Severe Anxiety When it Comes to Religious Things

Carolina Slim said:

How do you PM someone on here?

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Click on their username and then click start conversation.

As far as I know, it's called 'Scrupulosity' .... aka Religious OCD... it makes the stuff of God TERRIFYING and I have had it for 25 years with awful demonic torment...

i won't really talk about scriptures that have scared me half to death, coz that wouldn't help you... but the main thing is the doctrine of eternal torture in the flames of hell...

i used to pace the floor in tears, for YEARS over that doctrine... it never occurred to me that hell was THE PROBLEM, since i just took it for granted as part of Christianity... i couldn't leave the house and go to the supermarket, thinking that MOST people have that fate in front of them!!! i searched the internet for 'scrupe-groups' to find some support, but most of them were run by priests and only made things way worse.

finally i found one with the most recent post being about the doctrine of eternal hell... the guy gave a bunch of links to learn about 'The Victorious Gospel'.... and I went and devoured them all, like 'love wins'. 'mercy upon all' and tentmaker.org and a site called 'what the hell is hell?' there is also 'tentmaker777' on youtube, tho i'm not sure if he's still alive.

i went back to thank the guy, but i looked at the date of the post and it was from years before!!! it was the latest post in the forum, but it totally cleared out the forum of all sufferers and it went quiet!!!

amazing.

the fear of God is a healthy respect, the TERROR of God is the fear of hell mostly, coz God is kind and sweet other than that. sure God is 'just'... but in the OT we saw God's justice 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth'... NOT 'eternal torture in flames for an eye'... the worst justice in the OT was death... which is NOTHING compared to eternal suffering.

eternal punishment does not make sense, it does no good, when God punishes or chastises, it's remedial, and He gives double for your trouble in the end... and do we really believe Jesus died for the world to give them all eternal life, MOST having 'life' in hell, would Jesus really make things INFINITELY worse?? besides, if our punishment was eternity in hell, Jesus couldn't have paid the price for our sins with death. also, ok, there is one scripture that talks about punishment, in Hebrews... but we must remember, even if we have incurred God's judgement... His 'mercy TRIUMPHS over judgement'... and God doesn't 'cast off' or stay angry FOREVER.

anyway, i still have problems with it, coz 'just in case eternal damnation is true'.... i'm scared is all... and notice that i did not say that God doesn't punish, i only say it's not forever!

there's a movie on netflix called 'come sunday' about a preacher that had God speak to him about hell... it's good, a true story.

here is a song God sang to me during the tough times, i still listen to it a lot... 'Faith'

also, remember not to talk about this much, coz mainstream Christianity says it's heresy... do your homework, and you will see the Love of God, but will incur the wrath of 'the traditions of men' God says 'come, let us reason together'... so do that.... Jesus is the Saviour of THE WORLD, and the dark ages traditions of men make that Word of no effect... coz have you ever noticed that by the time it's all said and done in the Bible, pretty much EVERYTHING is sin? even that which is without faith is sin, no matter what it is... and us skeerdy cats are NOT in faith about much lol... so approach Jesus, like a little child, knowing you can do nothing without Him, trusting in His Blood and the FINISHED work of the Cross... anyway, so if we have 'faith' in eternal punishment in hell, that's where we get near death experiences of hell for wearing makeup and such... it's horrible!! ...Once, during an 'episode', i had a demon tell me a big big lie... it said that christianity is their religion because that way they can convince people they deserve hell for any little thing. but it's not Christianity that does that, it's the doctrine of eternal hell... so you may glean what i'm saying about the doctrine of eternal punishment, and that 'type' of believing... here's a LITTLE JOKE

we have to rightly divide the Word of Truth... it's a two edged sword, a sweet perfume to us, but a stench to those who are perishing... fear hath torment, but perfect love casts out all fear... you ever wonder what that means? what is God's PERFECT love He has given the world? The VICTORIOUS Gospel.

There is no distinction here, and there cannot be any more distinctions. All are sinners without distinction, and all will be made righteous without any merit on their part by his grace which has come to pass in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:24)

That God out of love has reconciled the world to himself through Christ, leading to acquittal and life for all human beings who became unrighteous in Adam (Rom 5:18-19)

Sorry if I killed the thread, but I have to speak up when someone is in need, and i know the help... this doctrine has led to INSANITY for many people.

