Is suicide a sin?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by shazeep

ah, well i know nothing about ptsd; except that it, too, is ultimately self-inflicted, wadr. That covers like 1% of the depression spectrum; or maybe 10%. Depression i know about.

What is your source? I've read that untold numbers of people suffering from PTSD, Clinical Depression, and other mental illnesses go undiagnosed. If these cases were diagnosed, the numbers would be astronomically higher than most might think.

Ok, and quiet, gentle breezes, etc are all obtainable--Baja CA is more or less deserted, etc.

That wasn't the point. These things can ease symptoms... but these things don't cure it.

I certainly hope your testimony might give someone else thinking of "serving" pause.

Please keep in mind, PTSD isn't strictly related to combat. Police, firefighters, those who suffered child abuse, molestation, victims of rape and violent crimes, domestic violence, tragedies such as car crashes, plane crashes, house fires, near drowning, natural disasters, psychological abuse from cults and/or abusive pastors, etc. can also suffer from PTSD.

Of course, when one considers a career in the military, police, fire, trauma medical, etc.. They should consider PTSD as something that will most likely come with the territory. This is one reason why alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and failed marriages plague these professions. It is also why suicide rates are high in these kinds of professions also.

[Aquila]

Imagine having a traumatic circumstance happen to you. The brain explodes in serotonin and other chemicals to help calm or activate flight for survival. This explosion of bio-chemical response can be so strong that it altars chemical channels in the brain and they cement connections to memory. Now this traumatic memory finds itself interwoven in your day to day thoughts, even on a subconscious level. These "episodes" trigger the same biochemical response over and over and over again in the brain. Each time it happens these channels are dug deeper into the brain's functionality - like the erosion that takes place in a small stream eventually digs the stream deeper and wider until it becomes a river. Proper counseling and "positive thinking" can only go so far as it might relate to redirecting some of these events. However, it often takes medication to control biochemical responses in the brain to help try to "re-wire" the brain's biochemical processes.

PTSD and clinical depression are as much actual "physical" injuries to the brain as taking a ball-bat to someone's head. It's "brain damage" do to trauma. It's not just "emotional".

So when sufferers from these and other forms of mental illness find themselves having an episode or find themselves entering a manic behavioral state, they are entering a state of consciousness that isn't governed by logical thought. If they decide to kill themselves in this state... it's the illness... not them. It would most likely never be their normal conscious intent to kill themselves.

[Aquila]

Also keep in mind that the threshold for PTSD is different for every individual. One might be able to handle a traumatic event better than another person. One person might walk away from an event that wouldn't seem traumatic to many, but suffer deep psychological damage.

[Aquila]

My point is... those who suffer from various forms of mental illness and psychological trauma and succumb to suicidal thoughts and tendencies resulting from their conditions are "victims" of their conditions, not "perpetrators" of willful and intentional violence upon themselves. I do believe that the grace and mercy of God is greater than their pain and turmoil, these I believe will awaken from their death with great remorse and God, the God who knows all, will be gracious to their souls in His healing mercies and He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

[Aquila]

There is also the question of those who are enduring such physical pain due to some chronic condition that it is a virtual hell on earth. Should these give into the impulse to commit suicide... could God also have mercy upon them? Is anything too hard for God? Are they not actually acting on the impulse to flee to another level of existence and escape the pain?

To me, this question is far more difficult to answer. All I can say is, maybe... maybe not. We don't know. I would pray that a loving God who knows the pain can judge lovingly and justly.

[Aquila]

Then there are suicides due to impulsive selfishness.

For example, a boy who kills himself over a girl breaking up with him. Or a girl killing herself because her father has not embraced her decisions as it relates to career, a lover, or lifestyle. These acts of suicide are typically very selfish and impulsive. They come with an attitude of, "I'll show them. I'll hurt them. They'll be sorry when I'm gone!" This form of suicide is something I'm more willing to believe will have eternal consequences. The motivation is selfish and it is to cause unbearable pain to others. This form of suicide, I can see having judgment attached to it.

Also those who kill themselves out of shame and guilt. For example, a family man who kills himself after realizing that he will be charged with molesting his child. A pastor who kills himself after being caught with a prostitute. A politician who kills themselves after realizing that their corruption is about to be exposed or has been exposed. These are all selfish acts to escape the consequences of their sin, thus their suicide is only sin added to sin. These will face judgment.

[Aquila]

Then there are suicides that are for a greater cause. For example, Sampson bringing the Philistine temple down upon himself to destroy his enemies. A soldier who throws himself upon a grenade. This kind of thing. Here, I can see God having much grace and mercy, for in willfully laying down their lives, they saved others.

[Aquila]

The circumstances and motivations of suicide must be taken into account. A one-size fits all overly simplistic view of this topic can lead to much pain and even destroy the faith of those who have lost a loved one to suicide. There are spouses of servicemen and women who have committed suicide due to severe PTSD... these received their PTSD as a result of heroic service and sacrifice for their families and the entire nation. Their PTSD is a wound they brought home with them that eventually crushed their soul and left them feeling like suicide was the only way out of their day to day horror. Are we to look their surviving parents, spouses, and children in the eye and say, "God doesn't care why or how, these are doomed to everlasting fire."??? We all can sense in our inner man that this isn't the case for these. The Spirit testifies to our own spirit that such isn't so. These are wounded people who psychologically and emotionally bled to death and ended their torments in a state of hyper-vigilant flight from their anguish and condition. If these were "born again", I must say that God's hand isn't so short, nor His understanding so dim, that He cannot understand and cover them in His love and grace.

[Jito463]

All I have to say on the matter, is that regardless of the source or the cause of any mental instability, I believe wholeheartedly that Jesus can heal it. By His stripes we are healed. It makes no distinction between physical and mental pain/illness, we are healed.

As to the original topic, I do believe suicide is a sin, but I am not the judge. By that point, there is only one left who can judge, so I leave it to Him. I prefer to deal with stopping people before they take their own lives.

[thephnxman]

Originally Posted by Jito463

All I have to say on the matter, is that regardless of the source or the cause of any mental instability, I believe wholeheartedly that Jesus can heal it. By His stripes we are healed. It makes no distinction between physical and mental pain/illness, we are healed.
As to the original topic, I do believe suicide is a sin, but I am not the judge. By that point, there is only one left who can judge, so I leave it to Him. I prefer to deal with stopping people before they take their own lives.

One of the best answers!