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Of all the blogs of the last few years, the one that has received the most comments is “Salvation Doubts,” from September, 2015. It seems to have hit a nerve. It dealt with a young woman with OCD who, upon attending a new church, had heard the pastor preach, “Anyone who is not certain of […]

We have seen that the old man, the part of us who is tormented by fears and doubts, must be destroyed. That’s in order to make room for the new man who trusts in God. We don’t have to worry about this happening, because God makes it happen. The old man will inevitably be destroyed […]

As discussed in last month’s blog, Saint Paul’s distinction between the new man and the old man can be quite helpful for OCD sufferers, especially in the way it is developed by Martin Luther. He emphasizes that life is a continual process of leaving behind fear, which is the mark of the old man, and […]

Saint Paul talks about the new man and the old man in his New Testament letters. The concepts are very helpful for OCD sufferers—especially the way Martin Luther develops them. According to Luther, fear represents the “the cross of the old man,” who is tormented by uncertainty about his fate. The New Man, on the […]

Imaginal exposure, as discussed in the last blog, is an important exercise in the treatment of OCD. A major problem can arise, however, in the manner it is applied—especially in the case of Christians. In fact, one of the main reasons people consult me is because of a bad experience with a therapist attempting to […]

Most cases of OCD are effectively treated with ‘direct exposure’—purposefully immersing oneself in the real-life situations that are associated with obsessional fears. But some are not. For example, when obsessions deal with spiritual issues. How are you going to put yourself in the situation of losing your salvation, or of committing the ‘unpardonable sin’? You […]

In effective treatment for OCD, the most commonly used clinical technique is ‘direct exposure,’ sometimes also called ‘in vivo’ or ‘real life’ exposure. Here, an individual purposefully puts herself in situations that are associated with obsessional fears, and refrains from performing acts (compulsions) that would lessen her fear. For instance, in the case of a […]

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope  (Psalm 130:5) ‘Fiery ordeals’ come upon us to prove us, as noted by Saint Peter. What are we OCD sufferers to do about them? As discussed in the previous blog, we are to stay on the battlefield and not run away. […]

I have said this to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John16:33) For the Christian, OCD can be viewed as spiritual warfare. It is the enemy pressing tormenting fears upon us. We can’t prevent the fiery darts; […]

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you.” (1Peter 4:12 ) God tests those he loves with fiery ordeals. They may be outward afflictions, such as war, disease, or abuse; or they may be inner torments. As the psalmist […]