.
As someone who blasphemed Christ in the past (I regret this), particularly in hard times with added afflictions of mental torment (various kinds), from OCD to anxiety to panic attacks and overall lack of motivation (literally feels like i’m getting sapped of my ability to live and move) I’d like to ask you guys who have overcome these issues or addressed them successfully, what worked for you in keeping the faith and love for God even in hard times?
.
To serve God while pursuing the world and material things together can only lead to all kinds of corruption, heresy, and falsehood. Such an attitude of faith today is not the faith of a true Christian. Yours is merely a faith of religious value, an intellectual faith, a faith that follows the teachings and emotions of words. It is not a faith that follows the will of God, nor a faith centered on the hope of Christ with His love as its goal. Therefore, you cannot help but repeat sin and repentance, sin and repentance, until the day you die. It is written that the children of God do not commit sin, and that they are set free from sin.
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.(1 John 3 : 6~10)
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.(Romans 6 : 17~23)
However, today, all Christians, whether teachers or learners, uniformly teach and learn the doctrine and inspiration of words, but there is no power of God at work within them. Through sermons that rely on self, stirring up awakening, resolve, and determination with mere words and theories, they are inevitably bound to repeat sins until death—this is the limitation of Christianity and, indeed, the limitation of humanity.
In other words, Christianity is not a religion established by God but a religion created by humans, and thus it cannot transcend human limitations. As a result, people repeatedly sin and repent, sin and repent, and in the process, unknowingly, they take their sins lightly, becoming increasingly bold, shameless, and brazen in their faith regarding their sins.
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.(Exodus 20 : 7)
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.(1 John 2 : 15~17)
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.(James 4 : 3~4)
Because their prayers are solely for personal happiness, blessings, success, and prosperity, intertwined with the world and material things, they are all nothing but worldly, vain prayers. Family issues, business problems, workplace concerns, romantic troubles, issues with children, and health problems—these are the ideals, desires, and values of all religious people on this earth. This is a faith of the flesh, a faith that follows the world. It is not the faith of a true Christian. The truth is about obtaining the power of God that manifests through God’s love. This power refers to the divine ability to transform us, who cannot be reborn, changed, or transformed through mere awakening, resolve, or determination. Sermons in Christianity that rely on self, emphasizing awakening, resolve, and determination through mere words and theories, are not the truth of God. Therefore, it seems the first step would be to reflect on what kind of faith one holds.