Wednesday, 11 March 2009
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Do People Who Commit Suicide Go to Heaven or Hell?
I grew up in a Christian home with Christian values and so the Bible has always been relied on. In the Bible, it says that if people commit suicide then that person will end up going to hell. They have committed murder on themselves and this is against the Ten Commandments.
I have thought about committing suicide and I'll admit that I have. I also know two people in my life that have committed suicide. One was my Grandpa who did it in the basement of their house with a gun since he was under the influence of alcohol. The other was a guy I knew from another town. He committed suicide since he was struggling with depression and he was getting off some medication. He needed someone to talk to but no one was able to go to his apartment and talk to him so he shot himself. They were both good guys, and they didn't deserve to die. Especially, not on their own reasoning.
The part I seem to have trouble understanding is why good people who commit suicide end up going to hell. It just doesn't seem right to me. If someone was under all the pressure of their life and they wanted to get out of it they would just kill themselves and be set free from it. If they did this then they would go to hell and... Get what I am saying?
I know that if a person were under the influence of some medication or some sort of mental illness that the person would make it to heaven since it was not totally their fault. Now if they were depressed and felt like they couldn't live anymore with their life, would they go to heaven or to hell? That is my biggest question and I am curious to know what all of your answers are because I don't know what I believe. I'm just thinking that if they were severely depressed and felt that there was no way out anymore that it would count as a mental illness or condition and then they would make it to heaven if they were also a good person.
Where do you think a good person who is suffering with severe depression goes when they committ suicide? Have you ever thought about committing suicide but was to scared to do it because of where you might go?
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Comments (172)
People who commit suicide are generally not fully aware of the consequences of their actions, or in a fully aware mental state. Hell is for those who die in a state of mortal sin. For us to commit a mortal sin, we need to fully recognize that we are sinning, to understand the consequences, and do it intentionally. So generally, people who commit suicide are probably not destined for Hell. But, nevertheless, we usually don't get to know anyone's final disposition for certain.
If God exists, I don't think he would be cruel enough to send such a tortured soul to hell just for trying to find a way out. I have to believe that....
I've always disliked this belief. We have incredible strength and hope that we are not aware of. We will hold onto hope despite awful circumstances, (extreme example: the holocaust). I think most of us are incapable of understanding the mental and emotional turmoil that pushes some people over the edge to the point of letting go of that hope, and wanting to end their lives. I don't know where anyone is going for sure, but I am definitely not about to pretend that I can judge suicidals.
I've never thought about committing suicide. I live in a Christian home, and have been going to a Baptist church since I was born, I grew up in a Christian atmosphere- with my grandparent's that is. My dad, committed suicide October 21, 2007- and he said he was saved- that he asked the Lord, Jesus Christ into his heart. I can just hope that he asked the Lord into his heart. But, I do believe that once you are saved, that you go to Heaven. Just look in the Bible! It says it right there, you can never take your salvation away. I really do believe that if my dad asked God into his heart, that he is in Heaven right now. I never got along with my dad, and him shooting himself, did nothing to me, didn't make me cry, or any mourning, but I really do hope that he is in Heaven, and that I will get to see him again some day. He had manic-depression, and was bi-polar, he was just.. crazy, and the day he shot himself, he was planning on shooting my mother, brother, and I all. And I believe that the Lord protected us through that. I hope I helped, if you need Bible references, just ask me for some, or look it up in the Bible.. :)
Christ's blood covers all sin. Is it sin to commit suicide? Yes. Is it too horrible of a sin for Christ to cleanse someone of it? No.
I'm a bit suspect of early Catholics writing that in the bible to scare people away from committing suicide.
Regardles of the answer to this if you are having suicidal thoughts you really should seek help. Is it worth risking? How do you KNOW who is correct. I can give my opinion, but how do you KNOW that I am right? Or how do you KNOW that the people above me are right? Its not worth it. Your life is not yours to take. Think about how you felt when your grandfather killed himself and realize that too many people love you. Nothing that you are experiencing is worth commiting such a final act. As long as you are, then nothing physical matters. Not money, house, clothes, nothing. I understand depression. I suffer from it too. There are ways to deal with it. There are too many factors to this, and possibly serving an eternity in Hell is NOT worth commiting suicide. Whatever your intentions are in this blog, they do not sound good to me. If you think that no one else cares about you, then know that I do, and I don't even know you. I care about you the physical and you the spiritual. I will pray for you... much <3 and take care.
