Are involuntary thoughts sinful? Many people who struggle with OCD have intrusive involuntary thoughts, some of those thoughts being negative and even blasphemous. Does God count thoughts that people can't control as sins?
Are involuntary thoughts sinful?
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not necessarily, to entertain thoughts you recognize as against the Word of God is a sin. Adam and Eve entertained what the serpent had to say that was truly against God's Word. we see what happened there. but when Jesus went to the desert to do His 40 days the devil presented thoughts, but Jesus did not entertain anything Satan said, and responded with the Word of God, the Truth.
that said, its been my experience in dealing with what you've described is simply the same. you may not have power to stop a thought from coming to mind, but one surly doesn't have to entertain it. there is no law of God or physical that makes a man entertain what he knows is against what he knows is good and true.
I am sure many souls are convinced otherwise. a lot of times something that belongs in one place is now in the incorrect place, can bring about unsolicited thought, or undesirable thought to mind. traumatizing experiences can also bring about unsolicited thought, or undesirable thought to mind. it may never go away permanently, but one can reduce its disturbing effects in one's life and daily activities by again, realizing it's not wanted, and there is no need to entertain or think about it.
if you watch a movie the maker wants you to entertain what is being seen and said. you don't have to. also for example, its not what you see its what you think when you see it, its not what comes to mind, it what you do with what comes to mind. do you leave it to hit the ground, or drop it? or do you entertain voluntarily mind you what it brings to mind?
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Many people who are Christian have invi=olintary thoughs as well about or sorts of filth, Not every thought that passes through our minds is from us or God. satan runs some things through our minds as well. I know there was things that were 100% not from me but the ran through me mind.
God loves you way more then most of us realize. You heard about the man selling all he had to buy the field with the pearl of great price. That works in reverse God gave all He had for you. In churchs you hear oh God would have sent Jesus if you were the only one. He would have sent Him for just you. Well its true he would have. We seem to skip over that all to often. Just sit and think . Father You sent Jesus to go through all that for me. Its amazing Hes amazing.
The Lord searches the heart. He knows which thoughts are yours and which ones are uninvited.
bbyrd009
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these are the result of free will, and it is the ones that you entertain that matter, i agree. The ones you do not entertain are valuable as a guide to your path though, i think. They come from you also, in a sense.
Wormwood
Chaps
No, I do not believe it is sinful to have a thought pop into your mind. As others have mentioned, it is meditating on those evil thoughts that is sinful.
However, I would also say that we need to be cautious about the things to which we expose ourselves. If you regularly listen to hateful, derogatory music, you will likely have hateful, derogatory thoughts come to your mind. The same could be true of lust, revenge, violence, etc. I think that is why Scripture tells us,
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Phil. 4:8).
The more we think about these things, the more likely these types of thoughts will involuntarily burst into our mind as opposed to unwanted involuntary thoughts.
However, I would also say that we need to be cautious about the things to which we expose ourselves. If you regularly listen to hateful, derogatory music, you will likely have hateful, derogatory thoughts come to your mind. The same could be true of lust, revenge, violence, etc. I think that is why Scripture tells us,
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Phil. 4:8).
The more we think about these things, the more likely these types of thoughts will involuntarily burst into our mind as opposed to unwanted involuntary thoughts.
H. Richard
Well-Known Member
Those thoughts are placed there by Satan. They are a part of his lies which caused the downfall of man. But Jesus atoned for those sins of the flesh. If His shed blood has not atoned for our sinful thoughts then thee is no hope of salvation. But the child of God has already been found sinless "IN CHRIST". They are the body of Christ. You will not find "the body of Christ" in any writings except Paul's.
Since the scriptures call the imagination of man only evil all the time, I wouldn't be too concerned about it. Once, shortly after receiving Jesus Christ as Lord, I heard a voice in my head blaspheme the Lord and when I asked for a name for that voice, it went silent.
Dcopymope
Well-Known Member
Well that's cool, perhaps I should start inquiring more often. Consider it an interrogation of sorts. ;)
Resist the devil and he will run away like a little girl (not a direct quote but expresses my sentiments.) I wish that I could just duke it out with old scratch, but the adversary is more about subtle attacks, deceit and treachery, and avoids direct confrontation. Those who serve him are less subtle, but we have angels ready to come to our aid at the Lord's command, and we that have received of His Spirit know that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.
Dcopymope
Well-Known Member
Well, we don't have to worry about duking it out with the guy, we'll lose anyway, badly. It most likely won't even be a fight, in all likelihood, it will be like trying to fight one of the those comic book characters you mentioned before. Apart from their seemingly inhuman strength from the account of the angel that moved the stone from Christs tomb with no effort, they can also just blind you at will like the two angels did to the degenerates that tried to rape them in Sodom. So trying to literally fight an angel is not a wise decision, because it just won't end well for you. But no worries though, we know Satan will eventually get the beat down he had coming to him by the angel Michael, literally. :)
101G
Well-Known Member
involuntary: "done without will or conscious control". then it's not you.
