I understand that suicide is an extremely controversial topic, particularly within Reformed and Evangelical traditions. While the Roman Catholic Church emphatically and historically teaches that those who commit suicide are outside of the grace of God, the approach is rather legalistic and based on a theology of works righteousness.
On the other hand, Protestant and Evangelical Christianity take a different approach to righteousness and teach that our righteousness is a result of God’s grace, not the cause. That being said, the Scriptures lay out for us types of evidence that we can see to discern who is in God’s grace. We shall know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16).
While we understand that it isn’t our works or the things that we do to earn God’s grace, it must be stated that we should be very careful about declaring those who have committed atrocious evil, particularly that which ends life. Paul states clearly in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, that those who make a practice of sin, including murderers, have no place in the Kingdom of God. He further makes it clear that those who are Christians but used to practice these things before conversion have been washed and sanctified.
No, suicide does not automatically send someone to Hell. It is certainly possible to fall into sin for a time as a true believer. Further, I don’t mean to discourage you if you know someone who was a true believer but had a momentary lapse into sin that ended in this kind of tragedy. If you know for sure that person was a believer, rest in that comfort.
But we should also understand that those who commit suicide are, in fact, presenting evidence against their testimony in Christ if they do so. Suicide, as Russell Moore admits in the video below, is an act of murder, an attack against the Image of God, and stems from a state of despair—all things that regenerate Christians are to refrain from. Despite this, Moore urges us not to worry about them and that these people, who profess Christ but commit suicide, are still in Heaven.
@thegospelcoalition Russell Moore – Suicide is always sin. At the same time, true christians…you are forever in Christ, even until death. Rom 8:38-39 #thegospelcoalition #christian #jesus #bible #church #death ♬ original sound – The Gospel Coalition
