Suicide and The Bible

Following the death of a loved one, faith naturally comes into question. When your loved one dies due to suicide, faith becomes an even bigger issue. How could God not reach our loved ones and save them? How could He let this happen? These are torturous feelings that can overcome anyone who lost a loved one.

Parents are left not understanding their own emotions, let alone knowing how to handle the emotions of our children. But our gracious and loving God is reaching to you and has provided a book to help you get through this difficult time.

God realizes that depression can lead to suicide. Anger, despair, hopelessness, loneliness, uncontrollable sadness are difficult feelings which could lead someone to want to end their life. God discusses this insurmountable pain and suffering that can come to a person and their extreme desire to want to die.

In fact, there are seven people who commit suicide in the Bible. (See list below for a list and verses) God does not put emphasis on their death, only their life. He wants us to choose life, rather than death. He discusses this pain throughout the Bible.

Job suffered one difficulty after another. He couldn’t manage the suffering he was enduring. He said, “I’d rather choke to death than live in this body. Leave me alone and let me die; my life has no meaning.” (Job 7: 15-16)
Jonah ran from God, he did not want to follow him. He prayed, “Lord let me die! I’d be better off dead.” (Jonah 4:3)
Moses was desperate, he told God, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now.” (Numbers 11: 14-15)
Paul agonizes between choosing life over death, “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I chose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” (Philippians 1: 21-23)

All of these men chose life; they chose to follow God. God puts a great deal of emphasis on their pain and their choice for life. He wants us to follow Him and the Bible tells us how.

One characteristic of someone who chooses suicide is because they have known someone who died by suicide. It is important as parents to reach to our children and let them know God created them to live and to follow God.

This is the essence of this book, In The Wake of Suicide: A Child’s Journey. It is an avenue to help you begin these discussions about their loved one’s emotional pain and suffering and how it would cause them to want to die. Ultimately this book encourages each one of these children to choose life with God for themselves.

When discussing suicide and the Bible, questioning the salvation of those who choose suicide is an important discussion. The Bible never comes out and says these individuals will or will not spend eternity in Heaven. But the Bible states “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into he world to condemn the world, but to save the world through them. Whoever believes in him is not condemned.” (John 3: 16-18)

It is faith in Jesus Christ that allows us to have eternal life in Heaven. We all sin and God does not separate good sin, from bad sin. As stated in Roman’s 3: 23-24, “God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.”

Once we have freely accepted Jesus Christ as our savior, we have been given the free gift of God’s love. “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus or Lord.” (Romans 8:39)

An important aspect of our confession that Jesus Christ our savior is realizing that we all sin and his sacrifice on the cross paid the price for our sins. We must realize that we are sinful to fully accept Christ as our savior.

“If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin, but if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 1:10- 2:2)

Due to the numerous scriptures in the New Testament that discuss that our sins are forgiven upon the acceptance of Christ Jesus in our lives, In The Wake of Suicide: A Child’s Journey, takes the stance that a person who dies from suicide will spend eternity in Heaven if they have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior.

May this children’s book be a resource for parents to begin the discussions of how God can give you strength and help you heal from this terrible experience. May God be with you.

List and Verses of Biblical figures that died by suicide:

King Saul and his soldier: (1 Samuel 31:2-6) The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. The fighting was fierce around Saul, and he was badly wounded by enemy arrows. Saul told the soldier who carried his weapons, “Kill me with your sword! I don’t want those worthless Philistines to torture me and make fun.” But the soldier was afraid to kill him. Saul then took out his own sword; he stuck the blade into his stomach, and fell on it. When the soldier knew that Saul was dead, he killed himself in the same way. Saul was dead, his three sons were dead, and the soldier who carried his weapons was dead. They and all his soldiers died on that same day.
Ahithopel (2 Samuel 17:23) When Ahithopel saw that his advice had not been followed; he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
Abimelech (Judges 9:54) Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, “A woman killed him.” So his servant ran him through, and he died.
Zimri (1Kings 16: 18) When Zimri saw that the town was captured; he ran into the strongest part of the palace and killed himself by setting it on fire.
Samson (Judges 16: 29-30) Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right had on the one and his left hand on the other. Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.
Judas (Matthew 27:5) So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

How the Christian Faith Can Support You

By Dianne Thornton

June marks the month of the summer solstice, when, on the longest day of the year, the rays of the sun shine in celebration of the new life that spring produced – green grass, flourishing trees, blooming flowers, fluttering butterflies, and singing birds.

But, there is a cost. Spring storms are some of the most intense of the year. Yet the results reveal the Creator’s constant presence and providence, using the sun, rain, and wind to create the beauty we now enjoy.

Recently, a pair of Mourning Doves moved into the loft of an overgrown bougainvillea bush outside the kitchen window of my backyard. Eventually, two small, white eggs appeared. The male and female diligently incubated their eggs – enduring spring’s tumultuous storms. Each devotedly nourished and fiercely protected their young. At times, they all enjoyed a warm nap on a sunny day.

Observing the life of these doves this spring allowed me to reflect on lessons for family life and faith. One day, with the approach of a cold front, the winds blew so forcefully that the shrub was in constant motion, swaying two to three feet at a time. The doves never left the nest; instead they provided constant protection and care of their treasures.

Sometimes life is a raging storm, threatening to destroy everything we hold dear. Yet healthy relationship can provide comfort, safety, and refuge in the midst of a storm, allowing a person to live without fear of judgment or rejection. The Bible tells us that God cares and provides for the birds; it also reminds us that He values us more than He values them; and likewise, we have His care and protection. One-way God supplies this is through the family – a place to celebrate and cultivate life, and a place to receive protection and comfort. God’s family design reflects His best desires for us in an imperfect world.

After the raging winds of the storm, one dove immediately began to repair the nest, gathering and weaving twigs together to add support to its frail construction. The other dove remained focused and faithfully incubated the precious eggs.

The doves appeared to take the storm and its affects in stride. But humans suffer additional complexities, and the raging winds of life can often injure people and their relationship. While God offers His healing, it is often a cooperative work that requires effort on the part of all family members. One may need gentle honesty. Another may need grace and encouragement. Forgiveness should be afforded to all.

The mature doves provided nourishment for their young and opportunities for them to develop strength in their wings, which would ultimately prepare them to leave the next. Parents nurture children in many ways, such as teaching and modeling values, so that they become healthy, independent adults with a strong sense of personal worth and identity.

Families who center their lives on God and His Biblical principles gain the ability to see His heart for us through everyday events in the world. While this family of doves will move on, its loft will remain – a simple bougainvillea reminding out family of lessons on life and faith.