Self Harm

[JuneMcCormick]

While browsing a different section of the forums, I came across this quote:
"We Christians serve a risen God and we're saved so we have something worth living for. We should have joy in our hearts and not want to cut ourselves and be selfish."
Aparently this is from the Teens-4-Christ board.

What do other people think of this?
I think self-harm to be a very selfish act indeed, and I believe it to be a form of suicide.
I often wonder how these people who cut can deal with themselves.

I've also looked around, and seem to have discovered many of these "cutters" to be atheists. Does that not say it all?

 

[Discipleatlarge]

Well, I used to be self afflicting type of person when I was a teen to get attention mainly. But thankfully, I havent gone way too far before I decided to change. The only people in my life that knew about me doing this things was my very best friend. But she didnt even really help me any. God was there to show be different and open my eyes before I even really started believing in Him. Im just mainly glad that I dint turn out to end my life sooner than what God wants.

 

[bunced]

In my experience (again, bearing in mind slightly different culture to the US as I'm the other side of the duckpond, it's possible that not everything transfers correctly), it's true that a lot of people self harm for attention. However, there is a large proportion who cut themselves as a way of dealing with pain that they just can't express any other way, as a cry for help, certainly not as a way of saying they're planning to commit suicide or anything.

I think self harm is a situation that needs sympathetic harming - a lot of the time the people who do it have no self esteem, and questioning their motives ain't gonna help a lot! It's a tricky one though, and something I hate having to deal with. Probably the worst thing to do, however, is to judge them as "attention seeking" or "trying to commit suicide" or whatever. That can wipe what's left of their ego away. And yes, I have known some Christians to self harm too, though not as many, as many learn to lean on Christ - probably the reason that Atheists have to self harm, because they don't have that gift

 

[picnic]

People self harm for many reasons and so its not good to universally condemn it as selfishness. Someone close to me has self harmed and I don't condemn her for it because she was ill with depression at the time. She's a Christian.

 

[JuneMcCormick]

It seems so unnatural and selfish though!!

 

[edie19]

Even after regeneration we're still children of Adam and subject to human frailties.

Nothing in Scripture promises us an easy walk as Christians - in fact we're told we'll face trials and hardships. We face pain the same as non-Christians. Some people, for whatever reason, have no outlet for the personal pain they experience, they've maybe never been taught how to deal with pain. As a result they inflict pain on themselves, i.e. cutting. Is it easy to understand - no, but that's how it is. I don't understand anorexia or bulemia either - but Christians are susceptable to those illnesses also. It isn't a sign of weakness or selfishness, it is a sign of our humanness (probably not a word, but you know what I mean). We have to be very careful not to pre-judge the situation, there but for the grace of God go you and I.

edie

 

[picnic]

Those are wise words edie.

We have to understand the reasons behind people's actions in order to help them - generally to get the appropriate medical treatment that they need.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Cloing this thread for staff review

 

[FreeinChrist]

After review, this is being reopened.

 

[meh]

Frankly, I think if people are going to the extreme of inflicting physical pain upon themselves to "get attention" - they need attention. And love. But I don't think that is the main reason most people do. I think they do it because they are in emotional pain and don't know how to talk about it or they hate themselves and think they should be punished. Either way, they need someone to reach out to them and be a beacon of hope.

 

[Argent]

While browsing a different section of the forums, I came across this quote:
"We Christians serve a risen God and we're saved so we have something worth living for. We should have joy in our hearts and not want to cut ourselves and be selfish."
Aparently this is from the Teens-4-Christ board.

What do other people think of this?
I think self-harm to be a very selfish act indeed, and I believe it to be a form of suicide.
I often wonder how these people who cut can deal with themselves.

I've also looked around, and seem to have discovered many of these "cutters" to be atheists. Does that not say it all?

This is one of the most uncharitable posts I've ever read on here from a Christian.

