should a christian be open about their addiction?

[ChristianHorror10]

yea imma cutter. I`ve only told 1 person at work and shes a christian. So I`d be careful, Shes seen the scars There all over my arms and shoulders So yea i`D be careful who you tell

 

[BlueStarSkyMonkey]

yea imma cutter. I`ve only told 1 person at work and shes a christian. So I`d be careful, Shes seen the scars There all over my arms and shoulders So yea i`D be careful who you tell

yeah i've told a few close friends but i'm very careful about who i tell. Sometimes people will freak out when you tell them and think that you are seriously crazy...i learned that the hard way

 

[Mayflower1]

Should a christian be open about their behaviour addiction? Instead of hiding cuts, should they tell others or cut in front of people? A lady at church said that christians shouldn't hide an addiction but be open about it. That's fine for people at church that smoke a cigarette in the parking lot, they smoke, people don't say much. But if I stood there and cut myself I don't think it would get the same reaction. I know that a sign of addiction is that people hide their addictions but I didn't say anything. A person who has bulemia generally don't do it in front of others either. But I guess the point was that Jesus came to set us free from our addictions and to pray for the people and not hide problems. Any opinons here?

My pastor actually recommended for me to do that. Don't hide my cuts, be open and honest with everyone. Well, I am kind of too embarressed not to wear long pants and sleeves still, but I did tell my church. I wrote out what I was going to say and said it to the entire congregation one Sunday morning. And well, I was surrounded by an overwhelming blanket of love and support. If anyone judged me, I do not know, but all I got was concern, prayer, love... it was quite amazing. Everyone was crying and after I sang my song I wrote "You are the Reason Why I Live" they were bawling and on their feet. And then the pastor called them all up to pray for me. :o

I held around 66 people accountable that day, and I am now accountable to around 66 people. And you know, no, I do not dare cut in front of any of them because of that, and I haven't cut hardly at all afterwards because I am accountable to them. But more then ever, I know there are people I can talk to when I feel like cutting. An entire assembley of them. And I am completely at peace with what I did and I am glad I did it. Instead of being rejected like I thought would happen, I was completely accepted and their love gave me much strength and support that I desperately wanted. Needed. Because I know they understand that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

So yes, I am fully supportive of being open about it with the church. Outside of the church, many are judgemental, and besides it is someone you absolutely know and trust, or a trained specialist, just telling anyone you meet, people at school, or ON YOUR JOB (oy, learned the hard way), wouldn't be the best idea... but if you want support, you depend on the body of Christ.

 

[SteelNinja]

I sorry to say that I myself will be faced with this decision tomorrow. I've read some of the posts on this thread and some appear helpful, but if tomorrow I have several options, go to church hiding it, go to church showing it, go to church just saying it, or stay home. I feel that all these options are sins, such as lying or making people worry unnecessarily about me, or staying home without seeing people which wouldn't just make me feel like I'm skipping church, but staying home in the company of very few feeling quarantined is something I fear might re-elevate my urge.

It was yesterday when I self injured myself. I respect the forum rules here so I don't want to get into the story more than except to say I feel very guilty, and I wonder what exactly was I thinking. I admit that what I did was impulsive and irresponsible, entirely my fault

That said, my feelings of other people in this terrible situation, I don't really call them people who self injure, I consider them victims of self injury who want to be happy so bad, and they deserve to be happy. As for myself, all can I say, I'm really sorry for messing up like this and I admit to needing the support more than the support needs me.

 

[Leechness]

My pastor actually recommended for me to do that. Don't hide my cuts, be open and honest with everyone. Well, I am kind of too embarressed not to wear long pants and sleeves still, but I did tell my church. I wrote out what I was going to say and said it to the entire congregation one Sunday morning. And well, I was surrounded by an overwhelming blanket of love and support. If anyone judged me, I do not know, but all I got was concern, prayer, love... it was quite amazing. Everyone was crying and after I sang my song I wrote "You are the Reason Why I Live" they were bawling and on their feet. And then the pastor called them all up to pray for me. :o

