A sincere question for Christians

[Joe the meek]

If you commit suicide, do you go to hell?

This discussion came up at Sunday school. We're currently attended a Methodist church and I was informed that the Methodist don't believe if you kill yourself you're automatically going to hell. However, I was told by a couple of members who came from the Baptist side of things that the Baptist do believe you're going to hell if you kill yourself.

Personally, I don't think you go straight to hell if you kill yourself. To many variables.

Now, if you don't believe in a Heaven or Hell, I respect your right not to believe in a God, so please respect my right to question organized religion

 

[AUFred]

As a Southern Baptist we are taught once saved always saved. God's grace is unfathomable for us. Jesus forgave murderers & thieves on the cross. The greatest writers in the bible were murderers. Moses, David, Paul all killed and had blood on their hands. I believe we are to be held accountable for our sins on judgement day but I do not believe committing suicide damns you to Hell.

 

[AnitaBeer]

What if they ask for forgiveness right before they do it? If they went to hell wouldn't that blow the whole "as long as you accept God and ask for forgiveness you will be saved" out of the water right?
Ok the quotes are just to separate the thought not actual quote...obviously.

 

[Joe the meek]

As a Southern Baptist we are taught once saved always saved. God's grace is unfathomable for us. Jesus forgave murderers & thieves on the cross. The greatest writers in the bible were murderers. Moses, David, Paul all killed and had blood on their hands. I believe we are to be held accountable for our sins on judgement day but I do not believe committing suicide damns you to Hell.

That leads into another question that was brought up. If you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior and are saved, does that mean you have a go card and go straight to heaven no matter what you do after you were saved? So, if you are saved, and in a fit of rage, you go and kill 10 people in anger, does God show the saved person mercy and let them into heaven?

 

[pjbleek]

the answer I keep finding is that suicide is a sin of pride (the worst one apparently) but who do you confess to? Jesus? God?

 

[AUFred]

That leads into another question that was brought up. If you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior and are saved, does that mean you have a go card and go straight to heaven no matter what you do after you were saved? So, if you are saved, and in a fit of rage, you go and kill 10 people in anger, does God show the saved person mercy and let them into heaven?

The belief is Saved by Grace not by works. There is a day of reckoning before the judgement seat if you truly believe all is forgiven. As a Christian you should try to be Christ-like but all are human and fall short.

 

[Joe the meek]

The belief is Saved by Grace not by works. There is a day of reckoning before the judgement seat if you truly believe all is forgiven. As a Christian you should try to be Christ-like but all are human and fall short.

I agree with you Fred, but the one thing that keeps coming to mind is how does ANY man know who is going to Heaven or who is going to Hell?

How many church funerals did you ever go to where the minister/preacher tells you that the dearly beloved is now at the right hand of the Father in the Kingdom of Heaven? How does any man know what's in the hearts of other men? Only God knows and only God can make that call.

As an old minister (who I respected) pointed out, how do we know some of the worlds most evil men are in Hell? We assume we know, but in reality, there is no way we can.

 

[NoDak]

As for the Heaven or Hell issue, it's not up to us to judge. By doing so, we are attempting to take on God's role, which we are not capable of due to our sinful nature. Take the evilist bastard you know. Sooner or later, he'll die. We don't know what his final thoughts were before he passed on. For all we know, it might be like the Thief on the Cross, who cried out; "Be merciful to me, a sinner." If he is sincere in his wish, he is forgiven, just as Christ promised the thief that; "Today, you will be with me in Paradise."
For that matter, the most righteous person you know might be evil as hell in his heart. Only God knows the true person and will judge accordingly. Now, I'm gonna tell you this: Don't be worrying about placing another person in Heaven or Hell. Just mind your own backyard so that when YOUR day comes, you're ready to meet your Lord.
I have heard many a minister say the same things at funerals. Your minister or priest is a man, just as you and I are. He has no business saying where the deceased is. He doesn't know either.

 

[Minor Axis]

If you commit suicide, do you go to hell?

This discussion came up at Sunday school. We're currently attended a Methodist church and I was informed that the Methodist don't believe if you kill yourself you're automatically going to hell. However, I was told by a couple of members who came from the Baptist side of things that the Baptist do believe you're going to hell if you kill yourself.

Personally, I don't think you go straight to hell if you kill yourself. To many variables.

Now, if you don't believe in a Heaven or Hell, I respect your right not to believe in a God, so please respect my right to question organized religion

Heaven and Hell- Unknown.
Existence of God and his Judgement- Unknown.
Verdict- Unknown.

As a Southern Baptist we are taught once saved always saved. God's grace is unfathomable for us. Jesus forgave murderers & thieves on the cross. The greatest writers in the bible were murderers. Moses, David, Paul all killed and had blood on their hands. I believe we are to be held accountable for our sins on judgement day but I do not believe committing suicide damns you to Hell.

What would judgement consist of- a stern talking to or being skewered on a spit and slowly roasted?

the answer I keep finding is that suicide is a sin of pride (the worst one apparently) but who do you confess to? Jesus? God?

While I don't intend this to be an attack on your rational, religion apparantly has skewed your logic. It's a known fact that depression can drive individuals to suicide and it's not based upon pride in any shape or form. It has to do with releaving pain and misery.