Q. Can You Help Clarify Some Things On Suicide?

Dear Mr. Deffinbaugh

I read some of an article of yours that was posted online. There is a question I’ve been pondering. I am not on the verge of a crisis but would like your opinion.

“If a person commits suicide, do they go to hell?” You stated that the Catholic Church believes this is so but I just read an article and that’s what they believe is purgatory. People can be prayed for and get a second chance. That’s not quite the way they put it, but anyway...

You mentioned that it doesn’t say we go to hell if we kill ourselves and that Judas did so because he was lost anyway. But I would contend that it does speak to this. We are saved by belief not by works. Some would say that suicide would be the greatest act of unbelief, It would be saying “God won’t help.”

In 1972, give or take a year, I was either a senior in high school or just in college. I heard David Wilkerson, I believe the name’s correct, speak. He wrote the Cross and the Switchblade. The movie was made in which Pat Boone starred. Anyway, I remember him saying that if you kill yourself you go to hell. That alone isn’t a strong statement because I don’t remember the context or the reasons he gave.

One thought I have had occasionally over the years, people usually state that “once saved, always saved.” But if salvation is belief and we must do so freely, can’t one stop believing?

I just had another thought. What if a Christian said “Why don’t I just kill myself, I’ll avoid any further misery, I’ll be with God and everything will be wonderful?” If that is not correct it would have to mean that killing oneself is wrong and therefore a sin.

Answer

Dear *****,

Thanks for writing. Let me try to respond to some of your questions and comments.

First, I need to say that I am not a Catholic theologian, and so I could wrongly represent their views. That said, when it comes to the Catholic position on suicide I quickly discovered that there are different views on suicide (and many other issues) within the Catholic church. Even if the church does not make a point of teaching that those who commit suicide go to hell, there seem to be many Catholics (and others) who believe this is true.

But I think there is no doubt that the Bible teaches that anyone who dies without trusting in Jesus Christ is hell-bound (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

With regard to the statement of David Wilkerson. I read that book a long time ago, and enjoyed it. But I’m fairly certain that Wilkerson is Arminian in his theology, meaning that he does not believe in eternal security. Thus, one can lose their salvation when they sin. This would not only be suicide, but any sin. That means that our salvation is dependent on our performance, rather than on the sovereign choice of God and saving work of Jesus. But the Scriptures make it clear that our salvation is secure, because it rests on Christ, His work at Calvary, and His faithfulness (John 10:28; Jude 1:24-25; 1 Peter 1:3-7; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:35-39; Titus 3:3-7).

You wrote,

“We are saved by belief not by works. Some would say that suicide would be the greatest act of unbelief, It would be saying “God won’t help.”

We are saved by faith, and not by works, but the way you are describing it, faith is a work, our work, something which we produce, and which we maintain. That is inconsistent with the Scriptures:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8 NAS).

Paul says here that faith does not find its source in us (a work we do); instead, faith is the gift of God. This is consistent with many other texts, which make God the author and sustainer of our faith:

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2 NAS)

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:6 NAS)

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48 NAS)

And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. (Acts 16:14 NAS)

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow (James 1:16-17 NAS).

I fully agree that suicide is the fruit of a selective faith for a true believer. The one who commits suicide as a believer, does, as you say, conclude:

“Why don’t I just kill myself, I’ll avoid any further misery, I’ll be with God and everything will be wonderful?” If that is not correct it would have to mean that killing oneself is wrong and therefore a sin.

The believer who commits suicide does not believe all the promises of God which would keep him/her from suicide, but does believe in the promise of eternal life and heaven.

There is no question that suicide is sin. The real question is does sin, any sin, keep us from salvation and eternity in heaven? If so, we are always living on shaky ground, always wondering if, at that moment, we are right with God (free from any sin at that moment). No, our salvation is secure.

The big question I would raise for any Christian contemplating suicide is this: What will you say to God when you get to heaven by taking your own life? You will have ignored or rejected all those teachings of Scripture which are written to encourage and sustain us in hard times?

Perhaps the most common element in suicide is a lack of hope, and no Christian should lack hope. This subject (hope) would be a great study for a depressed and hopeless saint.

Blessings,

Bob Deffinbaugh