Question:  Dear Greg,

            Where in the Bible is the topic of “self murder”?  Please explain how God feels toward it.  All I ever heard about suicide from a Christian perspective is that if you take your own life you have no chance of ever entering heaven.  Is that true?

            Also, I smoke cigarettes.  The consensus among society is that smoking kills.  Well, is it safe to say that not all people who smoke die from smoke-related causes?  I know of a lady who is in her late 60’s who drinks beer every day and smokes.  Amazingly, her health is fine.  She’s been doing this around 30 years now.

            Anyway, I know God is not happy with my smoking.  I’ve gotten to the point now that sometimes I cry while I smoke because I know God is watching and I feel so terribly guilty.  I used to buy them by the carton, now I purchase them by the pack because I’ve thrown many away out of guilt.

            Is it possible that God views smoking as an act of suicide?  Although my intent is not to kill myself, I know that this behavior could eventually lead to an early death. 

            Please be as frank and open as possible in your response.

            Angela

Answer:  Dear Angela,

            I doubt whether God would consider smoking an act of suicide any more than he would the consumption of preservatives and pesticide-laden processed foods.  Smoking is undeniably unhealthy – that has been established beyond doubt.  But smoking is not an activity, per se, that “keeps one out of” heaven, any more than there is an activity that “gets one into” heaven.  The kingdom of heaven is given, by God’s grace, not by what we do or do not do.

            Suicide is generally considered, in the Bible, and by historic Christianity, as murder.  No act of suicide in the Bible is given God’s approval.

            However, some have speculated that suicide is the worst sin – or that it is the unpardonable sin.  There is no biblical evidence to support such a view.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht