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–
broken**
/ March 19, 2008im 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!!!
Anonymous
/ October 26, 2011@broken** Thank you for opening up and sharing your experiences. Personally I don’t cut, but I battle with a kind of similar problem. I pick at my skin in the same sense for a few minutes till hours at a time. I have a similar personal history and childhood, actually almost exactly the same.But we are not prisoners of the past. I have found so much freedom in Jesus Christ. Our bodies are the temple of God and to defile that temple is a sin. I have been freed from drugs, alcohol, bad relationships and the hate I felt for those who hurt me in my life, but I have not wanted to let this secret sin go. The bible says “whoever sins becomes a slave to sin.” When I have that first desire to pick, I hear the Holy Spirit (my conscience) telling me “don’t do it” and “your going to hate yourself for it.” Sometimes I listen and others I just want to feel that terrible and somehow “good” feeling. There are false pleasures that we get out of sin that makes us want to go back. But the bible says “Who the Son sets free is truly free.” Jesus is the Son of God and He really does set us free, but we have to choose to not go back, to be disciplined. By the renewing of our minds through the word of God, the way we look at sin changes. Also, “idle hands are the devil’s playground” don’t make yourself available when you want to cut. Get out of the house! Eliminate the things that trigger you to want to do it. Fight against the temptation. The bible says: “resist the devil and he will flee.” God bless you!
harryagaylord
/ March 19, 2008If 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.
C. . .
/ March 28, 2008I’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.
Melinda Fulwood
/ June 12, 2011This is a late reply but there is so much deception is this response. Cutting is NOT a normal activity.
It is OPPOSITE of any behavior which is solidly helpful and healthful.
And here is a huge TRUTH. It does not take Jesus months or years to set you free.
Clearly there is a spirit NOT OF GOD who does not want to leave you.
Sophie
/ August 9, 2011Thank you for your post! Very helpful.. A loved one of mine has recently started and I was struggling with how to understand it as a Christian – and trying to understand how he could possibly be a christian and do it. So it was good to hear things from your perspective. I shall try get my hands on that essay you mentioned. All the best with it – I’ll be praying for you.
harryagaylord
/ March 29, 2008C,
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).
Naomi
/ March 30, 2008No 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.
Melinda Fulwood
/ August 9, 2011Do some more research? “Get to know someone who cuts”? Who do you think you are advising? Some middle school kid?
What arrogance you have. And I say arrogance since you are unable to recognize any truth on this post. Have you ever heard of the term, “unteachable” ? Go look in a mirror and see the term in its fleshly form.
“For they traded truth for a lie”
al
/ March 30, 2008i 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.
harryagaylord
/ March 30, 2008Naomi 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.
Naomi
/ March 30, 2008I 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.
Sheila
/ October 21, 2010Al & Naomi,
I am not a cutter, my daughter doesn’t cut (yet) she bruises herself. I did have eating disorders anorexia & bullemia. I have also, as an adolescent hurt myself on purpose, I have banged my head against a brick wall until I split my head open and bled. I have in a rage slapped myself and pounded my fists until my knuckles bled. Anyway, the point I want to make is that harry, or the blogger who began these posts is pointing out the very thing you are all saying. He is however, making the point that our cutting, self abuse etc is larger than we are.
THIS is the very point. WE are not the source and support for the universe. We are not God, therefore, we have to agree with what God tells us. If God tells me that cutting or self abuse or overeating or adultary or hatred is a sin against HIM and that it is demonically influenced why do we want to disagree? I think it is because we want to be more important than a simple sinner who Satan is seeking to devour, we want our problems and our hurt and our pain to be bigger than that of Jesus Christ and so we don’t want to admit we are weak.
By arguing against an albeit simplistic approach to cutting, we are doing more of the same. We are saying NO to scripture and NO to God and yes to our own opinions of reality. OUr opiinons of reality have brought us to the point that we would abuse our bodies and yet we still fight.
Any Christian who is intellectually and spiritually honest should be happy to admit that relief lies at the foot of the cross.
Do i mean someone who is cutting is not saved NO!
I was a Christian who had a ‘nervous breakdown’ after 15 years in a crappy marriage and an abusive church and began to smoke pot, drink liquor and smoke cigaretts! I wanted to DIE! I had to repent after about 1 year (I’ve been saved anywhere from 29-40 years, only jesus knows) because the consequences of my sinful self indulgence in despondency was ruining my family! It was more important to turn away from sin, embrace my savior and repent than to continue in a life that was hurting not only myself but others.
The very fact that cutters or self abusers care so little for the anxiety and pain they are causeing others is an indication of the basis of the sin, not pain and humility but pride. I know from experience, i have been so thin i had to be in the hospital, i refused to eat, i have drunk alcohol until i destroyed my insides and consciously wanted to die, frankly it never occured to me to cut myself but i did slam my head into the cement. Anyway, don’t be afraid to see sin in yourselves, don’t be afraid to call it sin and not mask it.
It is true that life sucks, i was raped at age 9, abused by schoolmates, abused by my husband, abused by my church (former church, our new one is great) and have been mis understood most of my life but Christ is only good and blessed so why quibble about this man’s blog? Why not encourage other cutters to repent and look to Christ? Of course they should talk to other Christians who have cut, of course they should do all those things, but this man isn’t lame, he’s being biblical and your arguments are rather lame and in my opinon very predictable. You should say you’re sorry for judging so harshly when you could have instead kindly built upon his statements which would have benefitted others instead of undermining the authority of scripture with more psychological speach which is largely not helping a lost world.
harryagaylord
/ October 21, 2010Excellent testimony Sheila. Thanx 4 sharing.
Allison
/ October 22, 2010God Bless you Sheila.
Thanks for your testimony.
insomniaspiral
/ October 18, 2011I think you hit the nail right on the head. Whether you’re saying “evil spirits” or “bad influences” or “the devil” it’s all the same thing: one’s inability to deal with emotions in a healthy manner. I’ve been dealing with cutting for 15+ years and have now been having trouble with other substances as a result of abstaining from cutting without developing better coping habits. I try not to BS myself and be realistic. One addiction replaces another, but doesn’t alleviate the problem: my emotions; my misguided decisions.
Thanks for being the voice of reason on this post.
liz(bian)
harryagaylord
/ March 30, 2008You 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.
Yo_mama
/ April 13, 2008C, naomi, and that other m**********r are all obviously the same person. F****n losers.
harryagaylord
/ April 14, 2008C, 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.
me
/ April 15, 2008Your 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.
harryagaylord
/ April 16, 2008Thanks 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.
Ann
/ May 18, 2008I 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.
harryagaylord
/ May 18, 2008Thank you, Ann, for sharing your testimony. I will keep you in my prayers. May God continue to strengthen you.
christian brotown
/ May 25, 2008i 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?
harryagaylord
/ May 25, 2008God 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.
christian brotown
/ May 29, 2008thnks 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.
stellewriter
/ July 5, 2008What 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
harryagaylord
/ July 5, 2008Well, 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.
jo
/ July 18, 2008heya
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
harryagaylord
/ July 19, 2008Jo,
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.
jo
/ July 19, 2008Well 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
harryagaylord
/ July 20, 2008Jo,
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!
whatever
/ August 25, 2008what 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.
harryagaylord
/ August 26, 2008Whenever 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.
angie
/ April 14, 2010I know this 2him@gmail.comblog is old and u may never get this reply but I encourage u to do a little more research. You seem pretty smart well educated. But cutting for religious reasons or rites is specifically excluded from the definition of self harm along with a few others. Psychology is not based on sigmeund freud. In fact if u told a psychologist today u respected freud they’d laugh at u cause they don’t agree with him either (secular and christian) counseling is an amazing tool God uses to heal ppl. I am a Christain and a recovering cutter and u really do need a new perspective on this issue.
harryagaylord
/ April 14, 2010[In fact if u told a psychologist today u respected freud they’d laugh at u cause they don’t agree with him either]
Although psychologists & psychiatrists don’t always agree with everything Freud espoused, their fields are still based on his theories. They also mix in a little Jung and others’ theories. So you’re wrong about them laughing at anyone respecting freud. If they do laugh, it would be at someone like me who considers God’s word as more important than their man-made doctrines.
I’m glad you’ve decided to turn away from cutting. I applaud your decision and praise God for it.
I don’t know who’s definition of self-harm you’ve accepted, but the world system’s definitions of actions and habits often is contrary to God’s definitions. So since the world system, the Earth, and the Universe will one day pass away and since God’s word will never pass away, I’ll stick to what God says in his word and the definitions he gives through his prophets.
speak
/ September 18, 2008So 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.
harryagaylord
/ September 19, 2008Speak,
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).
speak
/ September 20, 2008Its 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.
JaredOkelley
/ March 25, 2009this 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.
Charlotte
/ May 19, 2009Wow, 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.
harryagaylord
/ May 19, 2009Charlotte,
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]
penultima
/ June 10, 2009I 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.
harryagaylord
/ June 10, 2009penultima,
I appreciate your comment and thanks for sharing your testimony.
Val
/ June 25, 2009Wow, 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!!
harryagaylord
/ June 25, 2009Val,
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
Marluxia
/ September 7, 2009Your article is HORRIBLE!!!!!!
There’s nothing wrong with self harming!!!!!!
I hate you.
Disbelief
/ February 6, 20111) you actually think that there is NOTHING wrong with cutting and harming yourself!!?? wow
2)you cant hate someone you dont actually know…
3) I have a friend that cuts and burns her arms and I am sure as heck glad they dont have you as a friend to tell them that its okay for her to do so and that its “normal”
you are a sick person…
harryagaylord
/ September 8, 2009My 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.
P
/ October 6, 2009Hi,
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.
jeremiah
/ October 13, 2009Wow 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.
JT
/ October 17, 2009This 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.
ScarlettAngel
/ December 15, 2009hi, this is all fascinating. I have a headache from reading it all!
I am a 20 year old, self harmer for about 10 years now. Also struggled with bulimia, promiscuity/sleeping around, shop lifting, drugs, alcohol and suicide attempts.
But anyway, I know all that is wrong and all, like, I’m a Christian too, so I know its a sin and that Jesus has already paid for my sins on the cross. But for me to say that I actually don’t want to stop cutting and burning myself, does that make me not a Christian or something? I got kicked out of a church once coz apparently its impossible to be a Christian and deliberately harm myself. Why that meant I had to leave the church, I am yet to understand.
I have been hospitalised and rehabilitised and in therapy and all that for years now, and honestly, I’m just not ready to stop. I don’t want to, not yet anyway. I will when I’m ready. But in the meantime, for me to continuosly, deliberately disobey God, what does that mean? that I can’t ask for forgiveness coz I’m obviously not really sorry? I do consider myself a Christian, I do attend church and stuff. But I am just not sure, if, according to God, I am actually a Christian.
Do you have any thoughts (or better yet, facts) on this?
I am doing well staying away from all my other stupid unhealthy addictions, its just the self harming behaviour that I am confused about.
Thankyou for your time
harryagaylord
/ December 15, 2009I can’t say whether or not you’re really a Christian. That’s between you and God. The Bible says we should examine ourselves to determine if we are really in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).
The fact that you admit you’re wrong and you know it tells me that if you are truly a Christian, you are more concerned about what YOU want instead of what God wants. You, like a lot of churchgoers, have shown by your words that you are selfish and carnal (doing what pleases your sinful nature) and are actively resisting the Holy Spirit. If you’re not willing to give up your sinful habit, then you will find your sin leading you further away from God and yourself giving into other sins, if you haven’t already.
My only advice to you is to repent of your sin and run back to God. If you’re not willing to change your ways, why seek my advice?
Emma
/ March 8, 2011Hi, I just read this page. I’m a (now infrequent) cutter, and have been for years. I’m also bipolar, and have found all my ambitions were wrecked because of it. I am also a Christian. I disagree that self injury is necessarily a sign of demon possession/influence. Mostly because there are 9 mentions of cutting in the Bible, and only one of them is connected to worship of false gods (1 Kings 18:20ff) and one to demon possession (Mark 5). The other incidences (Deut 14.1; Lev 19:28; 21:5; Jer 16:6-7; 41:4-5; 47:56; Hosea 7:14). These refer to the practise of mourning the dead in Canaanite culture at the time. There is no suggestion in the text that this mourning involved idol worship or demons but was rather a custom which was not to be followed.
I am not suggesting that SI is a good thing: the bible clearly says that we should not cut, arguably because we should not deface God’s temple (the body – 1 Cor 6:19-20) but primarily because our blood is precious (Ps 72:14) and because there is simply no need to cut – Jesus’ blood purifies from all sin (1 John 1:7), we are not required to make such a sacrifice as it has already been made.
There are many reasons for self-injury, and I do think low esteem is part of it, it certainly was for me. However I do see your point in that when I cut I feel a sort of glory in self-destruction which is essentially pride in self. Albeit in a perverted way.
