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Bible, Theology & Philosophy
Ravi Zacharias
Suicide
Soteriology

“So by violating the image of God in someone else, or I violate it in myself, it is the ultimate act of lack of faith, and without faith, it is impossible to please God.”

Discussion

Mon, 05/08/17

As much as I respect Ravi Zacharias, he seems to not understand the implications of the cross in this case. As serious a sin as suicide is, there is no sin that is beyond the scope of Christ’s sacrifice and no sin that can remain unforgiven to those who have put their trust in Him. This should have been the focus of his answer (though he does make some good points along the way).

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

Mon, 05/08/17

…we would assume that anyone who murders—not just himself—would be at least extremely unlikely to be saved. We have, however, Moses, David, and Paul to remind us that murderers can indeed go to Heaven. For that matter, all of us, as our sins are what put Christ on the Cross, no? The big difference is that the person who takes his own life doesn’t have time to repent.

There’s one sin, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, that cannot be forgiven, but I cannot say with certainty that suicide is evidence of this. I can say with certainty, however, that funerals for victims of suicide are pretty sad. Not quite as sad for funerals of kids, but still pretty sad. I’ve been to two.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

Mon, 05/08/17

If you’re an Arminian (as I used to be), the suicide of a Christian is very, very difficult to process. The absence of time to repent is meaningful under that belief system. But if you’re not Arminian, how is there any issue? We’re all guilty of heinous sins post-conversion and we’re all capable of virtually every heinous sin there is. But all of our sins — past, present, and future — are under the blood of Christ. (The Canons of Dort, II.8 (The Saving Effectiveness of Christ’s Death) says, “it was God’s will that Christ through the blood of the cross … should cleanse them by his blood from all their sins, both original and actual, whether committed before or after their coming to faith.”) To put it another way, God knew every sin we’d commit post-conversion, including unfortunately suicide, when He saved us — but He saved us nevertheless. So where is the issue?

Mon, 05/08/17

You might want to look that one up!! Along with tenants for tenets, it is one of my pet peeves.

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

Tue, 05/09/17

Armenian: Someone from Armenia

Arminian: Someone who holds to (at least major parts of) the theology of Jacob Arminius

I hadn’t thought about that aspect of it. I don’t know much about Zacharias’ views on soteriology, but if he leans Arminian, it would explain why he goes the direction he does on the suicide question. If you’re only standing in Grace moment by moment for as long as you’re repentant and “right with God” (subjectively), then your eternal fate is very much in jeopardy if you commit suicide.

On the other hand, if you’re kept by the power of God for a salvation ready to be reveled at the end (1 Pet. 1:5), a believer’s last sin is forgiven right along with his/her first one, time for repentance or not.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.