In the last few weeks there have been a rash of young men who have committed suicide because of being bullied for being gay. So what has happened to them? Are they in hell because they took their own life? Is it possible they could be in heaven? Could it be God saw their hearts, knew exactly why they killed themselves and forgave them? What about those who drove these young men to take their lives? What does God think of them?
In this study I would like to look at the topic of suicide and see what the Bible has to say on it. While suicide is not the perfect will of God for anybody, what does God actually think about it? Is it pardonable like any other sin? Let’s have a look at a few men in the Bible who are recorded as having committed suicide and see what we can learn.
The first suicide mentioned is that of King Saul in I Samuel 31:4. Saul was a man who had spent his life running from God. He had tried to kill God’s anointed David and had killed 70 of the priests of God. Then when God quit speaking to him, he consulted a witch to find out what was going to happen to him. On Mount Gilboa he was losing a battle against the Philistines. All of his sons were killed and Saul was severely wounded. Seeing this, Saul decided it was time to end his life so his enemies wouldn’t abuse and kill him. Saul wanted his armor bearer to kill him but he refused. So Saul fell on his own sword and died. This was surely an act of desperation for a man who most would consider to be ungodly. A ripe candidate for hell, right? Not necessarily.
In 1 Samuel 28, the witch of Endor conjured up the spirit of Samuel, the prophet. Samuel, while telling Saul all that will happen in the battle on the morrow, has something interesting to say.
“Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” ~ I Samuel 28:19
Samuel told Saul that he would be going to the place where Samuel was. So what gives? Is Samuel in hell? No! He was a righteous man, faithful to God to the end. Another possibility is that Samuel was in Sheol, and Saul would be joining him there. In early Old Testament times it was believed everyone went to Sheol. It didn’t matter whether you lived a good life or an evil one here on earth, you still went to Sheol. It was considered to be a dark place. There you were forgotten, both by those still living, and by God himself. You existed as merely a shadow. So this could be the idea here, that Saul would be joining Samuel in this nether world called Sheol.
Later Sheol would come to be seen as a place where one went for a year to be purged of one’s sins. After that you rested until the day of resurrection. It also came to be seen as having two compartments – Paradise for the believers, and Hades for the lost. Since Samuel was righteous, we can assume he was in Paradise awaiting the resurrection. If Saul was with Samuel, then it would mean that Saul was in Paradise, implying that God forgave Saul for all he had done against God’s anointed, God’s priests, and God himself. Perhaps God Himself could see some good in the heart of Saul, or maybe Saul repented in the last moments of his life. We don’t know, and the Bible doesn’t say. The point I am trying to make here is that, although Saul killed himself, that didn’t automatically condemn him to hell.
The second suicide mentioned in the scriptures is that of Ahithopel in II Samuel 17:23.
Ahithopel advised Absalom regarding his rebellion against his father, King David. Absalom chose to ignore this advice. When Ahithopel realized his advice has been rejected, he knew the game was over. So he set his affairs in order and then killed himself – another act of a desperate man who had gambled everything and lost. He was about to be disgraced, and when David returned to his throne, he would face being tried and executed as a traitor. Please note that it doesn’t say where he went, just that he killed himself. We also need to remember the eastern culture in which this was written. One of the accepted traditions there was suicide. It was considered totally honorable and acceptable if you had done something to bring dishonor or embarrassment upon yourself, your family or others. In this case Ahithopel was doing the honorable thing in committing suicide for the treason he had committed against King David.
The third case of suicide in the Bible is of Zimri, recorded in I Kings 16:18 where we learn that Zimri rebelled against King Baasha, killing him and all his family. He then made himself king. However when the army got word of what Zimri had done they rebelled against Zimri. They attacked the city where Zimri was and took it. Upon seeing the city taken, and that all was lost, he went into his house, set it on fire and died. Again the act of a desperate man. It could also be the act of a man doing the honorable thing having disgraced himself by the act of rebellion he had committed. Again there is no mention of where he went or is today.
