Whatever views we may have about suicide, what should matter most to Christians is how Jehovah God views suicide. Jehovah God, as the source of life has decreed that human life is precious and sacred. (Gen. 9:5; Ps. 36:9) Therefore, suicide, which means the taking of one’s own life, or killing oneself, is therefore displeasing in God’s eyes. Such intentional act is self-murder. (Ex. 20:13; 1 John 3:15)
However, there may be many circumstances that must always be taken into consideration when one has taken their own life:
Was there mental illness involved? Was the person in their right mind? Was the person culpable or blameworthy? Was the coroner's report of suicide actually in harmony with the facts or was the death really a freak accident? Even when some may feel that the person took his life intentionally, fully aware that he was sinning against Jehovah God, is there really always a way to substantiate such a feeling? Could it have been a spur-of-the-moment act? Some who attempt suicide feel regret and do not go through with it. A person cannot repent for what he has done after death.
In many instances it is difficult or impossible to get to know all the facts.
Also consider the case of a person that did not know Jehovah’s law and was not a dedicated servant of God. If he died a suicide or as a murderer he would certainly die guilty of grievous sin; but there are many other grievous sins, and for them repentance is possible. At one time Paul wrote some Christians that they had once been extremely immoral and depraved, but had been washed clean because of their repentance of and abandonment of such sinning and their acceptance of Jehovah’s arrangement through Christ. Elsewhere the Bible speaks of murderers failing to repent, which implies repentance was possible for them under certain conditions. (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Rev. 9:21) The sins of suicide and murder need not be sins against the holy spirit, and, if not, would be forgivable. It is Jehovah God and Christ Jesus who will judge this capacity to repent and who will decide whether to resurrect certain individuals or not.
It is because of these and other considerations that we are not in a position to judge whether the deceased committed an unforgivable sin in the eyes of Jehovah.
(Sources: Questions From Readers, 6/15/02 Watchtower; 5/1/54 Watchtower.)
For more, see:
Click on any of the following links to view:
SUICIDE - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)
Saved From Suicide (JW.ORG)
Do Jehovah's Witnesses Really Have a Higher Rate of Suicide or Mental Illness as Opposers Claim? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)
Is suicide an unforgiveable sin? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)
How should I respond if my child talks about suicide? (yp1 pp. 289-318; Watchtower Online Library)
If someone commits suicide, would it be advisable for a Christian minister to give the funeral talk? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)
Why So Many Suicides? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers; 8/1/83 WT)
However, there may be many circumstances that must always be taken into consideration when one has taken their own life:
Was there mental illness involved? Was the person in their right mind? Was the person culpable or blameworthy? Was the coroner's report of suicide actually in harmony with the facts or was the death really a freak accident? Even when some may feel that the person took his life intentionally, fully aware that he was sinning against Jehovah God, is there really always a way to substantiate such a feeling? Could it have been a spur-of-the-moment act? Some who attempt suicide feel regret and do not go through with it. A person cannot repent for what he has done after death.
In many instances it is difficult or impossible to get to know all the facts.
Also consider the case of a person that did not know Jehovah’s law and was not a dedicated servant of God. If he died a suicide or as a murderer he would certainly die guilty of grievous sin; but there are many other grievous sins, and for them repentance is possible. At one time Paul wrote some Christians that they had once been extremely immoral and depraved, but had been washed clean because of their repentance of and abandonment of such sinning and their acceptance of Jehovah’s arrangement through Christ. Elsewhere the Bible speaks of murderers failing to repent, which implies repentance was possible for them under certain conditions. (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Rev. 9:21) The sins of suicide and murder need not be sins against the holy spirit, and, if not, would be forgivable. It is Jehovah God and Christ Jesus who will judge this capacity to repent and who will decide whether to resurrect certain individuals or not.
It is because of these and other considerations that we are not in a position to judge whether the deceased committed an unforgivable sin in the eyes of Jehovah.
(Sources: Questions From Readers, 6/15/02 Watchtower; 5/1/54 Watchtower.)
For more, see:
Click on any of the following links to view:
SUICIDE - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)
Saved From Suicide (JW.ORG)
Do Jehovah's Witnesses Really Have a Higher Rate of Suicide or Mental Illness as Opposers Claim? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)
Is suicide an unforgiveable sin? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)
How should I respond if my child talks about suicide? (yp1 pp. 289-318; Watchtower Online Library)
If someone commits suicide, would it be advisable for a Christian minister to give the funeral talk? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)
Why So Many Suicides? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers; 8/1/83 WT)
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