OCD and Christianity
Martin Luther offers this advice for dealing with the tormenting thoughts that we call obsessions. When you pass an entrance where a dog is sleeping, quickly pass by the sleeping dog, or if he is barking, do not irritate him, for the more you oppose him, the more frenzied he becomes. You must do likewise […]
Just the other day, yet another OCDer tried to tell me that a new tormenting worry was not an obsession. “I don’t think this is OCD,” she said, “because this is a real problem, not something irrational.” She is an accountant, and was speaking of a possible mistake she had made in preparing a person’s […]
When gripped by a strong obsessional fear, we have to put our hope in something. Otherwise, despair becomes inevitable. There are lots of things to put hope in. It is bad hope that drives OCD sufferers to pester people for reassurance, or to pour over articles and websites, or debate endlessly in their minds about […]
In a commentary on Psalm 90, Martin Luther takes up the trial that that afflicts OCDers. The pious and the saints are tormented throughout life by multifarious anxieties concerning death and other matters. Satan haunts them day by day with fears and the uncertainty of life. It’s good for us OCDers to know we are […]
I have seen several people recently with exactly the same obsessional fear: that they have broken a promise to God. One person, a middle-aged businessman explained it this way: “First, I’ll be looking forward to something, like watching a football game on TV. Then I will get hit with some sort of a fear, like […]
Obsessions often take the form of tormenting doubts. For Christian OCD sufferers, these most often deal, one way or the other, with issues of righteousness and assurance of salvation: “Did I really accept Jesus as my savior;” “What if I didn’t confess all my sins?” “Could it be that deep down I want to commit […]
When the coronavirus struck in New Zealand, the health minister recommended: “Give your hands a really thorough wash….this is the time for OCD!” Give me a break. People just don’t get it. OCD is not a degree of thoroughness. And you can’t turn it on when you want. Who would want to? It makes everything […]
John Newton is the 18th century English minister who wrote “Amazing Grace.” Another of his poems is called “Prayer Answered by Crosses,” which has also been put to music (“I asked the Lord”). An OCDer recently sent me a copy of this poem, noting that it contains a good description of his situation. Newton’s poem […]
A long-term OCD-sufferer happened to mention her driving habits to me. “Every time I go through an intersection,” she said offhandedly, “I always take a quick look back in the mirror.” “Wait a minute,” I said. “That’s not normal. Only OCDers do that.” “You’re kidding!” she said, mystified. “Everyone doesn’t do it? …Who knew?” That’s […]
Put away the old man, which has become evil by love of deceit…and put on the new man, to which God has given life. (Eph 4:22, 24 BBE) Pride is the essence of the old man, while the new man is marked by trust in God. As Christians, of course, our goal is to get from […]