Finally we come to the fourth man who is recorded as having committed suicide, Judas Iscariot. His story is recorded in Matthew 27:5. Why did Judas do what he did? Is there a possibility he is heaven today?
We know Judas was upset with Jesus. Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, took a box of very costly oil and poured it on the feet of Jesus, and wiped them with her hair. (John 12:1-8) Judas protested that the oil should have been sold and given to the poor. This wasn’t because he cared for the poor, but because he wanted to steal the money. It is believed that just after this incident, and having been rebuked by Jesus, that he went to the temple rulers and agreed to betray Jesus. (See Mark 14:3-11) We also know that Judas didn’t want Jesus to die. Instead, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented, returned the money, and hung himself. (Matthew 27:1-5) This opens up a couple of possibilities.
1. Judas was trying to force Jesus’ hand and make Him proclaim Himself king. Judas may have been a Zealot (a member of the Jewish religious party dedicated to the overthrow of the Roman government). That was the understanding of what the Messiah was supposed to do. Judas could have been expected to be rewarded handsomely for causing the Messiah to act and usher in the kingdom. Jesus had admitted he could call down twelve legions of angels to rescue Him. (Matthew 26:53) So certainly He had the power to deal with a few Romans.
2. Another possibility is that Judas expected the Jews to try Jesus and free Him. He knew Jesus was innocent and could have believed the Jews wouldn’t find him guilty at all, or if they did, that the Romans would find Him innocent and set Him free. By Pilate’s own admission Jesus was guilty of nothing deserving death. (See Luke 23:4, 15,22) It is only when a riot was about to break out that Pilate finally gave into the crowd and ordered the crucifixion of Jesus. It was when Judas realized that Jesus was condemned, with no hope of escape, that the Bible says Judas repented. (Matthew 27:3 KJV)
So what did Judas actually do? The word used here for repent means to regret or care afterwards. It is the same concept used when Peter urged the people to repent on the day of Pentecost (See Acts 2:38). That was to reconsider their ways and change. Could Judas have done the same thing? Could he have reconsidered and changed his mind about what he had done? If so could God have forgiven him, meaning Judas died in a state of grace and is therefore in heaven now?
Jesus called Judas the son of perdition (John 17:12). So what does perdition mean as used here? In the Greek it means a ruin, damnable, loss either spiritual or eternal, destruction and to perish. So Judas’ actions brought ruin, were damnable and caused the death of Jesus. Guess what? So did our actions. Our actions put Jesus on the cross. It was our sins for which He hung on the cross, shed His blood and died. Yet God forgave us and restored us. Could He have done the same for Judas? Or could Judas have, after disgracing and dishonoring himself, his family, his friends and Jesus, taken the honorable way out by committing suicide? Was this Judas’ way of showing how sorry and repentant he was, by giving up his life in suicide?
Some may say, “But Jesus said it would have been better for Judas if he had never been born.” Correct. He did. (See Matthew 26:24, Mark 14:21, Luke 22:22) Doesn’t that show Judas is condemned to hell forever with no chance of salvation? Maybe, but not necessarily. Although the word born used here can refer to natural birth, there is also another possible meaning. The word used here also means to regenerate, conceive, beget and bring forth. It can also mean to be delivered of, make or spring. This would mean Judas, by his act, cut off any possibility of regenerating, conceiving or begetting new life. There would be no one to carry on his name after his death. It could be that because of his act his name would become infamous for betrayal and no one would want to be associated with him or admit they were related to him. For a Jewish man, this would be the worst possible scenario, that there would be no one to remember him with pride after his death. Instead they would want to curse his name. One thing is for sure in either case, that it refers to this life, and it would have been better that he had never been conceived and birthed into this world. Thus it has nothing to do with his eternal salvation or where he may be now.
You may wonder why Judas would have hung himself if God had forgiven him. I believe that he was so filled with guilt and revulsion at what he had done that he was unable to forgive himself. Even though God forgave Him, he couldn’t receive it. He might not have even believed it would be possible for either God or Jesus to forgive him. Perhaps overcome with shame he simply hung himself as the honorable thing to do.
