56 Comments
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Robert Evenden's avatar

No.

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Brian Dameron's avatar

Again Jim great article

Lost my Sister to suicide and it was hard on my mother who was told that the out come was Hell. I tried to console her but she would worry.

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stephan aldrich's avatar

I've known 4 relatives and 2 friends that committed suicide in my lifetime and I have to get a straight answer as to their eternal destiny. Your article cleared some of that up. Thank you.

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Paul Drexel's avatar

If someone who commits suicide has become a believer in Jesus, it’s a pardonable sin. Only God knows whether the person was a believer.

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Jim McCraigh's avatar

"Only God knows whether the person was a believer." is SO true!

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Brian Abel's avatar

I have to believe yes…otherwise I would have done it years ago

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Tricia's avatar

No! Jesus said the denial of accepting his salvation ( denial of the Holy Spirit) is the only sin we will not be forgiven. We confess He is the Son of God and He takes our sins past prevent future with Him to His death.

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Brenda C Jarvis's avatar

This is amazing, that this came up in my husband's list to read, last night at church we had an open question time for the pastor and those present. The first question was: "If someone commits suicide does the person go to hell?"

My heart immediately felt pain, and I didn't want to listen to the discussion, because in May my grandson, at 25 years old was found unresponsive, it was ruled a suicide. We are still trying to cope. I knew as a young person he had made a decision for Christ, but later grew angry and distanced himself from faith.

The death of a young person is so hard whether, of illness, accident, overdose, or suicide.

Our class last night spoke of many of the same things that you explained so well.

One of the verses that brings me comfort is that God knows our hearts.

1 Chronicles 28:9: King David tells his son, King Solomon, “for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts”

I decided from the moment I learned of his death, to run to the Lord. I have peace that my grandson is waiting for me in heaven.

Thank you for addressing this difficult topic, I know that many family members question it within themselves, as well as listening to some who speak instead of comforting.

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Jim McCraigh's avatar

Thank you for sharing that Brenda...

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Frederick R Smith's avatar

A difficult subject presented with compassion. Bravo Jim!

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Jim McCraigh's avatar

Thank you...

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Ron Kays's avatar

Of all the horrifyingly devastating news one can receive, nothing compares with hearing those awful words: [Name Here] committed suicide.”

There is actually a physical jolt that rockets through your soul. Considering the finality of it only compounds the weight.

Not sure how the survivors live with it.

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Jim McCraigh's avatar

For sure... Some say committing suicide shows utter disregard for family and friend's feelings...

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Ron Kays's avatar

Totally get that. But that mindset is diminished or absent from the one exiting the stage.

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Penny's Ponderings's avatar

Well, this seems very comforting.

But this was the verse that was brought to my mind:

But for the cowardly and untrustworthy and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Rev. 21:8

Isnt someone who commits suicide both a coward and a murderer?

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Jim McCraigh's avatar

Sometimes it is mental illness... If person is saved, the they are saved. In his Gospel, John tells us that those who believe in Christ are not condemned. Then Rev. 21:8 states, "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." The second death mentioned in this verse is for those who have NOT trusted in Christ for their salvation. Hope this helps...

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Penny's Ponderings's avatar

I have known quite a few people who are character disordered and what they all had in common was evil and innapropriate behavior. I believe what psychologists/psychiatrists euphemistically call "mental illness" is influence or possession by demons. Those people who are truly saved have the HS living inside them, so they can't be inhabited by demons or even one demon.

Demons and fallen angels want to "steal, kill and destroy". John 8:44 says " You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him." (Jesus talking).

I believe the HS directed me to the right verse, Rev. 21:8, because those "mentally ill" who murder themselves are not authentic Christians. They don't have the HS to comfort them and teach them and remind them of God's word. They are being demonically urged to destroy themselves.

We'll have to agree to disagree.

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Brian's avatar

Amen ! And thanks for the navigation and reminders of Gods promises! 👍🙏!!

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Jim McCraigh's avatar

You are welcome!

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Tony Scialdone | GodWords's avatar

Thank you for clearly expressing the truth found in Scripture: that Jesus 'paid it all' on the cross. If sinning is mankind's problem, then not sinning is the solution... but the Bible never suggests that avoiding sin is how one gets to Heaven. Nicely done!

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Jim McCraigh's avatar

Thank you...

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Wendy Elizabeth Williams's avatar

Mr. McCraigh, excellent piece, thank you. Suicide is a very difficult subject. I was saved as a child, broke with my Christian faith due to awful grief in youth, spent 35 years in sorrowful wandering and finally made my way back to the Household of God, face down in the mud and filthy from head to spiritual toes. God's mercy brought me back. I still deal with deep depression and CLING, CLING, AND CLING to God every single day. I repent quickly, I ask for His counsel and guidance and have a good and solid church where I live. I am an open book. Faith in Christ does not immediately confer "all things are great now and I am just fine." That is not true, as faith in God and His Son is a daily walk, step by step. I have made progress, for which I am grateful and much of my own Substack is a sharing of my journey through the chaos of the sexual revolution and how the devil lies so well and how he ensnared so many of my Boomer generation. I am just grateful I came back! Suicide has crossed my mind on multiple occasions but I resist, holding on by a fingertip at times but grateful for God's patience and mercy, for the ministry to the brokenhearted that He has given me through the gift of words. I LONG to go Home, though! God bless you for your writing, Sir.

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Jim McCraigh's avatar

Wendy, thank you so much for sharing that. There will be people who will read that and be encouraged by your story!

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Debi Lutman's avatar

Wendy, thank you, your testimony is awesome in His Power to save.

My favorite scripture for voices, whether my own or whispered from the enemy…..“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Holy Spirit now helps me see them “incoming”, and I remember to give it over, and the damming thoughts go where they belong. At first they came back, but by our faith we are saved AND can say, behind me Satan, in Jesus’s name!! Faith is believing HE CAN. And loves us so much!!

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David Wolosik's avatar

That was outstanding Jim. I think it will give people great peace. Thank you.

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Jim McCraigh's avatar

Thank you for y our very kind words... it means a lot coming from you!

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Geoffrey Stroud's avatar

Thank you Jim for a perspective on this difficult topic. I resolve to take up my cross daily, the rest is up to Yeshua. I teach the risen Christ through The Word. If The Word is silent, so shall I be. You are a gifted man and I respect your thoughts.

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Jim McCraigh's avatar

As always, thank you so much for your kind words...

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Amii's avatar

Now this is an interesting topic! I've always heard that people who commit suicide and take their own life are made to come back and are born into a new physical body and that person has to live the same life over again and deal with the same problems over again that made that person take their life to begin with until that person lives out their full life! That our Creator and Most High will send a soul back into another physical body to live out another earthly life and suffer as punishment for taking his or her own life in a previous lifetime! My thoughts on suicide are that if a person purposely with the intention of ending his or her own earthly life is interfering with the Most High's plan for that person's soul! The Most High gives us life on earth for a reason and a purpose because He knows each souls potential, who and what we can become because He created us! I believe that He sends us into a physical body on earth inorder for us to develop our light and to shine our light that He gives us! So if a person takes their own life then they are putting out their own light and being disrespectful to The Most High and rejecting Him by ending the life that He gave that person! I think that suicide would be an abomination to our Creator and is disrespecting Him! Does a soul automatically go to hell for taking their own life, that's a good question! I don't want to try that and find out!

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