Although the act of people cutting themselves has been discussed over the last few years as if it were a recent fad, self-mutilation has been around for centuries. The Bible mentions it as being a ritual in pagan societies. It is first mentioned in Leviticus. Throughout this book, God through Moses gives a whole list of practices that he commands the Israelites not to do because he wanted them to be a holy nation. In the midst of the commands, God would sometimes pause to tell them why he gave them these commandments:
“And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.” Leviticus 20:23
Among the things God abhorred was the practice of cutting–
“They shall not … make any cuttings in their flesh.” Leviticus 21:5
“Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves.” Deuteronomy 14:1
There were a few reasons given in the Bible why heathens cut themselves, such as to memorialize a dead loved one or friend (Leviticus 19:28). But there were two more sinister reasons also mentioned. One of them has to do with the worship of Baal as displayed when Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest–
“And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. …And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.” 1 Kings 18:26, 28
It was the common practice to self-mutilate when worshipping the false god Baal. This scripture also reminds me of the self-flagellation that some Catholics and Muslims do to appease their false gods. The other instance of self-mutilation is mentioned in the New Testament–
“And when he [Jesus] was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, …And always, night and day, he [Legion] was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.” Mark 5:2, 5
In this case, cutting was a ritual of a man possessed by devils. Taking into account what Legion did and that “the things which the Gentiles [pagans] sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils,” as it says in 1 Corinthians 10:20, we can conclude that the act of cutting is a ritual of those who are being influenced (willingly or unwillingly) by evil spirits. In pointing out the problem of cutting, the Bible also points out the solution to be delivered from cutting. That solution is to call on the name of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be saved from Satan’s influence. It’s only the anointing of the true and living God that can break this spiritual yoke over an individual’s life.
“…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–
March 19, 2008 at 10:01 am |
im 21 yrs.old i have been cutting for about seven years now.i believe i fall into the clechae- deadbeat dad.druggie step fathers.abusive boyfriend..thats no excuse for cutting,nevertheless,,seeing the blood running made me feel good.i cant put my emotions into words,or even know what i feel…so i cut,,that way i know exactly what i feel..pain. only one single pain. the pain i can control..atleast i thought…many years later im a scarred mess.i know i shouldnt do its like a drug..so addictive..the first time i feel stressed,sad,upset..i run for it..my method**its pathtic-i get a disposable shaver and crack the top piece off with my teeth leaving the metal exposed. i pop it out and throw the plastic shaver away.i hide in the bathroom and cut.sometimes for seconds,mins, even hours.some just scratches..some deep gaping wounds. all over my inside calf and left forearm.also up my stomach..it sickens me!!y do i do this!!!
March 19, 2008 at 7:32 pm |
If what you’re saying is true and you’re an actual person who’s actually doing this, you need both psychological and spiritual help. I don’t know what has gone on in your life that opened the door to this behavior, but the solution is calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as quoted from the Bible at the end of the post I wrote above. He died for all the evil things you’ve ever done and if you ask him to show you the way out of this, he will.
I would suggest that if you have a Christian church nearby that’s non-Catholic go talk to a counselor or pastor there. Or if you can find a Bible, read the gospel of John or Romans. Your deliverance may be immediate or may take time, but you need to get help as soon as possible.
March 28, 2008 at 12:05 am |
I’ve struggled with cutting for several years and, to be quite frank, I resent the way this article both portrays people who struggle with cutting and the issue of self-injury itself.
To begin with, I am a Christian. I was raised in a Christian home and chose to accept Christ as my personal Lord and Savior at a young age. As a Christian, I firmly believe that the Bible makes it very clear that I am filled with the Holy Spirit, making it impossible for me to be possessed by an evil spirit. I love God, but a lot of the time, different emotions and situations (as well as the addictive craving to cut) become overwhelming, leaving me feeling like I don’t even have words to express what’s going on inside of me.
Rather than turn to Jesus with everything that’s going on and everything I feel, I sometimes choose to turn to myself and “handle” things myself by cutting. I know that it’s wrong, but I wouldn’t call it a result of demonic influence. I think the actual giving into the cutting would rather fall under the influence of the flesh.
Secondly, I feel that this article overlooks everything that you (yes, you!) and everybody else has in common with those of us who fall into cutting. Anything you do when you’re stressed or overwhelmed that isn’t first and foremost turning to Jesus is no different than cutting. That last time you grabbed a pint of ice cream when you were stressed rather than prayed about it? It’s the exact same concept.
In fact, you have SO much in common with those who self-injure that I highly recommend you pick up the short essay “Self-Injury: When Pain Feels Good” by Edward T. Welch. You can order it through any Christian bookstore for about $2.00. It’s an AMAZING essay (written by a Christian psychologist) getting straight to the heart of the issues behind cutting. I never felt like anyone else who wasn’t a cutter understood the process, mindset, and issues behind cutting until I read this essay. It’s really worth the two bucks.
Thirdly, I believe your post completely misses the fact that cutting in and of itself is NOT the problem anymore than eating a pint of ice cream when stressed out is in and of itself the problem. Yes, cutting is wrong. Jesus took all our sins and pains upon himself on the cross and we should bring our hurts and sorrows and guilt to him rather than turn to inwards to ourselves in an attempt to dull the pain. BUT, while cutting is wrong, it is NOT the problem.