Let me state here this is not an endorsement of suicide, nor do I believe it’s ok to do it. It is not! However it happens, and I believe God knows that, and is ready to forgive and welcome those who have chosen to take their own lives, for whatever reason. I believe God understands bullying, teasing etc., and what would drive a young person to take their life in despair. I don’t believe God would have an issue with them, but I believe He would have a major issue with those doing the bullying, teasing, name calling, outing others and so on. I believe He’d have real issues with those who, in His name condemn, hate, beat up, and put down those who are gay or just different from themselves.
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” ~ Mark 9:42
Many, especially gays, have been offended and stumbled by so-called ministers and Christians who are sure that God hates gays. They are equally sure that they know the will of God perfectly for everyone. They are equally sure that God didn’t make gays, and that we have chosen to be what we are, in spite of scientific proof to the contrary. They are also convinced that they are justified in the eyes of God in doing and saying what they do. However, is that what Jesus says, and how would He act? Would He be a stumbling block to those trying to come to Him?
In John 6:37 Jesus says He will receive all who come to Him. He rejects no one. In His last message to His disciples prior to His ascension into heaven, in what is called the Great Commission, He said for them to teach all nations. He also told them to preach the gospel to all creation. Jesus was all-inclusive, excluding no one. So will His true church/people be today.
In summation then, I do not believe suicide is God’s will for anybody. However, I also believe God forgives suicide as he does any other sin. Only God can see the heart and know what’s there. Therefore only He can make the final call as to who is going to heaven and who is not. Our job is to preach the gospel by the way we live, and with words, if necessary. When we can learn to love without conditions or excuses, without exceptions, then perhaps Jesus can reach through us to the hurting. Perhaps then no more youths will kill themselves because they feel isolated, abandoned, ashamed, different, and that life is no longer worth living. God forgive those who have driven them to suicide, and those who have tolerated such behavior. It is not a matter of sucking it up, acting macho, becoming a man. It is about acceptance of who God made us to be. It is about toleration for all. It is about justice for all. Justice denied to one is justice denied to all. So what can we do today to begin to change things?
First, we need to reach out and support anyone trying to work with gays, especially youth who happen to be gay. They need to know they are not alone and there are many like them. Also that there is help and support available to them. They don’t have to go it alone. Let them know God has a wonderful plan for their lives (even as gay people). They don’t need to end it by suicide, but hang in there continuing to trust God to work it all out. Though it may be dark now, a new day is dawning. Once again the sun will shine, they will find new friends who will accept them for who they are. God loves them and his arms are open wide ready to recieve them, hug them and love on them. No way is He into the rejecting business.
Secondly, we need to pray for those doing the bashing, bullying, name calling etc. People fear what they don’t understand. They also repeat that which they have been taught and heard. We need to pray that eyes be opened and hearts made to understand. We need to pray they come to realize that God is a God of love and therefore anything that is not of love is not of God. They need to realize that God wants them to treat others as they themselves would want to be treated.
Thirdly, we need to show Christ in the way we live. Our lives should be showing forth the love and mercy of God and Christ. As I said earlier we should show Christ in our lives, and with words, if necessary. Can people see a difference in us? Do we have anything better to offer than what the rest of the church is offering? Do we react in kind to those who attack us? Do we say we are for peace while we support war? Do we say we love yet hate those different from us or who disagree with us? Do we say we are for social justice while our main concern is getting more toys, possessions for ourselves while ignoring the poor and the homeless around us? Are we really seeking to be Christ like and follow His will for us? Or are we more concerned with ourselves, our desires and making ourselves comfortable. These are the issues I believe Christ and God are concerned about. Not whether someone commits suicide but why they did it. Again not whether or not someone sinned but why did they sin. More importantly, what will it take to restore them and make sure they don’t do it again. What would it take to end the suicides is, I believe, the concern of Jesus and God.
The above are my views alone. They don’t necessarily represent the views of Christian Gays, any members or staff thereof, my church or anyone else. You may disagree with me and that’s OK.
God Bless You All!
Rev. John W. Brown