Is a Child Who Commits Suicide Lost?

Let me approach this from two different vantage points.

First, suicide by a responsible person is clearly a sinful act. The Scriptures teach that life is a sacred gift from God (Acts 17:25), and no person has the arbitrary right to destroy it—not even their own.

Judas, one of the Lord’s apostles, committed suicide (Mt. 27:5), and the Bible clearly indicates that he died lost (Jn. 17:12)—despite having some “regret” for the betrayal he committed (Mt. 27:3). There is not a suicide case in the entire Bible that is viewed favorably.

Some have argued that suicide is never a rational act. Therefore, any person who takes their own life, by the very nature of the case, is not responsible for that deed. I do not believe this is a defensible proposition.

We do not know what is in another's mind. Rational people sometimes do impulsive, drastic things they later regret deeply. The self-evident problem with suicide is this: once it is done, it cannot be undone!

The fact is, there are so many false views about what happens after death that many people have been led to believe there is no consequence for the act and that, in view of their dire circumstances, this choice can only provide them with something better.

On the other hand, it is a fact that a person can become mentally incapacitated and, in that state, do things for which they are not morally accountable. Many of us have seen older folks, or those who have suffered brain damage from strokes or accidents, do or say things they would never have done or said during their responsible years.

So, if a person slips into an irrational state of mind in which they can no longer exercise responsible control over their actions, and then, in that state, commits suicide, surely they will not be held accountable for such irrational conduct.

But remember this. Every person is accountable for their actions until they lose rationality.

What About Children and Suicide?

It is most unfortunate that children sometimes commit suicide. We cannot presume to know what thoughts have affected the mind of a tender child who reaches such a level of desperation.

All we can say is this. If a person is accountable to God, he will have to answer for his deeds (2 Cor. 5:10). If he is not, then assuredly he will not. The great Judge of all the earth will do what is right (Gen. 18:25).

In the meantime, Christians must resign themselves to two issues. We must teach the value and sanctity of human life in a world where such has been woefully cheapened, and we must trust God to be fair, recognizing that we do not have to resolve every hard case in our own minds.