You see, cutting points to the fact that there is something larger going on within a person. The person who responded above points to some of the issues that lead to cutting: abusive relationships, feelings of worthlessness, the inability to put emotions into words. When somebody is cutting, you need to focus less on the actual act itself and more on what is CAUSING the act, rather like eating disorders.
According to Edward T. Welch (mentioned above), everything that we say and do says something about what we believe about ourselves, but more importantly, God. Cutting is one of the things that people do (and, like myself, often times use as a means to “say” when there don’t seem to be words to express the pain), and it says something about what they believe about themselves and God.
Lastly, I believe that you are taking the last verse you quote kind of out of context. Jesus is ultimately the only way to be freed from self-destructive patterns of behavior including gluttony, cutting, under-eating, adultery, trying to please man rather than God, etc. The thing is, Jesus has ALREADY freed us from these things. At the cross, it was finished. Sin was conquered. Cutting was conquered. You’re right in saying that people need to call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. It’s the only freedom from ANY sin.
What I think you’re missing, however, is the fact that salvation and sanctification are two separate processes. As a Christian when I began cutting, I had already been delivered from cutting when I began cutting. However, becoming saved isn’t enough to make one stop craving cutting anymore than being saved is enough to make one stop craving heroin. There will still be withdrawls and continued cravings for it. There will be times when a person may slip up. Jesus won’t necessarily break one out of it, but he will walk one through it.
And it will take time. It will most likely NOT be immediate, though with God all things are possible. It’s a long process involving the ABSOLUTE NECESSITY of counseling, much preferably Christian counseling. Remember how there are issues BEHIND the actual act of cutting? In order to be cutting, one needs to be believing some pretty serious lies about oneself and one’s Savior. Those lies need to be conquered before cutting will stop. Even if the cutting stops, the lies still need to be conquered or cutting will just become some other source of self-destruction, whether gluttony or drug use.
Like I said, I am a Christian and I have struggled with cutting. A lot! I managed to quit cutting without counseling after struggling for almost three years, but that wasn’t enough. After a year of not cutting, I started to want to again, and realized the importance of counseling.
I’ve been in counseling for four and a half months, but I still have a long way to go, and I still mess up sometimes. Does that mean I’m not a Christian or am being demonically influenced? No. It means I’m a Christian. It means I still sin. It means that my sin of cutting is no different than the sin of lying. It means that Christ still forgives me and WILL use this for his glory.
March 29, 2008 at 1:10 am |
C,
I commend you on openly discussing your problem and it’s great that you’ve sought help to deal with it. I pray that you will continue to be strengthened in your fight.
When I said those who cut are influenced by evil spirits, I wasn’t saying they are all possessed. The reason why I gave the examples of the prophets of Baal and Legion was to point out that when people resist God or make the choice not to follow him, they open themselves to the influence of evil spirits to make bad choices. The prophets of Baal were not possessed, they chose to do evil and by embracing it, their minds were susceptible to evil spirits. Legion, on the other hand, was possessed and had no control over some of the things he did. You’re right–Christians cannot be possessed, but their continued willful resistance to God opens them to Satanic influence of their minds.
I understand the concept that sin is sin whether it’s cutting or gluttony. (BTW, when it comes to trying to drown my sorrows by overdoing it with food or drink is something I never have personally done, but I get your point.) Nevertheless, I’m sure you’ll admit that different sins have different consequences. That’s why God commanded under the old laws that an offender should make reparations in some cases while in other cases, an offender had to be executed. This shows us that there are levels of severity when it comes to sin.
Although I recommend being counseled by a stable Christian, psychology (whether it calls itself Christian or secular) is mainly based on concepts established by Sigmund Freud, and is contrary to God’s principles. Psychology says that people are basically good and their problems are caused by the environmental factors they are subjected to, while God says that from within, out of the hearts of men proceed evil thoughts and wickedness which he acts on.
Why do people cut, use drugs, lie, fornicate, etc.? Because they are caught up in the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of sinful life. That’s what a person needs to understand– not the touchy, feely, it’s-not-your-fault excuses that psychology promotes.
This is why I quoted the scripture at the end of my post. Although Christ knew from the beginning who would be saved and he took care of sin at the cross, a person does not actually experience salvation from their sins until the moment they confess and believe that Jesus is Lord. No one can be delivered from a sinful habit until they confess it and forsake it (see Proverbs 28:13).
Yes, as long as we are in this sinful corrupt body, we will give in to sin, but that doesn’t mean we should make excuses for them. We may understand how a person can give in to them because of our own experiences, but we have to also understand that being a Christian means we always strive to place our bodies under the subjection of the Holy Spirit so we can get stronger spiritually.
Where sin was abundant, God’s grace was much more abundant. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that his grace will be more abundant? God forbid! How shall we, that are dead to sin, continually and habitually live any longer in it? As Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of God the Father, we should also walk in the newness of life. Our old sinful nature was crucified with him, that our body of sin might be destroyed, that we should no longer serve sin.
Remember King Saul? He was anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit to prophesy, but he eventually embraced evil to the point where he was vexed and influenced by evil spirits. Yet he was still anointed to be king but missed out on his blessings because of his sinful behavior. Nevertheless, he went to the same place Samuel the prophet did when he died which was the place in hell reserved for saints (1 Samuel 28:19).
March 30, 2008 at 9:40 am |
No offense, but your article is lame. It makes it seem like you have never dealt with someone who is a “cutter” and have absolutely no idea or background for what you’re talking about. The people who posted responses to your blog seem to have far more understanding and knowledge about this issue than you do, even the person who wrote the jumbled first one.
