It isn’t too surprising that a philosopher once said that suicide is the most important issue for philosophy and then went on to ignore it, but for an individual actually struggling with suicidal feelings, the study of ideas really doesn’t seem to be of much practical use. Often, at the last moment, in desperation, those actually suffering through the dilemma of whether to be or not to be turn to religion for answers, but it might be said that religion is the practical application of ideas; so, it may not be particularly effective to place the plow before the mule.
     Surely, before someone decides to take any course of action, he or she must be convinced that it is the right course for him or herself to take. Naturally, a person must believe that his own behavior is the proper application of a given idea; that is, one naturally will act according to the faith he has and against ideas to which he does not subscribe. Suicide is the result of believing the idea that suicide is the only answer to one’s troubles. A person resolved by this negative form of faith will make that fatal choice.
     Individuals relate to ideas in two ways: 1) knowing them and 2) believing them. A certain person knows that there is a law against speeding. He believes it is a good thing to have this law and for everyone to obey it because it is sensible not to speed. He understands that it is for his own good and the good of others. If he were caught speeding, he would pay the ticket without a fight; that is, he would submit to its authority. If caught, he would be fearful of the consequences of not paying. He knows the law; he believes in it; he even relies on it to protect him from the recklessness of others – yet he speeds. Now, the question is: does he intellectually know the law or does he actually believe in the law? Let me suggest that the answer is, to paraphrase an earlier philosopher, the truth is not the truth until it is the truth for you. Subjectively understood, you cannot "have" the truth; that is, you cannot believe an idea unless you identify with it - you must become or live the truth. Ultimately, relating to an idea subjectively or personally means something like what is meant by the expression "taking ownership."
     Some individuals claim to have beliefs upon which they have never acted, but it seems rather difficult to believe that anyone could have faith without any application thereof. Such a self-contradiction could itself lead to thoughts of suicide. When one does not practice what one believes, the result is self-alienation and personal degradation. Nonetheless, it is doubtful that a pharisaic lack of substance, an awareness of having nothing to show for one’s beliefs, constitutes a primary source of suicidal thoughts – if at all.
     A given person’s ideals may play a roll in suicide, but they are not the cause. It is obviously too easy to forget one’s ideals or God when either interferes with one’s immediate wants and perceived needs. Disillusionment with life or doubting God’s existence may be used to support or excuse suicidal thoughts, and simply discussing the topic can bring up suicidal feelings, but in general, unfulfilled desires and undesirable circumstances are the primary sources of negative feelings towards life and oneself. Feelings ranging from a desire to stop suffering physical pain to a desire to have the object of one’s affections can produce suicidal thoughts.
     Of course, there is a wide range of views concerning the importance of this issue. On one end, there is a laissez faire attitude towards others. Those who adhere to this view justify themselves by saying that everyone has a right to do as they please with their own life, and they don’t want anyone telling them what to do with their life. Some are even arrogant enough to suggest suicide is a solution for our socio-economic problems. On the other end, morality is predicated upon acting responsibly precisely because one cares how he may effect the lives of others, and faith is predicated on caring enough to attempt promoting the welfare of others. Heart felt faith produces the fruits of righteousness, and it does not excuse wrong doing or doing good deeds for the wrong reasons. (Matthew 7: 12 – 24;  25: 14 – 46;  Luke 3: 8 – 14;  13: 23 – 27;  Romans 1: 16 – 22)
     It would not be surprising if the aforementioned philosopher was himself acquainted with thoughts and feelings of suicide. It would explain in part his interest in the subject and his opinion regarding its importance. It is only natural that a person’s experiences effect his core beliefs.
     Ideas are a special category of experience; according to the Bible they are the kind that come by hearing. (Romans 10: 17)  A person may have original ideas founded on previous experience and an inbred nature, but obviously external ideas, those which are not innate, must be transmitted by the medium of language.
