OCD and doubting your salvation

[BibleBeliever2006]

I have two questions.

1. Do you think OCD is connected to doubting your salvation?

2. Do you think OCD makes doubting your salvation worse than a normal person?

 

[HeatherG]

I have two questions.

1. Do you think OCD is connected to doubting your salvation?

2. Do you think OCD makes doubting your salvation worse than a normal person?

Hi there,

1. I think it is connected in that many of us here who have OCD have found it has attacked us exactly in that area of doubting salvation. That's probably because it tends to work on the areas of our lives that are important to us.
On the other hand, I think many Christians go through times of doubting their salvation, but they may not necessarily have OCD.

2. Yes, I do think it makes it worse than normal. That's why it's commonly called the "doubting disease", even by non-Christians.

Heather

 

[mbrob]

I agree 100% with HeatherG.

Interestingly, prior to my recent ocd "attack" regarding the "unpardonable sin" I began to deal with unfortunate life issues by saying to myself, "at least I have my salvation." Although there is truth to that, looking back, it may have helped set the stage for my struggle. As I continued to consciously look upward, ocd doubt crept in. However, it was not as if it was conscious doubt, that I could reason with. It was a much more sophisticated ambush on my mind and my perceived spiritual security. It began with runaway blasphemous thoughts, and then led to what in my mind was tucked away by fear as the ultimate, the "unpardonable sin."

When I have the ability to reason rationally, I can see that it is not about me doubting God, rather me doubting my abilitity "to live up to his approval, or even my own approval." When the Scribes accused Jesus of being in league with the devil (the unpardonable sin), they were attempting to damage Christ's reputation. I think when we ocd'ers have these kinds of thoughts, fear is driving the horror show and it is a peculiar self-destructive cycle of self-doubt. I think it's safe to say that Christians with ocd do not doubt God or Christ's deity, rather they doubt themselves. Further, when "normal" doubts, that is doubts that many Christians must have on some occasion, creep in, they are overvalued, amplified, owned, and turned inward.

Ultimately, with Christ's grace we will be victorious over ocd. Actually, we already are, but often our brain chemistry tells us otherwise. A huge step for me has been to realize that self-doubt is precisely the point that we must cling to Christ through all of our struggles. With Christ we have perfection, doubtless perfection. We are the weaker vessel and cannot save ourselves. The inverse must be true, "There is now therefore no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1. Period.

"I doubt I can be saved" brings us to plead for God's mercy, which he freely gives to all who seek him. Moreover, God is seeking us; all of us.

OCD or just plain doubt is beyond the point as I continue to become inspired. God's love, grace, and mercy is the point....greater than our reason, afflictions, and yes our doubts.

Thankfully, God believes in us, and does not doubt us. We are His! Praise his Holy Name!

 

[AmandaLynn1288]

I agree with the others! Me & my mother both have problems with doubting our salvation sometimes... we know in our hearts that we are saved, but our mind tells us otherwise.