Suicide is a heinous crime in any civilized country. Suicide in the days of the Roman Empire was considered to be a pardonable crime by Roman law. In England it was treated as a felony, and if anyone aids another, they would be held guilty of murder.
America is beginning to slide down this slippery slope of murder. Politicians are establishing laws supporting assisted suicides; judges are upholding these suicide missions, and because they put a new name on it, “Mercy killings,” it appears to bring a clear conscience to them. Nonsense, murder is murder, and God will hold those responsible for it, and those who agree.
To be suicidal relates to, or is of the nature of suicide, marked by an impulse to kill oneself. But to commit the act of suicide is self-murder; Suicide being the act of designedly destroying one’s own life. To do so, that party is in civilized social and in the Christian mind guilty of self-murder.
In pagan cultures throughout the ages, certain forms of suicide are called honorable, such as strapping a bomb about one’s waist, walking into a market full of innocent men, women, and children, and kill or maim all who are present. Those who are guilty of this behavior claim it’s for the glory of their god, but it’s usually for the political motives of some self-seeking tyrant. And for this act of terrorism the bomber is promised glory in heaven.
In World War 2, the Japanese had the Kamikaze; suicide pilots having a one-way ticket to their gods, also was the honorable self-killing of the warrior Samurai. Pushing a dagger through their body was the honorable way out for those who dishonored the gods, their commander or country.
Hitler’s political and military elite were of the same mentality. Cyanide capsules were their weapon of choice. They were cowards, not willing to stand trial and be accountable for their crimes.
What does God think of murder?
Matthew 19:18, Jesus said, “Thou shalt do no murder.”
Pilot released Barabbas, a murderer in exchange for Jesus. Over the past 50 years, murders have been given lighter and lighter sentences for the killing of innocent people.
Revelation 21:8, “Murderers — shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Murderers, even of self, shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
When a person commits suicide, how can they ever repent of the murder of self? Upon the committing any sin, we are to repent, and surely, not before the crime. They can’t, even if under the false teaching that they are saved, or “Once saved always saved.” This will not let them off the hook.
Revelation 9:21, “Neither repented they of their murders.” Are we to take this to the next level of false teachings? Is the doctrine of purgatory, or the teaching of the Jehovah Witnesses that everyone is given another chance after this life?
This life is all we have! Do right and spend eternity with the Lord; do wrong and spend your eternity in the lake of fire. God sent His only begotten Son to die for us, this is our last chance because it’s the final sacrifice for sin. Because of this we are to give our lives to Jesus Christ. In this, when a person is truly saved, their life becomes Christ’s. How can anyone do the work of Christ if they extinguish that life?
Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com