     New ideas are a part of how we learn and grow, and no one should feel apprehensive about learning new things or learning new ways of thinking. Therefore, this article is not written simply to provide intellectual fodder or to prompt debate and concern for the issue of suicide. It is primarily written with the intent of changing the way its readers think about the issue by answering the question whether or not you the reader should commit suicide with reference to the Bible. It represents my own personal interpretation of the biblical position regarding the answer to the problem.
     The moral dilemma centers on the question – is it right or wrong to commit suicide? From a personal view, the question is whether you should or should not commit suicide. This article does not deal directly or objectively with the question; rather, it approaches the issue subjectively in order to provide an alternative point of view, a biblical viewpoint.
     The majority of people are appalled by suicides finality. It seems to be such a total waste and an act of sheer cowardice and faithlessness. The near universal cry is to say no to the darkness, and our inner witness says, ‘what about God; will He forgive me?’ Since we have free will (unless we are going to say God has allowed the devil to run roughshod over us without having given us the power through Christ Jesus to choose for ourselves), ultimately, the decision is for the individual to make. If you are going to do it, no one can stop you, but if you doubt your capacity to deal with a world that does not make sense, then what makes you think that you are qualified to make this decision, and how do you know that death is preferable to a life of struggle? Yes, life may be a struggle, a drudgery, or a torment to you, but what is on the other side? What draws you like a moth to a flame is a hope, a deep seated, heartfelt desire for a better life, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to live a long and happy life – that is the message of The Gospel – only, the Gospel claims that even the longest and happiest life here in this world cannot compare with the eternal and abundant life coming with God. However, Jesus put one precondition on salvation that the world cannot understand and sees as practically the same thing as suicide.
     In the early days of Christianity, it probably seemed like suicide to become a Christian because one could be rejected by friends and family, lose standing in the community or one’s vocation, and face persecution, punishment, imprisonment, and even death. To outsiders, early in its history, Christianity appeared to be a cult of death because its adherents longed to die and be with or suffer like their savior Jesus (The Christ). They believed that to be a Christian meant laying down one's life as a living sacrifice for Him and spreading His Gospel of the Kingdom of God or Heaven no matter what the cost. What constituted truth and virtue for Christians became a threat to the established order and even a form of atheism or heresy. It fit all the criteria of a cult, and it was thought of as a cult by outsiders. Its converts were taught to sell all that they had and to lay the proceeds at the feet of their leaders, the shepherds of the faithful flock. In our day, even to most christians, such behavior seems like fanaticism or radical fundamentalism. An honest reading of the Bible shocks the reader with his or her own bankruptcy, and it actually teaches that the precondition for entry into the Kingdom of Heaven (salvation) is suicide or, at the least, something closely akin to it.
     The very core of Christian conversion is the act of confessing personal moral failure. The world  (those who do not accept the biblical world view) suspects that anyone who contemplates or commits suicide suffers from a lack of self-esteem or self-love and the hope that their own life can become better.
     The Bible teaches the contrary. The real problem with all people (successful or not, happy or not, suicidal or not) is pride and self-centeredness. (Luke 5: 31, 32;  18: 10 – 14)  Suicidal individuals suffer from a form of self-centeredness that prevents them from seeking help for fear of embarrassment. The possibility of further embarrassment locks the individual into a constant tension between his own appearance and the pain and suffering he continues to endure. You yourself may begin doubting your ability to remain sane or to continue struggling to survive in an increasingly insane world. As difficult as this ‘tail chase effect’ is to overcome, the most difficult problem to overcome is arrogant pride – a sin God will not clear.
