This controversial topic has unfortunately often been addressed in
emotional ways, not through biblical analysis. Those of us who grew up
Roman Catholic have always heard suicide is a mortal sin that
irretrievably sends people to hell. Influenced by the arguments of
Augustine and Aquinas, this belief dominated through the Reformation.
However, for Luther, the Devil is capable of oppressing (not possessing)
a believer to the point of pushing him to commit the sin of suicide (Table Talk, Vol 54:29).
As the salvation became better understood, many Reformation thinkers
and theologians distanced their views from the Church of Rome.
Besides this traditional position of the Catholic Church, we encounter three others:
a) A true Christian would never commit suicide, since God wouldn't allow it.
b) A Christian may commit suicide, but would lose his salvation.
c) A Christian may commit suicide without losing his salvation.
So what does the Bible say?
Let's begin by talking about those truths we know as revealed in God's Word:
- Humanity is totally depraved (Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:10-18). This doesn't mean we're as evil as we could be, but that every human capacity—intellect, heart, emotions, will—is tainted by sin. Continue at Miguel Núñez
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