Can anyone recognize this?

[Micha]

Hello.
I’m new on this site and I hope to get some inputs on something I’m struggling with.

I have scrupulosity (religious ocd) and I am in constant fear on making a promise to God that I’ll commit suicide. Of course the ocd it trying to find something I can promise God that I can’t keep..
Does this sound like ocd or normal religious fear?
Let me just confirm that I’m not suicidal it’s just the theme of the ocd.

I one read online that it says in the Bible that you must keep your promises to God and now it scares me.

Hope to hear from you

 

[sfs]

Sounds like ocd to me.

 

[com7fy8]

I don't think we are obligated to keep a promise to sin.

 

[Micha]

Sounds like ocd to me.

Can you say why you think that?

 

[Micha]

I don't think we are obligated to keep a promise to sin.

Sorry, if it’s a stupid question but where does it say that it’s a sin?

 

[sfs]

Can you say why you think that?

Because it doesn't sound like normal religious fear, or any kind of rational fear. It's a fear of a dangerous impulse that you don't actually have. Intrusive thoughts specifically of losing control so that you kill yourself seem to be a fairly common symptom of OCD, in fact (not that I'm any kind of expert).

 

[Micha]

Because it doesn't sound like normal religious fear, or any kind of rational fear. It's a fear of a dangerous impulse that you don't actually have. Intrusive thoughts specifically of losing control so that you kill yourself seem to be a fairly common symptom of OCD, in fact (not that I'm any kind of expert).

Thank you for answering My fear is not that I suddenly commit suicide but my fear is that I suddenly promise to God out loud that I’ll promise to do it.

I read somewhere that an oral vow to God is more binding than thinking it. Do you know if that’s correct?

 

[ilovejcsog]

.

Sorry, if it’s a stupid question but where does it say that it’s a sin?

Murder is a sin
Satan can't hear your thoughts but he can act on what you say.
Do you promise suicide or do you just think that you might?

 

[com7fy8]

where does it say that it’s a sin?

I take it you mean if it is a sin to commit suicide. Let me know if I am wrong; in case I'm right >

We have the commandment not to kill. Ones understand this includes suicide.

Of course, it is understood that God has justified certain killing which was not murder. So, one might argue that he or she is doing God a favor by getting rid of oneself so he or she is not messing up people's lives in this world.

But the Bible does not say to do this. Do you know God's word well? God's word says > "choose life" > (in Deuteronomy 30:19).

And God is able to change us so we do better. Jesus suffered like He did and died for all of us, with His hope for any person.

Love "hopes all things" > in 1 Corinthians 13:7. So, we need to be alive with hope for ourselves and any other person, so we are alive in God's love.

Now, I understand that ones are deeply suffering big-time. And they feel God would not want them to suffer like that and so He understands if they kill themselves.

But God our Heavenly Father is not distant, but personal and caring about us. He is able to change us so we become strong in His love. And God's love shares with us His almighty power of immunity against cruel and dominating feelings and emotions.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

There are many sorts of "torment" which are connected with fear. And God can easily cure it all, so we have His love's "beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" which is "incorruptible" against that cruel and dominating stuff, plus this is so preciously pleasing to Him.

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

So, it is wise not to trust what that noisy and cruel stuff would have you thinking and deciding, but trust how God is able to change us so we share with Him in His peace and do only what He has us thinking and feeling and deciding in His soul-soothing peace.

 

[sfs]

Thank you for answering My fear is not that I suddenly commit suicide but my fear is that I suddenly promise to God out loud that I’ll promise to do it.

Yes, I know. That sounds very much like an OCD-style fear.

 

[Micha]

.
Murder is a sin
Satan can't hear your thoughts but he can act on what you say.
Do you promise suicide or do you just think that you might?

But is suicide considered murder?
I haven’t promised it but I’m afraid that I might do it. I’m afraid I suddenly say it out loud to God.

 

[com7fy8]

I read somewhere that an oral vow to God is more binding than thinking it. Do you know if that’s correct?

I think that what we are thinking can be the prayer that God really is hearing. And God is worthy to evaluate what He accepts and approves and what He rejects.

 

[com7fy8]

But is suicide considered murder?

Have you read what I have offered in Post #9, above?