     Jesus says to take His burden which is light and to give Him your burdens which are heavy, but what does that mean to someone caught in this vicious cycle? (Matthew 11: 28 – 30)  This question cannot be fully answered in this article; if you want a more complete answer, read the Bible, the Gospels in particular, for yourself. However, the common assumption is that becoming a Christian will make life easier and better, but that is nonsense. Being laughed at, spit upon, beaten, imprisoned, tortured, and killed for your faith is not easier or better. It is a strange kind of crutch that true Christians have which gets taken from them so that they can be beaten with it and then crucified upon it. No, becoming a Christian, a true and righteous believer can only lead to more problems and more responsibilities. Christianity is not the answer to your problems; it is a problem for you to answer. Your problems are just practice for the real test of faith. However, life does get easier in the sense that you no longer have to try and please everyone or even yourself by fulfilling all kinds of nitpicky and contradictory rules and expectations; rather, you can live to please only one person, the One, God Who truly deserves to be loved in response to all He has given and done and will give and do for those who love Him. When you love someone, nothing is too great a sacrifice - you will lay down your life and your best for the one you love - the One Who you know loved you first.
     Jesus taught that if you wished to become one of His disciples, you must first count the cost. (Matthew 13: 44 – 46;  19: 12, 21 – 23, 28 – 30;  Luke 14: 26 – 35)  The precondition for entry into His Kingdom is immediate (without hesitation) total commitment with no regrets (no looking back) even if your faithful service results in suffering and dying like Him. Total commitment means turning away from your old life and never returning to it. (Luke 9: 56 – 62)  Total commitment means laying down your life for Christ, the Gospel, and your brothers and sisters in the faith. (John 15: 12 – 14;  I John 3: 14 – 18)  It means everything you are and everything you have is surrendered to the service of Christ. (Romans 12: 1 – 3)  Only someone ready to die is ready to take up his cross and follow Jesus. (Matthew 16: 21 – 27;  Luke 9: 22 – 26)
     Many so called christians speak of a new spiritual birth when describing the way in which a person becomes a believer, but fail to use the most accurate description – a seed sown in death and made alive again. They claim that you can come “just as you are” to faith in Christ by simply saying "the sinner's prayer" and really meaning it in your heart. How faith can be a gift from God that we have no control over on one hand and a choice we are required to make on the other is not explained, but it is plainly taught in scripture that many are called, but few chosen. (Exodus 32: 33;  34: 7;  Ezekiel ch.18;  20: 38;  Matthew 22: 14;  John 3: 16 – 18;  II Peter 1: 1 – 11)
     While it is true that you do not have to put on your best dress, learn Greek and Hebrew, move to the Holy Land, or keep the temporal matters of the Law such as circumcision, it is truer still that there are necessary spiritual actions everyone must take. It is questionable that someone who believes in “faith alone” or “come as you are conversion” actually counted the cost of a total surrender to Christ, the Gospel, and the service of God without looking back. How many of these so called christians have actually made a total commitment remains to be seen.
     Jesus said that His disciples would do the same works that he did and suffer the same afflictions. (Matthew 10: 22 – 28;  Luke 6: 40 – 49;  John 13: 15;  14: 12 – 15;  15: 17 – 20)  He taught that to be His disciple you must: forgive and love even your enemies, confess Him and not deny Him, obey His commands, and enter at the straight and narrow gate which is a righteousness that must exceed that of the Pharisees (no hypocrisy, love your neighbors like the good Samaritan, do not pervert the commandments but keep them, especially the weightier matters, do not do your works to gain glory in this world or honor of men but in secret to God, etc., etc.). In a word, be ye “perfect” even as your Father in Heaven is perfect. (Matthew ch.s 5;  6;  7;  10: 32 – 42;  23: 2 – 14, 23 – 28;  Luke 6: 20 – 40;  10: 25 – 37;  11: 28 – 46;  Colossians ch.2 and ch.3)
     There is only one way a human being can be perfect. A human being can be perfect if he will by faith give up his own life, release his own willful desires, and accept the will of God. One can choose to obey God and become a wise man built up on the example Jesus Christ gave, or one can choose to hold on to one’s life, possessions, and self-governance. All worldly desires will terminate one way or the other. We all die; what matters is how you die. There is only one way to have victory in death and that is to overcome it in this life by ironically choosing to die spiritually to the power it has over this world and the minds of godless men.
