Suicide? Heaven or Hell?


by Rev. Jack Barr

 

About a poll taken on one of the internet list about Suicide.

Here are the final results:

POLL QUESTION: Will a person who commits suicide go to heaven?

CHOICES AND RESULTS
- No, regardless of circumstances, 4 votes, 66.67%
- Yes, if he/she was a believer, 2 votes, 33.33% -
- Yes, if he/she has a terminal disease and is in a great deal of pain, 0 votes, 0.00%
- Yes, regardless of circumstances, 0 votes, 0.00%

Out of 34 possible votes only 6 voted. The other 28 either didn't care, or was waiting for someone to tell them what God's word said about it because they didn't know.

Four knew what the word of God says about it. Two believe that God is so loving that He will take the person committing suicide into heaven, as long as that person has professed to being a Christian.

It is obvious that those two (and how many others) simply do not believe what they profess to preach and believe, because they are still here on the earth.

Does that sound strange? Think about it! Why would they choose to remain on this earth if they knew with a certainty, or really believed, that by committing suicide that they could be in heaven with God right now where there is no pain, suffering, etc. Logic tells me that they would have already committed suicide, that is, if they really believed it. But they didn't, showing the doubt that they have in their own teachings.

Over the years we have watched several cults, that called themselves Christians, that did choose suicide as a group because they really did believe they not only could, but would, go into heaven. And the Christians the world over cried and moaned for them, for the Christians who knew God's Word, knew that they had gone into Hell. They said "What fools they were".

We make note of what the Bible says about Judas Iscariot.
1. John 13:26-27 Satan entered into him.
2. Matthew 26:47-49 He betrayed Jesus.
3. Matthew 27:3 He repented of his betrayal of Jesus.
4. Matthew 27:5 Judas HANGED himself. (Committed Suicide)

Judas still had Satan in him when he committed suicide. So you say that the Bible does not say that, well show me where the Bible says that Satan left him! Would you really argue that Judas, because he was an apostle and followed Jesus Christ, would now be in heaven, even though he committed suicide. Jesus said at the Last Supper that Judas Iscariot was dammed when he pronounced a Woe against Judas. The Bible shows us that when a Demon takes possession of someone or severely oppresses someone, that that Demon tries to make that person hurt or destroy himself. I believe, because of this, that those who commit suicide are being controlled by Demons. The Holy Spirit and Demons can not live in the same house at the same time.

In some of the emails shown below, you will see how hard they try to twist scripture to make God serve them and their ideas. See how they are listening to Satan saying to them "Did God Really Say That?", then saying to them when they listen, "No, God Didn't Really Mean That!"

Some of them have been teaching their church congregations that it really is alright to commit suicide. That God loves them so much that God will take them into heaven, IF they are Christians.

These are posted below in the same order that I received them. The names have been blanked out to preserve their privacy. Read what it says, they go to God and ask God to show you His truth.

Rev. Jack Barr

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Subject Re: Suicide? The ultimate sin? Or simply man's folly? You decide.

Hi All,

Unfortunately 4 votes is not very conclusive. And judging by the results that God, he is more gracious than people sometimes are. I have waited to voice my thoughts on this, but either everyone else is waiting or nobody cares. Our youth group discussed the matter about 2 weeks ago.

My personal conviction is there is only one thing that send someone to hell. Rejecting Christ. Therefore if a believer is in such a state of depression or confusion. I believe the blood and forgiveness of Christ will cover them in this matter. Thanks for addressing this issue even in this limited way.

Yours in Christ,

XXXXXXX
Pastor

Comment: Evidently he does not believe in even the ten commandments, or of obeying any commandment from God. He seems to think that when God said that some acts are an abomination to God that God really does not mean it. By his statement above, that only the rejection of Jesus Christ will send you to Hell, he seems to believe that once you accept Jesus Christ that you can sin all you want to and still go to heaven. That certainly not what the Bible says. By His words, he says that he is teaching his congregation that it is OK to commit suicide. May God have mercy on his soul.

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Subject RE: Suicide? The ultimate sin? Or simply man's folly? You...

I wouldn't say people don't care. And neither did you. Perhaps many just don't have the data to go on. There is, to my knowledge a single verse that can used in this area. It would lead one to believe that to commit suicide and thereby wreck God's temple is something unforgivable. The verse is found in I Corinthians 3:16

I Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
17 If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.

