Let me say this: I feel like a hypocrite writing this. I slipped up, recently, and broke my record of being self injury free. I cannot sit here and write to you that there is an easy way to recover from self harm, that there is a way to banish it forever. I can, though, […]
G2SI: Cutting and Marking in the Bible
September 14, 2012 by 6 Comments
This post is all about marking as well as cutting in the Bible. Marking the skin, whether through cutting, branding or tattooing, is mentioned around the ancient world and in the Bible. Whether it is acceptable for the people of God, and if so in what way, is what I aim to discuss. I am […]
G2SI: Alternatives
September 12, 2012 by 1 Comment
I thought it might be helpful to list some alternatives to self injury, things that might help if you are getting the desire to do it, but are trying not to. Talk to a friend, parent, or helpline. Sometimes talking it through, or talking about something for a time can help you past the worst of […]
G2SI: For Loved Ones
September 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment
When I started self injuring, I didn’t know what to say to anyone. I knew I was feeling absolutely awful, that my mind was churning up with horrible thoughts and feelings, but I didn’t know how to ask for help. It was the self injury that propelled me to a doctor, but it was some […]
G2SI: Self Injury: Christian Views
September 11, 2012 by 4 Comments
Christians, like any group in society, can hold various views on self injury. These can include that it is a sign of mental illness, that it is attention-seeking, and so on, just like non-Christians. There are, however, a few specific ways Christians understand self injury, and a few questions that Christian self injurers may have […]
G2SI: Christian Links
September 6, 2012 by 3 Comments
I have found it hard to find specifically Christian websites or articles about self injury. However I have found a few resources for you. Please note that I do not necessarily endorse anything on these websites. Please be aware that websites may be triggering. The Lysamena Project on Self Injury: Christian site with information about […]
Joy Comes in the Morning
September 1, 2012 by 1 Comment
I have always loved the line in Psalm 30: “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (v5b KJV) This particular verse has brought me much comfort, and also caused me some conflict. I have experienced plenty of weeping when depression has brought me low, and for me it is generally […]
Verses for the Afflicted
July 28, 2012 by 3 Comments
I thought it might be helpful if I posted some verses about affliction (definition: grievous pain or trouble) and how the Bible describes its purpose. You’ll note that the Bible doesn’t view affliction as always being bad, or as a punishment, it consistently describes difficulty as a way to refine us, to teach us, and that good […]
Troublesome Verses: Sound Mind
July 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
There are some verses in the Bible which are troubling to Christians who suffer mental ill-health. Some of them seem to suggest that we cannot be proper Christians, or even Christian at all, if we have mental illnesses. One of these verses is in 2 Timothy, where Paul is speaking to Timothy: For the Spirit […]
“You Have a Spiritual Problem”
July 14, 2012 by 3 Comments
There is a great deal of rather ignorant talk from some Christians about mental illness. I think everyone has at least heard of, if not actually experienced, Christians who believe that mental ill-health is a spiritual problem rather than a medical one. Such people believe that a Christian must be in emotional good health, and […]
Believer's Brain 