     One warning is necessary – whosoever chooses to serve and live for Christ but does not let go of his own life and this world will be torn in two and never have true saving faith. So, you see that if you are ready to die, then you are in the perfect position to become a real follower, a fit vessel for God, yet you will keep your identity and find true purpose and love as a child of God. (John 1: 12, 13;  Romans 8: 13 – 28;  I Corinthians 2: 9)
     God saves sinners; He heals the sick; He finds the lost. If you are sick at heart, if you are lost in this world or a failure, come to Christ. To the world, Christ was a failure and a fool, and you can become a fool for Christ, a tool for truth and righteousness, but you have to be broken. Confess your sins, your dependence upon God’s help, your need to be set free from the bonds of sin and death, and let go of this temporary world – cling to Christ and His words. You came naked into this world and you will go out naked. No one gets out with so much as a penny; so, let go of any weight: your dreams and aspirations as well as your problems and worries. Do not let the world fool you; God has blessed you. He has helped you to come to Him. If you were rich, happy, and content, you probably would not give Jesus a second thought, but like an old man who has lost friends, family, strength, sight, and hearing you are ready to die.
     Now the world will tell you that Heaven is a dull place, but would the God who created this world with such beauty and variety, who scattered the stars in heaven and arrayed the flowers of the field, who teaches the birds to sing, and puts a song in the heart of every believer live in a duller place? No! There is no better hope than to be with Jesus forever; He is the author and finisher of our faith and the creator of everything we know is good and every good to come. The physician of your soul says, in effect, put your life in My hands, and I will give you forever.
     Do not be deceived. Many will tell you that salvation is simply a legal declaration by God, as if, a new born creation would not have a new nature, a new condition of the heart. They will try to spiritualize the Gospel; they will say that Jesus does not free you from the bondage of sin; rather, they will say He frees you from the consequences of your sin which is death. They have a form of godliness but they deny the power of God’s Holy Spirit living in you. They will say you played no part in your own conversion, as if, confessing Christ, forgiving others, and humbling yourself could be performed by another for you. They will say that you cannot yield yourself or choose Christ freely; God makes you change. They will say faith and salvation are merely given to you without regard to your choice. Don’t believe it. You can overcome if you look to the cross and walk in the power of the Spirit. To the world you are just a pawn, but to God you are a precious child. Life asks nothing of you, but it tramples you without a second thought; God asks everything of you because you are the apple of His eye. Everything He does is either for your good or some higher purpose, but everything the world asks of you is for its own benefit.
     To be in Christ is to eat up His teachings: to hear and do them. Hearing is believing, but take heed how you hear, for the resurrection is for the just. (Matthew 21: 28 – 31;  Luke 8: 15 – 21;  14: 12 - 14;  John 3: 19 – 21;  6: 63 – 65;  8: 47 – 51;  Romans 10: 16 – 21)  Many will demand that you accept and believe certain doctrines, and they tout a personal relationship with Christ, but do not be fooled. One can deny Christ with more than just bad doctrine. Love is not lip service. The way to destruction is wide; it is the way of faith alone; it is the way of hypocrisy, iniquity, and assuming the life of faith. The way of Christ is straight and narrow; it is to humble yourself in obedience to His teachings. Those who know the truth but do not act upon it will receive greater damnation. The Gospel has always been according to godliness. Grace teaches all men to live godly in this present age. The just are those who are not only justified; they are those who keep the weighty laws of justice (righteousness) and mercy (love), and not faith alone. (Matthew 23: 23)
     Fear not men who can only destroy your body, and do not deny the Lord, but endure to the end. Do not be offended by Christ, but abide in Him, and He will raise you up the last day to forever more be with Him. Life with Jesus is our blessed hope, and we can start living that blessing right now. Sell all that you have literally: in spirit and in truth. Deny yourself, mortify your flesh, and become a eunuch for the Kingdom. Do not be an unprofitable servant. Be holy for God is holy. Make your election sure, and abundantly enter the Kingdom of Jesus Christ our Lord.