Is it merely coincidence that this is 3:16? What other verse is in 3:16 of John? In one we see God giving the life of His Son to save ours. It should not come as a surprise then that God would be angry that we, however depressed, should "waste" the grace He bestowed on us at such a HIGH COST to HIMSELF. Now, does that mean that the person who commits suicide is sent to Hell? Good question. If the suicidal person had an abiding faith in God one might assume that such a person would NOT do such a thing but would rather trust that the God who saved him/her would provide a means of escape. And at the very least that person would count it a blessing to suffer for God. Even though their suffering was not due to their work at church or for God they could still serve God by suffering with grace and love, showing the kind of grace and love that is clearly supernatural and of God. This then would provide meaning for their agony and make it bearable. So, would a REAL Christian, one sanctified and saved ever commit suicide? Good question.

Comment: He states a good case for committing an unpardonable sin, by committing Suicide, but then he shows that he doesn't know if he should believe it or not, by adding the statements "Good Question." We have shown at the start of this article that in the Bible, not one of the real Christians, that is the Apostles and the Deciples of Jesus Christ ever committed suicide. The only one the Bible shows as following Christ for a while and then committing suicide, Judas Iscariot, had been taken over, or possessed, by Satan. Judas was no longer a Christian.

Continue:
Now, let's assume for a moment that yes, a honest-to-God saved person could get so depressed, by life or by a messed up biochemical balance in their bodies that they killed themselves. Well, would they be exempt from I Cor. 3:16? I mean, the verse is rather clear about the consequences of the deed, i.e., that God would destroy them. But WAIT! Aren't there other verses within the Holy Scripture that say that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God? yes, of course there is.

Romans 8:38 For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Comment: This verse, in Romans, is absolutely true. So you can believe that God still loves every person that was sent into Hell for God's judgement on them. You do not stop loving your children because you are forced to punish them. So why would God stop loving someone that he has to punish. But this verse does not mean that God will forgive you your sins even if you do not repent, for God's Word constantly demands that you MUST REPENT. And how can you repent after you are dead?

Continue:
So now what? How can they both be? I'm not sure. Perhaps we can get some help from others out there. As for me, I lean heavily on passages like Romans 8:38, 39 and Phil. 1:6 which says: Philippians 1:6 And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

So I believe that even we cannot separate ourselves from the love of God. Not even by suicide. But on the other hand, and yes, there is 'another hand' I don't think all of the folks that commit suicide are really committed sanctified Christians. But those that are will probably be saved by God's grace. But what of 1 Cor. 3:16? How do we rectify it? Perhaps you can edify me on other ways of understanding it?

Comment: His post was very well started, but then he starts looking for a way to put aside the truth he saw at the start, and would like to believe that God will take them into heaven even though they have committed a sin from which they have not, and could not, repent for having committed.

Continue:
Thanks for the opportunity to express my understanding of the scriptures in this regard. I'm open for correction and reproof if need be.

XXXXXXX

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Subject Re: Suicide? The ultimate sin? Or simply man's folly? You decide.

The last post was well thought out with the reference to 1 Cor. 3:16-17, And of the Lord Keeping Us. However I would have chosen several different verses in support of the person committing suicide not going to Heaven.

I would point out the ten commandments.
Commandment six, in Exodus 20:13, of the KJB says "Thou shalt not kill." Now the Hebrew word translated here as KILL has a meaning of Murder, and always indicates intentional slaying. This is shown in Green's Literal Translation of the Bible which is a word for word translation of both the Hebrew and Greek. Green translates the Hebrew word as Murder, page 195. Also the Lexicon standard, the Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon gives the translation for this word as Murder, on page 953B, Strong's number 7523. Now this is confirmed by Jesus Christ Himself when he quoted the commandments to the rich man who asked what he must do to have eternal life. (Matt. 19:16-18) Jesus answered him in verse 18 "He saith unto him, which Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, . . . ". We can see by this that Any Murder is a sin against God's commandments to us.

Then In Revelation 21:8 there is a list of the sins which will definitely place one in the fires of Hell, and it says "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, AND MURDERERS, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

If one REPENTS of any of these sins and all other sins, then Jesus Christ will forgive them, and those forgiven will enter heaven and have eternal life with God.