When you accept Jesus into your heart, isn't it basically establishing that Jesus is in you? That you are willing to make Jesus your all?
I'm not saying that people that have committed suicide will not go to heaven... I am not God and I cannot judge anybody...
but, this may sound really offensive...i don't want to be...i'm just putting my personal opinion out there, that if you were in a true father daughter or father son relationship, God wouldn't let you fall down in that hole...
there is a verse that says God will not give you more than you can handle...but at the same time, we have free will to do whatever we choose to do with our lives...
if i am wrong in any way shape or form, please feel free to reply to me! i am growing as a christian and i want to correct my wrong judgments...
I've been hospitalized several times for attempting suicide and have even received ECT. I've gone through periods in my life where I have been thoroughly consumed with thoughts of dying. I'd cross a street, for example, and I would entertain thoughts of getting run over. I'd look out a window and imagine myself hurtling down. I was completely convinced I wouldn't have to live for much longer. It simply wasn't worth it.
About a month ago, my mum was having a conversation with someone who wanted to know what the Catholic church's position on suicide was. My mum replied that when a person commits suicide they are ill and not in control of their mental faculties, thus they are not responsible for their action and are not destined for hell. I immediately asked my mum why then had she always told me when I was suicidal that I would go to hell. She replied that it was because I "knew better."
life is like a drama production, you play the part you were assigned-- it is not your place to ask why you got assigned the part you did, you just have to play it the best you can. That said, I think this is a very foolish question for Revelife to ask, you never take what God gave you for granted; He will most likely be angry if someone were to "return His gift"; thus, I would not be surprised if these people do go to Hell. I have heard all types of people say, "well, if mentally ill people commit suicide they will be dealt with differently." I dont really know if thats true, if I knew it to be true I would have done it by now.
wen i wuz 21 i almost kommitid suicyde bekuz im kuir & the presshur of both my chylhood relijun & the relijun of my choyse wer too much too bare so i went to the top offa very tall buliding & stood on the lej forra long tyme in the cold & rain for me @the tyme i simply kudnt fynd a way thru it & wen i wuz redy i herd a voyse insyde which sed very plainly "dont do this you ar a persun of werth" so i stepd down frum lej & quit skool movd away frum all the pepul & institushunz that sot to harm me & within the year i wuz able to aksept myself azza kuir man
az for the the persun who iz able to kommit themselvz to the akt of suicyde i dont beleev it iz my playse to judge them or enywun else
i never thought of commiting suicide. but i once thought of your blog in here. I do not really know how do they have their 2nd life for those who commit suicide. perhaps they'll go.. but they will not .. sorry i can't explain it.
I have never seen in the Bible that states, if you commit suicide you are going to Hell. I am a minister and I have performed two suicide funerals. The last one I did, I did not preach that person into heaven. At the end of the service, I was approached by a lady that said, I noticed suring the sermon you were grasping for words. She went on further to say, I don't believe just because you committ suicide you go to Hell. I told her, that I did not exactly believe that either. She then asked me why I did not comfort the family with my thoughts on the situation if I really believed that. I said, I could not comfort the family with them thoughts, because I did not know whether the individual had a relationship with Jesus or not. I would definitely get some counseling. The other funeral I did, I seen a room full of people that were grieving. I thought if this individual could see all the people that truly cared about him, he might of sought out some help. It is important to remember THIS LIFE IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT US. THERE ARE ALWAYS OTHERS INVOLVED! Hang in there!
I don't know if the Bible says that people who commit suicide go to hell. I don't think that it is that simple. Only God can see the person's heart and that's what really matters. Everybody has their moments of depression, but what really matters is the person's relationship with God.
the physical dies off, but the soul lives on. and jumps into another physical body and repeats this cycle until they reap what they sow and become Christ-like, like our big brother Jesus.
