In a world of growing awareness of and concern for mental health, evangelical theologians must bring truth to bear on issues that matter in people’s lives. One such issue is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a multi-faceted struggle involving psychological, cultural, neurological, and spiritual factors. Essentially, a diagnosis of OCD is identified by three elements: obsessions, compulsions, and resulting “distress or disability.” Though OCD can appear in varied expressions, Ian Osborn observes four typical categories of focus: “filth, harm, lust, or blasphemy.” Stanley Rachman and Padmal De Silva additionally list the somewhat nebulous designation of “putting matters right” to define urges and compulsions to “arrange and order one’s possessions.” In this phrase, however, we see a broader thematic view of all obsessive-compulsive manifestations. Every obsession indicates that something is wrong, whether with the world or the self; every compulsion instantiates a response to make it right.
People struggling with OCD need deeper help than a secular approach can provide: theological perspective is essential to assist image bearers toward their optimal functioning. In particular, Christ’s atoning work demonstrates the certainty of God’s love and power to make things right, guaranteeing ultimate safety and satisfaction of the hopes that compulsions can never fulfill. In this paper, I will contribute a unique perspective to the conversation on atonement as well as OCD by applying the doctrine to this complex issue. To do so, I will first present research from psychologists Lee Baer, Jonathan Grayson, Ian Osborne, and Rachman and De Silva to explain several key factors of OCD. Next, I will demonstrate the relationship of Christ’s atonement to OCD by (1) defining atonement as propitiatory sacrifice and summarizing three dimensions of reconciliation that the atonement accomplishes, relying on Stephen Wellum’s Christ Alone, John Murray’s Redemption Accomplished and Applied, and Robert Peterson’s Salvation Accomplished by the Son; and (2) applying specific truths of the atonement towards faithful response in the suffering and struggles of OCD.