(This is a controversial subject, but this standpoint is from my personal view so please take my thoughts with a grain of salt!)

Now, a lot of Christians are unsure whether or not Christians (or people in general) who commit suicide go to hell or not.

There aren’t any direct verses in the Bible that say suicide is a sin or not, but there are verses we can take into consideration when it comes to this topic.

Now, there are six clear accounts in the Bible (five in the Old Testament, one in the New Testament) of people committing suicide.

1. When Abimelech was mortally wounded by a woman who dropped a millstone on his head, he cried to his armor-bearer to kill him so his death would not be credited to the woman (Judges 9:54).
2. The mortally wounded King Saul fell upon his own sword lest the Philistines abuse him further (1 Samuel 31:4).
3. Saul’s armor-bearer then took his own life as well (1 Samuel 31:5).
4. Ahithophel hanged himself after his advice was no longer followed by King David’s son Absalom (2 Samuel 17:23).
5. Zimri set himself afire after his rebellion failed (1 Kings 16:18).
6. And Judas hung himself after betraying Jesus. (Matthew 27:3-10)

But, like I said, none of these accounts mention whether or not the people who believed in God (‘Christian’ wasn’t a name at the time) were saved. After all, how are we to know unless we’ve been to heaven and seen them?

Now, this post is not about suicide as a sin in particular. It’s about whether Christians committing suicide automatically go to hell or not. So that’s what this viewpoint is going to be from.

People who believe Christians go to hell if they take their life often say so because of the following reasons: It’s murder (Exodus 20:13), it’s harming God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and that it’s something only non-Christians do.

But here are reasons to believe that Christians do not lose their salvation, and can and do go to heaven, even if they commit suicide:

1. They were saved by grace and Jesus said they’d live for eternity with Him. (“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13)
2. Jesus loved sinners, even the ones who murdered people. (“But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭40‬-‭43‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
3. Everyone has a limit for the pain of this world, their mind, and their life. Jesus even cried for release from the cup he was given. (“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
4. (This last one is a personal belief, just so you know.) God has promised a life where there are no more tears. (Revelation 7:17) Is it so wrong to desire that while we live on a broken earth? Living for God is a blessing, but it’s not an easy task. I don’t believe God would let someone go through traumatic pain, then that person kill themself, looking for relief and help, and then send them to hell, even after they loved him and lived for him, because God hurts seeing us hurt. (Again, this is just a personal thought.)

Suicide is, like all sins, a result of a hurting generation and world.

It says in James 2 that even if someone follows all the laws but breaks one, no matter how big or small, they are just as guilty as someone who has broken all the laws.

So all in all, I personally do not believe that a Christian who kills themself will go to hell. I believe that God will give them grace and mercy, as he does for people who have sinned in other ways.

I hope this was an interesting and insightful read! Thanks for reading. 🧡

~Willow