My suggestion? Do some more research, read some books on the subject, get to know some real people who really struggle with cutting, and then write a blog. And when I say “get to know” them, I mean get to know them beyond their cutting for who they really are and what is really triggering them.
March 30, 2008 at 2:29 pm |
i agree with naomi. u just don’t seem to get it. C. . . seemed to have several good points and ideas about self injury. lots better than ur points. C. . .’s make sense and relate to relate to what i feel like and am dealing with, unlike ur thoughts. read the book C. . . talked about. my friend gave it to me and everyone who thinks they can say something or wants to say something about self injury should read it before they open their mouths, especially if they’re claiming to speak from a christian view point.
March 30, 2008 at 4:18 pm |
Naomi and al,
I’m not surprised that you agree with C and with each other. You all know each other and are either friends or relatives. How do I know? You all have the same IP address. If someone said something about someone I know and like that upset them, I would probably criticize that person as well.
March 30, 2008 at 6:50 pm |
I confess. You’re right; we’re all friends and we’ve all been using C’s computer. The thing is, though, that Al and I were not criticizing your article just because of C’s opinion and the fact that she’s our friend. One reason the three of us are such good friends is because we all used to be cutters and we all know how it feels to struggle with it.
C found your blog and showed it to me, wondering if she was the only one that felt like it was a bunch of bologna and missing main points. I read it and agree with her strongly, not based on the fact that we’re friends, but on what I’ve personally gone through. We showed the article to Al when he came over and he wrote what he felt, not based on our friendship, but once again, on what he thought about the article.
So, yeah. You’re right. We are all friends and we did all respond using the same computer. In fact, I’m using her laptop again right now, so be ready to see the same IP address again!
But just because we’re friends doesn’t mean that we don’t each think for ourselves. If I disagreed with her, I would have told her so and written a response agreeing with and supporting your points. But based on what I’ve gone through, I don’t agree with you!
As someone who has actually struggled with and come out of this, I still think C’s points (which I’d heard in detail for the first time when I read her post) are really much more knowledgeable and understanding about the issue than yours are. I still feel, based on what you’ve written, that you need to get to know real-live-cutters and do some more research before presenting your opinion.
Please understand that I’m not criticizing you personally (you know your Bible really well, that much can be said!), just your beliefs about this topic. Not because I’m friends with Al or C, but because I’ve been there. Because I know what it’s like. Because that gives me an understanding that you will never have.
March 30, 2008 at 9:53 pm |
You guys are entitled to your opinions and I don’t hold anything against you for disagreeing with me. You’re more than welcome to express yourselves.
But I will reiterate that we as humans tend to give in to habits that are not good for us due to our sinful nature which sometimes leads to influence from evil spiritual forces. Sometimes a wrong done to us in the past becomes a burden to us in the present if we don’t talk it out with someone to give us the correct spiritual guidance like encouraging us to forgive the person who wronged us.
No matter what the reason is for our habits, Jesus said, “Come unto me, all of you that are weary and have heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” Christ in our lives gives us the power to be healed when we submit to him and resist the devil which will cause him to flee.
April 13, 2008 at 7:23 pm |
C, naomi, and that other m**********r are all obviously the same person. F****n losers.
April 14, 2008 at 6:39 pm |
C, Naomi, and Al are three people who have had some serious problems and are just expressing their opinions. They’re not losers.
Whoever you are, I’m sure you can express yourself with a little more class. Your language which I had to *bleep* out is unnecessary and there are plenty of other non-curse words in the English language you could have used.
April 15, 2008 at 12:43 am |
Your article did make me think, and i was glad to see those verses, so thanks for posting them.
Clearly cutting is not okay. In doing so, we harm the body that God gave us.
However, the verses mentioned in the bible refer to Baal worship and rituals for the dead. Something they did for false gods.
The verses do not speak of people who are in so much pain that they would harm themselves in order to cope. Generally, people do not cut themselves as an offering, but rather as a sign that they can not cope any other way.
So even if it is wrong, God understands our pain and the source of cutting for these reasons.
Cutting is a mental health issue and not necessarily for false worship.
I think we need to look at the reasons behind the action in order for it to be applied to those verses.
April 16, 2008 at 6:22 pm |
Thanks for your comment. When I mentioned the priests of Baal, they did cut themselves out of worship for their false god. However, in the case of Legion, he was possessed which affected his mental health, cutting himself out of anguish.
Yes, cutting is a mental health issue that can be brought on by influence of evil spirits or unforgiveness in an individual’s heart for a wrong that was done to that individual or because someone had a traumatic experience in their lives (like witnessing a murder or being raped). It can also be a spiritual issue if someone has been involved in occultic practices like witchcraft or satanism. Those who have been a human sacrifice in such practices, whether willingly or unwillingly, can also be affected. But no matter the reason for the cutting, Jesus Christ can bring healing if one looks to him for help through his word or through godly counseling from a spiritually strong individual.
Jesus healed those who were “lunatic” (i.e. they had mental problems) when he walked the Earth and still has that same power today. The scriptures also say we as Christians should bear one another’s burdens. If we actually did this and would lovingly listen to brothers and sisters who had serious problems, just think about how many of us would save money that is spent on psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotropic drugs.