But we are told here that if we murder anyone, AND DO NOT REPENT of the sin of murder, that we will go to hell.

I can see no way around it. Hell is filled with people that God still loves, but His very Holiness and Justice demands that we must be punished for every UNREPENTED SIN.

If one commits self murder, that is the deliberate killing of oneself, then they are by definition within God's word, a murderer. And since they have murdered themselves, there is no way that they can repent before facing their judgement before God. Therefore I believe that according to the Word of God, that one who commits suicide will not enter heaven, regardless of being a Christian or not.

I know that words can cut very deeply, and I am sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings out there. But God's word is a sword that will cut deeper than the bone. It would be nice if we could tell God that He has to do something this way, or that way, because we wish to interpret His word in a way that will always make us feel good. But from Genesis through Revelation, God has always said, Do it My Way, Or Else!!

I truly believe that a true Christian will not commit Suicide. If you live like Jesus Christ, you will suffer whatever happens to you without committing suicide. Where would we be if Jesus chose suicide rather than suffer everything up to and including the Cross??

No, God will not allow sin to enter heaven, and suicide is a sin, because it is murder! Remember, Satan is still out there saying "Did God Really SAY THAT?"

May God Bless You Yours, and Lead you into all of His Truth.

Rev. Jack Barr XXXX@XXXXXXX

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Subject Re: Suicide? The ultimate sin? Or simply man's folly? You...

I am not going to go too much into part but, I did like what you said about if we really loved Christ we would suffer for Him. No matter what way you look at especially with believers we are to Trust in God, totally rely upon Him no matter what the circumstances are. Even though there were times awhile back when I thought I would be better off just killing myself also but, you know down deep inside I knew it was wrong! Totally Wrong! As I began to bounce back out of my major depression I began to totally rely upon God to take the pain and hurt away from me. I turned to Him, you see I took my eyes off Jesus and that's when the problems for me began. It talks so much in the Bible on what we can do as believers, I am mostly talking about believers here that believe what the Word of God says. Look at all the things that happened to Job but, yet he still Trusted in God, He didn't take his eyes off him. Read Psalms, wow what verses are found in Psalms for comfort. I like the comment that was made where would we be at today if Jesus would of committed suicide insteading of dying on the cross for us??? This is all input I am going to give at this point and time. Thanks for listening.

XXXXXXX

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Subject Re: Suicide? The ultimate sin? Or simply man's folly? You...

Am I the only person in this world that believes that people that commit suicide are mentally ill or unstable? I think that there is a remote possibility that God does forgive the "act of self murder" only because one would have to be ill to do such a thing....Surely God would not punish someone for insanity, they obviously have suffered enough... Oh shoot I don't know what I think about this anymore I should have kept my mouth shut in the first place.

XXXXXXXX

Comment: Are people insane who murder other people? Our society thinks not. The Bible does not couple murder with any kind of mental illness. Why then do they have to be insane to kill themselves? I heard on Television that The State of Oregon, U.S.A. has passed a law that says that people who are sick can have a doctor help them commit suicide. The State believes that these sick people are sane, sane enough to make the decision, and therefore these people can not be called insane.

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Subject Re: Digest Number 276

Hi list,

I was just browsing thru the daily digest cus the individual mails are jamming up my mailbox... especially XXXXXX's tragic story and felt the need to make some comments on suicide and whether it is an unpardonable sin.

Firstly, there is no shred of biblical evidence that this is so. The same passage that says murderers will go to Hell cannot be applied to advance the popular notion that if you commit suicide, you will goto Hell regardless of whether you are Christian or not. The same passage also spoke of liars will not inherit the Kingdom of God. All of us have lied. If we apply the same principle, all of us liars will goto Hell regardless of whether we are Christians or not. (which is not biblical)

Comment: He is making a reference to one of the posts above which pointed out Revelation 21:8 where murderers and liars etc. will go to Hell. He is conveniently ignoring the parts of the post which also says that "Unless they Repent". Certainly, If you are a liar and do not repent of lying, you will go to Hell. But a Christian repents of every sin that they commit. If you do not repent, you will not enter Heaven. His claim that it is not Biblical is false.

Continue:
Doing harm to oneself is a sin. But not an unpardonable sin... this is just a myth created to scare people not to commit suicide. We have similar myths like you'll go crazy if you masturbate etc.

