How Should Christians Respond to Unwanted Thoughts?

Summary

Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.

First: unwanted thoughts are not sin — and they have three sources

• The question comes from a member of the YouTube audience: how to handle what this person described as unwanted, intrusive thoughts. The example given: sometimes they might have a thought, a doubt that God exists — but this could cover the gamut of things: any thought that comes to your mind; it could be curse words, or hateful thoughts, or lustful thoughts — anything that's contrary to God's word. Are these unwanted, intrusive thoughts a sin — and how should we respond when evil thoughts come to our minds? His first answer: unwanted evil thoughts, or temptations, are not sin. But it's important how we address them, how we deal with them. We have sources of temptation — basically three main sources. The world: our culture around us can implant thoughts in our mind, just because of what we see, what we read, all the influence — our co-workers, fellow students, their worldly life and beliefs will affect us. So we have temptations from the world. Then we have the devil: the devil and his evil spirits can attack us. Now, if we're a Christian, they can't possess us, but they can oppress us; they can come against us; they can attack us. So yes — he believes the devil can put unwanted thoughts or temptations in our minds. You see how the devil tempted Jesus — and that's a good example: Jesus was tempted, but he didn't sin. So even if the devil brings a direct thought to you that's evil, just because you had that evil thought, you're not responsible — you're not accountable, in the sense you have not sinned. And then, of course, we do have the sinful nature within us still — and we will have, until we're resurrected and glorified. So we have what the New Testament calls the flesh. Romans chapter 8, for example, and Galatians chapter 5, talk about the struggle between the flesh and the spirit — but it's a struggle in which we can be victorious. These unwanted thoughts, temptations, doubts can come from the world, the devil, or the flesh.

Scriptures: Romans 8; Galatians 5

When a thought becomes sin — and the first move: refuse the guilt

• They're not sin in and of themselves. But if we dwell upon them, entertain them, desire them, and fulfill them in our minds, or fulfill them in our actions — then they can become sin. So the Book of James talks about that: God doesn't tempt anybody to sin, but temptation can come from our own lust — but when it's conceived, the end result is going to be sin, and then death. So that indicates there's a process. So how do you deal with those things? Well, first of all, a lot of the battle is what he's already said: temptation, evil thoughts — they're not sin. And so don't accept guilt or condemnation: that would be a trick of the devil as well. 'There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit' — Romans chapter 8, verse 1. So the first thing is to realize: no, you have not sinned; you're not characterized by that; you don't succumb to that; you don't give up to that.

Scriptures: James; Romans 8:1

The negative side: aggressive warfare — bring every thought into captivity

• Then second — maybe the negative side of how to come against it. Let me read from 2 Corinthians chapter 10, the New King James, verses 4 to 6: 'For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.' So we have aggressive warfare — not a physical warfare; we're not fighting against people, but against ideas, thoughts, strongholds, evil spirits. So in prayer we rebuke these things. And so, by developing a daily prayer life; by meditating and reading on God's word; by going to church faithfully; by heeding godly preaching and teaching; by submitting to the godly authority of pastors; by sharing our personal testimony; by giving generously to the church; having fellowship with God's people — so we can actively combat these thoughts, take them captive, and make them obedient to Christ. So an evil thought comes: don't dwell on it, don't desire it, don't give into it — but rebuke it, resist it, and reject it.

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 10:4-6

For doubts: don't believe your doubts, and don't doubt your beliefs

• He heard Bishop Golder (the name heard as 'Bishop Mor Morris Golder') say, years ago — and he's adopted it as one of his slogans: you know, everybody has doubts. Don't think you're unusual; don't think you're bad. Your favorite preachers had doubts. But he says the key is: don't believe your doubts, and don't doubt your beliefs. So you have to have core beliefs and experiences you've established — and they're not up for question or negotiation. And when doubts come, just recognize what they are: they're human feelings. And a lot of times, when you're hungry, you're tired, you're lonely, you're discouraged, things haven't gone your way — recognize: I'm a human being; my emotions, or my spiritual condition, has opened the door to these things. But that's not who I am — and I can close that door. And so his book (its title heard in this episode as 'anchor points') is designed to establish: here are some core beliefs, and here are some answers to common questions. So if you do have significant doubts, you can do some reading and study, and get some answers, and resolve those doubts.

The positive side: fill the mind — and watch your associations

• And now, to switch to the positive side: it's not only that you can rebuke evil thoughts and take them, and force them to be obedient to Christ, and drown them out through prayer and so on — but on the positive side, you fill your mind, and your reading, and your thoughts, with good things. Philippians chapter 4 talks about this — so you have to be proactive. And so sometimes — this is not to bring guilt or doubt — but if you're reading a lot of questionable stuff: now, he likes to read a broad spectrum, even things he disagrees with, to try to learn something. But if you're constantly filling your mind with negative, accusatory, condemning thoughts — or you're opening yourself to all kinds of media, movies, television, internet, that just inundate you with lust, or worldly thoughts, or worldly desires — well, of course: garbage in, garbage out. And so if your environment of thinking is filled with these things — even some friendships and associations and activities, if they're very worldly and oppressive, you may have to limit, or cut off, some friendships or some associations with people. The Book of Proverbs talks about: don't be a friend with an angry person, because you'll become angry like them. So yes, it will — your close associations can influence you negatively. So, Philippians 4:8: 'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report — if there's any virtue, and if there's anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.'

Scriptures: Proverbs; Philippians 4:8

To summarize

• So, to summarize: it's a matter of, number one, recognizing that temptations and evil thoughts, in themselves, are not sin — but they must be dealt with appropriately. Instead of yielding to them and acting upon them, we must resist them. Second: we come against them, we attack them, through prayer, and resisting the devil. But then positively, we overcome them through personal spiritual disciplines, positive thoughts, positive, wholesome associations, creating a spiritual environment that's conducive to our spiritual health. And when we do that, then we can submit our minds to the Lord Jesus Christ, and we can live a holy life.

Scripture index: Romans 8; Galatians 5; James; Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Proverbs; Philippians 4:8.