See pt. 1/3

What is suicide?
Suicide is self-killing or self-murder. It is a compound word of sui (self) and caedere (to slay). It speaks of the act of self-killing, which was a crime in Canada until it was decriminalized in 1972.
Historically suicide was an immoral and criminal act, even as sympathy surrounded a situation.

​Today, the pendulum has swung to the opposite extreme where we speak of someone being the victim of suicide (as a mental health illness) and neutralize the language: “taking one’s life” “decided to end one’s life,” “loosing someone to [the battle of] suicide,” “dying suddenly.” This is what suicide is and two different views, one stressing responsibility and the other victimhood.

What does the Bible say about suicide?
As an effect of the Fall, suicide is almost as old as humanity. There are 7 passages that are clearly describe suicide in the Bible: Abimelech (Jud 9:52–54); Ahithophel (2 Sam 17:23); Zimri (1 Ki 16:18); Saul and also his armour bearer (1 Sam 31); Samson (Jud 16:28); and Judas (Mt 27:3–5). These can be categorized as self-sacrifice, cowardice in battle, folly and guilt. The two most famous are Saul (who through a series of faithless choices show himself to be an inglorious king) and Judas (whose guilt overcame him, yet note how Peter likewise betrayed Jesus but chose life…). These two examples show us that suicide is not portrayed positively in the Bible. It does not love God. It defames the image of God, is contrary to our nature to preserve life and does not trust in the Lord but self. It also does not love others, bringing untold harm to first responders, family, colleagues and communities.  Most clearly, it breaks the 6th commandment, thou shalt not murder. Murder is always immoral in the Bible from Cain, to violence in the days of Noah, to the 10 Commandments to Revelation that reminds us that all unrepentant sinners, no matter their crime, will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Such Christian views, and other life-giving forces, formed the bulwark against suicide in the past. Today, with the decline of Christianity has come the rise of suicide. A Canadian Mental Health document notes: “Protective factors: Religious Beliefs- Moral objections to suicide and self-injury tend to be a factor in preventing this behaviour.”[1]

When it comes to suicide, Christians have always leant toward responsibility, all the while being gracious and sympathetic. We must balance truth and grace.

Biblically, why might someone commit suicide?
            Demonic possession (e.g. Judas)
            Temptation (responding to Satan’s voices)
           To end the pain, fear, guilt, hopelessness or loneliness, often the result of an accumulation of            bad choices (vs. turning from sin and trusting in Jesus, whose Gospel provides a solution to                  each)
            Revenge (yes, some people commit suicide as a twisted form of revenge)
            Believing lies vs the truth, confusion (i.e. the lie that suicide will remove the problem when                   in fact, being outside of Christ, it makes it worse—hell).
            Acute mental illness where the mind lacks cognitive ability (itself an effect of the Fall)
The emphasis on spirituality, morality and responsibility all strikes modern secularists as out of touch with reality. Our being is the sum of our brain and body. If our brain is ill, one cannot help but become the victim of its troubles (and yet, like drunk driving, a series of bad choices will culminate in tragedy that still bears responsibility). However, even the brain is a mystery, even to leading psychologists. Little wonder, as we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139). Our mental health usually becomes ill through poor spiritual choices. Whether specifically or generally, every physical issue is a result of the Fall. The Bible also says that our mind is only part of the picture of who we are, but we’re ultimately body, soul and spirit. Here too lies an even greater mystery. There are spiritual and moral factors, not just mental, that must be held together. Ultimately, as sin effects our whole being a holistic approach is needed, one that begins and ends with the Gospel.

How to get/offer help?
While we affirm the immorality of suicide (truth) we ought also be compassionate (grace) toward those who are in the pit (Ps 40), for people in pits need someone to help them out, ultimately the Lord. If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide get help immediately, don’t rob yourself of the future. You can speak with a friend or family member, seek professional help (including a pastor), call help lines like 988 (Canada’s mental health hotline), or cry out to the Lord. Likewise, if you think someone is at risk of suicide you can call 988 for advise or take the ASSIST course for suicide intervention.


[1] Mental Health First Aid Canada (2019), Section 4, page 2.

We’re living in a time when it doesn’t only feel as if suicide is on the rise, it is. While suicide has always existed in the human experience since the Fall, it has steadily been on the rise in Canada since the 1950s when it was only 5 deaths/100K. Today it is 15+ deaths/100K (this is similar to a peak in the 1970s).[1] In the USA it has increased 36% since the year 2000.[2] The stats are also eschewed because attempted suicides are not recorded, a higher category amongst women, and also because MAiD isn’t considered suicide by StatsCan. As of 2019, most suicides happen amongst those middle aged, though there a variety of factors why certain groups or individuals succumb to suicide.[3]
​
However, statistics shield the reality that each represents a person. Today, hardly anyone or any family escapes suicide’s tragic effect. Whether it be MAiD or classic instances, suicide has even been described as a present epidemic, being one of the leading causes of death in the USA.[4] Clearly, we must be informed on the subject, as hard as the reality may be.

This is not a mere intellectual exercise either, nor should our experience or emotions be the primary guide. I don’t write here emotionally detached, from as early as high school I was confronted with suicide amongst friends. My own childhood friend committed suicide as an adult, there have been attempted suicides in my extended family and I’ve had youth and adults connected to my churches kill or attempt to kill themselves. While this doesn’t make me an expert it does, along with professional training, provide an opportunity to comment on suicide from a theological perspective. Christians must be equipped to deal with suicide, which sadly given the state of our culture and like many other things, is only going to get worse.

This multi-part blog series will seek to answer:

What is suicide and what does the Bible say about it?
How can we help minister to those considering suicide/or who suffer as its result?
What about a profession Christian who commits suicide?


[1] https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-11293-8

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html

[3] https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/suicide-canada-key-statistics-infographic.html

[4] https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html