Hi, I know you posted this about a year ago, but I want to say the anxiety you may be experiencing may be coming from a false gospel. I have dealt with anxiety as well. Though, I can't imagine growing up in a fundamentalist environment, but I'm sure it's been difficult navigating your way through faith. I have been looking at all the above posters that are talking about maintaining salvation and I just want to say. You are kept by the holy spirit not by any works you do. When you believe in Jesus, you are saved and sealed by the holy spirit. For it is by grace by faith you have been saved and not by works and this is a gift of God not by works so that no one can boast. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but shall have eternal life. Sorry, I don't know the verses off the top of my head other than the last one I typed: John 3:16. We live in a time in Christianity just as it was in Bible times where the true gospel of grace has had works added to it and people are being told they are saved by Jesus but they have to do something else for salvation or to maintain salvation, but that's not the truth. There are many who will argue that it's not and use Bible verses, but the standard we would have to follow to be saved by our own works is perfection. That means we would have to fulfill every law, in other words every teaching of the Bible essentially, we could not make one mistake. The only person who can do that is Jesus and he came to this earth fulfilled every law, lived the perfect life we can't, and died on the cross for our sins. Jesus said, "it is finished." It is a finished work, nothing we can add to in order to obtain salvation. It is a free gift out of Jesus's love, grace, and mercy. He loved you at your darkest and saw everything you would ever do and willingly died on the cross to reconcile you back to him and give you eternal life. That is how much he loves you. But, this gift if you haven't already, we receive by faith. Repentance is not a work we do. It's turning from our dead works we have been told can save us and turning to Jesus because he is the only one who can save us. It is about his perfect live and completely faithful obedience to the father that saves us. We are made righteous only because of him and he truly is our only hope. The false gospels that you've heard that talk about maintaining salvation or being able to lose it, there's a reason you are feeling the way you do, anxious, upset, and maybe even confused because they try to tell you its up to you to maintain your salvation. We can't. We all fall short of the glory God. That's why God sent his only son. We look to his righteousness not our own. Please take a look at jasonjack on youtube and possibly renee roland whenever you have a chance. They explain what is going on in the church today regarding false gospels and make the true gospel so clear. Also understand that many of the Bible versions after the original King James version have been altered, words taken out, changed, and completely different meanings than what was originally written. So, if you ever read a Bible or hear people quoting verses, many of these Bibles are going to confirm these works based teachings in order to obtain or maintain salvation, So if it seems like they are confirming this, that is why. I'm so sorry you're in this position where you don't feel good enough that God would save you, and the truth is none of us are good enough because we have all fallen short, but he loves you no matter what, unconditionally, and never will he leave you nor forsake you. Jesus says in John 6:47 " Verily, verily I say unto you that whoever believeth in me hath everlasting life." Lastly, if you want to hear from someone who came from a fundamentalist background who has a very similar story to you regarding being close to becoming atheist, check out Audrey Assad and her faith deconstruction. I pray that you would be shown the truth. I hope something in this or the people I refer to helps you either feel less alone or can help you understand the true Gospel the way it's helped me. I know how it can take such a toll on your mental and emotional health. I hope you are feeling better and that you know the peace we have through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I was diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder. I take my meds, but have found that it's more of a spiritual element than a medical one. I am now certain it's a tug of war between God and Satan!

Carolina Slim said:

Hello all. I made a brief introduction in the Introduce Yourself area, so I hope you don't mind me posting here. I'm not sure where else to really talk about this, my friends know I suffer with it but it's something that keeps coming back to me.

My attention to religious/spiritual things tends to rise and fall along with my mood shifts. I'm currently seeing a therapist and getting treatment, but the category of Christianity just sets off anxiety attacks like nothing else.

I used to be pretty... devout? I guess is the word but after awhile I couldn't take it anymore due to how severe the anxiety attacks would get. For awhile there I stopped concerning myself with all things religious and almost hit hard atheism from how difficult it became to deal with the episodes. But as time went on it seemed like God still wasn't done with me however, as I've been getting this inclination like something far greater than me is drawing me toward it, and I'm fairly certain that's God doing his thing still. Like I described it to another friend, I am trapped in the gravity well of something my greater, all I can do is follow the lead.

But it's probably the hardest thing I deal with when I try and pursue it, my head starts buzzing again, the old emotions come out, and I lock down mentally and physically. I'm trying to face these things, but I'm not sure what to do. Has anyone else with Bipolar faced feelings like this? If so, what did you do?