 

[Taylor43]

Self harm is a emotional issue. It is not a self fhish act but one needs help Cutting needs help to help break the pattern and God doe care allot cutting s to release pain and we just need to love the one sufferring. You never know what a person is going through. If you are avaivble It is ok to reach out. No one cuts for selfish acts b ut is hurting

 

[Argent]

Self harm is a emotional issue. It is not a self fhish act but one needs help Cutting needs help to help break the pattern and God doe care allot cutting s to release pain and we just need to love the one sufferring. You never know what a person is going through. If you are avaivble It is ok to reach out. No one cuts for selfish acts b ut is hurting

Exactly. People who engage in self-harn need psychological help, not condemnation.

 

[Everlasting]

Bible study imparts many interpretations that can comfort many situations.

As the following verse reads:

Mat 18:9
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

I believe that there is some measurement of faith, and grace rendered to self harm or suicide.

This verse could mean a number of things. A verse could be read over and over, for a different meaning.

-One Interpretation-

If this world offends you, and you feel that your eyes see nothing but evil....

-Interpretation Two-
Harming oneself becomes a lesser evil than harming others.

Everyone's journey in the world is different, and the only person who knows that well; is God. Because killing is a sin, and we should not be provoked to anger. God is the final judge of what is acceptable in his sight. Suicide and self harm have many unseen sides, that we cannot begin to understand. It is not God but Satan who would torment others because of your beliefs. We need to Be strong in our faith, and rebuke the evil in our lives, through continual prayers for our friends and family.

Blessings

Everlasting
Bible Inspired Author
Moon Over Key Biscayne

 

[JuneMcCormick]

I still don't understand why people would do that to command attention.

 

[BrittneyNoel]

Well, I guess it is a good thing that you have never had to deal with an issue such as this yourself. You can not possibly judge it our understand the emotional turmoil that someone is going through until you have educated yourself on the issue. It is sometimes for "attention" or a better way of looking at it - a cry for help. Most of the time though attention has nothing to do with it. Just the opposite. It is often connected to issues of depression, stress, or an underlying mental illness. Most of the time cutting is done as a way to release an emotion such as anger, despair, frustration and so on. The person has not learned to deal with these emotions in a healthy way. The choose to self-inflict pain or injury rather than react and inflict anger or pain on someone else. That actually doesn't sound selfish to me....just unhealthy. Christians should learn to focus on a Christ-like approach to dealing with these issues, but Christians have faults just like non-Christian.

I used to cut a little when I was younger. It wasn't for attention because no one even knew it was happening. This is usually the case with most cutters. Even as an adult and after becoming a Christian it has happened once or twice. I suffer from mild depression. I have now learned to cope with these issues through prayer and God's word. The thoughts are occasionally still there when I get overwhelmed with stress but I now know how to release these emotions in a healthy manner that is pleasing to God.

Education to mental health and depression issues is the key to better understanding. Then we can embrase and help those without judgement and condimnation but with the love that Christ expects of us as His followers.

 

[KarrieTex]

While browsing a different section of the forums, I came across this quote:
"We Christians serve a risen God and we're saved so we have something worth living for. We should have joy in our hearts and not want to cut ourselves and be selfish."
Aparently this is from the Teens-4-Christ board.

What do other people think of this?
I think self-harm to be a very selfish act indeed, and I believe it to be a form of suicide.
I often wonder how these people who cut can deal with themselves.

I've also looked around, and seem to have discovered many of these "cutters" to be atheists. Does that not say it all?

You obvisously have not dealt with anyone who has a mental disorder, which cutting is.

Also, how horrible of you to condemn these kids who are trying to reach out.

It can be construed as a selfish act only because it is for their benefit and their's alone. HOWEVER, there is a very real and important issue that is the base for the behavior. It is vital to discover this and fix that problem.

 

[forSaviour]

Book of Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

 

[forSaviour]

Book of Psalms137:5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 137:6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

 

[forSaviour]

Book of Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. .