Blessed wrote:I'm sure this has already been discussed elsewhere on this website. Almost every Christian I've met including those in my own family believe Suicide is an extremely serious sin warranting hell - many seemingly equating suicide with murder.
I was hoping to find some supporting scriptures for suicide which outrightly condemn it. I've found none. The closest verses in the Bible I could find related to suicide are in the Old Testament.
1 Samual 31
2 Samual 17:23
And these scriptures do not condemn it. Everyone is also familiar with Judas committing suicide. However even here I'm not seeing where suicide is explicitly condemned in Biblical terms.
Even though I've read most chapters of the bible many times, I consider myself a novice on scripture. If I could find scripture which condemns suicide in no uncertain terms I would be open to changing my mind on this subject.
Can anyone help me? Thank you.
There is a principle contained in the second half of 2 Tim 2:26, ".
..a having been taken captive by him (the devil) to do his will." NKJV
That can happen in the case of a believer and suicide. The Devil comes to kill, rob and destroy as Jesus stated in John chapter Ten and someone can fall into a snare.
Not all suicide is caused by mental illness. In many cases caused by drugs/alcohol that twist thoughts to doom. Also high stress, such as loss, trauma, rejection play more of a part to take one captive to feel such loss that there is no more hope.
You will not find verses that say if one does, that's it, they are doomed forever. However, you will find verses that say that Jesus came to give life and that more abundantly. Suicide of a Christian robs families, can bring ruin into the lives it affects, and it kills the person - robbing from them, finding the life abundant in this mortal life Jesus spoke about.
It is not right commit suicide. Well meaning Christians use scare tactics to keep someone from doing the deed. If effective in saving their life - no problem. The only thing that a send folks to hell is rejecting Christ. Suicide does not do that for a believer in Christ. However, it is not an escape from pain, depression, etc and instant joy of heaven either. If we are not careful with our words, we can inspire a Christian to end it without knowing we are doing so. If anyone reading this is thinking about the deed, please stop and consider this...
Jesus gives life, that is the message. He sets captives free from their mental prisons too. There is life in this life after despair. Endure and things will get better.
Bartimaeus was blind. He had a robe for comfort and as beggars of the period he had to have had a collect basket. He heard Jesus was close by and shouted for Jesus to come and heal him.
The crowd shout back at him to basically shut up. What had they been doing all these years Bart sat along the road was to feed his enablement so he remains hopelessly blind to Jesus. He had his security blanket - a robe - to comfort his being enabled. The crowd ensured he remains hopeless.
Bartimaeus didn't listen to the crowd - he kept shouting for Jesus to heal and save him. Jesus stopped and sent a couple of disciples to fetch him to where He was on the road. They did, and told Bartimaeus the Lord has heard so come. What did blind Bartimaeus do? He left his robe - security of feeling sorry for himself/forsaken - and he must have tossed aside his collection basket of enablement and went to Jesus on the road where he was healed. After being healed, Bartimaeus did not go back to begging, nor back to get his woe is me security robe - no he followed Jesus along the road the rest of his days.
Moral of the story: some folks love self hopelessness and derive their sense of purpose from it and relish in how people enable them to never change. There comes a time when one has to hear Jesus is close by, right now, he sends his workers to them. Next step, what do you have to lose? Toss aside your security woe blanket - stop living in enablement and be healed of your blindness that can't see life will get better and so follow Jesus all out the rest of your days.
Broken lost relationship blind you to doom. Family past rejections abuse blind you to doom - why do you sit covered in your woe is me blanket letting your thoughts and other keep enabling you to remain unchanged?
Jesus is here, get up, toss all this aside, and hear Jesus say to you as he did Bartimaeus, "What do you want Me to do for you?" (Note Mark 10:51)
Bartimaeus did not say he wanted a new house, lots of money, free sex without consequences, or a host of other things.
Listen to his answer and let it be yours: "(Rabboni) Teacher, that I may receive my sight."
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Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well."
And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.," Mark 10:52 NKJV
Notice he said Teacher --- Jesus will teach you how.
It is not easy task but he will and his first lessen is found on the road of Matthew 11:28,29,30
So for anyone stumbling upon this topic who is thinking about doing suicide hear what Bartimaeus did and do likewise.
I pray for you with these words:
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Heavenly Father who created all the heavens and earth, cleanse the heart of anyone thinking of ending their life by the blood of Jesus - cleanse them of all sins, woe, and despair. And send forth your resurrection power into their heart and soul to heal the wounds caused by the world, family, broken relationships, abuse, all wounds of rejection and abandonment and humiliation.
"Raise them up, in Jesus name, and grant them new life along the road as they walk with you leaving their woe security and enablements behind. Empower them to leave it behind send forth the tangible presence of your power into their souls so they will not be rob, killed, destroyed , taken captive to so these devils wills. Led them where they need to go restore life to them and find help in time of need because all evil power is broken in Jesus name amen by the power of the cross of Jesus amen"