Suicide

Suicide is also a form of murder when the person concerned is in his or her right mind.  Suicide in this situation is a very serious sin, the sin of murdering oneself.  It is a sin not only against oneself, but also against God.  God has given us our life and it is for him, and not for us, to say when it shall end.  We did not choose when to be born, and it is not for us to choose when to die.  Assisted suicide means helping another person to take his or her own life and is also a serious sin.

But many people who take their own life do so when the balance of their mind is disturbed, that is, they are very distressed indeed and cannot think rationally.  The important thing in this situation is that people get help as quickly as possible, before they harm themselves.  If children ever feel like taking their own life, they need to talk with an adult whom they trust.  If they prefer to talk with someone they don’t know, they can ring the special ChildLine UK phone number: 0800 1111.  This is a free 24-hour helpline.  The Samaritans is another free source of help – UK telephone 08457 90 90 90.  (For more information and resources please see note below)

Spiritual killing

There is also what is called ‘spiritual killing’.  This means taking a person away from God and towards possible final separation from God in Hell by encouraging that person to commit some serious sin or sins.