BGEA: Is suicide the unpardonable sin?

My cousin had very serious emotional problems most of her life, and finally they overwhelmed her and she committed suicide. I firmly believe she was a Christian, but did she lose her salvation by doing this? Is suicide the unpardonable sin? — Mrs. W.L.

Whenever I answer a question like this, I'm deeply aware that someone may be reading this who is seriously contemplating suicide—and I would do everything in my power to convince them not to take that final, drastic step. With Christ there is always hope.

God loves them; He loves them so much that Jesus Christ was willing to die on the cross for their salvation. And others care about them, as well (even if they have a hard time believing it). Suicide is never God's will, and even in the midst of life's worst storms we can look to Christ and discover that He truly is "an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19). The first step back from the brink of suicide is to turn to Christ and open our hearts to Him.

Suicide is always a tragedy—but in itself it is not the unpardonable sin. The only sin God cannot pardon is the sin of rejecting Him. God knew your cousin's heart, and He also knows that mental illness sometimes clouds a person's judgment so much that they aren't fully responsible for their actions.

At the same time, ask God to help you be sensitive to the needs of others—especially someone who may be facing discouragement or depression. Often simply knowing that someone cares will help them turn the corner.

18 Comments

Phil says 3.22.2013, 11:21 a.m.

Yes Suicide is sad for those left behind,but God says "Eye have not Seen nor Ears and not heard the things I have in store for you in Heaven."Who wants to stay here when its soo much better than here..

Naomi says 9.5.2012, 11:36 p.m.

My younger brother completed a suicide 9 years ago and it still hurts me to this day. He was a born again christian and I never doubted for one moment that he was in heaven. In the note he left, He said he could not pay the rent. So sad.

Denise says 9.3.2012, 7:54 p.m.

My sister-in-,aw committed suicide 5 years ago and I have wondered many times where she is. Is she in Heaven or hell. This article has helped me to be able to stop wondering and to trust God that she is with Him.

Lori says 4.23.2012, 11:50 a.m.

The evil one likes to get us so low that we have difficulty with visualizing a positive future and tries to make us lose our faith and hope in this life and the next. The devil is a liar. Thank God for His truth, His Son JESUS. Amen

Charles says 4.22.2012, 1:14 p.m.

"The only sin God cannot pardon is the sin of rejecting Him." Have we not all rejected Him at some point in our lives? Do we not all carry the sin of disbelief even in the past? If true- God cannot pardon rejection- then we can not be forgiven of it.

Mike says 12.19.2011, 11:46 p.m.

I flirt with the thought of suicide on a daily basis. I think of death everyday. I always wish that I'd contract a terminal illness and just fade on out. Whether it's illness or suicide, I'm ready to leave this joyless life. (We would like to pray and provide some encouragement. Please call 1-877-247-2426 to talk and pray with someone. There are people here who care. Or, you can send a private email to help@bgea.org. We will continue to keep you in prayer. The BGEA Internet team.)

Tim says 5.22.2011, 4:48 p.m.

Cheryl, your hope is good and please know their are others. My brother suffers the same illesses, he is 23 and just got diagnosed last year and have had similar incidences like you described and it has taken its toll on our family. I agree with your stance on this issue: mental illness is a horrible thing and should be looked at more closely and please keep my family in your prayers as we take on this life long battle with our loved one.

Kristy says 3.14.2011, 01:45 a.m.

DM:Do not do this. God created you for a purpose and is not ready for you to come home to him yet or he would take you. He loves you. Do not do this. Get involved with a church that can be you support through this difficult time. I will pray for you.

Bill says 3.9.2011, 10:47 p.m.

I have a mental illness. I thank God for His help and provision through my struggles. I have at times contemplated suicide. When I have felt this way I have always been scared straight by 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. I don't mean to upset those who have been affected by suicide. But for me, these verses strongly say that God does not approve of suicide. The article indeed is good but I do feel that the question needs to be asked, isn't suicide the an act of rejection of God? For those of you struggling, reach out, get help, it might not seem like it but there is hope. This is the right thing to do both for you and those around you. You'll probably be surprised as to how many people will be glad that you did. You matter to God.

Julie says 11.12.2010, 09:57 a.m.

Suicide, though it is not an unpardonable sin is the devils way of destroying God's creation. He created you. Why give satan that power. Please do not lose hope! God cares and there are people believe it or not that care as well. Take the power out of satan's hands and give it to God.

Jan says 10.25.2010, 11:28 p.m.

I've had suicidal thoughts since a young age;there was a lot of violence. The bipolar, stress disorder. Problems keep me from being able to work, so I've been "homebound" 10 years now, and feel like I'm just waiting to die. In my 47 years I have had only snatches of contentment..all the rest has been misery. I'm on meds, I've prayed and prayed, but the deep wounds and heartache is really taking a toll on me. It's not that I want to take my own life; God has intervened in that more than once and spared my life many times. But there's no joy in my life..no one to share things with. The Bible states:"...but a wounded spirit who can bear?" I don't think I can hold out much longer. The most important thing on my mind was whether or not God would/will forgive me. My grandmother told me after a friend of mine killed herslf that she believed "the moment, the second, someone takes their own life they have snapped and God has mercy on them."We serve a wonderful creator!

Truth says 9.27.2010, 10:31 p.m.

This is a lie the devil made up.

Julie says 9.25.2010, 6:32 p.m.

I had a son named James, he was diagnosed as bi-polar about a year and a half ago. But as time passed and I began to study mental illness I believe he was schizophrenic. He refused to take medication because he believed that nothing was wrong with him and he became more and more delusional. He was a christian and raised in a christian home but he became so obsessed with religion that he began to say and believe he was Jesus incarnate. In April 2010 he hitchhiked to Central America on foot. I reported him missing and endangered. A week later they found his body in a Guatamala hotel. I have dealt with so many emotions thru this I truly have had to lean on God to get me thru it because it has been so absolutely painful. I don't understand why their is mental illness and how can they be responsible for what they do when they don't seem to understand what it is they are doing. I wondered about demons because I was raised to believe like that but how can demons exist in someone who has been saved Christ lives there already?

peggy says 9.14.2010, 3:30 p.m.

On July 2, my precious grandson committed suicide at age 20. We had no idea he was so depressed or unhappy. I miss him terribly. His mother was contacted recently by a medium who told her things about him and that day no one could have known. This bothers me as I do not believe God allows the dead to contact the living. I believe no matter how helpful that medium or psychic is, it is not my grandson, but a fallen angel talking to her. Am I right or wrong. Does God allow the dead to talk with us?

Dm says 9.13.2010, 6:25 p.m.

Thank you for this article on suicide. I have recently lost a best friend from childhood, the death of my Mom has been devastating and now my Dad has brain cancer and his whole personality has changed to a really mean one toward me. Every day is a struggle for me cause I long for Heaven where everyone I love is waiting. The sadness is overwhelming although I am a Christian, I can't seem to pull myself out of this desire to be with those I miss so much. I have a decision to make and this article helped me with what I had already believed...Just hearing someone else say it isn't the unpardonable sin is comforting.

Internet@bgea.org says 8.16.2010, 08:31 a.m.

Cheryl, How heartbreaking to lose your daughter in this way. As you work through your sorrow and grief, we pray that God will give you the comfort and perfect peace that only He can give. Because Kara belonged to Jesus, evil could have no ultimate hold on her life. Though she struggled with mental illness, Jesus said in John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” We hope you’ll find great comfort knowing that Kara is safely in the strong arms of her Savior, now and forever. An untimely death is always hard to make sense of. But God is good. By sending Jesus into the world to die for our sins and reconcile us to Himself, He robbed death of its power over His children. “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:52, 54). Please be assured of our prayers.

Cheryl says 8.12.2010, 3:52 p.m.

My 19 yr old daughter lived her life for Jesus Christ. I have never met a kinder and more devout Christian and she was my daughter. In July, 2009, Kara had her first delusion. By Sept. of last year she was very ill and the doctors found a medicine that pulled her back to reality and she was back in college getting A's again. May 13th, 2010 she disappeared and her body was recently found in a State Park near our home. So far, we are being told she did not commit suicide and that she was delusional and unable to help herself out of the woods. Murder has not been ruled out. My heart is broken and I cry out to God "She loved You, was saving herself for marraige, read her bible and prayed every night, How could she not be in Heaven?". I am tormented and I don't know why. I was taught growing up that schizophrenia meant a person was demon possessed and could not go to Heaven. I don't believe this any longer. Kara lived for Jesus. The Christian community needs to show more love and understanding to those suffering from mental illness. In Christ, Cheryl

Ruth says 7.14.2010, 12:52 a.m.

I loved this article because I have seen this as a previous teacher. I had been taught that it was the unpardonable sin. Thank you for explaining this to me.