Theology Blog

Recently I have been in a situation where I have had to talk a lot about suicide and the theology around it. Its not something we should have to be talking about, but the world is not as it should be. There is a theological view within Christianity that claims that anyone who commits suicide goes to hell no matter what. It is a view that rose in part out of the catholic church and gets little discussion today even though many teach and hold this view.

The basis for this view is in the incorrect interpretation of two different passages, one that appears in three of the four gospels and one that appears in Pauls letters. The Gospel passage talks about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Of course this is not a word that we know much about, but at its core, it is a direct affront, accusation and rejection of God. It is to claim that God is not real or to embrace satan instead of God. Some have decided that rather than take this view and interpretation, to view suicide as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. There is no real textual or scholarly basis to this however.

The other passage talks about grieving the Holy Spirit. Again, this is interpreted by some as suicide being the ultimate act against God, the way to grieve the Holy Spirit. While this is less of a stretch, it is a stretch nonetheless. What this does refer to however, is the rejection of God when we come face to face with God whether in life, death or both. This is the only way we can end up spending eternity without God. Now, CS Lewis notes that he could not understand how someone could come face to face with God in death and reject the power and love of God, but that some clearly do.

The idea that God would abandon any of his children in the midst of the darkest moment of their life, regardless of their belief, lifestyle or church attendance is contrary to the whole of scripture and the life, teaching, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is in our moments of deepest pain that God is with us.

The truth is that we can never be sure of anyones salvation but our own. The only thing we can do is life in hope, trust of God and live in love, sharing the good news of Gods unconditional love and grace with everyone we encounter in word and deed.

As for suicide, any idea that engaging in this act of desperation warrants the automatic and eternal rejection of God in every case is pure rubbish.