Just my penny of thots

Cheers
XXXXX

Comment: He seems to believe that all of the warnings in the Bible are just myths to scare people into acting a certain way, and he will do as he pleases.

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Subject RE: Suicide? The ultimate sin? Or simply man' s folly? You...

But, does being mentally disturbed save someone from hell? I haven't seen that in the Bible. Of course our 'common sense' may lead us to believe that someone like that would go to heaven, but how often has our common sense led us astray? That opens up another issue. What about children that die? What about aborted children? I see nowhere in the Bible that gives them an 'exemption'. The mythical age of accountability is also lacking. I haven't found the answer. Of course, I hope beyond hope that they do go to heaven.

XXXXXX
Web address
Phone number

Comment: for an article on children going to heaven or hell, see Do Babies and Children Go to Heaven or Hell when they die? There is a great controversy over this. The article gives every verse I could find either for or against. My personal believe after doing this study, is that a baby who dies will go to heaven, according to the Bible. Feel free to disagree if you wish, it will not change my belief for my belief is based on what the total Bible says, and not just on a verse or two.

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Subject Re: Suicide? The ultimate sin? Or simply man' s folly? Yo...

Aren't children "born exempt" by their innocence and purity? That is what I have always beleived...Man, you just opened another can of worms for me as I have lost 2 at birth! As for aborted children aren't they innocent victims? I swear I am going to quit reading these they are starting to depress me....only kidding....

XXXXXXXX

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Subject RE: Suicide? The ultimate sin? Or simply man' s folly? Yo...

Well, of course I hope and pray that children go to heaven...but the Bible is unclear...EXCEPT for children of Christians. Children of Christians are sanctified by their parents. Anybody have additional thoughts on this?? Our compassion cries out for them to go to heaven, but what does the Bible say? We must take into account the fact that sin simply can't enter heaven. People are born into sin, are they not?

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Subject RE: Suicide? The ultimate sin? Or simply man's folly? You...

I'm big on Psalms myself ... the songs, supplications and praises of God's people.
Thanks for your input!
Glad you found the trust!

XXXXXXX

Greetings in the name of the eternal one, the Father, Son, the Holy Ghost! I pray that this email finds each of you in compliance with God's written word and that you are each thanking Him for the pruning (John 15:1-8) He is accomplishing, however painful and unpleasant it is at the time, in us!

XXXXXX

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Subject RE: Suicide? The ultimate sin? Or simply man's folly? You...

XXXXXX, it really is a tough issue. I think we can all 'fess-up' to that.

XXXXXXX

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Well Folks, there it is, just the way that different people believe. With my comments added.

I have found so many times that entire doctrines are formed out of just one or two verses in the bible. Usually taken out of context or having their meaning twisted to fit either their belief or to fit what someone else said to them. People read the bible all the time. Most read the same books or verses most of the time and ignore the rest. Some believe that only the New Testament books are valid today, even though God said that All of His Words are for out instruction. Very few read the bible from cover to cover -- repeatedly -- which is the only way that you can see a true picture of God and what He wants from us and what He will do to us if He does not get it.

Sure it is true that God is a Loving God, and many more attributes, but it seems today that everyone wants to forget or to ignore that God also tells us that He, God, is a Vengeful God, Taking Vengenge on those who will not obey Him, or who hate Him. God told Adam right from the start that Adam had better do it God's way, or Else, when God told Adam to Not Eat from THAT Tree, or Else, Adam would die if Adam did eat of it. Adam disobeyed God and God kept His word and carried out His judgement on Adam.

As a Christian, I have no fear that I will do something wrong before God. I know that I can, and Do, commit sins in this life. But as a Christian, I turn to Jesus Christ and ask forgiveness for those sins, for Jesus has promised us that if we REPENT and ask forgiveness that He will grant us forgiveness. I know that God is not just waiting for me to sin so he can pounce on me. God will try to lead me to repent of those sins. God will give us every chance to repent before passing judgement on us. But if we do not repent, then judgement will be passed that will send us into the Hell Fires. This is promised by God, and God Always keeps His promises.

If we commit suicide, that is murdering ourselves, we are unable to repent and therefore we will go to Hell. And this is what the Bible tells me when I study ALL of the Bible and not just a few verses that I like.

May God lead You into All of His Truth.

Rev. Jack Barr


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