On Cutting

Imagine you're in a boat, sailing out on the ocean. The wind and the current are on your side, so it's going fairly smooth. Then, suddenly, a storm hits. Your boat is being thrashed around and you don't know what to do. It's all out of control!

That's how life is. Our boat can be sailing on the Sea of Life and everything will be just peachy. But eventually, we'll hit storms. The question is not how to avoid these storms, but how to deal with them. You see, when life seems out of control, the answer is ALWAYS G-d. The answer is NEVER doing something that gives a temporary feeling of control, and later guilt. Things such as this are cutting.

D'varim (Deuteronomy) 13:4
You are to follow Adonai your G-d, fear Him, obey His mitzvot, listen to what He says, serve Him and cling to Him...

Titus 2:11-12
For G-d's grace, which brings deliverance, has appeared to all people. It teaches us to renounce godlessness and worldly pleasures, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives now, in this age...

Colossians 3:2-3
Focus your minds on the things above, not on things here on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in G-d.

As far as cutting goes, there are better and less-painful ways to be happy. G-d cares about you and loves you. He does not want to see any of His Children in pain, and it makes Him sad when we are. As such, G-d does not want us to hurt or damage our bodies, His Temple.

Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:28
Don't cut gashes in your flesh when someone dies or tattoo yourselves; I am Adonai.

Vayikra 20:23
Do not live by the regulations of the nation which I am expelling ahead of you; because they did all these things, which is why I detested them.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Or don't you know that your body is a temple for the Ruach HaKodesh who lives inside you, whom you received from G-d? The fact is, you don't belong to yourselves; for you were bought at a price. So use your bodies to glorify G-d.

Cutting is a TRAP. It causes you to lose confidence in G-d and give up His blessing.

2 Corinthians 11:3
...and I fear that somehow your minds be seduced away from simple and pure devotion to the Messiah, just as Havah was deceived by the serpent and his craftiness.

Cutting gives you but a false, temporary peace. It cannot benefit you at all and only hurts you. True peace, on the other hand, is lasting and genuine. It will last you all of eternity.

Yochanan (John) 14:27
What I am leaving you with is shalom -- I am giving you my shalom. I don't give the way the world gives. Don't let yourselves be upset or frightened.

Colossians 3:15-17
...and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart's decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body. And be thankful - let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to G-d in your hearts. That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to G-d the Father.

Change happens when we choose to think as G-d thinks about cutting.

Galatians 5:24
Moreover, those who belong to the Messiah Yeshua have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires.

Romans 12:2
In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the 'olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what G-d wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed.

Colossians 3:5
Therefore, put to death the earthly parts of your nature - sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed (which is a form of idolatry)...

Submission to G-d and what He requires is crucial.

Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) 12:1
So remember your creator while you are young, before the evil days come, and the years approach when you will say, "They no longer give me pleasure"

Kohelet 12:14
For G-d will bring to judgment everything we do, including every secret, whether good or bad. [Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear G-d, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about.]

Ya'akov (James) 4:7
Therefore, submit to G-d. Moreover, take a stand against the Adversary, and he will flee from you.

G-d is greater than anything, including your desire to cut.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and G-d can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. On the contrary, along with the temptation he will also provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure.

Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this: that the One who began a good work among you will keep it growing until it is completed on the Day of the Messiah Yeshua.

1 Yochanan 4:4
You, children, are from God and have overcome the false prophets, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.