May 18, 2008 at 4:38 pm |
I too have experience the same urges to handle my inner pain through cutting and self harm. I too am a spirit filled believer, and after every time I felt very heavy and ashamed that I hadn’t “handled” my emotions and my crisis better.
The key for me, which has worked without fail, has been this. I have written scriptures about who I am in Christ on my bathroom mirror to see day after day. When I know I’m headed toward cutting, I will speak out loud the TRUTH about who I am, A child of God, a conqueror, an overcomer… but most importantly, when it gets to that point of the actual deed, I have forced myself to NOT and I say over and over and over again. “Jesus loves me, God loves me, I am a child of God, I am bought with the blood of Jesus. By HIS stripes I am healed” or something else from scripture that is equally as powerful and relevant.
I have rocked in the bottom of my tub with tears streaming down my face, screaming at the top of my lungs “JESUS LOVES ME, I AM A CHILD OF GOD” and been filled with a peace that only he can bring on repeated occasions. The grip cutting had once had has lessened tremendously and I have found I no longer live under it’s influence, although it still tries to return from time to time, it HAS been defeated.
Obviously, this is not a substitute for counseling. This is what has helped me through the crisis moments of will I or won’t I.
May 18, 2008 at 7:27 pm |
Thank you, Ann, for sharing your testimony. I will keep you in my prayers. May God continue to strengthen you.
May 25, 2008 at 11:09 am |
i have a friend who im trying to help right now but have no idea what to do. She has had a very troubled past and been through everything. Cutting being one of them. shes recnciled with the majority of her past but as she was telling me she wishes people would just let her cut. She says because it doesnt hurt anyone else its okay. Its weird to hear her say that sense she has such strong faith. I tried to tell her about how are body doesnt belong to us but to christ but that didnt go anywhere. So what what would be the best call?
May 25, 2008 at 3:44 pm |
God allows us all to have a free will, so if someone has a problem and they are unwilling to let go of it, the most we can do is be there for them in case they need us.
I would encourage you to pray, pray, and pray some more for her. If she’ll let you pray for her in person, do it, but if she’s not willing don’t force it. When you pray for her (in person or not) just pray in the name of the Lord Jesus that God will have the victory in her life.
Since Christ was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and by his stripes we are healed, claim his blood over her when you pray, so she can be healed. Also pray 1 Thessalonians 5:23 that her whole spirit, soul, and body would be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
You can also speak blessing over her from 3 John 1:2 that you wish above all things that she may prosper and be in health, even as her soul prospers. My final suggestion for prayer would be take a dab of oil and anoint her when you pray for her according to James 5:14-15.
Last of all, in the times you’re not praying for her and you two are just hanging out socially, share a tidbit from God’s word that he revealed to you in your devotional time. It doesn’t have to always be profound. Every little bit of God’s word will help.
These are just a few suggestions for you that I hope will help.
May 29, 2008 at 10:59 am |
thnks man that helps alot. ive been praying for her constantly and its actually been helping. shes been in better moods and i think things are getting better.
July 5, 2008 at 8:38 am |
What is your Biblical interpretation and regards concerning Transsexuality? As a Christian who resolved a deep personal conflict I have transitoned as having completed all of the necessary surgeries to reassign sex so as to meet my internal gender.
What does God say?
stellewriter@gmail.com
July 5, 2008 at 1:07 pm |
Well, first of all I have to question your asking me about what God says when you’ve already gone through your procedures. If you were really concerned about what God thinks, wouldn’t you have taken your time to search it out before taking any action?
Are you trying to test me like the religious leaders tested Christ by asking him all kinds of questions so they could level some accusation against him? Hmmm.
Nevertheless, for the sake of anyone who would come across these comments, here’s the answer:
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:14-16
According to the scriptures, we are all awesomely and uniquely created by God with his marvelous craftsmanship in the womb and he keeps a detailed record of every part of our body that he wants us to be born with even before they are formed. That’s how much God cares about us, even if we are born with any “defects”, such as deafness or mental retardation. As God’s creatures, whatever our physical makeup, we should follow David’s example by praising God for how he created us.
We live in an ungrateful society that brainwashes us into thinking that the way we are is never good enough, so a large number of us are running around looking for Botox and plastic surgery to satisfy our vanity. And even after we get our procedures, we’re still not completely happy or satisfied. As stated in 2 Timothy 3, our society is full of people obsessed with self-love, unthankful, and in love with pleasure.
There is nothing wrong with someone who wants to improve their quality of life when it comes to a paraplegic who wants to walk, a blind person who wants to see, or a deaf person who wants to hear, because these are things that Jesus healed when he was physically here. On the other hand, when it comes to someone wanting to change their gender, it presents a moral dilemma that flies in the face of God’s intentions.
Romans 9 tells us that God creates us and can tell beforehand if we will be a vessel for his honor or a vessel of dishonor. This sparked the question that if God creates us a certain way with a purpose he knew ahead of time, how can he hold us responsible for our own actions? The reply, which speaks to your situation, is “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” [Romans 9:20-21]
Therefore, who is anyone to question God by asking, “God, why did you make me this way?” when it comes to their gender. Paul mirrored the prophet Isaiah when he addressed these questions. Isaiah said,
…shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? Isaiah 29:16
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!…Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Isaiah 45:9
But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8
What makes us male or female? God’s assigning us the chromosomes that determine what gender we are born. You can change your hardware [body parts], but you can’t change your software [x or y chromosomes] and it’s your software that really determines your gender.
