much care about catholic interpretations..:)
Anyway if suicide really is a sin, Jesus said ALL sins are forgiven (except blasphemy against the holy spirit).
We all feel sorry for people when they kill themselves, so I'm sure God feels sorry for them too.

If somebody is in chronic pain or mental anguish, suicide is an 'escape clause', but if somebody is simply a bit fed up they should certainly think twice about doing it-
"Elijah came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord ," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." (1 Kings 19:3-7)
Yes Jesus said all our sins are forgiven but they are not just forgiven as the Bible teaches. In order for our sins to be forgiven we have to confess and repent. We have to stop living sinful lives, have faith, trust and submit to Christ. A person who commits suicide cannot do that can they? Because they are dead. They cannot reverse their suicide and the circumstances they died in.

Of course God feels sorry for people who commit suicide, no one feels more sorry than God who created us and who loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins. He gave everything to save us. Our lives are a sacred gift from God. But at the end of the day, its our choice what path we follow in life and whether we want to live or not (in this life and eternally).

I have talked about why some people commit suicide in a previous comment. We can't know all their intentions but God does. He knows us better than we know ourselves including what is in our hearts and is the only One qualified to judge us. He is also loving, merciful, just and does/will judge us all fairly. We will all receive the judgement we deserve based on our choices and what we knew.

Elijah and some other prophets and men of God felt defeated in life sometimes and had periods of depression, periods where they lost some faith and hope in God. Just like many of us in life. However even though they wanted to die, they never resorted to taking their lives. God gave them the strength to carry on and their faith and hope in God was fully restored once again. The Bible tells us when we live righteous lives we become like Jesus, He abides in us and we abide in Him (1 Corinthians 11:1, Galatians 3:27, Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 John 2:3-6, 3:2). If we are like Jesus we cannot take our own lives. We have hope and believe we will be resurrected (some will be alive when Jesus returns) to eternal life with new bodies and have a physical face to face relationship with God forever.
 
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phipps

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Well, Jesus walked knowingly into death. He died for us, but he chose to do that.

People who mistreat their bodies are slowly killing themselves.
And, God would know exactly why any individual would choose to end their life. It’s not usually a decision that is made instantly. It could be the result of bullying or trauma. Or the trauma of a mental illness.

Those that say it’s weak are fortunate enough not to have gotten to a place where they could no longer cope. If they had been through exactly what that person who made that decision had been through, only then could they understand. It’s always so simplified in my opinion. It’s something that starts from birth and the tools you were given. And God knows every single truth of it. So no. I 100% don’t believe you would go to hell for that alone.

I have to say it was when I was literally at the top part of a mountain and I told God off and was very suicidal that he just totally spoke to my soul. I know he knew why I was like that. Why I was graced with that response right then I don’t know. But I was and don’t think if had killed myself he would have blamed me for it. Maybe some other people but not me. And if I went to hell then so should the people that drove me to that.

It’s not like God is stupid or intellectually unsophisticated. This is just my belief. I hope it’s not offensive. It’s from my heart.
Yes, people commit suicide in different ways. For some its a slow process based on the choices they make and for others its a quick process.

Suicide is not about strength or weakness, its about some thinking dying will help them escape the problems they are facing at the time because they can't face them. You're right its not a simple thing.

I'm glad God spoke to you and gave you the strength not to take your life.

God judges our entire lives and the choices we made in them not just our last act before death. Also God holds us accountable only for what we know we are doing. "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). I take comfort in the fact that there are some who do not realise what they are doing and go to a suicide's death unintentionally. I thank God that I am not judge. He is.
 
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Tidal

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None of us know if we'd want to kill ourselves (or get doctors to help us slip peacefully away) if we were in constant physical pain or mental anguish.
For example Brit Comedian Brian Rix voted against euthanasia, but when he was stricken with a terminal illness in his later years he did a u-turn and supported it..

 

phipps

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None of us know if we'd want to kill ourselves (or get doctors to help us slip peacefully away) if we were in constant physical pain or mental anguish.
For example Brit Comedian Brian Rix voted against euthanasia, but when he was stricken with a terminal illness in his later years he did a u-turn and supported it..

Most people do not plan to kill themselves until they are faced with certain circumstances in their lives. Elijah, Job, Jeremiah etc never thought one day they would want to die. They were faced circumstance that made lose some faith and hope momentarily. However wanting something and going ahead and doing it are two different things. Its not God's will that anyone commits suicide. The Bible has so many promises of how God will give us the strength, the will power to deal with whatever problems we are facing or take those problems away for us. There is no person and no problem beyond the liberating power of God. All we have to do is have faith and submit to Him genuinely through His power.
 
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Tidal

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When my 76-yr-old mother was taken to hospital with thyroid complications in 1999 she was like a vegetable because her brain had completely packed up.
I remember looking at her and thinking "She's as good as dead even though her heart is still beating and she's still breathing".
So the doctor took me to one side and said- "We can keep pumping drugs into her for years but she'll never improve, so it might be best to stop medication and let her just slip peacefully away",
So I replied- "Yes alright doctor, do what you think best", so they stopped meds and she went into a coma and died the next day.
If I ever end up a vegetable I hope the doctors will be as enlightened as that one and let me just slip peacefully away too..:)
 

Alanantic

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When my 76-yr-old mother was taken to hospital with thyroid complications in 1999 she was like a vegetable because her brain had completely packed up.
I remember looking at her and thinking "She's as good as dead even though her heart is still beating and she's still breathing".
So the doctor took me to one side and said- "We can keep pumping drugs into her for years but she'll never improve, so it might be best to stop medication and let her just slip peacefully away",
So I replied- "Yes alright doctor, do what you think best", so they stopped meds and she went into a coma and died the next day.
If I ever end up a vegetable I hope the doctors will be as enlightened as that one and let me just slip peacefully away too..:)
My father's doctor did the same thing. He was in the late stages of MS and needed a device to help him breathe. Dr. said, "You have to let him go it's simply his time." I think my Mom was okay with a big shot of morphine. He died happy. Weird thing happened at the hospital (not unusual when Death is close) My Mom and us kids were all meeting there for his "last rites". I got there first, got in line in the main reception area and I heard my Mom say my name. I figured she was standing right behind me, but when I turned around, I saw her van driving by the front glass entry doors...
 

Tidal

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I always carry a small card in my wallet which says- 'DO NOT RESUSCITATE: I hereby authorise medical personnel to let me slip peacefully away. Signed X".
Hopefully that'll carry some weight in encouraging the medics to let me go if necessary.
 

Tidal

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The Derek Draper covid case has been in the Brit news for the past year, he's the hub of broadcaster Kate Garroway and would probably have died if the medics hadn't been keeping him alive, and he's been slipping into and out of unconsciousness, unable to function or communicate properly. He silently mouthed the word "pain" to his wife, so the medics have put him into an induced coma.
Covid has apparently wrecked his internal organs so I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks perhaps they should stop the meds and let him slip away..

WIKI- "In March 2020 Draper was diagnosed with COVID-19. As of March 2021 he remains in a critical condition in hospital, Garraway stated that he may never recover and could have no quality of life due to the numerous medical complications as a result of Covid-19"
 

Tidal

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Returning to the suicide topic, Jesus said- "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 5:3)
but we don't really know what he meant by 'poor in spirit'.
Perhaps the term includes people who are depressed or in pain or trauma, and are on the point of killing themself?
 
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