Hi Everyone,
Frankly, I don't have an opinion on this matter.  However, I do have an
experience to share.  I think, that even when I was an unregenerate
Catholic, when I was 21 and was determining that I should take my life, one
of the things that kept me from proceeding more quickly was that they church
always taught that those who did such things would wind up in hell.
Now, two more points, which I hope you will find interesting.
When I decided to do it, I tried to get counsel from some of the priests at
my church, but when I went there, they were partying.   I knew that there
was no way I could interrupt them to ask for the desperate help I needed.
Now, being scared to do the deed, I waited one night, trying to get up the
nerve to do it.  Meanwhile, I turned on the radio, and there was Billy
Graham.
After I listened to him, I prayed, and the Lord came into my heart.  That
was the end of the suicidal thoughts  for the time being.
The other point that I remember, and this is more  subjective, and without
scripture to back it up, is that I read a book about someone who had a
near-death experience, and whom the Lord showed heaven and hell.
One of the things this person saw and heard were these disembodied spirits,
following living people.  These spirits were crying out "I'm sorry, I'm
Sorry, I'm sorry".  The author was made to know that these spirits had been
people who had committed suicide, and who had inflicted so very much pain on
family and friends
Now, I'm glad tghe God has the final say, and that he is a merciful judge,
and who knows the hearts of all people.  So I'll leave that in his hands.
Vinny
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Schwery" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 10:12 PM
Subject: Re: Christians and suicide


> Helen, good thoughts, and I agree with them.  Since the Word doesn't
> address suicide, specifically, we have to apply principles to the problem.
>
> earlier, Helen, wrote:
> >I picked these up from a couple of websites, so they are not my original
> >thoughts.  However, I do agree with the comments.
> >
> >Suicide is, in effect, self-murder. The unfortunate thing about it is
that
> >the one who commits it cannot repent of it. The damage is permanently
done.
> >We can see in the Bible that murderers have been redeemed (Moses, David,
> >etc.), but they had opportunities to confess their sins and repent. With
> >suicide, the person does not.  But that does not mean the person is
> >lost.  Jesus bore all that person's sins, including suicide. If Jesus
bore
> >that person's sins on the cross 2000 years ago, and if suicide was not
> >covered, then the Christian was never saved in the first place and the
one
> >sin of suicide is able to undo the entire work of the cross of Christ.
This
> >cannot be. Jesus either saves completely or he does not.
> >
> >I have no doubt that Historical Christian figures with religious
authority
> >(with a well meaning intent) sought to preserve the value and sanctity of
> >human life by putting the fear of God into everyone  unlearned and
ignorant
> >to the value of human life, by scaring them with the wrath of God and
loss
> >of salvation.   This was accomplished  by the law that anyone not an
> >ordained minister was permitted by the Church to read the Bible.
> >
> >Committing suicide is a godless concept that denies the sovereignty of
God
> >who truly and exclusively decides who shall live and who shall die.
> >
> >Going to hell for committing suicide is Biblically unfounded and is a
> >contradiction to its salvation message.
> >
> >Helen
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Earlier, Phil Scovell wrote:
> > >Since 9 out of every 10 people I pray with are either suicidal, or have
> > >been, or have actually attempted it, the question of Christians and
suicide
> > >comes up often.  Of course, some Christians believe for a Christian to
> > >commit suicide, they would be committing the unpardonable sin so that
means
> > >they can't go to Heaven if they take their own life.  Suicide is not
the
> > >unpardonable sin so that rules that out.  If you don't know what the
> > >unpardonable sin is, we'll start up another thread to cover that issue.
> > >Some Christians just believe, for some reason, to take your own life is
> > >wrong and therefore, you wouldn't go to Heaven.  Still, other
Christians
> > >believe you would go to Heaven simply because you are born again.  So,
> > >what's the truth and the Biblical evidence of what you believe?  This
isn't
> > >a trick question, by the way, and I am very serious.  As I said, I talk
with
> > >people all the time who face suicidal tendencies and most have never
told a
> > >living soul except me.  Why me?  Because I know what being suicidal is
like.
> > >I know what the demonic voices sound like and what they say when they
try to
> > >get you to take your own life.  So, again, this is not a trick question
nor
> > >am I trying to get you to agree with me.  I would just like to hear
other
> > >ideas on the subject.
> > >
> > >Phil.
>
> John
>
>    Some do, some don't, some will and some won't ...