What does the Bible say about suicide? And is this term appropriate for a living will or other decisions which prevent life support?

God's word consistently warns us that suicide is always wrong. Deuteronomy 30:19 is God's command, "Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." Job knew that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, that life and death are with God and not us (Job 1:21). Paul teaches us, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Cor. 6:19-20). And the sixth commandment is clear: "You shall not murder" (Ex. 20:13). Most interpreters include self-murder within this prohibition.

Despite this warning, Saul and his armor-bearer took their own lives (1 Samuel 31:4-5), as did Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18) and Judas (Matthew 27:5). Given the character of these people and their act, the biblical materials seem to condemn their decisions. And the clear teaching of God's word stands against such a decision today.

In Mark 3, Jesus has just healed a demon-possessed man. The amazed crowds began to speculate that he might be the Messiah. His enemies retort that he drives out demons because he is in league with the devil himself. Our Lord responds with the most severe warning in the gospels: "whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin" (Mark 3:29). What did he mean? What is this "unpardonable" sin?

Know that Christians cannot commit this sin. 1 John 1:9 is clear: "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." "All" means all. No sin is unpardonable for a Christian.

From Mark 3 we know that this sin relates to the work of the Holy Spirit with regard to unbelievers. Jesus is warning the Pharisees who rejected him that they are in danger of this sin. So what does the Spirit do with non-Christians?

He convicts them of their sin and need for salvation (John 16:8-9). He tells them about Christ their Savior (Jn. 15:26). He explains salvation (1 Corinthians 2:14). When they confess their sins and turn to Christ, the Spirit makes them God's children (Romans 8:9, 11). In short, the Holy Spirit leads lost people to salvation. So we know that it is the "unpardonable sin" to refuse this salvation. To be convicted of our sin and need for a Savior, but refuse to admit it. To be presented the gospel but reject it.

Why is this sin unpardonable? Because accepting salvation through Christ is the only means by which our sins can be pardoned. It is "unpardonable" to reject the only surgery which can save your life, or the only chemotherapy which can cure your cancer. Not because the doctor doesn't want to heal you, but because he cannot. You won't let him. You have rejected the only means of health and salvation.

The unpardonable sin is rejecting the Holy Spirit's offer of salvation, and dying in such a state of rejection. Then you have refused the only pardon God is able to give you. Don't do that. Be sure you have made Christ your Lord, today.

Why, then, is suicide so often thought to be the "unpardonable sin"? Not because the Bible ever teaches this connection. Here's the story in brief.

In the first era of Christian history, the Church came to separate "mortal" from "venial" sins. "Mortal" sins would condemn a person to hell, "venial" to Purgatory. Only by confessing a mortal sin could a person avoid hell. Murder, including self-murder, was one of these mortal sins. And of course a person could not confess this sin after committing it. So by logic, suicide was defined as the unpardonable sin. But nowhere does the Bible teach that this is so.

Suicide is always wrong, always a sin, and always a tragedy. It places far more grief and pain on family and friends than choosing life would have. It takes into human hands a decision which is God's alone. It leads to judgment and loss of reward by God in eternity. But it is not the unpardonable sin. Those you care about who committed suicide are not in hell for having done so. Rejecting Christ is the only unpardonable sin.

Is "suicide" an appropriate description for the decision not to provide medical measures of life support? The answer depends on the intent. Active and passive euthanasia, decisions to act in a way which produces death directly, are indeed a kind of suicide. But "letting die," making the patient comfortable even if such care may shorten life or honoring the patient's wishes not to be kept alive artificially, is not.

Jesus' willingness to die on the cross was not a suicide. The martyrdoms of the other disciples, all of whom could have prevented their deaths by denying Christ, were not suicides. It is not suicide to choose not to prolong death. We are within our biblical rights to instruct our families not to prolong life in the event of a tragedy such as PVS. But I do not believe we should instruct them to take steps which are intended to cause our death.