Editor’s Note: When Christianity.com articles address questions involving suicide, no a part of any article ought to be interpreted as an alternative to in search of skilled counseling or reaching out to an agency just like the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. If you might be combating thoughts of suicide, please reach out to your pastor, your doctor, or diall 988 for the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Hotline within the U.S. For hotlines outside the United States, go to suicide.org.
Suicide has develop into a serious, escalating problem. While statistics paint a transparent picture of suicide’s impact, raw data doesn’t alleviate the grief families feel when their family members commit or attempt suicide. For Christians, a biblical perspective sheds light and provides ways to handle the issue.
Does the Bible Address Suicide?
Suicide affects all nations and cultures, with the United States rating 23rd among the many nations within the variety of suicides per population in 2024. But more telling than raw statistics about suicide is what the Bible has to say.
Christians is not going to find the word “suicide” in Scripture, but the very fact of suicide is seen throughout Scripture as an evidence of the struggle some have with the consequences of mankind’s fallen nature.
Suicide within the Old Testament:
1. Wicked Abimelech committed suicide, persuading one other man to assist. Mortally wounded by a lady who dropped a millstone on his head, cracking his skull, Abimelech cried out to his armor-bearer to kill him together with his sword. Proud Abimelech didn’t want his death to be attributed to a lady. His servant “thrust him through, and he died.” (Judges 9:54).
2. King Saul, mortally wounded, fell on his own sword to stop the Philistines from capturing and abusing him further (1 Samuel 31:4).
3. Saul’s armor-bearer also fell on his sword, selecting death with the king (1 Samuel 31:5).
4. Ahithophel, Absalom’s counselor, gave the king’s son advice about pursuing and killing David. But when Absalom ignored his advice, Ahithophel hanged himself (2 Samuel 17:23).
5. Zimri, a servant of King Asa of Judah, killed the king and reigned in his place, starting a brief reign of terror. When Omri, the Israeli army’s commander, got here against town of Tirzah, Zimri—slightly than be captured—set himself afire within the king’s house (1 Kings 16:16-18).
There were also two possible Old Testament suicide attempts. Samson destroyed the Philistine temple and died together with them (Judges 16:29-30)—nevertheless it’s not clear whether this was suicide or an act of bravery as a military strategy. Some also imagine Jonah attempted suicide (Jonah 1:11-15).
Suicide within the New Testament:
There is barely one example of suicide. Judas, Jesus’ disciple and betrayer, hung himself when he understood he had betrayed “innocent blood” (Matthew 27:3-10).
A prevented suicide took place in a Philippian jail. Thinking the prisoners had escaped, the jailer drew his sword to kill himself, but Paul prevented the suicide, and the jailer—realizing this was a moment of decision—asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:27-30)
How Does the Bible Shed Light?
There are many explanation why people might commit suicide, and a few will not be addressed directly in Scripture. For example, a chemical imbalance causing severe depression or mental illness may drive people to commit suicide.
The Enemy Seeks to Destroy
The Bible teaches that Satan, the daddy of lies, “was a murderer from the start” (John 8:44). He involves steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10a). He plants destructive thoughts in people—even Christians—they usually may decide to act on Satan’s lies and kill themselves.
Jesus Christ Gives Life
God, then again, emphasizes the sanctity of life. Jesus got here to provide us abundant life and freedom (John 10:10b). The Lord doesn’t want us to live in fear but to find strength and assist in Him (Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 34:18-19). We can solid our cares on the Lord and know He is not going to condemn us (Psalm 55:22; Romans 8:1-2).
All Are Made in God’s Image
In the Old Testament, we discover we’re made within the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), and we’re subsequently not allowed to murder anyone, including ourselves (Genesis 9:6-7). The command to not murder is a component of the Ten Commandments God provided to assist us live faithful lives before Him and others (Exodus 20:13).
Suicide opposes the natural tendency of humans to preserve their very own lives. It is contrary to self-care, cuts off the potential for loving relationships with family and friends, and is contrary to loving and honoring the Creator. God wants his children to decide on life, not death (Deuteronomy 30:19). It is our sovereign God’s right to provide and take away life (Job 1:21). Humans are required to be faithful stewards of the life He gives.
Believers Are Temples of the Holy Spirit and Don’t Belong to Themselves
In the New Testament, we learn the Holy Spirit indwells believers, and Christians should treat Him with respect (1 Corinthians 6:19), doing all to God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). Suicide just isn’t an appropriate response to our problems.
Suicide dishonors our body and the Lord who created us. God wants us to take care of our bodies in the identical way Christ cares for the church (Ephesians 5:29). Many New Testament saints and Jesus Himself were tortured and put to death, but they didn’t commit suicide. Instead, like Paul, they “fought the nice fight” of religion until their death (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Is Suicide the “Unforgivable Sin”?
Some people imagine suicide is “the unpardonable sin” (Mark 3:28-29) because there isn’t any room for repentance, but suicide just isn’t unpardonable. The “unforgivable” sin of Mark 3 is associating the Holy Spirit’s work with the work of Satan. Nothing can separate true believers from God’s love in Christ (Romans 8:38-39; John 10:27-30).
For the Christian, all sins—past, present, and future—are forgiven through faith within the atoning work of Jesus. Confession of sin allows for intimate fellowship with God, but a believer’s everlasting destiny is ready in the intervening time of receiving Christ. Repentance just isn’t our seal into the Kingdom of God. Our seal is the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30).
Common sense teaches us many, if not all, Christ-followers can die with unconfessed sin. For example, sudden events like accidents or heart attacks may leave victims no opportunity to repent and confess sin, but they’re completely forgiven in Christ.
How Can Christians Help?
1. Pay Attention and Ask Hard Questions.
Christians will not be to make judgments about others’ destiny. That is God’s prerogative, delegated to Jesus (John 5:22). But Christians who want to succeed in out to individuals who could also be contemplating suicide should develop into aware of signs someone is serious about suicide.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline says there are three major signs of immediate suicide risk.
- An individual talks about wanting to die or kill oneself.
- An individual is on the lookout for a strategy to kill oneself, similar to searching online for details about suicide or obtaining a gun.
- An individual talks about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
Also, be alert to recent or increased behaviors which will relate to a loss, sudden change, or painful event. David Murray at HeadHeartHand says:
“Although it’s counter-intuitive, a very powerful thing to do is to ask the person in the event that they are serious about taking their life. Do so in a non-threatening, non-confrontational way, to make it as easy as possible to talk openly about their thoughts and feelings.”
This may encourage a suicidal person to confess their need and seek skilled help.
2. Listen to Those in Grief and “Weep with Those Who Weep” (Romans 12:15).
Also, Christians can learn how you can help those that are grieving after a loved one’s or friend’s suicide. Help them express their feelings, and particularly, cope with their very own often unrealistic feelings of guilt and shame over not with the ability to prevent the suicide. Encourage them to attend support groups like GriefShare or contact local biblical counselors.
Make sure the grieving doesn’t go down the road to emotional healing alone. There could also be many unanswered questions or things left unsaid. Encourage Christians in their very own spiritual growth and commitment to life, and console them with biblical truth, regardless that it might be hard for them to listen to of their intense grief.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Paolo Cordoni