 

[com7fy8]

But is suicide considered murder?

Generally, among groups who believe in the Bible, ones do understand that suicide is murder.

But who is being murdered? not only the one killing oneself

Because if I decide there is no one on this earth worth staying here to love > I am in a way murdering all those people, by not loving them. Jesus wants us to love any and all people. So, in case we do not > we are missing out on the life of love that we could have. So, in a way, if someone is selfish and not so loving, the person is dead as far as real love is concerned. So, it is a sort of suicide if I only care about myself and certain other people; because I am keeping myself away from God's eternal love life.

And, like I have offered > if I have failed, God does not want me to try to do Him some favor by executing myself, but God wants me to live and trust how He is able to have us all doing better. And have this hope alive for others, as well > love "hopes all things" (in 1 Corinthians 13:7).

 

[Micha]

Because it doesn't sound like normal religious fear, or any kind of rational fear. It's a fear of a dangerous impulse that you don't actually have. Intrusive thoughts specifically of losing control so that you kill yourself seem to be a fairly common symptom of OCD, in fact (not that I'm any kind of expert).

Okay, I see. Because I’m so scared to say this and keep thinking about NOT to say it, do you think it is possible to suddenly say it?

 

[Micha]

I take it you mean if it is a sin to commit suicide. Let me know if I am wrong; in case I'm right >

We have the commandment not to kill. Ones understand this includes suicide.

Of course, it is understood that God has justified certain killing which was not murder. So, one might argue that he or she is doing God a favor by getting rid of oneself so he or she is not messing up people's lives in this world.

But the Bible does not say to do this. Do you know God's word well? God's word says > "choose life" > (in Deuteronomy 30:19).

And God is able to change us so we do better. Jesus suffered like He did and died for all of us, with His hope for any person.

Love "hopes all things" > in 1 Corinthians 13:7. So, we need to be alive with hope for ourselves and any other person, so we are alive in God's love.

Now, I understand that ones are deeply suffering big-time. And they feel God would not want them to suffer like that and so He understands if they kill themselves.

But God our Heavenly Father is not distant, but personal and caring about us. He is able to change us so we become strong in His love. And God's love shares with us His almighty power of immunity against cruel and dominating feelings and emotions.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

There are many sorts of "torment" which are connected with fear. And God can easily cure it all, so we have His love's "beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" which is "incorruptible" against that cruel and dominating stuff, plus this is so preciously pleasing to Him.

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

So, it is wise not to trust what that noisy and cruel stuff would have you thinking and deciding, but trust how God is able to change us so we share with Him in His peace and do only what He has us thinking and feeling and deciding in His soul-soothing peace.

Thank you so much for this! But how can I “chose” if I should believe the “do what you promise”- part or the “you may not kill”-part? If I promise to kill myself how do I know what to chose?

 

[Micha]

Have you read what I have offered in Post #9, above?

Yes, thank you!

 

[Micha]

Yes, I know. That sounds very much like an OCD-style fear.

Okay, I see. Because I’m so scared to say this and keep thinking about NOT to say it, do you think it is possible to suddenly say it?

 

[Micha]

I think that what we are thinking can be the prayer that God really is hearing. And God is worthy to evaluate what He accepts and approves and what He rejects.

I just read somewhere that for a promise to be binding it need to have listeners or something like that. For it to be heard (for example by God) and you can’t hear thoughts?

 

[Micha]

Generally, among groups who believe in the Bible, ones do understand that suicide is murder.

But who is being murdered? not only the one killing oneself

Because if I decide there is no one on this earth worth staying here to love > I am in a way murdering all those people, by not loving them. Jesus wants us to love any and all people. So, in case we do not > we are missing out on the life of love that we could have. So, in a way, if someone is selfish and not so loving, the person is dead as far as real love is concerned. So, it is a sort of suicide if I only care about myself and certain other people; because I am keeping myself away from God's eternal love life.

And, like I have offered > if I have failed, God does not want me to try to do Him some favor by executing myself, but God wants me to live and trust how He is able to have us all doing better. And have this hope alive for others, as well > love "hopes all things" (in 1 Corinthians 13:7).

Thank you for this. It just says so many different things in the Bible and of course I take more notice of the scary things..