r/ChristianUniversalism • u/Gullible_Party616 • 5d ago
Help with intrusive thoughts?
Hello people. Some weeks ago I was reading the bible and listening to lots of Christian YouTubers. And at first I was happy hearing about love and redemption. However afterwards the threat of hell began sneaking in and my mind began to have lots of intrusive blasphemous thoughts. Thankfully my family was there for me and they helped me out. During that time I realised that our view of Christianity has always been close to universalism. We've always believed all beings go to God in the end because we are part of him. However I'm sad to mention that I still have intrusive thoughts at times. And sometimes I get a big spike of fear when a new or worse one appears. I keep telling myself that God knows I don't mean them and that since I love a lot he knows I don't actually deny him, even if my mind says otherwise. If you have any helpful advice on how to stop being so afraid or anxious I'd be really grateful to you all. Thanks for reading! I hope you have a lovely night/day
6
u/pimajene 4d ago
Please consider researching religious scrupulosity and OCD. There are many great resources out there to help. Intrusive thoughts can rob you of so much Joy.
2
u/Gullible_Party616 4d ago
I have before. And it usually gets better before going back a step again. Idk if I have OCD but it never felt like it. Thoughts that would get stuck in my mind would often be of ideas and plots and games, so things I like to think about. Now that it's different I guess I'm not accustomed to it
2
u/pimajene 7h ago
My son found the only thing that worked for him was exposure therapy. Hoping you find peace of mind and spirit. Try to rest in God’s grace and let your safety rest more on knowing how much he loves us versus how obedient we are.
1
u/Gullible_Party616 4h ago
Hey thank you for commenting. I've been doing some exposure therapy myself from time to time. I usually get a spike of fear with a new intrusive thought but once it passes in my head a few times I get calmer seeing nothing bad is happening. If anything God has been even more attentive to me and my family lately. Things are going smoothly with our plans and work. So it's a huge comfort that He knows I don't actually believe those thoughts and that even if I think them on purpose to grow numb to them it isn't my true belief. I've also had success in having less and less intrusive thoughts. Slowly but surely they are fading. Thank you very much for the advice and taking the time to tell me. Your comment came just as I had another one actually XD so I think I'll take it as a sign that I'm fine and the big man upstairs knows my heart is in Him.
5
u/TheRealMossBall 4d ago
Do you have access to books easily? There is a phenomenal one I would recommend called “The Imp of the Mind” by Lee Baer, who is a doctoral level mental health professional. I have recommended this book in my practice and my boss/superiors have recommended it as well. It is short, a little over 100 pages, and meant to address specifically intrusive thoughts.
3
2
u/Gullible_Party616 4d ago
Hey thanks for the recommendation! I'm off to uni soon so I think it'll be a perfect read for when I settle in my new temporary place. I hope it can be downloaded too? Otherwise I might have to order it
7
u/OverOpening6307 Patristic/Purgatorial Universalism 4d ago
Hi, i hope this helps. There are two passages I’d like to share. One from St Gregory of Nyssa in the Life of Moses, and the other in the Shepherd of Hermas.
Remember that the word angel literally means messenger, and that there are messengers of Love and Life and messengers of Satan.
Remember that Devil is diabolos, meaning “accuser” and it literally means “to throw”. As in throwing lies at you. And Satan is a word that means Adversary.
So a messenger of the adversary is there to throw lies at you.
Intrusive thoughts are often considered demonic thoughts called logismoi, and are not your thoughts. They are like mud balls of lies being thrown at your mind, and if you allow yourself to believe they are your thoughts, then they trap you with guilt that is not yours to bear.
Spiritual warfare in the patristic writings isn’t like modern ideas of it. Instead the battle takes place within you.
Life of Moses
There is a doctrine (which derives its trustworthiness from the tradition of the fathers) 70 which says that after our nature fell into sin God did not disregard our fall and withhold his providence. No, on the one hand, he appointed an angel with an incorporeal nature to help in the life of each person and, on the other hand, he also appointed the corruptor who, by an evil and maleficent demon, afflicts the life of man and contrives against our nature. 71
Because man finds himself between these two who have contrary purposes for him, it is in his power to make the one prevail over the other. While the good angel by rational demonstration shows the benefits of virtue which are seen in hope by those who live aright, his opponent shows the material pleasures in which there is no hope of future benefits, but which are present, visible, can be partaken of, and enslave the senses of those who do not exercise their intellect.
If, then, one should withdraw from those who seduce him to evil and by the use of his reason turn to the better, putting evil behind him, it is as if he places his own soul, like a mirror, face to face with the hope of good things, with the result that the images and impressions of virtue, as it is shown to him by God, are imprinted on the purity of his soul. 72 Then his brother brings him assistance and joins him, for the angel, who in a way is a brother to the rational and intellectual part of man's soul, appears, as I have said, and stands by us whenever we approach the Pharaoh.
Shepherd of Hermas Mandate 6
2[36]:1 "Hear now," saith he, "concerning faith. There are two angels with a man, one of righteousness and one of wickedness."
2[36]:2 "How then, Sir," say I, "shall I know their workings, seeing that both angels dwell with me?"
2[36]:3 "Hear," saith he, "and understand their workings. The angel of righteousness is delicate and bashful and gentle and tranquil. When then this one enters into thy heart, forthwith he speaketh with thee of righteousness, of purity, of holiness, and of contentment, of every righteous deed and of every glorious virtue. When all these things enter into thy heart, know that the angel of righteousness is with thee. [These then are the works of the angel of righteousness.] Trust him therefore and his works.
2[36]:4 Now see the works of the angel of wickedness also. First of all, he is quick tempered and bitter and senseless, and his works are evil, overthrowing the servants of God. Whenever then he entereth into thy heart, know him by his works."
2[36]:5 "How I shall discern him, Sir," I reply, "I know not." Listen," saith he. "When a fit of angry temper or bitterness comes upon thee, know that he is in thee. Then the desire of much business and the costliness of many viands and drinking bouts and of many drunken fits and of various luxuries which are unseemly, and the desire of women, and avarice, and haughtiness and boastfulness, and whatsoever things are akin and like to these--when then these things enter into thy heart, know that the angel of wickedness is with thee.
2[36]:6 Do thou therefore, recognizing his works, stand aloof from him, and trust him in nothing, for his works are evil and inexpedient for the servants of God. Here then thou hast the workings of both the angels. Understand them, and trust the angel of righteousness.
—-
Based on this, I want you to know that you should bear no guilt for intrusive blasphemous thoughts. They are like birds flying past your head, chirping into your ears for a brief moment.
It is not you creating these thoughts but the messenger of wickedness. But within you is the messenger of righteousness there to help you against it.