If you are a believer who struggles with blasphemous thoughts, you are NOT alone. The following resources may bring help, comfort, and encouragement—I pray in Jesus' name that they do.
Each title has a gleaning from the original text that may pique your interest to read further (just click on the link after each quote).
However, if you are suffering, you may want to take the time to read each one and discover that contrary to what you might think, you are NOT crazy and you are NOT the only one going through this trial or suffering with this infirmity.
Remember:
"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Peter 5:9).
I do not support all of the religious ideologies or practices of some of the authors or institutions listed here. But the main ideas of each text have something to offer that, when combined with the others, provide a larger picture of what you may be struggling with, how to face it, and encouragement to endure.
Are intrusive thoughts sin? Are spontaneous violent, sexual, or blasphemous thoughts sin?
The more we surround ourselves with worldly things, the more the world will invade our thoughts. Instead, we should concentrate on the honorable, the true, and the pure (Philippians 4:8).
Full Text: https://www.gotquestions.org/intrusive-thoughts.html
Help For Christians Who Have Difficulty Controlling Their Thoughts
As a Christian who battles with OCD, you can say something similar to yourself when unwelcome, intrusive thoughts occur: “That’s not me, it’s just my flesh.” Or, "That's not me. It is just a temptation." Recognizing this truth helps sufferers of OCD to jump off the treadmill and stop the endless feedback loop. Unwelcome thoughts must be seen as what they truly are, as misdeeds of a fleshly brain...
Full Text: http://www.benotconformed.org/thoughts.htm
Gleanings from Orthodox Christian Authors and the Holy Fathers on Blasphemy
When the intellect begins to advance in love for God, the demon of blasphemy starts to tempt it, suggesting thoughts such as no man but only the devil...could invent. He does this out of envy, so that the man of God, in his despair at thinking such thoughts, no longer dares to soar up to God in his accustomed prayer. But the demon does not further his own ends by this means. On the contrary, he makes us more steadfast. For through his attacks and our retaliation we grow more experienced and genuine in our love for God.
Full Text: http://www.orthodox.net/gleanings/blasphemy.html
Tell God Your Blasphemous Thoughts
Because the Bible tells us over and over that He loves us no matter what. While we were yet sinners, God sent His Son Jesus to die for us (John 3:16; Rom 5:8). Love is the essence of who God is (1 John 4:8). Before you were ever born, God knew every sin you would ever commit, every word you would ever say, and all “blasphemous thoughts” you would ever say or think. And He sent Jesus to die for you anyway! Why? Because He loves you!
Full Text: https://redeeminggod.com/blasphemous-thoughts/
Battling with Blasphemous Thoughts and Despair
This mental warfare was indescribably difficult. Imagine the state of someone in battle, when two worlds are within you: one world is bright, of faith and hope in God and the burning desire for salvation; and the other, a world of darkness, instilling only destructive and blasphemous thoughts and disbelief. This unbearable warfare visited me especially when celebrating the Divine Liturgy. Standing at God’s Altar before the Holy of Holies and pronouncing the prayer for the action of the Holy Spirit to consecrate the Holy Gifts, I was at that very same moment continuing to be overcome mentally by defiled thoughts of disbelief and doubt.
Full Text: http://www.pravmir.com/battling-with-blasphemous-thoughts-and-despair/
The Beast of OCD
My greatest fear as a new believer was of displeasing God. This fear therefore created an irrational thinking against God and was the complete opposite that I really wanted and really meant. That's why these silly thoughts that I had were so distressing... So, the fear drives the thoughts. How do we know? Because the thoughts cause such distress and lead me to question whether I really mean them and whether I would want to ever act on them. If this wasn't the fear, the thoughts would simply pass me by and I wouldn?t give it a second thought. Trouble is I do, even though I know the best solution is to simply allow them to pass by.
Full Text:
Blasphemous Thoughts: The Therapy of Trust
But why, you ask, would God want that? “What I want,” you say, “is to get rid of these awful obsessions, and to stop feeling anxious!” But that’s the point. Maybe God wants you to give up what you want, and to consent to what he wants. Maybe he wants you to simply accept this trial, and to put your trust in him. Isn’t it clear that God tests us for our own good? To bear obsessional thoughts without fighting, to willingly endure painful anxiety, to hold on just to his grace: This is the weakness through which we become stronger (2Cor 7). Perhaps you are too self centered right now, feeling that you must be in control of everything.
Full Text: http://ocdandchristianity.com/?p=291
Blasphemous Thoughts – A Testimony - Part 1
For the last 8 weeks I have had continuous attacks from satan, who has been trying to put filthy, blasphemous thoughts about the Holy Spirit into my mind. They are the most vile and horrifying thoughts you could possibly imagine. At the beginning they absolutely horrified me and caused me no end of distress, to put it mildly... So in summary, satan putting blasphemous thoughts into the minds of Christians is not unusual or uncommon... We must focus on JESUS, not satan or his attacks. NO MATTER WHAT, focus on Jesus and never forget that He will never forsake you or let the enemy harm you. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. No wolf or roaring lion will take you out of His hands!!!
Full Text:
Mind Intrusion
Most everyone has intrusive thoughts at some point. They're the little nasty ideas that pop up out of nowhere. They may be about sex or blasphemous thoughts about God. They could be about hurting someone or even hurting yourself. As disturbing as they can feel, they're very common and don't necessarily mean anything serious. And they're not sin. It's not a sin to have a random thought. Although it may be sin to choose to keep thinking about it or to act on it.
