Can a person who commits suicide end up in heaven?
The most provocative and perhaps troubling statement from Sunday’s sermon on suicide for some people was my belief that Saul is in heaven. Since Sunday, a few people have questioned whether saying suicide is forgiveable might actually remove a barrier that is currently preventing people from ending their lives.
While I would never want to encourage anyone to sin, using false barriers to keep someone from sinning is almost as bad as encouraging them to sin. If it is true that genuine believers who commit suicide still end up in heaven, hiding that truth from those struggling with suicidal thoughts does not seem the right approach to me.
So let’s tackle this in parts. First, let’s revisit the question of whether someone who commits suicide can still end up in heaven, then we can answer the question of whether it is wise to share that information with someone who is struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Saul’s suicide provides valuable insight when considering this question because he is the one suicide example in the Scriptures who could genuinely be a believer. We are explicitly told that Judas was not a believer and we don’t know enough about Ahithophel and Zimri to know one way or the other. But in Saul’s case we know that God’s Spirit came upon Saul in power. In 1 Samuel 9-11, there is strong evidence that Saul is a believer in God and demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit. Would we really think that God would choose someone to be the first king of Israel and offer him an everlasting dynasty (1 Samuel 13:13) if he was not someone who believed in the Lord? One other point worth considering is in 1 Samuel 28 when Saul summons Samuel from Sheol, Samuel says to Saul “tomorrow you and your sons will be with me” (1 Samuel 28:19). Now it is possible that Samuel simply means that Saul is going to die. But as my wife pointed out to me, it could very well mean that Saul and his sons will be in the part of Sheol where Samuel was, namely paradise. Certainly this is where Jonathan is headed. My guess is that this is where Saul is headed as well.
After all, isn’t this what we mean when we say that we are saved by grace and not by works? If good deeds didn’t earn us eternal life then sins – even ones as bad as suicide – cannot rob us of eternal life.
But if it were known that suicide does not disqualify a Christian from eternal life, isn’t it better to keep quiet about this in case those who are tempted to commit suicide might be encouraged down that road?
I don’t think it is for two reasons. God never tells believers to withhold truth. The idea that God’s grace can be abused and become a license to do what we want is very real. Paul addresses this in Romans 5-6. Since the more we sin, the more grace we get, Paul is forced to ask the question, “why not go on sinning so that grace can increase?” (Romans 6:1). Paul’s answer is not, “because you won’t be forgiven.” His answer is that someone who is genuinely a believer can’t live in a state of constantly desiring to abuse God’s grace. But God never hides from us that all our future sins as Christians will be forgiven. I think we have a responsibility to do the same.
The second reason why I think it is important to declare publicly that God will forgive a genuine believer who commits suicide is that those who are struggling with depressive thoughts and feelings need to understand the depth of God’s unconditional love for them. God’s willingness to forgive his children’s willful rebellion is a demonstration of his unconditional love. If a loved one is struggling with suicidal thoughts, the best thing to share with them is God’s unconditional love. To imply that God will only accept them if they behave in a certain way seems the exact opposite of what they need to hear.
It is true that every believer will have to give an account of their actions to God and the person who commits suicide will have to stand before the Lord and answer for their actions. And it is true that on that day anyone who does commit suicide will wish they had chosen a different course. But whether God is pleased with us as his children and our behavior is a radically different question than the question of whether we are secure as God’s children. If someone has accepted Christ as Lord, even if we are faithless, he remains faithful because he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13).
So while I do not want to encourage anyone down the path of suicide by claiming that Christians who commit suicide will be in heaven, I am committed to sharing God’s truth and grace with all people trusting that truth will win out over any other approach.
Blessings,
Jim