Sorry, I've always been a tad crazy, but I'd prefer going down in a fight to having my head cut off or something as nasty. I was timid as a child in my own defense, (though I was naturally somewhat dangerous), but was hardened a bit by years of abuse and hatred without cause. I know that the Lord would have us be harmless, but it was within His sovereign will and providence that I ended up being trained for war. By God's grace I've never shed blood, but I'm not so naive as to believe myself incapable. I am in part bound by my military oath, but at my age I don't think I'll ever have to serve in a worldly war and praise the Lord for sparing me the results of my own rashness. If it comes to it, however, I would keep my oath to my own detriment, as this is blessed by the Lord just the same (the keeping of an oath, not the resultant transgressions.) I don't fear Satan. He's a defeated foe already. God is the only One to be feared and the love of Him tends to banish all such fears. It tends to make presumption a little more common, but we have forgiveness in Him even for such foolishness (though it's good to pray to be kept from such things as well.) May the Lord keep us all from presumptuous sin and if we boast, let it be in knowing Him. Amen.
Dcopymope
Well-Known Member
Involuntary or not, you can't say with 100% certainty that your thoughts are really your own and the Bible doesn't really split hairs about it anyway. The only way to be sure is to bind every thought into the captivity of the Lord. Like pretty much every other commandment from the Lord, this is easier said than done, but it must be done, for there are many avenue's by which Satan can whisper thoughts into your ear unawares, especially these days with modern technology and 'entertainment'.
Well, yes Satan is already defeated, of course, that's why I consider this mere small talk. Regardless, an angel is still not something I would trifle with in a no holds barred match, that's all, knowing what angels are capable of. But hell, its your funeral, and your insurance, so go right ahead. :)
Where God guides, He provides. A young man, a youth really, once killed a giant with a pebble. Unfortunately, you can't kill an angel, fallen or otherwise. It would seem that they were meant for eternity as well as us (I don't believe in annihilation.) However,when you make war on a man, it's a bit like making war with his angel.
Mick_Alexander
New Member
If we dwell on sinful thoughts, such as lust or hate, they can be regarded as sinful. Jesus told us this in Matt. 5:21-30.
James 1:14-15 also tell us that our thoughts can lead to sin and death: "but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death".
The solution to dwelling on thoughts that can lead to sin is to take hold of them and make them obedient to Jesus as 2 Cor. 10:5 says, "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ".
We all have 'crazy' thoughts at times but this can be overcome through prayer and quick action to get them out of our mind.
God bless,
Mick
They can't. Trust me. I've tried many times. So have thousands of psychologists who have been trying to cure OCD for decades.
ocd is a none thing it is nothing but a lie. expose the darkness and it will flee expose the lie and it will flee.
Stop labbeling your self as something you are NOT. I see people telling you to pray but I never seen one tell you how to pray. why is that. wonder if there is something wrong in the way we have all been taught to pray. I am sure you do and have prayed many time. I would guess it would go something like Dear lord/Father. will you please set me free. That is niot how the sons of God should pray.
As sons you take authotity over the situation and every situation you come up against.
God gave YOU authority over every thing demons healing and even death. For the most part most Christian do not know this. The ones that heard it reject it as is clearly seen in here and every other forum. Most chriostians cant be told anything as they already know everything.
I would ask you to go to your room close the door where no man can hear you, but You Father in heaven hears you.
And just say something like. Father I thank you that you freed me. Why ? Because its already done and paid for.
By His stripes you are healed.IR saved which means saved healed deliverd hemd in coverd protected. Epose the lies and liar. call them out.
I thank you that you love me. Lord thank you these demons/clowns have nothing in me. They belong to there father the liar. Thank you Jesus you died to set me free and I am free right now in Jesus name and for your glory Father I am free. demons get out of me in Jesus name go. Bless you father this is all about you. Father I want to live for you. etc. You take the authorit that God gave you and walk in authority now. Thats who you are a son a nd brother of Christ you are a joint aire with Christ set apart. in heavenly places. Just tell your body to line up with Gods intentions. You tried every thing else. Forget the counsilors even the christian ones are not Gods will for you life.
Stand up and start acting like a man in authority like the bible tells you to do.
Even if you have been unable to stop them with prayer, consider the Lord's response to the Apostle Paul here:
"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me." II Cor 12:7-8
The OCD may well be the thorn in your flesh, but recall then the Lord's answer:
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." II Cor 12:9
Nevertheless, I will keep you in my prayers.
So you think its Gods will that he is being attacked by satan? You think God uses satan like the politicians of the world. Like evil men do. They use evil for there purpose and benifit. You think God does that?