Anyway, I’m in the process of writing a site about SI and Christ, and anyone can get in touch via spelk @ hotmail dot co dot uk
harryagaylord
/ March 8, 2011Thanks for sharing your testimony, Emma. The Canaanite culture was centered on the worship of false gods and their practices stemmed from this worship, including cutting. Canaanites worshiped Baal and part of Baal worship was cutting, which is why I pointed out Elijah’s contest with the priests of Baal. This is the overall context of the scriptures you listed. When God told the Israelites what to avoid when they came out of Egypt, he gave them the reasons for why they weren’t to do those practices. Deuteronomy 18 sums up the previous chapters of God’s commands with this statement that also covers what was said in Deut. 14–”For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee,” [Deut. 18:12].
He also gave this reason for forbidding cutting and other heathen practices mentioned in Leviticus 19:28 when he paused in Lev. 18:24 to say, “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you.” Then he reiterates this with a similar statement in Leviticus 20:23–”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.”
So the context of all the scriptures you listed were concerning pagan practices, which God hates, because he tells us in Leviticus 17:7 and Deuteronomy 32:17 that these people were sacrificing to devils in all of these practices.
Emma, you don’t have to be an infrequent cutter. You can be rid of it once and for all in your life if you are determined with the Lord’s help not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in the Lord Jesus. I would urge you to read the Authorised Version, otherwise known as the King James regularly, pray, and meditate on them. I know if you do this in the name of Jesus, you will find yourself completely delivered just as our Lord wants you to be. I can tell you are somewhat familiar with them, but have you really allowed them to get into your spirit? Try re-reading the gospels in the KJV without any distractions and accept them as completely true without doubting and you will be delivered. My prayers are with you for your deliverance.
A caring Friend
/ March 22, 2011Hey
I don’t cut myself or do any of the other things mentioned. I’m a Christian who loves the Lord and is trying to live a life holy and pleasing for God. I’m also trying to be an example for others (especially my friends). That is why I looked up this article. I’m very thankful to have found it. I pray God bless you and continues to use you!
So, getting to my point. My friend mentioned being very depressed and living a double life: happy, joyful and perky with our group of friends but while at home moody , rude and just depressive. This came as a shock to me. She told me she’s never cut herself but has thought of it several times but has never had the courage (for lack of a better word) to do it. She says she hates the idea of cutting herself but she feels there is control in afflicting that pain on herself. I’m glad she doesn’t cut herself and I don’t want her to.
So, what should I do? (along with praying… cause I’m already doing that and yes I do believe there is power in prayer) Is there anything I should say without being pushy or insensitive? I want to help her and I know only God can change lives and give love that surpasses all understanding but I want and feel I should not leave her alone. Thank you and God bless. -A caring friend
harryagaylord
/ March 22, 2011Thanks for sharing your concern about your friend, caring. There are several questions that come to my mind when you talk about her. Is she saved? Does she attend a Bible-believing church? Why does she act differently when out with the girls than she does at home? Does she have some unforgiveness towards someone at home? These are just some things for you to consider.
The fact that she hasn’t cut herself is something to be thankful for. The advice I would give you would be about the same as I gave “christian brotown” in my comments above. Just being around as a friend who’s a Christian may be all that you need to do for right now. Sometimes that’s the best sermon we can preach to someone. And if you haven’t let your friend know you’re praying for her, let her know.
Finally, I’d say that when the opportunity presents itself when you’re socializing with her, just drop in what the Bible says in a matter-of-fact way about a topic you’re discussing and why you believe what the Bible says. I’ll be praying for you and your friend regarding your concerns. Take care.
Anonymous
/ June 9, 2011Thank you for your research and Biblical insight to a frightening and sensitive subject. I’ve recently learned that my 17-year old son is a cutter. He is the middle of three sons, the other boys are 18 and 13. Aaron is model boy in every sense of the word: honor student, athlete, a Christian active in church youth group for many years, respectful, well-regarded by peers, teachers and coaches. He has told me his reason for cutting is not due to inner turmoil or pain but to strengthen his will against repeated sins he’s committed. “Doing something hard, like hurting myself, makes me stronger to resist temptations.” Though I am confident your responses to others are comprehensive, for his benefit I would like you to speak to his specific perspective. Thank you.
harryagaylord
/ June 9, 2011Thank you for sharing what your son is experiencing. I know as a concerned parent, it can’t be easy for you knowing your son harms himself. What he has told you, that hurting himself makes him stronger to resist temptations, is very similar to the reasons that Muslims and Catholics use for the practice of self-flagellation (flogging themselves with cat-o-nine whips).
