"Does someone go to hell for
committing suicide?"
Those who are adamant
that a person who takes his life is committing a mortal
sin, and will go to hell, are basing their belief on
church doctrine rather than on the Bible. Scripture
is silent on the subject. There are no verses that say
"He who takes his own life shall be damned."
According to
Scripture, only one sin does not have forgiveness, and
that is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (see Mark 3:29
footnote). That means there is forgiveness for every
other sin.
Some quote 1 Corinthians
3:17, which says that God will destroy someone who "defiles"
the temple of the Holy Spirit. Yet, there is disagreement
about what it means to defile the temple. Does this
include suicide? Does it include illicit drug abuse
(slow suicide), prescription drug abuse, cigarettes
(deliberately breathing in poisons that will eventually
kill), tattoos, over-eating (digging a grave with your
spoon), or alcohol abuse?
God forbid that we
add to the pain of someone who has lost a loved one
through the tragedy of suicide, by making a judgment
about their eternal destiny. God is the ultimate Judge,
and we should therefore leave the issue in His hands.
It would be wise to follow the biblical example and
not come to any verdict in the case of suicide.
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