Pastors! Do Not Make Suicide an Escape Route to Heaven

Pastors, there is a solemn responsibility that comes with standing before grieving congregations and speaking about the eternal destiny of those who have taken their own lives. We understand the desire to comfort a sorrowful family. We understand the desire to speak words of hope. But we must be exceedingly careful that, in seeking to comfort the living, we do not unintentionally place a dangerous thought into the minds of the suffering: "If suicide takes me out of this painful life and brings me immediately into Heaven, then perhaps that is my best escape."

A man is broken by financial troubles. His marriage has collapsed. His children have abandoned him. His body is afflicted. His heart is crushed. His future appears hopeless. Then he remembers the funeral he attended. The deceased professed to be a Christian, took his own life, and the pastor assured everyone that he was now with Jesus in Heaven. The suffering man begins to reason, "If he escaped his troubles through suicide and went to Heaven, then why should I continue suffering? Perhaps I will do the same."

Pastors, we must never allow Heaven to become the promised destination of an escape route called suicide.

Heaven is indeed glorious beyond our comprehension. To depart and be with Jesus is "better by far" (Philippians 1:23). But Paul did not take his own life to reach Heaven. He willingly remained where God had placed him, because his life belonged to his Lord. "Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord" (Romans 14:8).

The Christian does not own his life. His life has been purchased by the sin-atoning sacrifice of Jesus. His days are ordained by God. His afflictions are under God's sovereign providence. His trials are not meaningless interruptions in his journey to Heaven. They are appointed opportunities to trust the Lord, experience His sustaining grace, and glorify Him in the midst of suffering.

"Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you" (Psalm 55:22).

Notice what Scripture says: Cast your cares upon the Lord -- not to murder yourself.

There is another solemn reason for caution. We cannot infallibly know the eternal state of another person's soul. A person may have professed Christ, attended church, prayed, sung hymns, and spoken confidently about Heaven -- yet Jesus warned that there would be those who would say, "Lord, Lord," whom He never knew (Matthew 7:21-23).

Therefore, pastors should be extremely cautious about proclaiming with certainty that a professing Christian who died by suicide is now in Heaven. We should neither declare that every suicide victim is certainly lost, nor presume that every professing Christian who commits suicide is certainly saved. The eternal judgment belongs to God.

But there is an additional pastoral danger. When vulnerable people repeatedly hear that professing Christians who commit suicide are now enjoying the glories of Heaven, they may begin to view suicide as a shortcut out of their own suffering. What was intended as consolation, may unintentionally become temptation. Mark it down: Suicide is the worst choice that any person could make!

Beloved pastor, preach the glory of Heaven -- but never present suicide as the door by which we enter it!
Preach the sufficiency of Jesus.
Preach the faithfulness of God.
Preach the sustaining grace of the Holy Spirit.
Preach the blessedness of trusting God in the darkest valley.
Preach the necessity of perseverance.
Preach that the Lord is able to sustain His children when they have no strength of their own.
And when one of your sheep is crushed beneath an overwhelming burden, do not ever hint that suicide is his escape. Tell him that Jesus is his refuge.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear" (Psalm 46:1-2).

The suffering believer may not understand why God has permitted the trial. He may see no way forward. He may feel that his circumstances can never change. But the Lord has not commanded him to understand tomorrow. He has commanded him to trust Him today.

The darkest night, will eventually give way to eternal morning. The deepest sorrow will one day be swallowed up in everlasting joy. But until God Himself calls His child home, we are to remain at our appointed post, trusting His providence, depending upon His grace, and waiting upon His sovereign hand.

Pastors, let us therefore speak carefully. Let us comfort the brokenhearted, without giving them a dangerous hope in suicide. Let us magnify Heaven without making suicide appear to be its shortcut. Let us point the suffering, not toward an escape from life, but toward the One who alone can sustain them through life.

For the Christian's hope is not merely that suffering will someday end.

Our hope is Jesus.

And until He calls us home, our lives belong to Him.
(The above was AI generated.)