The Bible tells us in Isaiah 53:5 that Christ ” was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” And the apostle Peter explained it further in 1 Peter 2:24 when he tells us that Christ “bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” When Jesus was crucified and put to death because of our sins, he suffered for ALL of our sins–our past sins, our present sins, and our future sins. He suffered physical harm to his body so we would not have to suffer physical harm for our sins. When he took the blows from the whip at his trial, the stripes from the whip on his body were taken on our behalf so we could be healed physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Since Christ suffered so we could be healed, it is totally unnecessary for us to harm ourselves. As a matter of fact, harming ourselves would be an insult to God since we’re telling our Father that his son’s sacrifice was not good enough. It is like telling God that we can’t accept the healing he has already provided for us and this is showing a lack of faith in what Christ has already accomplished for us.
If we want to become stronger to resist temptations, all we have to do is follow Christ’s example when he was in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan. He fasted, he prayed to the Father, and he quoted the word of God to resist the devil. As James 4:7 says, when we submit ourselves to God we then resist the devil and he will flee from us. When Satan tempted Jesus in Matthew 4, he wanted Jesus to harm himself, but Jesus said that would be tempting God when he told Satan “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Finally, I’ll share what 1 Corinthians 10:13 says–”There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” God always makes a way for us to escape temptations, but we must submit to him to see that way of escape. When we harm ourselves, this is giving in to the temptations that lead us away from God and this not only harms a person physically, it harms them mentally and spiritually. Satan knows that God has some great things in store for Aaron and the devil is using self-harm to keep him away from the calling on Aaron’s life from God.
As God told Cain “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” God has given us the ability to rule over our sins even when we fail. And I’ll say to Aaron as Paul lovingly told Archippus in Colossians 4:17, Aaron “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.”
I’ll be praying for you all.
Anonymous
/ June 10, 2011Thank you for your prompt and thoughtful response, which I will share with Aaron this weekend. He is a good boy who wants to serve God faithfully. I appreciate your prayers; please continue to ask for God’s blessing on Aaron’s life and for deliverence from misguided thinking. Regards, Susan
Anonymous
/ June 14, 2011Hi,
a few months ago a mum confided in me her teen daughter was regularly practising si. Although the mum wasn’t a Christian (she has been on an Alpha course with me but didn’t invite Jesus into her heart, she knows about Jesus but doesn’t walk with Jesus) she wanted me to pray for her and is looking to me to help. I told her to ask Jesus into her heart and to seek guidance from Him. I’m not sure she has responded to that. I am seeking God about what I should do and trying to prepare to visit/help her. Have you any advice? A few years ago the Dad left for another woman and has had a baby. I know this is a big factor in the pain the daughter has.
harryagaylord
/ June 14, 2011Thank you for your comment. What you say raises several concerns I have not only for your friend and her daughter, but for you also and what I’m about to say may offend you, but I’m telling you out of godly love. I know about the Alpha course. Although it speaks of Christ and claims to have Christian principles, much of what is practiced like the uncontrollable laughter, shaking, and making animal noises is not Biblical. It’s teachings are geared toward ecumenism, which is basically a compromise of Biblical Christian doctrine for the sake of a false unity. I would urge you as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ to come out from among them. The only course we as Christians need is taught by God himself when we read, study, and meditate on God’s word regularly with the help of the Holy Ghost who dwells in us to lead us into all truth. “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him,” [1 John 2:27]. To find out the truth behind the Alpha Course, follow this link: http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/alpha.html
Now, if I haven’t offended you to the point that you’ve cut me off, I will address your friend’s situation. You’ve witnessed to her about the Lord Jesus and that’s great. The ball is now squarely in her court. If you visit her, just be a friend who shows the love of Christ and pray that God will grant you wisdom to inject his word into the conversation. God will lead you into what you should say or do. He may ask you to fast. He may prompt you to pray with her and with her daughter. He may ask you to anoint them with oil as you explain what that means from the scriptures so they’ll understand it.
