Ignore them and focus on other things (Php.4:8). Kindle Afresh: The Blog andWebsite of Kenneth Berding, Explaining the Impossibility of an Infinite Regress to High School Students. Many Christians plagued with the irrational fear of being unforgivable are suffering from psychological problems that medication might help. Nevertheless, despite the repulsive violation, we, like Jesus, can remain pure. People post sometimes that apparently don't have OCD and don't understand it and I wish they wouldn't. My response to his plea to help him stop these thoughts was: And it is confirmed by seeing how this dovetails with what the apostle Paul told the Corinthians earlier: 1 Corinthians 1:17-24; 2:1-2 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. The more messed up our thought life is, the better, in that it forces us to realize we can only be saved by faith in Christ, not by our works. /r/Christianity is a subreddit to discuss Christianity and aspects of Christian life. WebIf the possibility of forgiveness were taken away only after death, then Jesus would not have said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable in this age as well as the one to come. As I read the Bible, I see that the devil plants some of these fears, but also ignorance can play a huge role in empowering the temptation.Lets dig deeper into this.If you want to understand any topic in the Bible, for example, what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is, or what Jesus meant by it, you have to read what the Bible says in the context so read the chapter before and the chapter after for a broader perspective. Physical Health still remains as it's own area within the entire Recovery area. Everyones experience confirms that to cease thinking something we are desperately trying to stop thinking is as impossible as it is to stop all thought. Jesus made it clear that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is never forgiven. The passage about the unforgivable sin makes me so afraid, that now I am a mess. And even if someone had actually believed that in the past, it wouldnt matter, provided that person no longer believes it. By yielding to the Spirits evidential and convicting work a person can be led to that very point. When you find yourself suffering like Kate, my suggestion is that you go on the offensive and hit the Enemy where it hurts him most. To learn more about the precious Holy Spirit, check out my e-book called Walking in the Holy Spirit. These thoughts come from the devil. You are pure and holy; perfect in all your ways. Not surprisingly, his mind latched on to worrying that even though fighting the thoughts inflamed them, not fighting them might be at odds with 2 Corinthians 10:5, . Shocks of anxiety surge through your whole body. So, in context, blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is discrediting miracles, especially exorcisms of evil spirits. She loved the Lord and wanted her life to please him. the sinning with a high hand of Num 15:30-31)the flagrant, willful, and persistent rejection of God and his commands.[1] Notice Blombergs connection between sinning defiantly and blaspheming, which brings us squarely into the language of Matthew 12:31. Pharisees accused Jesus of delivering others by the power of demons. Hailed as one of the best evangelical New Testament scholars (D. Stewart) and elsewhere called master New Testament exegete, Murray J. Harris specifically says in this commentary on 2 Corinthians 10:5, It is not a case of the Christians effort to force all his thoughts to be pleasing to Christ.. So lets not despise ourselves if we, too, face horrific temptations. However, you most exalt Christ, not by turning this into an obsessive ritual, but by relaxing and enjoying the fact that through Christ you are forgiven, no matter what unwanted thoughts plague you. That is the only way to walk in the supernatural and avoid grieving Him. If it turns out to be merely a toy, it would be far easier to be rid of the recurring memories. Blasphemous thoughts may be unrepentant, but they are often unintentional. Nor is it some other dramatic sin, like murder, or suicide, or adultery. It defines the New Testament meaning of the word as . . There are all sorts of sexual aberrations commonly spoken of today, which are the laughter of fools, so hideously and blatantly trivialised. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I always have to remind myself that there is no sin (outside of the mark of the beast or denial of the Lord) that is unforgivable or to great that cannot be forgiven. Let's look at the context when Jesus said that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. You might call them evilspirits, demons or unclean spirits as you see fit. So in our case, we are almost certainly attacked by one of the devils henchmen, rather than the devil himself, but it makes little difference and so most Christians, myself included, often refer to him when it is technically one of his subordinates who actually does it. These thoughts are things I see in my mind and they sicken me. Up until the night of Kates disturbing experience, everything had been going well for her. The Holy Spirit binds a Christian to protect himself from blasphemy, so he must guard himself against the temptation to utter it. The word is relatively rare in the New Testament. Thats not for any spiritual reason. Upon reading that he was again having blasphemous thoughts, I wrote: Wonderful! Observe especially that there are many absolutist statements in this passage and other expressions that point up the fundamental state of ones heart in Matthew 12:24-37. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I have found that they are usually very sensitive people who are deeply shocked and disturbed by having such a thought, and their very reaction seems to inflame the situation. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. WebBlasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not a thought process it is a deliberate act. Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. If I'd gone in there remembering/knowing that, I doubt I'd have said it! Moreover, sin never happens in isolation; it affects a whole community. It involves an act or thought that defies the Holy Spirit, and cannot be remedied. By this time, I had already become a youth leader. Where is the scholar? It is unhuman never to have unwanted thoughts, just as it is not human never to suffer temptation (even the holy Son of God was tempted). To be spiritual is to look not to ones thought life but to Christ alone. But medication has the potential to stop some Christians from suffering needless torment. Why Do I Feel a Strong Connection With Someone? . In the New Testament, the apostle Paul makes a clear distinction between unpardonable sin and the sins for which the blood of Jesus can atone. Could it be that if we look closer into the context we would see that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit has very little to do with what we say against Him, but more with what we say about his works? Jesus said, I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Someone with a phobia about spiders does not need to be lectured about trusting God and made to feel spiritually inferior. Every Christian even Jesus, who was tempted in all ways like us when on earth suffers this. This shows that in most cases, uncontrollable blasphemous thoughts are not a theological matter or even a spiritual one, but the product of a psychological