Christian patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often believe that the blasphemous or obscene thoughts coming through their head are their fault.
It is refreshing news to hear that such thoughts, because they are involuntary and not deliberate, aren’t sinful at all for OCD sufferers.
OCD is an anxiety disorder, however, and even if patients are convinced that involuntary thoughts aren’t sinful, they’re likely to worry about whether or not the thoughts are involuntary.
Belief, Desire and Will - Three Points of Reference for Thoughts
Suppose that a soccer player’s team is heading to the national championship. This player, as a member of that team, probably has some beliefs, desires and wills related to the coming game.
First, the player believes that their team is capable of winning. Second, the player desires for their team to win. And third, the player wills to score a goal for the team.
Any thought that goes in line with these thoughts is likely conscious. If the player has an image of scoring the goal, that image is a positive, voluntary thought. If she sees her coach holding a trophy, that thought goes in line with her desire, thus making it voluntary.
But imagine that a strange line of thoughts crossed the player’s mind. First, she saw a scoreboard with zero points for her team and twenty for the other. This thought goes against one of her beliefs — that her team is capable of winning — and against her desire to win. Second, she sees her goal attempt missing wide left and hitting the coach. This was likely involuntary as well; it went against her desire and her will.
Defining Involuntary Thoughts
When the thoughts are focused on religion, rather than a soccer game, their weight seems much heavier, but the same guidelines apply:
Any prayer, thought or image that goes against a Christian OCD patient’s belief, desire or will is most likely involuntary.
It is not difficult to understand this definition of involuntary thought. Who would want to have a thought that goes against their belief, will or desire? Who would want to have a prayer that conflicts with their beliefs? Thus, any such prayer, thought or image that conflicts with what one believes, desires or hopes for can be assumed as involuntary.
Applying the Definition of Involuntary Thought
Suppose that the soccer player has a thought about hitting her coach with a soccer ball. She could think to herself something along the following lines: “That thought was involuntary because it went against my desire for my coach to stay safe, and for me to score a goal.”
Nothing more need be said. The thought was exposed as involuntary, and the soccer player need not think about it again.
Likewise, Christians suffering from religious OCD can use this formula for identifying and disregarding involuntary obsessions: “That prayer/thought/image was likely involuntary because it went against my belief/desire/will.”
Whether they simply think this or express it in a prayer, that standard statement can help build confidence in the involuntary nature of an obsession, thus reducing anxiety and decreasing one’s guilt feelings.
What if a Thought is Voluntary After All?
But suppose that one out of 100 seemingly involuntary thoughts was actually deliberate. Would God be mad at someone if they used the above formula and considered it involuntary?
Christians need not fret over such possibly deliberate thoughts. Rather, they should assume that the thought was involuntary, as it probably was, then repent later for all unknown sins.
Such a prayer, when added to a penitential order or a confession of sins, can go something like this: “God, I wish to repent for all unknown sins, and for all sinful thoughts, words, prayers and deeds perceived to be sinless.”
Of course, such repentance need not follow every thought. One would do just fine to wait until their weekly church service to repent for any deliberate obsessions considered involuntary at the time.
Further Reading
If the subject of obsessive-compulsive disorder interests you, or if you’d like more help in your fight against OCD, try reading some of these additional articles on obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Fighting Back Against Pure-o OCD offers an examination of treatment methods for those afraid of the thoughts and images in their head.
Afraid of Your Own Thoughts? provides a general resource for pure obsessions OCD sufferers, while A Prayer for Religious OCD Sufferers has information on prayers for those with OCD.
