The Christian and Suicide

Yesterday at our question time there was a question about the Christian and suicide, below is a post I wrote a couple of years ago. It is fuller answer than I was able to give in a Q&A session.

"Suicide is a big issue in our society, in 2005 there were 5,671 suicides in adults aged 15 and over in the UK, three quarter's of which were among men. Apparently over the past four years more young men have died from suicide than any other cause. They are horrific statistics and show how hopeless many peoples lives are. But what is a Biblical and Christian response to such an issue?

Firstly we need to make sure that we have God and ourselves in perspective. God is infinite, sustains the universe without tiring, is glorious in his majesty and we are finite, need sleep, forget our anniversary and need to dress to impress, wear make up and do our hair. Yet the wonder is that God chooses to reveal himself to us and calls us to know him. Psalm 8 and Job 38-40 are good places to go to think about these things.

Having got our thinking straight what does the Bible have to teach us about suicide? Firstly the Bible doesn't hide from it, in 2 Sam 17 we see the frustrated Ahitophel take his own life and in Matthew 27 Judas does likewise. Secondly we see that sometimes God's people feel overwhelmed and unable to cope, in Numbers 11 we see that with Moses, in 1 Kings 19 with Elijah and with Jonah. Each asks God to take their life or expresses the sentiment that I'd be better off dead.

Thirdly it is a sin to commit suicide, it is unlawful to murder (Ex 20:13) and only God has the right to take life (Jer 10:23, Ezekiel 18:4). Fourthly we need to realise that forgiveness for sins is through Christ alone (Acts 10:43), and fifthly that life here and now is an ongoing battle with sin.Suicide is not the unforgivable sin. It is, however, a sin. It is swallowing Satan's lies that death must be better than this, that in the believers case you can't trust and rely on God as your rock. Suicide should make us feel compassion for our mixed up and hopeless world. The gospel, Jesus Christ saves from destruction and despair. The people of God must hold out the hope we have been given to the world.

We must also be engaged in the spiritual battle that is life here on earth, putting on the full armour of God as Paul exhorts the Ephesians to do. We must encourage those with depression and other problems to seek the relevant medical help and pray with them, love them and spur them on to put on that armour and live lives worthy of the gospel."