condition that is not only most unpleasant, but exceedingly unfair. It is a deliberate, malicious act. We dont have to own the thoughts that come to us, nor be disturbed by them. There is hope for you if you fell into the temptation of saying something under the pressure of intrusive thoughts, or committed it in ignorance. What matters to him is not random thoughts but what will firmly decide to believe. The full verse, of which we have quoted just a slither, uses the word imaginations in the King James Version. Christians have a very important duty to protect the Holy Spirit from being tarnished. If you don't have anyone able to do this to you, seek and pray God a lot, it can be worth it to get help from him, with so many prayer etc, you will grow closer to him too. Manage Settings Blasphemous thoughts are scary because they seem powerful enough to change our status from saved, beloved, chosen by God to the very opposite. The scholarly New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (Vol 3, p 128) makes crystal clear just how far noema is from referring to fleeting thoughts. Jesus taught against blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a sin of willfulness. If you are having struggles, need support in a particular area that you aren't finding a specific recovery area forum, you may find the General Struggles forum a great place to post. It is like living in hell. Another teaching is that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit means to accuse Jesus Christ of being demon-possessed. Furthermore, it is an issue of the heart that manifests in your words. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. These thoughts are similar to what the Pharisees said about Jesus and also towards the holy spirit. It is unforgivable because God never forgives such a sin. If you have spiritual issues related to a mental health and recovery issue, please use the Recovery Related Spiritual Advice forum. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is one of the most horrific sins. In Matthew 12:31-32, when Jesus accuses the Pharisees of being close to committing the unforgivable sin, this is not what the Pharisees were saying, and is not even close to anything they ever would have said) All you have to do is believe Jesus is the Son of God and you are saved! Because they were happening in her very mind, however, it was hard for her to be convinced they did not originate from her. The unforgivable sin is not about the church itself. Also, try and ponder why these feelings of anger are there and the actual cause of them. I believe Gods grace is bigger than our sin. Why is Stairway to Heaven the Forbidden Riff. The more I try to stop it, the more it comes back. Every time the thought returns, rejoice in the purity, perfection, and divine power of your Lord, affirming his goodness in praise-filled prayer. The New Living Translation makes this abundantly clear: We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. There are surprising medical factors influencing devastating guilt feelings and sacrilegious mental images or thoughts. Let me direct you towards a few things that will help you overcome that battle. Ironically, the more anxious one is to please God, the more severe the affliction. She was experiencing a hideous invasion by evil powers of the most intimate part of her her innermost thoughts. Her concern came out of Matthew 12:31, Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. Had she, perchance, committed the unforgiveable sin? Some years ago, I counseled with a student who was paralyzed by a fear that she had committed the unforgiveable sin because of some terrible words she had uttered. Are blasphemous thoughts unforgivable? It is simply a most unpleasant, irrational fear for which there is no shame in seeking psychological help. . Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is not simply saying something bad about the Holy Spirit (or about anything else, for that matter), but is a persistent rejection of the convicting work of the Spirit, whose job it is to expose our sin and lead us to accept Christ. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The only way to avoid this fate is repentance. (She was also needlessly afraid that saying blasphemous things might be unforgivable. The more I try, the more it comes back, she agonized. 2 Corinthians 10:5 Bringing into Captivity Every Thought, How Much Does God Love Me? Had Kate escaped a snake in her bed, she would have been safe. While the unpardonable sin is not necessarily a passing thought, it is a persistent, compulsive thought that denies the divinity of Christ. I have struggled with blasphemous thoughts over the course of a few months but God delivered me from it. The only thing that will do that is to die refusing to have faith in the power of Christs sacrifice to cleanse us. To a casual observer it is obvious that thoughts so contrary to Kates own thinking could not be her thoughts. Therefore, Jesus goes on to claim that it is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. You are wise, generous, patient, kind, loving and forgiving. we do not wage war as the world does. He is the director of Bible Fluency: Sing It, See It, Study It. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The range of possibilities is too enormous to have any hope of listing every possibility. A correct understanding of this verse is aided by consulting the context: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 . You wont regret it! But to reject continually the Spirits work will result in a person never being able to reach that point.[3]. For we are not unaware of his schemes. The thoughts have been terrifying and terrible. The Fatima Crusader However, this distinction is useful for ensuring the safety of believers. It is an issue of the heart that manifests in ones words (and actions). Many more compassionate, inspiring, sometimes hilarious writings It should also be observed that the biblical description of the Holy Spirit convicting individuals of sin helps us understand why blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is such a grave issue. Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? Lets look together at the central passage in the discussion, Matthew 12:24-37. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. I have gotten over them in the past. The Holy Spirit can be invoked only once. Whether or not these thoughts are unforgivable depends on what we intend to do with them. The devil is organized and the only reason why demons are cast out is because, the Holy Spirit is manifesting the kingdom of God. WebYes, Jesus said only one sin couldnt be forgiven, and that was blasphemy against the Spirit (Matthew 12:31). Moreover, a concept that Matthew would also expect you to attend to while reading through his gospel is the theme of fruit. He introduces this theme first in the words of John the Baptist that we just observed (3:8, also 3:10), develops it substantially when he includes Jesuss teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (7:15-20), incorporates the same theme of fruit into the passage were primarily thinking about today (12:33), again into the parable of the soils (13:23), and finally in a judgment section that focuses, unsurprisingly, once more on the Pharisees failure to produce fruit (21:43). Say it. Ive been trying to return to Christ and have been pretty good about filtering sinful thoughts but that one made it through.
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