12/30/2023 0 Comments Dealing with dark thoughts![]() Many Christians worry that they have committed the unforgivable or unpardonable sin – blasphemy. Sign Me Up! Are blasphemous thoughts unforgivable? A Christian’s salvation and identity are in Christ alone and completely secure. Christians must avoid the temptation to attach meaning to such thoughts. Once again, remember that all fall short and nothing is too big for the forgiveness Christ offers. As a result, fear, guilt and shame can become overwhelming. Many Christians have a fear that unwanted intrusive thoughts that are blasphemous in nature are unforgivable (more on that below). It refers to great disrespect shown to God. Blasphemous Thoughtsīlasphemous thoughts are unwanted thoughts that call God‘s work evil. If this is the case, seek professional help. This only becomes a concern if your violent thoughts move you to planning to follow through on the violent thoughts. The thought might be related to one harming themselves or others. Sometimes unwanted intrusive thoughts can be violent in nature. Rather, allow the thought to simply pass. But, once again, resist the temptation to believe this means something about you. Bizarre or Paranoid ThoughtsĮxperiencing bizarre or paranoid thoughts is another type of disturbing thought you may experience. Remember, these are just thoughts and we can let them just pass. As a result we work even harder to push the thoughts away and end up fixating on the very thoughts we want to get rid of. Sexual thoughts can be shocking or make us feel uncomfortable. It is not unusual to experience sexual thoughts at times regardless of your gender. Remember everyone experiences these thoughts at times. Yes – that’s what unwanted intrusive thoughts are in nature. However, you’re probably thinking, “You don’t know what these thoughts are“… They are sexual, violent, bizarre, blasphemous or really dark and negative. ![]() Above I spoke of intrusive thoughts in a very general way. ![]() If you are reading this article, you’re probably experiencing intrusive or unwanted thoughts. (More on that shortly.) What are examples of intrusive thoughts? The best solution is to change what we believe about the intrusive thought rather than trying to avoid the intrusive thought. And secondly, if we can figure out a trigger then we can avoid the trigger, thereby avoiding the shame associated with the disturbing thought we are experiencing. In other words, it’s a way to manage the emotion of shame. First, due to shame often being associated with the intrusive thought, if we try to pin it on something external, then it feels less shameful. People tend to ask if an intrusive thought can be triggered for a couple of reasons. Other times the unwanted thoughts can simply pop into our mind for no apparent reason. Sometimes we have intrusive thoughts triggered by an external event, memory or situation. This is a great question! The answer is sometimes yes. Additionally, the level of distress that is caused by such thoughts will vary based on how we view and evaluate the thoughts that we’re experiencing. The types of unwanted thoughts and images vary from person to person. Every person is different some may experience disturbing thoughts more frequently than others. This can be encouraging to know you’re not alone. “Everyone” includes Christians having unwanted intrusive thoughts, as well. Research shows that nearly everyone experiences intrusive thoughts at times. However, these thoughts can create distress so why do intrusive thoughts create so much distress? Well, here is the short answer… If unwanted intrusive thoughts are causing you much distress, you are likely attaching meaning to a thought that means nothing. Unwanted intrusive thoughts are something that everyone experiences at times. Intrusive thoughts can sometimes be triggered by something in the environment or they can just pop into your mind for no apparent reason. When you look up the definition of intrusive, it is defined as “causing disruption or annoyance through being unwelcome or uninvited”. Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts, images or impulses. Is it a sin if you have intrusive thoughts?Īre blasphemous thoughts unforgivable? What are intrusive thoughts? As Christians, we navigate all things related to mental health through the lens of His Word. Nobody wants to deal with unwanted intrusive thoughts! This article is written specifically with Christians in mind- authored by a licensed Christian Counselor.
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