Your “deep personal conflict” is at its core evil influence that resulted from an evil done to you or something you brought on yourself or a combination of both. Why did you hate your God-given gender? There could be a number of factors. Your parent(s) could have raised you in a way that made you hate how God made you, or you could have been a victim of a sex crime, or you could have seen a movie that condoned sexually perverted behavior, or an evil spirit was welcomed into your life in some way like witchcraft or satanic practices.
Whatever the reason, the final choice for the direction you went is all on you. As God told Cain to warn him before he killed Abel, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted [by God]? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” [Genesis 4:7] But each person must make their own choice to rule over their sin.
July 18, 2008 at 8:44 pm |
heya
i am a christian, or am trying to be the best one i can but i did sh for a while.
i wasn’t a cutter for very long and i have actually stopped now, i hope.
but is what i have done unforgivable, because i am a christian and being depressed has not been a million miles away from killing me.
what i have done does make me sick to think i low i stooped but then again i can’t get it off my brain. im too scared to talk to my youth leader because i am afraid he’ll judge me in the way i have treated what God owns so badly.
i do not believe in any way shape or form i am possessed and i haven’t been meddling with witch craft. im certainly not doing it to worship other gods. i believe in one God and have accepted Jesus as saviour. so why i self harm isnt associated with anything religious. it is purely the hate within myself, caused by my own mental instability.
but thats just what i think, could i be wrong, have i messed up with my faith?
does this self multilation take me any further from God more than any other sin would?
love to hear your opinion and any advice to get my life back on track
xxx
July 19, 2008 at 12:09 pm |
Jo,
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the only sin that can’t be forgiven, according to what Jesus said in the scriptures and that is a sin done by people who have hardened their hearts so much that they have no remorse for their sins. So take comfort that you’re far from doing that.
Once you believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and you believe he rose from the dead, you’re saved from that moment forward. From that moment what you do determines how many rewards you get on judgment day, not on whether or not you’re still saved. Jesus said, “He that cometh to me I will in no wise [under any circumstances] cast out.”
The struggle you have is the basic struggle all us Christians have. It’s a struggle against our fleshly, sinful nature. Sometimes we struggle with certain weaknesses our whole lives while at other times our temptation to give in to our weaknesses goes away completely.
I would give you the encouragement to do as Paul said, “Be not weary in well doing: for in due season, you will reap if you faint not.” Psalm 34 says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
Since I don’t know what has gone on in your personal life, my advice has to remain limited. Could it be that you’re frustrated about certain things that didn’t go your way? If that’s the case, your self harm has self-centered motives. The scriptures say that “no man ever hated his own flesh, but cherishes and nourishes it.” Since there’s no such thing as a person hating themselves, when people do themselves harm, in some cases it’s because they hate the situation they’re in and out of frustration are trying to keep themselves from facing something they perceive as being too difficult to try to cope with, when in reality it isn’t if they just look to God for help.
I don’t know how your church operates so I don’t know exactly what to tell you about approaching your youth leader. Some churches have loving youth leaders who know how to keep things confidential and give sound advice while others can use their positions to their own advantage and leak information about people if it serves to further themselves in some way. You have the Holy Spirit in you to grant you wisdom in that case so maybe you should read and study some passages in the Bible for comfort and God will lead you if you have your spiritual ears open to him. I personally find that Proverbs or Psalms are very practical helps for difficulties that may need a quick short term solution in my life.
July 19, 2008 at 7:17 pm |
Well the thing is, i did hate myself.
quite a lot. i had low confidence for a while and then one of my friends attempted suicide and it knocked me right down, another of my friends started on drugs and i felt it was my fault. i didnt hate the situation, i didn’t blame them, i blamed myself. i genuinely hated me and felt i deserved it. i needed to hurt myself for being such a rubbish person and such a bad friend. i needed to feel the pain and see my own blood because i hated me. and sometimes i have phases where i hate myself again.
You may be but i don’t think you are a cutter are you or ever have been so you can’t fully understand.You don’t understand how horrible it feels that you can’t go a day with the feeling that you need to punish yourself. that you hate yourself so much you want nothing more to that to put a slice into your own flesh. So is your opinion on this that im frustration and am not having things go my own way because i don’t have perfectly happy friends?
i know many people struggle with this kind of problem but i do not think it is basic, or something that should just be looked over as a sinful nature. it is depression. now because depression is medical, does that mean our spiritual lives are being affected, or do you see it as just an illness like any other?
The main thing haunting me is i do feel so much remorse for what i have done but theproblem is i still can’t get the thought of doing it out of my head.
My youth leader is fantastic well they both are. i can’t think of two more caring people i know. and the im sure the advice they offer would be some of the best i could ever get.im just too scared to talk to them about it.when i say scared i mean at the verge of panic attacks when i think about doing it.
sorry these comments are a bit random i just i need to let all this out and know your opnion on this
xxx
July 20, 2008 at 9:25 am |
Jo,
Thanks for sharing. I know it’s the normal thing to blame ourselves when things go badly with people we know. However, in working out our emotions when dealing with people close to us who are self-destructive, we must understand that those people are individuals who have made their own choices and are the ones responsible for making their choices. Blaming yourself, although understandable, is really not going to help you or your friends.