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These are the times when we often feel like we cannot describe our feelings and I have been there myself, although my anxiety is not related to that of the God, but watching self-help Christian videos like this helped me

Carolina Slim said:

I used to be pretty... devout? I guess is the word but after awhile I couldn't take it anymore due to how severe the anxiety attacks would get.

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i found that going to God in my anxiety, facing Him head on freaking it, but yet trusting in grace because of Christ, helped enormously. For doing this set me free from my anxious mind and helped me to discover God the Father in my life as a loving gracious forgiving God who works His change into us through a living relationship with Him through the truth of His Word. i found that God's love casts out anxiety but preserves the life of the fearful and sets it free.

Peace

An invitation to The Chosen.

God's Love will not take or will
you to conform to rules or demand
which imprison, enslave, burn or kill you.

God's Love will not pervert what's Good
The Lord loves truthfully Wise and Good.
True Love was, is and always will be Good!

In God's Love you are free to be right!
In His love everything is good proper and kind.
He loves all who love good and true to rule!

His Love is caring, providing, and sharing.
His Love always enjoys and protects good life.
His love rules even when bad life has being in us!

Hear Jesus call - 'Come join up with us all!
Leave whatever ties you down and be free
loving good life with all God's own to be.'

To the rest in your heart God's asks
how long will you tarry in the darkness?
Please leave such bad existence within.

For life must not, no never should, or would, or could,
be forceful, rude, prideful, arrogant, selfish, lustful
or otherwise be untrue to God's loving truth.

Neither should life be hurting or ill,
hungry, oppressed, despised, hated
or otherwise have existence in wrong.

Please hand your Bad Life over to Jesus
Humbly ask for His Good Life back in return
and go love God, self and neighbour with Joy.

The Church knows that Jesus is coming soon
All bad life will be our shameful past then,
so please leave your bad life while you can!

Love

@CarolinaSlim Jesus loves you and He is drawing you because He wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to help, support and love you. He wants you to love Him and be honest with Him. He can help you grow stronger in spite of any illness. He wants you to do well and praise Him for Jesus’ glorious self to you. He loves you and is just the thing you need through is Holy Spirit.

Carolina Slim said:

Hello all. I made a brief introduction in the Introduce Yourself area, so I hope you don't mind me posting here. I'm not sure where else to really talk about this, my friends know I suffer with it but it's something that keeps coming back to me.

My attention to religious/spiritual things tends to rise and fall along with my mood shifts. I'm currently seeing a therapist and getting treatment, but the category of Christianity just sets off anxiety attacks like nothing else.

I used to be pretty... devout? I guess is the word but after awhile I couldn't take it anymore due to how severe the anxiety attacks would get. For awhile there I stopped concerning myself with all things religious and almost hit hard atheism from how difficult it became to deal with the episodes. But as time went on it seemed like God still wasn't done with me however, as I've been getting this inclination like something far greater than me is drawing me toward it, and I'm fairly certain that's God doing his thing still. Like I described it to another friend, I am trapped in the gravity well of something my greater, all I can do is follow the lead.

But it's probably the hardest thing I deal with when I try and pursue it, my head starts buzzing again, the old emotions come out, and I lock down mentally and physically. I'm trying to face these things, but I'm not sure what to do. Has anyone else with Bipolar faced feelings like this? If so, what did you do?

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Holy Spirit, do convicts us for our sins. It is not easy to deal when I was told that I have sinned. Eventually, I learn to respond to Holy Spirit rather than react to Holy Spirit.

When I was offended by something or someone, I just relate to Holy Spirit and tell Him :
Make me hear your steadfast love, for I rely on you.
make me know the way that I should go, for I lift my soul to You.
If I grieve by what I think or and have done, forgive me and lead me aright for the sake of Your name. Amen

When I am anxious about something or someone or I have no clear idea on what to do or have unclear thoughts, I just tell Holy Spirit:

Lead by Your righteousness, because many enemies lay in wait for me.
Make Your way straight for me. Amen.

Imagine Carolina, many things that can cause David, the son of Jesse, to be anxious. King Saul has made David his enemy; I believe the whole nations of Israel know that. David have to keep hiding for no fault of his from the anger of King Saul then.

Imitate David on how he trust God through many difficult situations.

Many blamed David and believe God has forsaken and distance Himself from him.

