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Is Assisted Suicide a Sin?
Bible study on assisted suicide.

Since the publicizing of Jack Kevorkian, our country, and perhaps the world, has been perplexed regarding the morality of one individual assisting another individual to commit suicide. Let all of us who have God's word living in our hearts appeal to the Bible in order to confront the issue of assisted suicide.

Several years ago I was in a college class where the professor asked everyone who had considered committing suicide to raise their hand. To our surprise, a vast majority of students had considered suicide. It is not my intent to discuss the mental anguish or circumstances surrounding the contemplation or attempt to commit suicide, nor is it my intention to discount the seriousness of this matter within human lives. But, those in Christ can take comfort in having a Lord "who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20) which does not fall short of removing the distresses of life that move one towards suicide. With this said, my intent is to discuss the immorality of suicide and assisted suicide as revealed within the word of God.

First, consider whether or not suicide is sin. Webster defines suicide as "to put (oneself) to death: kill." In other words, suicide is to kill yourself or self-killing. Although the Bible does not use the word suicide, it teaches about killing. And in the case of Judas, the Bible simply says that he hung himself. Beginning with Cain killing Abel (Gen. 4:8-13), to the giving of the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:13), to the teachings of Jesus (Matt. 5:21-22), and to apostolic teachings (Jam. 5:6), killing an innocent person has been against God's laws, therefore sin. God commanded and allowed man to kill in instances of defence from an attacker, capitol punishment, and in war with hostile and sinful nations - all other killing is sin. "The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia" comments on suicide and its place throughout history among God's people stating: "Contrary to the practice and the philosophy of paganism, the act was held in deep abhorrence by the Hebrews because of the high value placed on human life. It was held inexcusable that any but the most degraded and satanic should lay hands on their own lives. Only the remorse of the damned could drive one to it, as witness Saul (1 S 31 4) and Judas (Mt 27 5)." Consequently, we have no other conclusion to make but that suicide (self-killing) is sin.

Secondly, let us consider that the Bible teaches in the Old and New Testaments that it is a sin to cause, assist, or participate with another individual in sin. In Jeremiah 32:35 we see that God considered it an abomination that people taught Judah to worship idols and therefore caused Judah to sin. Since the definition of abomination is a thing that is unlawful, we must conclude that it is unlawful to cause one to sin. Furthermore, we see in I Kings 15:34 that Baasha sinned in causing Israel to sin, and we must conclude that it is sinful to cause one to sin. As for the New Testament, Paul teaches that we are not to do anything that may cause another Christian to stumble and sin, nor are we to participate in another person's sin. In I Corinthians 8:12-13 the apostle teaches that if eating meat were to make our brother stumble, we should not eat meat; therefore, we would avoid causing our brother to sin against his conscience. And in Ephesians 5:3-7, Paul instructs Christians not to be partakers (share, have in common) of sin with others.

So, Christians are not to cause another person to sin, nor are they to participate in the sins of others inclusive of assisting one to sin.

What shall we say? Let me suggest, from the Bible, that suicide and assisting one to commit suicide is sin. Additionally, that suicide is not an alternative for a child of God, but as spoken by the apostle Paul: "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (I Cor. 10:13). The decision is yours - we can either hold high God's word and proclaim truth, or we can silently sit by and allow the sins of man to be flaunted before the world. Will you stand with God or the philosophies of man?