I am sort of skeptical about some of things in the Bible myself but I do believe when Jesus says that we will do the same works as he did and even greater works. (John Chapter 14 verse 12)
@x_Butterflies_and_Hurricanes_x@xanga - Where did Catholics, or anyone else for that matter (the Church compiled the Bible, the Church takes no credit for writing it) write that in Scripture? I am Catholic, and my comment (the first one on the post) summarizes the official teaching of the Church, which you can read officially in sections 2282 and 1857 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Church does not condone suicide, of course, but there is nothing in Church teaching, or Scripture, that says you would always go to hell because of it, in fact it isn't even mentioned in Scripture as far as I know.
@ha3_young@xanga - NO your right. God never gives us more than we can handle, but sometimes we think that he has because we are trying to handle it all by ourselves. So, we fall into that hole sometimes because we are trying to fix everything on our own. We need God's help in all situations.
HELL.
As hard as I try to be open minded, growing up in family with strict Christian beliefs, I've learned that with Jesus Christ by your side, suicide would never be a problem.
If people are depress and commit suicide, it's because they feel alone and if you believed, you wouldn't do something like that.
I attempted suicide, because of couple of reasons. somewhere along the way I lost faith because God and the church didn't seem as important than the relationship i was in with the S.O. or the eating disorder i was experiencing.
I was hospitalized for a few days and when I came out, I started going to church and again and after a while, I had my faith renewed and I realized that committed suicide is selfish and won't solve anything.
It's pretty simple really....if the person is a born again Christian, they will go to heaven, and if they;re not, then they won't. Regardless of whether they commit suicide...but thats just my take on it!
"Good people" sometimes do go to hell. We are all sinners, though. Sinners who repent and trust in Christ have their sins forgiven AND Christ's righteousness counted as their righteousness. They go to heaven.
I have always thought of suicide as a sin. As with any sin, you are deserving of hell. However, if the person is truly a believer in Christ, despite this last sin, they will go to heaven. Suicide is not worse than any other sin.
There are occasions when depression is so bad that people resort to this. It's not right, it's not good. It's selfish and very sad and horrible for all left behind. But that doesn't mean this person is beyond God's grace.
Biblically, I see no grounds for your belief "All those who commit suicide go to hell".
I grew up with the vague notion that people who commit suicide go to hell, but then at some point I thought, "Wait a minute! What's the difference between someone making a really stupid final decision involving a gun or a noose or a bridge, and a child who disobeys his parents and runs outside and gets hit by a bus?" No one would say that the kid automatically went to hell just because his last decision was sinful.
It's a doctrine that has little basis in Scripture, as far as I can see. I haven't heard it taught at any church that I've been a part of.
Probably the strongest argument against suicide in Scripture is in
161 Corinthians 3:16-17:
"
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple."
Please read through the Psalms if you're feeling so desperate that suicide might be an option for you. King David committed some of the most awful sins (adultery, murder, abuse of power); he was hunted like an animal; his children died; he shared his grief and struggles with us, his readers. And he always came back to the same conclusion- that God will save and He will rescue our souls, IF WE CRY OUT TO HIM. Take your fear, your desperation, or your pain out on God. He's big enough, and He's the only One who can really heal. God bless.
@scramBledmegZntoasT@xanga - i totally agree 100%
Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) says about suicide.
Suicide
2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.
2282 If suicide is committed with the intention of setting an example, especially to the young, it also takes on the gravity of scandal. Voluntary co-operation in suicide is contrary to the moral law.
Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.
2283 We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.
Basically what it is saying that life is a precious gift, and we should treasure it. To dispair of one's life is a grave situation, and one who does so is most likely not in complete control of their emotional and mental faculties. So, we leave the situation in God's capable hands. He is Mercy itself, He is Love itself, He is Forgiveness itself. We should never presume to know more than God. He is the Judge.
I don't remember ever reading anything in the Bible that suggests that those who commit suicide don't get into heaven. King Saul and Judas committed suicide, but they already had totally messed up their lives. Judas didn't seek Jesus' forgiveness, so that probably doomed him. However, I don't see why suicide would damn you to hell if you're a Christian. Those who may have helped you but didn't would be judged more severely, I think.