You find in many instances that David proclaimed that God rescue him out of all his fear and troubles.

Carolina Slim said:

That's a difficult question to answer, but I'll try to. As a teenager I became rather religious, basically went Christian Fundamentalist after a scary conversation about Hell as a kid. I kept pushing myself harder and harder trying to do what I thought was the right, righteous thing, but over time it just kept bringing more and more grief as I kept screwing it up. It finally fell apart around the age of 20 or so, when I had a nervous breakdown and had to leave college because of anxiety.

It just grew unbearable and the more I tried to shore up faith to face it, the worse it got, until finally I just collapsed internally and basically became a shut-in. At the time I tried recalling verses like 'He gave us a sound mind' to try and settle it, but the more I raged against it the worse it became. At some point I crossed the Rubicon and just basically said 'to heck with all this' and gave up on it. But it's still there, I feel like I'm being called toward something, someone and I just don't have the strength to resist so it's like just being pulled slowly by the arm toward something and just making periodic 'oof' noises when I hit a bump on the floor or something.

Sorry if that's kind of esoteric sounding there, but it's the best way I can describe it. It's not an easy thing for me to talk about, and even harder to put into words. It just, hurts. And I wish it didn't, but it does. I'm not even sure what IT is but it causes me pain.

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Carolina,
you cannot just push harder on what you think is right.

Let me relate in my earlier years after I have received the Lord as my Savior. I have received a vision and felt God’s presence and His power. I was so thirsty and hungry for the word of God. I felt God’s presence and cry for His words. Then I start to read the Bible more but I felt His presence getting further. It doesn’t make sense to me !? I have been searching for some years to understand this. Eventually, I understand that God wants me not to have an intellectual edification and God wants to have a dedicated relationship with Him.

What is right then? For sometime, I was unclear.

Eventually, I find I need myself to be continuously found on Christ’s righteousness through Christ’s faithfulness and that righteousness comes from God.

Therefore, it is not based on our thinking to do what is right but rather to submit our thinking to His words, that is righteousness from God.

When we are obedient to His words，His words will lead us to the righteousness that comes from God.

Carolina Slim said:

The episode is starting to pass and my anxiety is letting up a good amount today. My thoughts are a bit less chaotic as well so I can try and vocalize things a bit clearer.

I'm hesitant to write out this next bit because I don't want to cause offense, but at the same time I want to be honest with where I'm coming from.

Part of my anxiety and frustrations stem from issues like, if God is Sovereign, then why are we held accountable for sin if ultimately he's responsible for things happening? I already know the scripture I'm going to have quoted at me saying 'and who are you oh man to talk back to god'? It hasn't really helped unfortunately and only serves to make it worse.

I'm aware that's a telling statement to make and would probably make more than a few of you question dedication here, and that's fine. If it's something that can be reconciled by all means let it be reconciled, I wouldn't be asking for help if I wasn't meaning it.

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It is true that God is Sovereign.
The Lord Jesus Christ is King.
You must remember that king must abide by the decree that He has spoken in the Holy Scripture.

You are asking why we have to be accountable for sin if ultimately he's responsible for things happening?

If a person sins, he or she is a slave of sin and not a slave of God.

when a person sin, that person obey sin and not God.

In that perspective, sin sovereign over that person’s life.

You may ask how Lord Jesus Christ sovereign then. This is what we have heard:

Then comes the end, when He ( Christ) delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. -1 Corinthians 15:24

For He ( Christ ) must reign until He ( Christ ) has put all His enemies under His feet. -1 Corinthians 15:25

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. -1 Corinthians 15:26

To serve God out of fear and through fear is an abomination that causes desolation. God is pure love, not some kind of tyrannical monster. The accuser in our guilty conscience, that devil, he is our god in sin. That is what saddens God enormously for He loves to be our Heavenly Father for that is who He is!

So throw out the fear and bank on His love, step by step, place your faith in His love and you will be healed from your affliction. Perfect love casts out fear but not the fearful one, in this we are comforted by His love over us.

Honest our God is so loving. You never find a more loving being than the Lord. That is why sin is so bad. For sin brings death and misery into our lives. God hates all that. He wants to be our lives so we can, like Him, live forever and be good instead of bad.

So place your faith in God's love even today, and keep on doing that until your whole inner world of being has come to Him for salvation. When we come to God in our all then He can become All in ALL, that is the purpose of our existence as His children.