/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

I hope you're joking

>>635944

How is he joking? This is a fairly common trait in OCD when it comes to people that are religious. Do your homework and look that up.

>>635940

I've experienced similar problems, anon. You're not alone in it. It has eased up as I've gotten older (I'll be 46 in July), but as a younger man I was in constant agony over every minutia. I don't really have any advice, but just know you're not alone in it.

>>635947

How are you old now old pal?

Whats your advice to us young fools?

>>635949

Heh … Like I said, I'll be 46 in July.

I'm not sure what to advise to the topic at hand. You just have to learn to relax and realize that not everything is a crusade. My grandmother always told me to "Let go and let God", which didn't mean anything to me when I was younger, but now I know that it basically means "pick your battles, don't fight everything".

Although, if you are the sort to be in constant study of theology and Scripture, even if it's out of fear for your own salvation, become a minister. Teaching others is one of the best ways to learn more about yourself.

>>635940

>how can I cure this and should I?

look into the traditions of Hesychasm/silent prayer.

>How to reconcile renunciation, detachement, constant prayer with a mundane life surrounded by sin, greed, vanity, etc?

It's one thing not to sin, but if you're constantly thinking about the sin you're not doing, then you still haven't "let go" of the sin. It's still in your mind and hearth, even if you look at it trough a "negative mirror" . You have to let go. As it is away from you in deed, so should it be in thought. Help those who can be helped, but don't cling yourself to the bitterness of the world.

Here's a parable (of zen) for the point:

>A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side.

>The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken vows not to touch a woman.

>Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on his 
journey.

>The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them.

>Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?”

>The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?”

>>635945

winnie the pooh off.

Don't fall for the broadening of mental illness.

You're not only an idiot for falling for it, but you're a bad person for propagating it.

>>635965

thank you for your answer, I have a long way to go

>>635970

We all do.

In 1 Corinthians 11: 4, the Word of God reads "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head."

I pray before putting on my hard hat at a job site.

In Ephesians 6:17, the Word of God reads "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"

I do my best to keep a pocket bible in my hip pocket.

I don't think we can apologize to God enough for our sins; but they have been atoned for, and forgiven

I constantly reexamine my motives,even now. Does what I speak come from a place of charity or pride in scriptural knowledge?

You are not alone. I would rather be mentally ill and saved, than sane and not know of God. God knows our anxieties. I am constantly reminded, praise God, that he is crafting me to His liking, not mine, nor anyone else's. Our faith will be at odds with our worldly surroundings. I pray, in Jesus's name, that God grant you strength or comfort in this struggle. I also acknowledge that He knows, better than I, what it is you need.

What is this crap? Just because you find something interesting or want stuff to be clean, you don't have a disease. I have actual OCD, even though it is slight and it sucks. Please stop with this meme

>>635974

The implication is that its the obsessive core of your thoughts. God gives peace, not disorder. Always worrying about it etc. Theres an unhealthy way to worry and a healthy one.

>>635972

>I would rather be mentally ill and saved, than sane and not know of God.

Good point, as you say it is a struggle, especially with a wife, friends and surrounding who all not believe and rather do whatever they want. It feels as if I am putting a wedge between me and the world and it is painful. I hope God understand me

>>635967

winnie the pooh off for minimizing it,

Obessive compulsive disorder, when it comes to the obsessive variant, can be focused on one specific theme, and then switch to another. It's more known as its purely obsessive variant.

Or it may not be OCD, but purely ruminating thoughts. They're real if they come over and over and over to the point where the individual is not functional and can't have a normal train of thought without that being intrusive.

>>635988

Yes, this. Spot on. It is a work of the devil, as he works on the physical, mental, etc.

>>635940

Know that God wants you to be at peace! "Peace be with you" Jesus says. As someone who has struggled with this, I recall a post in another thread that the Church fathers agreed that scrupulosity is something to be overcome. I have largely done so. Know that when you sin, or even simply fail to do a Scripture reading/pray/read Scripture or theology, that it is alright and Christ's peace is there! This is what the resurrection is for! It is great when you remember to do those good things, keep up with reading and praying, but immediately when you realize you let it slip away from you, despair not. God immediately intends you to be at peace, all you need is to simply recognize it and let it humble you again. Further, remember God says let your yes be yes, and your no be no. So once you pray something, whatever the feeling, have true faith that God has heard you. You do not need to repeat something (unless you intend to/are meant to for a certain kind of prayer). We are in the season of Easter so keep Christ's resurrection and peace as a theme for your mind in the next few weeks moreso than usual.

>>635981

It IS impossible to deserve salvation, but God intends to blast that weight to pieces through His Son Jesus! All you can do is try to honor God all your life, best and meagerly as you can. There is no way to know if He exists or not, so act as if He does. That is belief. You WILL never be good enough or transform yourself enough, but that is okay! God knows this, Jesus knows this, and says "Peace be with you!" and pours out His mercy in response to this, to lift you up HIMSELF rather than let you fall away to hell! Don't let Satan trick you in this way. Yes, we are not worthy of God, but don't let this harm your self-esteem the way Satan would want it to. Let it humble you and second guess before you judge your brother.

>>636965

Glad to know I'm not alone, Godspeed