What Does the Bible Say About Suicide?
Brother Bob Pellien: A viewer asks, “What does the Bible say about suicide, or suicidal actions?” What guidance does the Bible give to those suffering from suicidal ideation?
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Brother Bob: The Bible. The basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ, which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God, and most importantly, salvation. That’s in the Bible!
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Brother Bob Pellien
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob: I’m Bob Pellien, and welcome to the program, That’s in the Bible. Today we will consult the Holy Bible regarding the issues surrounding the great sadness epidemic of our time, with the hope of finding clarity, comfort and direction from what is written in the Bible. You know, we’ve all seen the headlines, right? Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and with that, more people are dying by suicide.
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Source: World Health Organization
Depression is a leading cause of disability around the world and contributes greatly to the global burden of disease. The effects of depression can be long-lasting or recurrent and can dramatically affect a person’s ability to function and live a rewarding life.
Brother Bob: And you know, dear friends, mathematically, it averages out then to one person dying from suicide every forty-five seconds.
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Source: World Health Organization
More than 700,000 people die due to suicide every year.
Brother Bob: One of our viewers named Danielle emailed into our program asking about suicide. She asked: What does the Bible say about suicide or suicidal actions? Is self-injury/suicide a sin?
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Danielle T.
What does the Bible say about suicide or suicidal actions? Is self-injury/suicide a sin?
Brother Bob: Thank you, Danielle, for sharing your question with us. Whether it’s you experiencing these thoughts, or you simply want to be informed so that, well, you can inspire others towards healing – we are sure you are not alone. So, many confide that they, too, are experiencing, you know, the heavy burdens of life today that make them so sad that even leads some into depression, or even worse, they ask “Is suicide the answer? Or, is there another solution?” When you ask people what they want most in life, you know, many will say, “I just want to be happy.”
In order to answer the question and the concern, let’s frame our topic of discussion around these questions:
- Does the Bible describe suicidal despair?
- Should we be surprised at our feelings?
- Can we end the cycle of sadness?
Brother Bob: Modern stress in the lives of people today is not a small thing. These modern troubles have the potential to overwhelm a person who is, well, not well trained on how to handle and face such crises that come in and out of a person’s life. Because of that, what does the Bible say may even come in the mind and feeling of a person? Does the Bible describe suicidal despair? Let’s find out and turn to the Holy Scriptures in the book of Psalms. We go to the book of Psalm 31, verse 10, wherein it says this:
My life must come to an end because I am so sad. My years will finish while I am crying. I am so unhappy that I have become weak. My bones are weak.
[Psalms 31:10 EasyEnglish Bible]
Brother Bob: For some, these storms of life may make them lose the motivation to even live. Like what this person here stated in the verse that we’ve just read here, he said, “My life must come to an end.” He didn’t want to live anymore. And the reason? Well, he said, “because I am so sad.” Suicidal despair then, dear friends, it’s not an isolated thing, and it is not a problem isolated within poor countries. It encompasses the full spectrum of economic statuses. It’s a problem the entire world faces.
You know, according to the World Health Organization in a June 2021 publication, 700,000 people die due to suicide every year. And that for every suicide there’s many more people who attempt suicide. In addition to that, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds, fueled by depression in young adults. So, some who have died by suicide have felt so deeply alone. Maybe they felt that what they had experienced is something that no one else has ever experienced and that no one understands them. They surely felt there was no other way out of the cycle of sadness.
But what does the Bible teach, especially to God’s servants, who might be going through a very difficult time in their life? Should anyone be surprised when they feel such emotions? Well, let’s go this time to Apostle Peter in 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 12, wherein it says this:
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you.
[1 Peter 4:12 Amplified Bible 2015]
Brother Bob: When God’s servants go through an ordeal in their life, they should not be caught off guard. Apostle Peter said to the members of the Church Of Christ during his time in a form of instruction, he said, “do not be surprised… as though something strange or unusual were happening to you.” Dear friends, you are not the first one to carry such a heavy load. There are people who could relate, who have experienced such fiery ordeals and, well, have come out of these ordeals successfully.
True faith plays a vital part in successfully going through life’s troubles. When a servant of God, well, goes through problems, our mindset is: This is a test of my faith. Or it can also be due to our own sins, right? Our mindset should be to first examine ourselves and determine, well, what’s to be done according to God’s will because no one wants to fail God.
