The "Unforgivable" Sin

Last Wednesday night, someone asked a very good question. They said a teacher of their's had mentioned that to commit suicide meant that you were going straight to Hell, because God would not forgive a Suicide.

Roman Catholic doctrine teaches that suicide is one of the "mortal sins;"this means, according to strict Roman Catholic doctrine, that such a sin, is unforgivable. It has the consequence of cutting us off from Heaven. All "mortal sins" have this consequence. Some sins, in this way of thinking, do not prevent us from getting there but only stall our arrival. According to the same Roman Catholic doctrine, these are called "venial sins."

Not all Roman Catholics believe this way; this is simply the doctrine of their belief structure.

We are not Roman Catholics, however, but are Episcopalians. The Gospels only speak of one "unforgivable" sin, but do not define what it is specifically. Scholars and theologians have debated this as a favorite topic for ages. The two important passages are: Mark 3: 20-29, and Luke 12: 1-10.

Jesus is careful to remind us that whoever acknowledges Him, he will also acknowledge before God the Father in Heaven.

Now, while I want to be careful to say that suicide is a very, very, very bad idea - IT IS A LONG TERM SOLUTION TO A SHORT TERM PROBLEM - but it is not unforgivable. I also want to remind you of some very important scriptural words from St. Paul's letter to the congregation at Rome:

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

~Romans 8:37-40

-Fr. Ryan