What They Think of Us: The Christian Neurosis

Pierre Solignac  (born 1929, France) is a French psychiatrist who claimed that Christianity uses guilt in order to maintain control of its followers. He spoke of the “Christian Neurosis,” which he said meant that a Christian had to carry around a huge weight of neurotic guilt in order to be properly “humble” before God. It is sad to say that many Christians down through the ages have bought into this anti-Christian, non-Christian attitude. Solignac said that Christians believe in a God of conditional love (if we are “good” enough and “humble enough” He will accept us) who uses law and rules to keep us under control.  “L'éducation chrétienne repose essentiellement sur l'
angoisse et la peur, le manque de confiance en la nature humaine, le mépris du 
corps, ...” (Christian education is based primarily on the anxiety and fear, lack of trust in human nature, contempt of body ...)

No! No! No! No! No!

Our salvation is not based on following rules or being humble doormats or being good enough or knowing some secret doctrine hidden from the world.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1

Do you realize what the Bible says about Christians? It does not say that we become perfect at the moment of our salvation. What it says is that there is no condemnation for us.  “No condemnation” means “found innocent with no penalty imposed.” As John tells us in 1 John 3:14, “We have passed from death to life.”

We have been declared innocent because we are covered by the shed Blood of the Lamb of God. Through the process of sanctification we are becoming like Jesus and when God looks at us He sees the Blood, He sees Jesus. Our guilt has been washed away.

The Apostle Paul understood that Christian innocence could be misunderstood and he adds a coda at Romans 6:1-2 to oppose the heresy of antinomianism. Antinomianism taught that since we are saved and are no longer under the condemnation of the Law we can do whatever we want without any penalty.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2. (KJV)

Film Comment: Quid Pro Quo

     The film, Quid Pro Quo (200), is a really odd horror film.  There are no supernatural monsters, no demented slashers, no gore, no violence, no mad doctors, no evil conspiracies, no ancient secrets, no cannibalism, no curses, no out of control viruses, and no overarching quests for revenge.  More than anything, it's a horror film based on disturbed understandings of personal identity.

     The film is based on the actual mental disorder known as body-integrity identity disorder in which patients insist that "something is wrong" which can only be corrected by the removal of one of their body parts, usually a leg, hand or arm.  Some physicians believe that only the amputation seems to relieve the distress.  Patients refused the treatment have been known to take the "cure" into their own hands.  They say they feel wonderful after the unwanted body part is removed.

     Christians are specifically ordered not to cut or mark themselves as their bodies are owned by God and are His temple.

“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD.”  Leviticus 19:28

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

      I am aware that many psychiatrists consider body-integrity identity disorder to be an affective disorder which can not be helped by merely "trying" to resist it.  This line of thought places the disorder in the same category as transgenderism, cutting, obsessive-compulsive disorder, compulsive gambling, homosexuality, addiction to pornography, sociopathy, alcoholism, illegal drug use, etc.  The medical idea is that eventually an anatomical or physiological explanation will be found for each of these.

     Christians have known for centuries that the Holy Spirit will aid the believer in battling any or all of these personality disorders. 

^13"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]." 1 Corinthians 10:13.

”I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2.