Under The Knife

Today's troubled youth sometimes engage in a widely-publicized and frightening trend known as "cutting."  Psychologists offer all manner of explanations and solutions...including the usual eagerness to build self-esteem, thus reducing these kids' desire to harm themselves.  Unfortunately, Christians don't offer much more help.  We either retreat from the issue out of fear, or we front a "Christianized" version of pop psychology, mimicking their call for self-esteem...rooted, of course, in Christ's love. 

I agree with the general concensus that this behavior is a response to self-loathing which is caused by a sometimes over-inflated sense of guilt, and it reflects a desire to rid oneself of the "filth" - whether it's emotional pain or destructive patterns of behavior or a response to wrongs committed against them - whatever the source, we should be willing to acknowledge their feelings as real, rather than dismiss them as merely attention-seeking.

But...we dare not stop with sympathizing with their pain, and we must not be naive enough to believe that "writing 'love' on her arms" will provide a sufficient cure.

The Scriptures teach us that, as creatures, each of us carries the Truth of God within us.  It is written on our hearts and it is clearly manifest in His works of creation.  When we suppress that Truth, it burns within us and we seeka release from it...often by giving ourselves over to some manner of impurity which leaves us even more agitated and empty.

I suggest that as young people are led to recognize this Truth of God and are taught to submit themselves to His knife, they would find the release that escapes them under their own.  God's knife - His sword, if you will...the Word of God - cuts us, wounds us, and painfully reveals us as the disobedient, unrighteous rebels we are.  So much for self-esteem, huh?!

BUT...that same Sword, that same Word - especially as expressed in the Living Word who underwent the knife of God to its fullest extent - also provides a healing balm which calms and stills the soul.  That same Word which exposes our filth, undertakes to cleanse us and set us free from our guilt.

Using our own knives to try and release that guilt, will only multiply and intensify it, leaving behind visible scars.  Submitting instead to His knife, we will be transformed and healed.

I don't know...just a thought.  Too simplistic?