You don’t know what the daughter is into behind the scenes, so ask God to reveal it to you so you can address it properly. If you talk to the daughter you may have the opportunity to share what God’s word says about healing and about self-injury. What leads her to self-injury may also surface in the conversation. I would suggest you do a lot of praying, meditating, and memorizing of God’s word so you can be prepared for any situation that may pop up, because there’s the possibility that resistance from the devil may show itself in some way in this situation. But remember, we are more than conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ. He has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Melinda Fulwood
/ June 16, 2011Its pretty sad when one refers to Bob Dylan for a truth but here it is: “You have to serve somebody”.
If you don’t serve God in an active way then by default you will be serving satan. There is no “other” box which you can mark when asked, “Do you serve the living God?”
And until we are firm in our belief, what can we really do for anyone else? When the disciples were unable to cast out an evil spirit from a child, Jesus was frustrated and said, “How long must I suffer this unbelief?”
harryagaylord
/ June 16, 2011Thanks for your observation Melinda.
Anonymous
/ September 11, 2011As a mother of a young teen girl who I found was “cutting” recently, this too has become an issue in my life. I am a Christian, and I love my daughter with all of my heart. When I first saw what my child did to her own body, I felt paralyzed with fear and a tremendous amount of guilt for not fully realizing the extent of her sadness and what may be going on in her life. I knew she had some troubles at school with feelings of fitting in, but she didn’t want to talk about this with me and her response was always “things are fine, mom”.
I’ll never forget the night I first discovered this… I had this strong sense that I NEEDED to check my daughters arms. I was heartbroken when I saw what she had done. This strong sense of guilt came from the fact that while I was busy with my work life and trying to provide for our family… I neglected my first responsibility which was to care for and nurture my child–how could I miss this?
I can only speak in my specific case, but I agree with Harry. After discovering the cutting, my husband and I went through all of her personal things and we found drawings of very dark images— I cannot imagine where these would be hiding in the mind of a 13 year old girl without influence of some kind. Then again, we hadn’t been responsibly limiting her Internet/media activity, and in addition found her visiting sites with blogs about self harm and suicidal stories almost obsessively using her notebook. We are beginning Christian counseling sessions after seeking guidance from our Pastor and Youth Pastor. I am constantly in prayer for her and our family. I have tried to pray directly with my daughter, but in these times she almost mocks what I am doing. As a young child she accepted Jesus, but now states that she doesn’t know if she believes in God. We bring her to church, but it is a constant battle. My biggest fear is that if there are spiritual implications to her behaviors– they will be overlooked and labeled as a completely “medical” condition without addressing the inside as well.
If you have any advice on additional steps that we can take in this as a family, please help. I want to continue to grow and help my daughter in any way possible through this– and I am continuing to seek the Lord in prayer. Could this be a case in where I should be fasting along with prayer for my daughter? I know Jesus speaks the need for both paired together in certain cases.
- Laur
harryagaylord
/ September 11, 2011Thank you for sharing your story. From what you’ve said, it sounds to me as if you have already been following the Holy Spirit’s guidance in this situation, which is how you discovered all you did about your daughter. So keep on following those strong senses that you NEED to do certain things. Keep reading, studying, and meditating on God’s word. Keep praying even if your daughter mocks. The prayers of the righteous availeth much, as the scriptures say. When you fight spiritual battles, there will always be forces to resist because Satan doesn’t want a breakthrough to happen. So regardless of your daughter’s resistance to go to church or pray, continue to stand firm on those issues. You’re the parent after all and that’s your duty to God to raise your child as God would have you to raise her. Lastly, I’ll say that the fact you asked about fasting means you already know the answer. That’s what God has placed on your heart and since that is what he wants, he’ll let you know how often and for how long.
You and your family will be in my prayers.
Anonymous
/ April 15, 2012I know people who otherwise can’t handle any pain, but when they cut themselves it feels so good that it is addictive. I’m sorry, but it sounds to me like satan is dumping the feel good hormones on these people when they follow his bidding. For some symbolic reason satan finds it gratifying when humans shed their own blood, and he rewards them with good feelings. It is a form of demon oppression for people who for some reason have allowed the devil into their lives – whether through demonic music, movies, or books. Maybe it is not their fault, maybe they have been exposed to demonic material before they were old enough to choose. But either way, Jesus is big enough to deliver, and they who go to Him will in no wise be cast out.
Harry A. Gaylord
/ April 15, 2012Amen.