How to Think About Suicide

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by Jon Buck

There have been a few high-profile suicides recently in the news, and particularly Jarrid Wilson, who was the pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside. Wilson took his own life on Monday after a long battle with depression. 

While many unbelievers have committed suicide, how should we think about those who profess Christ who commit suicide? 

Below are a few things to keep in mind. 

  1. Suicide is sin - While the Bible offers several stories about suicide (Saul, Ahithophel as examples), it does not ever speak specifically to the issue itself, unlike other sins like adultery, drunkenness, etc. Nevertheless, the Bible does speak about murder explicitly (Ex. 20:13, Rom. 13:9, etc.), and condemns it as sinful. The issue is the taking of life. This condemnation of murder can be understood to apply to the murder of another, or the murder of self. In this sense, suicide is sin.

  2. Can a true believer commit suicide? - The question is a good one - suicide is the final act of a person who is so in despair that life no longer has meaning or purpose. This point of despair is profound enough to drive that person to a deeply sinful act. However, despair can drive believers into other deeply sinful acts as well! To isolate suicide as an apparently unforgivable sin, or a sin that believers could never perpetrate, is to misunderstand the very nature of the power of remaining sin in a true saint. Paul saw that sin in his flesh and despaired even of life itself. (Rom. 7:25)

  3. Sins can be forgiven - Though suicide is, by its very definition, the last act of the victim, this sin can be forgiven. Just as a believer who dies with anger in his heart is not instantly condemned, so also someone who sins in this way as a true believer will not face condemnation (Rom. 8:1). For one who has truly trusted in the finished work of Christ on their behalf, neither past sins nor future sins hold out fear of condemnation.

While suicide is sinful, a true believer can reach such a place of despair as to even commit this type of sin. And yet, for those for whom Christ died, there is no condemnation. We can trust in God’s gracious gift of salvation to cover even that final act of sinfulness. 

However, this truth ought to help believers who are dealing with depression or suicidal thoughts. Jesus loves them and has died on the cross for all their sins. Even such selfish sins as suicide are covered by the blood of Christ. Believing that sort of unconditional love is the root of peace that passes understanding, and results in joy—not in life’s circumstances—but in the Lord alone (Phil. 4:6-7, 4). 

The hope for the despairing soul is Christ, and His sovereignty and love in every circumstance of life (Rom. 8:32). For those who have battled depression and found comfort in Him, albeit imperfectly, God has provided a special work of providing comfort to others. 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Cor. 1:3-4

Of course this is not all there is to say about suicide. But if you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, you shouldn’t be embarrassed. Depression is a real part of life (just read Psalm 42-43 to see Biblical writers who struggled)! Instead, the best option is to reach out for help to someone who you trust who can care for them spiritually with the promises of Christ in the Gospel.