Our son Jimmy committed suicide July 2, 2009. My wife and I have been going to bereavement meetings with other folks that have also lost a loved one this way. In my capacity as an associate pastor I dealt with people who’d lost loved ones like this and I preached their funerals. Trying to help those people with their grief was extremely difficult but when you are the one who has lost some one to suicide it’s a totally different story. You have to live it to understand the depth of the pain and the helpless feeling that accompanies it.
I’m writing this article because the question of how God treats a person who takes their own life is asked over and over again. When this question is asked, each denomination and each member of the clergy may answer it differently. Some will say it’s an unforgivable act because a life has been taken. There are those who will show more tolerance but also let you know that there may be a harsh judgment imposed by God. I’m in no position to say that these concerns are wrong, however I can say that I don’t agree.
There are many scriptures that speak of God’s love, revealing the nature of our Heavenly father. One of my favorites is 1 Corinthians 13. Verses 4- 7, which I urge you to read. In fact read the whole chapter, there are only thirteen verses but they are profoundly enlightening and rewarding. In part it says love is patient, kind and doesn’t keep a list of wrongs. Have you ever thought about what it means when the scripture says, “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life “( John 3:16 ). The scriptures that I have mentioned are the foundation for my belief of how God is dealing with my son Jimmy. Do I think God is pleased with the choice Jimmy has made, no; however, there is so much more to the relationship that Heavenly Father has with his children that I doubt we mortals can comprehend it. The only way I can relate to the kind of love God must have for me is to think about the love I have for my son Jimmy. There is nothing that my son could’ve done, including his choice to take his own life, that would or could make me stop loving him. My belief is if I, who am an imperfect, sinful mortal, can forgive and love like this, then surely God, who is the author of love, will forgive and nurture this young man. I believe God will love and nurture all the hurting souls who have made this choice. To support my belief, I ask you if there is anything that a child of yours could do that would cause you to consign them to wander in the abyss or burn in hell? I believe I can say with out reservation your answer is no.
Even though in this day and age so many seem to be less interested in God and more interested in money and power, I believe God loves us just as much as He always did. I believe we have such great value that Jesus gave his life so that not even one of us would be lost. If one is lost it’s because they rejected God in their heart and can’t be saved.