I had a classmate in college who lived across the hall from me who was a cutter. When I interacted socially with him, I tried to be a positive influence but in spite of that and in spite of him being surrounded by friends who cared about him, he attempted suicide. He had some personal family problems that we weren’t aware of and, yes, those of us around him blamed ourselves for what he did. His problems were compounded by his listening to Pink Floyd music, which has lyrics in songs like “Goodbye Cruel World” and “The Final Cut” that promote suicide and are laced with a spirit of witchcraft. All of that mixed with his use of drugs were a toxic mix that drove him to try suicide. Eventually, we learned that blaming ourselves wasn’t going to help anyone’s situation, especially his. We just continued to show that we cared about him and made ourselves available to help him. That’s all anyone can do, and that would include praying for them and giving godly advice when necessary.
What you’re feeling is sorrow. 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 states that there are two types of sorrow. One sorrow is godly sorrow that makes a person feel sorry for offending God when they do something sinful. This sorrow leads them to repent of their wrong and drives them to improve themselves and their situation. The second type of sorrow is worldly sorrow that makes a person feel sorry, but they refuse to repent of their wrongdoing and being overwhelmed by their disappointment, frustration, and anguish, they can be led to harm themselves. This is the type of sorrow that we see in Judas Iscariot in the Bible when he commits suicide for having betrayed Jesus. It is the kind of sorrow that works death in an individual.
Although it seems like you hate yourself, that is really not the case. Having sorrow that leads to depression is not hatred for oneself. You have a worldly sorrow that is destructive and if you don’t get help from a strong Christian individual, Satan will use it to his advantage to try to destroy you. God has something he wants you to do for him that could have a positive affect on others’ lives in profound ways that you may not even be aware of. But Satan probably has some idea this could happen, so he’s targeting you to try to hinder you from making any progress. Are you going to let him win?
It’s great that you’re sticking by your friends in tough times, but you also need to surround yourself with friends that have a godly, positive outlook on life that will give you courage and encouragement to press forward in the things of God while experiencing his unspeakable joy. Paul warned the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15 that “evil communications corrupt good manners” when they were listening to negative people in the church who were attacking the idea of resurrection, causing people to doubt the truths that they had learned. When you only surround yourself with people bent on self-destruction, it will corrupt your good manners.
So since you have fantastic youth leaders and they are clearly a gift from God, talk to them right away without hesitation. It’s obvious that they’re the ones God placed in your life to help you. God’s throwing you a lifeline through them, but you have to reach out and grab it as if your life depends on it. This is probably the path God has laid out for you for your healing to occur and for your victory over your struggle to manifest itself once and for all. Your fear of talking to them is unwarranted. It’s just a tactic used by Satan to stand in the way of your progress. I can’t emphasize this enough–you need to talk to them as soon as possible!
August 25, 2008 at 10:42 pm |
what you’re talking about in the article is old pagan practices. it really isn’t the same as self-injury. it’s like those satanic cults who cut themselves to use their blood conjure up evil spirits or whatever. a self-injurer and a satanic worshiper really aren’t in the same kind of business.
August 26, 2008 at 5:57 pm |
Whenever a person cuts themselves, whether for ritualistic or any other purpose, it’s all self-injury. When you put a knife to your skin and it draws blood, you’ve just injured yourself.
The person who cuts themselves out of frustration with their lives or anger toward themselves, is listening to the same type of spirit that a satanic person or a witch is listening to when they do their rituals. So, yes, it’s the same kind of business which may have seemingly different goals.
The old pagan practices are still in operation today because until Jesus Christ destroys Satan in the lake of fire at the end of time as we know it, Satan will always seek to destroy people since we are created in God’s image and he will always have followers since the human race is sinful and most of us gladly live in a state of rebellion against God.
September 18, 2008 at 10:49 pm |
So I am COMPLETELY upset with this article. I too agree completely with what “C” said in her post. I have been one who has struggled with self injury. I don’t condone it and I know it’s not right and I work to change that behavior. I believe Jesus does give freedom for self injury. There is ALOT of hurt that goes along with self injury and I believe God doesn’t look at a person who self injures or anyone for that matter with judgemental eyes but with loving eyes that cry with those who cry. I do think that you don’t really know what cutting is all about. The fact that you doubted that the first poster was real, says the basic fact. Never doubt a self harmers story. I know on the internet it’s hard to tell who’s real and who’s not but if that person really is a self injurer, you just blew your opportunity to minister to them and truly love them and care about them. Love unconditionally and don’t judge. If ya’ll wanna here more of my story check out http://www.speakdontbleed.com. I didn’t write this to advertise my website but to let those who do self injure have a place of support (not encouraging self injury but practicing speaking truth and fighting this battle among others who have dealt with the same stuff) instead of a place of judgement.
September 19, 2008 at 11:59 pm |
Speak,
The truth is often hard to accept when one is caught up in a behavior that someone else points out as not being right. “Don’t be judgmental” is an argument that’s often thrown around these days when someone says things that someone else doesn’t want to hear, but it’s not a biblical argument. Exercising judgment is nothing more than taking a look at a situation and drawing a conclusion. Jesus said in John 7:24, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” So we have the right to judge based on the knowledge God gives us through his word. And by telling me not to judge, you yourself have just made a judgment.
When Jesus said “Judge not lest ye be judged” he was talking about making unrighteous, unmerciful judgments. That’s not what I’ve done in this post. I merely studied God’s word to see what he had to reveal about the spirit behind the act of self-injury. Whether you or any self-injurer admits it or not, cutting results from influence of evil spirits and in the case of unbelievers, it’s possible that possession by an evil spirit may be involved. Influence from evil spirits can come through various channels or circumstances as I mentioned in my previous comments.