But here’s the thing, how do we pass these tests of our faith? How do we succeed going through all of this? How can we become strong? How can we end the cycle of sadness?
You know, dear friends, the Bible gives us guidance on how to cope effectively with the troubles we experience in this world. This is what is recorded here in Acts 14:22. The Bible gives this important guidance:
There they strengthened the understanding and will of the followers, urgently encouraging them to continue in the faith. “Because,” they said, “in order to enter the Kingdom of God, we must be willing to go thru severe testings and sufferings.”
[Acts 14:22 Last Days Bible]
Brother Bob: So dear friends, for us to successfully, successfully cope with life’s problems, the Bible here is encouraging us to continue in the faith. What else? Be willing to go through what’s described here as what? Severe tests. The reward is great! Why? The Bible also says here that they will enter the Kingdom of heaven, and to do so, we must be willing to not give up, but rather it says, “go thru severe tests.” It did not say that we can enter the kingdom of heaven by giving up or by ending our life. Suicide is not the solution then, nor is it a way for “early entry” into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Maybe some of our friends tuning into this program right now might want to say, “Well, what does that have to do with my problems? I’m on the verge of giving up! I’m the one feeling overwhelmed. Why should I listen and believe in this gospel that you’re preaching to me today? Why should I even want to enter the Kingdom of God that you’re reading about?”
The Bible gives us the best reason why we should all desire to enter the kingdom of God in Heaven. What I will read to you now here concerns those who will come out of great distress, persecution and tribulation and then who will be granted entrance into God’s kingdom in heaven. Let’s read of it here in the book of Revelation, it’s recorded in chapter 7, verses 16 and 17:
Those people will never be hungry again, and they will never be thirsty again. The sun will not hurt [strike; beat on;] them, and no [scorching] heat will burn them, because the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead [guide] them to springs of water that give life [living water; the water of life]. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
[Revelation 7:16-17 Expanded Bible]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, the kingdom of God in heaven is truly where we can escape all of our troubles in this life. This is the place where we will no longer feel sad, or lonely, or fall into hopelessness. To hope for, and then eventually experience this kind of life in the kingdom of heaven – it’s the right way of dealing with the hardships that we face as compared to taking one’s own life, wherein there’s no recovery from that mistake. Ending the cycle of sadness is done by putting our full trust and hope in what God can do for us. So rely on, trust in, and put our hope in our Almighty God.
What is the counsel of the Apostles then? You know, they were regular men just like us who walked on Earth and they knew its hardships, just like all of us. Apostle Peter gave us this guidance, and we remember dear friends, that the Bible is a guide for life. So he wrote and it’s recorded here in 1 Peter 5, verse 7 like this:
Casting the whole of your care—all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all—on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully.
[1 Peter 5:7 Amplified]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, especially those who might be feeling overwhelmed right now by the stress of life and, you know, the Bible is teaching that we should cast our whole, the whole of our cares, all of our anxieties, all of our worries, and all of our concerns, cast them all on the Lord. And why should we do so? Because he says here in this verse, “He cares for you.” Cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
So again, we want to help anyone watching right now to continue learning with us, learning God’s instructions, God’s laws, His commands, written in the Bible, so that you will turn to Him and prove you trust Him. Dear friends, don’t lose hope. There is help for you, and should you choose to accept it, you will experience that.
We started this discussion with these main questions in mind, so let’s review what we’ve learned from the Holy Bible:
1. Does the Bible describe suicidal despair? Yes, the Bible does describe suicidal ideations. And for thousands of years people have also been experiencing despair and anguish that is also affecting people today. So yes.
2. Should we be surprised at our feelings? The Bible’s answer again was no, we should not. We are not the first, nor likely to be the last. But –
3. Can we end the cycle of sadness? With a resounding yes, we respond. Yes, we can. Once we set ourselves on the path to the kingdom of heaven, then we are guaranteed God’s affection and care. And dear friends, that path begins right here, today as you learn the truth taught here inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ). So, join with us and feel the love of God fill your life too, as He promises such for His people.
Brother Bob: We’d like you to continue learning about the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ, so please visit us online
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Visit incmedia.org
Brother Bob: and browse the different topics or set up an appointment to meet with a minister of the gospel. And if you have any questions about the Bible or salvation, please email them to us.
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Brother Bob: Connect with us and let us help you learn how to totally trust in God. I’m Bob Pellien. Thanks for watching. See you next time right here on That’s in the Bible!
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