The purpose for reading was to upskill in my knowledge of how this for when I encounter it as a teacher and a dean (and maybe as a parent). I aimed to do this by developing my understanding of the phenomena from a Christian worldview.
More specifically, I wanted to be able to articulate where cutting and self-harm fits in with the Christian worldview, and to offer a biblically faithful approach to helping students.
Summarising some main points in the article
- Self-harmers say they are attempting to make other pain disappear or are punishing themselves
- Self-harmers who have stopped the practice describe responding positively to counsel from trusted adults, e.g. guidance counselors
- Parent responses seem to be panic, over-reaction, and acting out of fear to blame schools, etc.
- A clinical psychologist who has studied cutting in her PhD says that cutting functions to "manage intense emotions", that it can spread among peer groups, and it is important to figure out what is behind the behaviour and work to give the person what they really need (rather than just treat the cutting, which is just a symptom)
- Solutions are for adults to talk about and model self-care such as eating, sleeping, and exercising properly, as well as talking about positive coping behaviours
Reading from a Christian perspective
I found the following brief article from Ed Welch of CCEF: https://www.ccef.org/resources/blog/going-blood
He says:
- Cutters usually know they need help
- Sometimes it is about the pain of cutting and sometimes it is about seeing the blood
- There are parallels to the sacrificial system of ancient Israel and pagan nations where there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood
- Helping a person find their peace in the finished work of Jesus is the way forward with a person who self-harms
- With more distance from the self-harm (time without reverting to the behaviour) the person sees more clearly that the must trust in Jesus rather than their own actions.
Further reading: I might purchase and read this past issue of the Journal for Biblical Counselling: https://www.ccef.org/resources/individual_jbc_article/self-injury-when-pain-feels-good-2
Some Bible texts and thoughts
- Both secular and Christian identify the cutter as someone who is trying to solve a deeper problem by their own methods which are ultimately avoiding the pain of that problem (or problems).
- Both secular and Christian identify the importance of walking alongside the person cutting in a counselling relationship or similar.
- Only the Christian perspective truly gets to the heart of the problem, i.e. the cutter is not trusting in Christ for their support.
- This does not mean any practical steps, such as removing a person from an abusive or dangerous situation, is not advised. However, from a Christian view, the cutter needs to be discipled to better rely on Jesus as the One who has completed all righteousness.
- The Gospel addresses the need that some feel to punish themselves by recognising that Jesus took the punishment for sin. It also addresses the need to live up to a particular standard (cutting can be self-punishment when we fail to meet that standard) - Jesus lived up to the standard of perfection so that we do not need to fear falling short of that standard. Properly understanding this leads to gratitude and joyful obedience (but turning to Jesus' finished work for us when we fail 1 John 2:1).
- The local church is a place of support for the body of Christ where we can make our needs known to one another and find help, both practical and spiritual (I believe practical help is not separable from spiritual). The community of believers is where we can find comfort to deal with pain in a holy way.
- Parents can fail to teach this trust in Christ and to find support among his people. They can also fail to trust Jesus themselves, which leads to over reacting or uncontrolled fear. Parents (and teachers) must disciple their children/students to deal with intense emotions properly.
2 Corinthians 1:3–7
God of All Comfort
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. [5] For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. [6] If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. [7] Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (ESV)
2 Corinthians 5:21
[21] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)
Romans 5:1
Peace with God Through Faith
[1] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)
Romans 5:19
[19] For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 12:24–26
[24] ...God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, [25] that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. [26] If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (ESV)
Hebrews 9:22
[22] Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (ESV)
Hebrews 10:10–14
[10] ...we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [12] But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, [13] waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. [14] For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)
1 John 2:1
Christ Our Advocate
[1] My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (ESV)
Finally
So where does cutting and self-harm fit in with the Christian worldview? It is a means of dealing with problems outside of Christ. That is, a cutter tends to be dealing with pain by masking it through the pain of cutting, or by punishing them self, and not dealing with the source of the pain. they should deal with the source of the pain by either practical means or by recognising that Jesus can take the punishment and that he has lived up to the perfect standard so we don't have to. They should also rely on the people of God to support them.
And what is a biblically faithful approach to helping students? We need to disciple our young people to deal with intense emotions in positive practical ways that God has given us all in His common grace, and especially what He has given us in the church. However, this cannot be separate from the empowering presence of the Spirit of God acting upon the Word of God - the Gospel we teach and preach. We must support our students and children to better understand the Gospel, the Good News, that Jesus has done what they could not do, and show them that they can find their freedom only in him.
I am continually amazed at how the basics of the Gospel apply to the most complex of problems we face in life!
Jude 24–25
Doxology
[24] Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, [25] to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (ESV)