I mentioned what the Bible says because God’s word gives us understanding about ourselves and our situations in life while providing understanding and wisdom on how to handle our problems in a godly way. My words in this post were expressions of the truth with love in the hope that readers will receive help from the Lord to help themselves or someone else in this situation. That’s why I make no apologies for what I’ve said.
As far as the first commenter is concerned, contrary to your judgment that I blew my opportunity, I believe you’re wrong. The fact that they left a comment means that something I wrote touched them. I made the comment I did because the way the person wrote was a little disjointed, but there was nothing wrong with the advice I gave. Advice that points to the Healer, Jesus Christ, who frees us so he can be glorified through us, is not wrong. And I should add that I prayed for the person because God has all power and can reach the person where they are.
Ultimately, when it comes to presenting what the Bible says about something that a person disputes, my philosophy is let God be true but every man a liar, that I may be justified in what I say and overcome when I am judged (Romans 3:4).
September 20, 2008 at 7:23 pm |
Its obviously we have a slightly different view on things and that’s fine, it’s pointless to chat about it when we don’t see eye to eye so hope you have a great day.
March 25, 2009 at 11:37 am |
this has been very interesting reading the comments. if you still check this, i would want to bring two things to everyones attention. regardless if the man of God is sympathetic, empathetic, or completely out of touch with the heart of a cutter at all, he gave scripture…as a christian i can excuse my addiction all i want to, but it doesn’t change the fact that the bible is God-inspired, word for word. cutting happened a long time ago, and it still happens today. why? because the sin nature is the sin nature, no matter what time frame we are born in. if you sin, the bible says repent.
we have lost the art of rebuke. if you cut,you need to stop, and you need accountability. if you eat ice cream too much, you need to stop, and you need accountability. you are wrong though friend, there is a difference in cutting, and ice cream. that difference is blood. there is not a single covenant made from the fall of man till today that doesn’t require blood shed for covenant. blood of an innocent animal was used to rejoin covenant with God and man. abraham was circumcised to make a promise of his seed…blood was shed. when a man and woman join in covenant of marriage, the virgin woman bleeds, as a consummation of the covenant. (study the process of jewish marriage). today we accept the blood of christ because his blood was the final blood to be shed for sins of all man.
when you cut, you are sheding innocent blood for someone… who? yourself? your pain? your torment? your emotion? you your yours? who is the the God of you? if you feel that christ blood was not enough to get rid of your pain, and you have to shed more blood for yourself, you are mocking the very thing ROM. 10:9-10 stand for. admitting that christ was raised from the dead, mean that the biggest part of being a christian is understanding that his death was enough for your stress and pains.
when you bleed you mock and blaspheme the crucifixion, as if you say, “thank jesus, but i’ll take it from here” and then you make you mockery the same as eating a sweet when you crave it? NO! don’t mock my God like that. do’t make light of things he has done for me! old things have passed away and all things become new, you are a brand new creation in christ, and if you are a christ follower, you need to stop. just because we want to do something, doesn’t mean we have the right. you have become your own God, making sacrifices to yourself. it is years of abuse that has created a false pride, and a false self-worth. by destroying your body you are subconsciously say that you are enough for the omission of your sin.
it needs to stop. i say this in love, because you are not the only one who deals with sins of who we are. don’t make light of your sin, and i won’t make light of mine.
May 19, 2009 at 4:47 pm |
Wow, I respect your strong beliefs and your knowledge of the bible but I think you have had no experience of this topic and are coming to it from completely the wrong perspective. Yes self-cutting is a spiritual battle as well, but it stems from low-self esteem, depression and feelings of worthlessness, and the fact that you think a person cannot hate themselves shows how little you understand this topic.
May 19, 2009 at 5:29 pm |
Charlotte,
I understand that modern society likes to think that psychology trumps what we learn in the Bible, but I’m of the opinion that God who created us and revealed his truth to his secretaries–those who wrote the Bible–gave us his word as the instruction manual to tell us what makes us tick or makes us dysfunctional. Psychology, in my opinion, is a false science conjured up by folks like Jung and Freud to get our focus off God.
I don’t believe in low self-esteem. I would instead say that people who cut are deceived about themselves and about their situation. If a person is depressed or feel they are worthless, it’s because they love themselves to the point that they have certain expectations out of life and if those expectations they have of themselves or of their situations are not met, they get extremely frustrated.
This extreme frustration over wanting something better that they haven’t been able to obtain leads them to think that doing harm to themselves will alleviate their frustrations or rescue them from their situation. They want to be rescued by whatever means because ultimately they love themselves and feel they shouldn’t have to suffer what they’re going through.
And when it comes to believing what God’s word says in comparison to what psychology says–if the two are in conflict with each other–I say “Let God be true, but every man a liar” [Romans 3:4]
June 10, 2009 at 6:25 pm |
I have read your article and read the responses to your article.
I must say that this article is absolutely correct. Without a doubt in my mind, especially as a person who has self harmed for several years of my life, this is the reason why people self harm today.
We, as a culture, have been subliminally influenced by the media (be that, music, movies, television, and books) to embrace occult/satanic ideas into our lives.
And by embracing these ideas and giving them room in our lives it has pushed us into places where we treat our body, which is a temple to the living God, in horrible ways.