I held around 66 people accountable that day, and I am now accountable to around 66 people. And you know, no, I do not dare cut in front of any of them because of that, and I haven't cut hardly at all afterwards because I am accountable to them. But more then ever, I know there are people I can talk to when I feel like cutting. An entire assembley of them. And I am completely at peace with what I did and I am glad I did it. Instead of being rejected like I thought would happen, I was completely accepted and their love gave me much strength and support that I desperately wanted. Needed. Because I know they understand that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

So yes, I am fully supportive of being open about it with the church. Outside of the church, many are judgemental, and besides it is someone you absolutely know and trust, or a trained specialist, just telling anyone you meet, people at school, or ON YOUR JOB (oy, learned the hard way), wouldn't be the best idea... but if you want support, you depend on the body of Christ.

wow. what boldness! its encouraging to hear how you got help wit something you were convinced was wrong.

 

[alilsa]

I haven't actually cut since last April but find hidden ways to self injure. I don't talk to the new pastor and he don't counsel either. I gave up on asking for help anyhow, so I just bury my problems because nobody gives a rip. I told that pastor I sometimes cut but he said if I did it at church, they would follow me around and I wouldn't even be able to go to the fellowship hall alone.

 

[goldenviolet]

aaww hun. doors may close here and there as we try to find support; but it's not ok to give up. we either need to educate peeps on our needs or turn to another resource. at church, we're suppose to address issues because it teaches us. we don't always have comfortable exsperiances; but seeking the Lord's will; will always bless us in the end. it's His joy to knit us together and build us up. bless your heart. i'm sorry you got hurt.... write him a big letter about how you feel and what you're going through. my prayers with you.
xo dee

 

[berry2000]

Lilly that was a very inspiring story. I don't think i'm quite that brave yet although the Lord has been telling me it may be time to be more honest. For the very reason that you shared that it is an amazing testimony with the power to touch many and also the power to support me thru it with a love i've never known But still very scary.

 

[littlenova]

everyone that loves me,knows but i don't volunteer the fact I self injure to people,this is different for me. u dont know me,i'm safe. usually if i've been at a place where i opened up,like in my teens at bible camp it always ended well though. people generally want to help and pray with me. hiding it is a learned thing for me though,i hid it from my dad forever. and i did that because i wantd him to think i am perfect and fine.

 

[TwilightCat]

Hmm.

I am open about my self harm within the church. If I cannot be honest with my brothers and sisters in Christ how can I worship and receive God with them? Having said that, I tend not to go to the services because of crowds (something I am working on - I'm intending try again this sunday), however most of the church know of my problems because of when I have been at my worst in hospital my parents went up and asked for prayer, and there is a group of people at my church who meet specifically to pray for me, and so I will tell them when I've slipped up.

Having said that, I personally, would not wear short sleeves. My arms and legs are very shocking to some people, in church it would certainly distract people and put them off. The few times I have worn short sleeves I have had strangers come up to me and ask me if I have been in an accident.

I also would not cut in front of people. I think there is a big difference between cutting in front of people and smoking. Whilst in hospital I did headbang in front of staff, and scratch myself etc and I know they found that very distressing and would restrain me. I know my friend, who is a self harmer, has had people cut in front of her and it has really affected her badly. I think self harming in front of people would really distress them and also make them angry and afraid, and most likely lable you as an attention seeker.

I think being honest verbally is better than being honest physically. One time my parents took me to see a faith healer, and in the service whilst waiting for prayer I rolled up my sleeves and I got attention, but not healing.

 

[Leechness]

a follower of Jesus or not. if you want to change, to get out of the addiction and are convinced the act is wrong then it would be wise to share with someone who you can trust and be accountable to. possibly someone wiser and not a struggler themselves, unless they have recovered.

i think its worth considering why and what good it does self harming infront of people. the concept is foreign to me.

 

[alilsa]

I said something at church about being a cutter for many years and the pastor asked me if I was a christian. Then he said if I didn't stop cutting, I was going to hell. Nobody else said anything to me, though so I guess to them, it was no big deal. People can get a tattoo and someone else cut them but it is a sin if I cut myself.