Murder-Suicide...Does God Ever Excuse Certain Sins?
 

This is not the first time I've heard of this happening among elderly couples. There was an elderly man a few years ago in a town I lived in who was placed on probation after killing his elderly wife who was bedridden. The law excused his crime because of his intent, and the urging of the family who understood why he did what he did.

I wonder if God, who is the only one who sees intent of the heart, excuses certain sins as well. The above story is an act of love, not a crime of passion or hate crime. Considering that the elderly, even though they are able to care for themselves, often don't have the same understanding they did when they were younger, might make certain decisions without thinking of the consequences.

I have no Bible and I doubt that anyone will, really. There are just too many variables to consider. I'm looking for the opinions of others on this matter.

Thoughts?

I don't think I wanna touch this one, I will say this though.....I'm glad I'm not God.

Suicide is self-murder and is therefore impossible to gain repentance (because the transgressor is dead). Murder, with genuine repentance, can be repented of successfully. The key to repentance of any sin is that it be true or genuine, this involves a turning away from the former lifestyle of sin. Please bear in mind this is the opinon of scripture and not myself. If I was offering my opinion I would say we hang the perps.

I'm interested in opinions, since I don't believe the Bible touches on this exactly. Yes, we have commandments and such but there are even exceptions to some of those commandments as well.

Not everyone who makes an attempt dies when they initiate the act to kill themselves. Very few in fact die instantly, if I understand it correctly. Is there not an instant of regret or repentance upon the act of commiting suicide and before actually dying that could be meaningful?

hmmmmm....

Sab, the story is about a 90 yr old woman and her 87 yr old husband. Without knowing anything else about their life other than his concern for his failing health (and I'm assuming he was her caregiver, thus the reason for his concern about his own failing health), how can you say 'hang the perps'?

To me, it's an act of love. I work with the elderly all the time and know the concerns of those who are no longer able to care for themselves. Put yourself in their place.

I'd like to take into consideration the state of mind that the person is in. I doubt that anyone with a shred of sanity would take their own life. Then I'd have to consider why the person is in the state of mind they are in. The pressures of life and other events, or did God turn them over? I don't know.. Only God knows for sure.

*shrugs*

I was considering the potentiality of murder being involved. I thought there was still some speculation. Sorry if there was not.

being somewhat aquinted with the topic....i have had 2 first cousins kill themselves in the last 3 years...all I really know is that this is a painfull topic that hurts my heart to even see.

What I know now that I didnt know 3 years ago, is that depression is a deadly sickness (Chan and others who disagree please do NOT reply).

If a person chooses not to treat cancer, do we consider that they will not go to heaven? No. Do we consider that every time a person is killed, that the person doing the killing has commited murder? no.

I think that there are many instances that a person kills themself and goes to hell for the act. because as Sabellius points out, the act is murder and the murderer is incapable of repenting.

but I also know that there are cases when a person is simply sick with a deadly disease and that disease kills them. They are no more in control than the person with brain cancer or Alzheimer’s.

And Sabellius, I know your position on this subject is the orthodox one, but honestly you have to link vastly different scriptures dealing with vastly different subjects together to get that orthodox position. (subjects being Murder and Forgiveness). Correct me if I am wrong, but the scripture itself is silent on the spicific subject of Suicide and ones ability to go to heaven after having killed ones self.

I won't go into my own personal story, but I will say, depression can get very bad. Sometimes people have manic depression and don't know it! (bipolar)
"Normal" people can tell you to "get over it" or "things will get better" but if you've never dealt with it, you really don't know how bad things can get.