The adversary has convinced the world that demon possession/influence only happens as detailed in movies like The Exorcist. It is more than possible to be subtly influenced into a state where we feel trapped and helpless and decide to self harm.
I have lived that experience and now live with the consequences.
Looking back at my life and reflecting on what I have done (as well as my associations/environment, the socially constructed expectations that I was trying to follow and the things that I watched, listened to and read) this is the only reasonable explaination.
Once those things changed and I actively pursued the truth and (re)discovered that Jesus Lives and our advesary seeks nothing but the destruction of life and has poluted the things of the world the behaviour left.
So, Harry, thank you for this post, even if no one else believes you and thinks your crazy. I appreciate that you identified self harm for what it is and did not sugar-coat it under the umbrella of mental illness.
June 10, 2009 at 7:37 pm |
penultima,
I appreciate your comment and thanks for sharing your testimony.
June 25, 2009 at 7:58 am |
Wow, I started out looking for a post like yours. My neice told me last night that she used to cut herself and is starting to want to do it again. Things in her home aren’t as they should be, never have been. I knew there was a spiritual reason behind it, I just didn’t know what or where to find it. I didn’t know where to start in my prayer for her.
I appreciate that you brought the scripture out. I’m totally out of the loop on cutting. I just knew it was bad and a sign of how bad things really were for her, and a sign of something major going on. She has “played” at being a Christian when she has been with us but never given her heart over to Him. I could just hear (read since it was while we were IMing) the helplessness and hopelessness in her. I can’t practically help her, her mom won’t allow it, or help her herself, but now I know where to start with prayer.
I guess I said all that to say, Thank you for pointing out the scriptures and bringing light to this for me. I can run with this!!
June 25, 2009 at 9:06 pm |
Val,
Thanks for sharing this situation. I pray that God will continue to grant you wisdom in your prayers and that your niece will be set free from her spiritual bondage.
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26
September 7, 2009 at 2:13 pm |
Your article is HORRIBLE!!!!!!
There’s nothing wrong with self harming!!!!!!
I hate you.
September 8, 2009 at 12:56 am |
My article is truthful and accurate. When people are confronted and shown that their sin is wrong, it’s rather normal for them to respond as you have. But that doesn’t mean it’s right.
Deep down inside yourself you know what you’re doing is wrong and that’s why you’ve lashed out against me. The fact that you called it self harming, when the word “harm” is a negative word by its very definition, shows that you really believe it’s not right.
You came across this article because God is trying to reach you. He wants you to be free from this spiritual bondage because he loves you and wants what’s best for you. Jesus Christ died for this sin and all of your sins so you can be made free in him. All you have to do is believe in him. God loved you so much, Marluxia, that he gave his only begotten Son that if you believe in the Lord Jesus, you will not perish but have everlasting life.
October 6, 2009 at 4:54 pm |
Hi,
Just wanted to say I find both sides of the argument helpful thank you for both sharing C and harrygaylord.
I am a Christian who is not a cutter but had a twin sister who does. She stopped going to church when someone explained similar verses to the ones you used harry, I think alot of what you say is right but later experiencing depression myself as a Christian I would say sometimes you are more prone to spiritual war fare. With things such as cutting or depression or any time of suffering perhaps thats when satan accuses most or it is more obvious then others..dont get me wrong we are always under attack I am thinking of Job and David and others of the bible who felt it more so at times….loved C S Lewis Screwtape Letters and really recommend it.
Also look forward to reading the book C recommended. I think you are also right to be frustrated and say most ppl who havent experienced dont know I certainly dont! Sin is sin is sin and we are all sinners it is just about who will call our saviour that makes the change.
October 13, 2009 at 1:10 pm |
Wow some of us do not even know some of the weird things going on in this world or should i say in America or could it be true that America is Babylon the Great as said in revelations. I don’t even like cutting my finger nails unless i really need to, how much more cut my own flesh. This has sent chills down my spin. I also had serious problem but never thought cutting myself would solve them or relieve me of it or any problem. wow am shocked.
October 17, 2009 at 3:00 am |
This website is much needed. The troubles with self-mutilation are too much to list, most people will need a therapist for a nice long time to get through it. Without the hope that the teachings of Jesus bring, without the positive examples of many mentally healthy people, I might never have had a chance to start recovering from mental illness. The main problem with having self-mutilation or drug abuse scars is that it automatically means you are stuck with something that most people cannot understand, are in shock of or are in hate of. So, if you’re hating yourself and believe most people are going to hate you for being mentally ill with self-mutilation disorder or needle drug addiction or suicidal tendencies, you’re going to need caring people around you. If you’re all alone, the love of Jesus is available to you and if you’re very unsafe, then you don’t need to go to church, you might need to go to the mental health ward at the hospital – I have and they are very good people who care and can help, but like anyone else, not perfect, and probably not religious at all. After many years of secretly being in therapy, hiding my past, I am able to hold a job, be alone on my own and seek a life I like. Best thing might be to finish college first. It is very difficult when you have to be wearing long sleeves 365 days a year and not just as a fashion statement! It gets hot, but don’t worry that much, because you can find ways around it, to stay more comfortable. There are surgeries to reverse the scarring, but they are all very expensive. Coping strategies come in all kinds, not always the obvious ones, so your best bet is to stay with therapy and otherwise keep trying to have a life you like, with things and entertainment you like, even if you’re so miserable and broke you don’t know how many years it’ll be before you get anything good. Jesus teaches that, he’s the best and he loves everyone equally.