Full Text: http://www.blogos.org/thetakeaway/intrusive-thoughts.php
John Bunyan
(Describes his struggle with obsessive blasphemous thoughts.)
John Bunyan (1628-1688) was a preacher and spiritual writer who is best known for writing Pilgrim's Progress. Bunyan also wrote a spiritual autobiography, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, in which he describes his struggle with obsessive blasphemous thoughts.
Full Text: https://www.ocdhistory.net/firsthand/bunyan.html
Horrible Blasphemous Thoughts
(Answer #2 by Justpassingthrough21)
So to really start getting through this and seeing huge results is first you have to stop falling for lies. That is anything that goes against what the Bible says. Basically if you have any thought that questions your salvation, don't believe it or even entertain it. If you have accepted Christ into your life, you can rest assured that as long as you are looking to Jesus (no matter how feeble the effort may seem to you), you are saved and on your way to heaven. So when you get a thought and think "I must be evil", "I must be possessed", "these blasphemies will never be forgiven", "God has left me", "it will never be the same again", you cannot continue to entertain those thoughts. As long as you do, you won't be able to make forward progress. You simple cannot believe lies, and at the same time expect God to be able to move on your situation. How will God be able to heal your mind and fill you with peace, if you keep thinking your unsaved and going to hell. It may take months before you finally get those truths in your Spirit man, but when you do, it will make you so firm in your faith, and you will begin to see major healing.
If you don't know if a thought is true, just test it and if it causes you to feel condemnation, or points to you losing your salvation, or makes you feel anxiety, you automatically know it is not of God. At that point you need to do 1 of 2 things. Just move onto something else and don't even think about it. Or memorize Bible verses and counter act the lie, with a truth from Gods Word. I actually do both, if I am with a group of people, I can't be sitting their repeating verses in my head. If anxiety comes and my mind starts racing, I will simple ignore it and it will leave my mind. That took lots of practice to be able to do. Or when I am alone I speak Gods Word, and I can feel it literally changing my mind and emotions.
Full Text:
So to really start getting through this and seeing huge results is first you have to stop falling for lies. That is anything that goes against what the Bible says. Basically if you have any thought that questions your salvation, don't believe it or even entertain it. If you have accepted Christ into your life, you can rest assured that as long as you are looking to Jesus (no matter how feeble the effort may seem to you), you are saved and on your way to heaven. So when you get a thought and think "I must be evil", "I must be possessed", "these blasphemies will never be forgiven", "God has left me", "it will never be the same again", you cannot continue to entertain those thoughts. As long as you do, you won't be able to make forward progress. You simple cannot believe lies, and at the same time expect God to be able to move on your situation. How will God be able to heal your mind and fill you with peace, if you keep thinking your unsaved and going to hell. It may take months before you finally get those truths in your Spirit man, but when you do, it will make you so firm in your faith, and you will begin to see major healing.
If you don't know if a thought is true, just test it and if it causes you to feel condemnation, or points to you losing your salvation, or makes you feel anxiety, you automatically know it is not of God. At that point you need to do 1 of 2 things. Just move onto something else and don't even think about it. Or memorize Bible verses and counter act the lie, with a truth from Gods Word. I actually do both, if I am with a group of people, I can't be sitting their repeating verses in my head. If anxiety comes and my mind starts racing, I will simple ignore it and it will leave my mind. That took lots of practice to be able to do. Or when I am alone I speak Gods Word, and I can feel it literally changing my mind and emotions.
Full Text:
The Real Reason For Blasphemous Thoughts
This is common. With our every advance we can expect a counterattack in which the devil will try to retake the ground we have gained. We must stubbornly resist the pressure to surrender to his lies, whether it be false condemnation or believing that we are responsible for thoughts we do not want.
In war, the enemy can gain a major tactical advantage by making a show of attacking at one location when it is actually about to launch its main assault at a different location. If one falls for this trick, most of one’s defenses are moved from the area where they are critically needed and focused where they are not so needed.
Don’t waste your resources getting sidetracked into self-examination or fighting thoughts or guilt feelings. No matter how real and scary they seem, they are just cardboard cut-outs. The real battlefront is whether you believe that Jesus died for the sins of the world – believing that through Jesus forgiveness is available for every sin that anyone could ever commit, provided one accepts it.
Full Text: http://www.net-burst.net/guilty/uncontrollable-blasphemy.htm
Parting Words
If you need someone to share your blasphemous thoughts burden with, contact me. I have experience with this subject and am a degreed biblical counselor. You're not alone. There is hope in Christ—nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:32-39, 1 Timothy 1:15, 1 John 4:18) or take you beyond His grace (2 Corinthians 12:9).
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Author: Jerry S., Pastor, OLBC
Author Bio: Jerry is a bi-vocational missionary pastor-teacher and an avid writer on practical theology currently residing in the Philippines. He has a wide range of experience and education from bachelor to doctorate degrees in various fields and writes articles, blogs, devotions, e-books, academic papers, and more.
Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash.
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Author: Jerry S., Pastor, OLBC
Author Bio: Jerry is a bi-vocational missionary pastor-teacher and an avid writer on practical theology currently residing in the Philippines. He has a wide range of experience and education from bachelor to doctorate degrees in various fields and writes articles, blogs, devotions, e-books, academic papers, and more.
Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash.
