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Is Suicide Unforgivable?
Q. We got into a discussion in my Bible class
about whether Christians who commit suicide go to heaven. I always
thought that God forgives everything, except the unforgivable sin of not
accepting him. But others in my class hold different views. I have two
questions: (1) Do Christians who commit suicide go to heaven? and (2)
What is the "unforgivable sin"? -Carly Moore, Spokane,
Washington
A. Taking a human life is an extremely serious sin, and while a murderer
can repent, there is no chance for repentance after death. However, it's
another thing entirely if the person who committed suicide was
emotionally imbalanced or mentally ill. We might even say that the
person didn't kill himself but mental illness killed him-like cancer or
heart disease could kill someone else.
 Remember the man who brought his epileptic son to Jesus for healing? The
illness was caused by a demon, the father said, that "has often cast him
into the fire and into the water, to destroy him " (Matt. 17:14-18). It
wasn't the boy's own will but an evil force that was trying to kill him.
If a believer suffers confusion and despair, if he can no longer "judge
with right judgment" and turns to suicide with profound regret, God will
receive him far differently than he will someone who acts with haughty
self-determination.
Suicide is not related to the "unforgivable sin," however. The Gospel of
Mark shows that the unforgivable act is a strange kind of blasphemy: to
say that the spirit of power in Jesus-the Holy Spirit-is an evil spirit.
People make all kinds of oddball statements about Jesus these days, but
this particular charge went out of style 2,000 years ago.
Why did Jesus say that blasphemies against himself could be forgiven but
not against the Holy Spirit? Early Christians searched the Scriptures
and discovered that Hebrews 6:4-5 is the only other place where
something is described as unforgivable. "It is impossible to restore
again to repentance those who…have become partakers of the Holy
Spirit…if they then commit apostasy."
Around 225 A.D., The Christian theologian Origen explained that someone
who has fully embraced the faith and received the Holy Spirit has to
work hard to deliberately "defeat the counsels of the Spirit that is in
them." That would be defiance, not forgivable ignorance. To receive the
Holy Spirit, then treat it with contempt, is the unforgivable blasphemy.
But one more thing on the subject of suicide: Today's proponents of
euthanasia seek to present suicide as an honorable and compassionate
practice. In fact, the "Death with Dignity" crowd has its roots in a
school of thought that had its heyday during the early New Testament
era. The Roman philosopher Seneca, a passionate defender of suicide,
extolled the virtues of controlling one's own fate. "The wise man . . .
will always think of life in terms of quality, not quantity," he said.
When faced with a lingering death, he added, "why not reach for the
easier way?" It is this kind of cool-headed, "I'm in charge" suicide
that Christians have always condemned.
Of course, there can be good reason to decline extraordinary measures at
the end of life, but deliberately expediting the process is another
thing altogether. God never promised us dignity as we approach death. As
Jesus climbed Mount Calvary covered with blood and sweat, nobody said,
"My, doesn't he look dignified!"
Why Worship God?
Q. My brother, although raised as a
Christian, is now both an ex-Scientologist and an agnostic. He asked me
this question: "What kind of God would require worship?" -Karen
Wright, Virginia Beach, Virginia
In an episode of The Simpsons Homer is asked a similar question. He
replies, "God is very powerful, but also very insecure, like Barbra
Streisand before James Brolin."
If you picture God as being like a giant-size human being, that makes
sense. But in the Scriptures, the main thing people who have encountered
God say is that he's the opposite of ordinary humans. He's holy-in
Hebrew, the word is qadosh-meaning "other" and "set apart." Those who
meet him say, "You've never experienced anything like this before. It
made my hair stand on end."
Their first reaction seems to be fear, since the first thing they are
told is usually "Do not fear." Then, as they continue to stand in God's
presence, they become overwhelmed with awe and love for him, and they
start seeing their own failings very clearly. Strong light makes long
shadows. Isaiah sees God "high and lifted up" and reacts, "Woe is me!"
Peter sees Jesus perform a miracle and falls to his knees saying, "I am
a sinful man."
That's what people who have "been there" report: God is "other," he's
inexpressibly wonderful. When you experience him, you suddenly see how
much you need to change. And that's worship in a nutshell. God doesn't
command us to do this; it's more like he warns us that this is what will
happen. Get ready, because his presence is going to knock you over. I
hope your brother will continue to evolve and soon be an ex-agnostic.
********
Frederica Mathewes-Green
www.frederica.com
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