Subject: Is suicide a sin? |
Bible Note: Tim, your remarks on suicide bear your enviable trademark of reasonableness and balance, as well as a careful, conservative interpretation of Scripture. And regarding your testimony, "My salvation is based totally upon the mercy and grace of God," I would respond, "Amen. So is mine, and so is the salvation of us all."...... Now for a personal, subjective note about suicide. My wife has a niece who is only 38 years old but confined to a nursing center with a disease that is medically considered terminal. The disease, Huntington's, is hereditary and characterized by degeneration of the central nervous system. Severe depression often accompanies the disease and the rate of suicide among its victims is fairly high. While the niece thus far has not, so far as we know, attempted to take her own life, it is nontheless a clear possibility, so we have been informed by the professionals in charge of her care. What I am saying is that, in this case and who knows in how many other cases, the victims of suicide may not be really responsible for their deed..... I know you have been not in any way judgmental, Tim, and not the slightest hint of that is directed toward you. But I include the broad spectrum of all of us -- every Christian -- when I say that we would do well, I believe, to assign judgment to the only true Judge of the human heart. to Him whose love and mercy passes our understanding. It is never our burden to play God. We are singularly ill-equipped for that role. The taking of a human life, whether one's own or someone else's life, is an ignoble act against which Scripture clearly commands. But to equate it with the "unpardonable sin" as now and then we find someone suggesting, is going rather far afield and hardly in accord with scriptural teaching. --Hank |