What does the Bible to say about the suicide, especially if the woman is a missionary?

March 15th 2015 | 39017 views 

The decision to become a missionary demonstrates a person's heart desire to spend her life in God's service. This, of course, is pleasing to God. We do not know, nor can we appreciate, the many sorrows and trials the woman may have experienced. But God knows, and He will not forget her labors of love to serve Him. This is praiseworthy.

Suicide is generally an indication that a person is overwhelmed by his life and no longer able to cope rationally. The person is incapable of feeling hope or seeing a hand anywhere -- even God’s-- extended to save him. Due to that one's extreme moral and physical anguish, he or she may seek relief in suicide. Does God condemn such a person eternally? Might that person go to hell?

No, a person is not eternally tortured if he commits suicide. When a person dies, he goes into the grave. The Bible explains that the grave is a condition of unconsciousness. Ecclesiastes 9:5,10, "For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not any thing…there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave (Hebrew word: sheol, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #7592)…" This same Hebrew word is translated as “grave,” “hell” and “pit” in the King James Version. It confuses the issue, because all people, good and bad, go to sheol in the Old Testament. 

In the New Testament, when Lazarus died, Jesus said, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth,…" What did Jesus mean by sleeping? A few verses later Jesus explained, “Lazarus is dead” (John 11:11,14). 

Therefore, both Old and New Testaments agree that the state of death is unconsciousness.  

1 Samuel 31:4 5 records two suicides, "Then said Saul to his armor-bearer, Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me. But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him." Neither man stated he was worried about going to eternal torment. In fact, even if King Saul had been temporarily captured and abused, if he had feared torment after death, why would he commit suicide? No. King Saul and his armor-bearer feared torture in the present. They chose suicide to escape torture and pain.

In the resurrection, when Christ and his church are reigning on earth, we know all the sorrows of this present life will be gone. Revelation 21:3,4, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” This beloved missionary woman will either be with Christ or receiving the blessings of God’s kingdom on earth. What a time of rejoicing that will be!

Additional Resources:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #941: Is Suicide an Unforgivable Sin?
Biblical understanding and the social stigma of suicide
CQ Rewind Show Notes

5-part series on the biblical “hell”

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