DSM-IV Definition of Borderline Personality Disorder

A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following: 

1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion (5).

Jesus Christ has promised, "I will never leave you and never forsake you." (Heb. 13:5) Believing that promise will give us a security and rest in our souls.

2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.

God loves everyone regardless of how they act or treat Him. We should do the same, as we allow Jesus to live through us, loving those who don't love us in return or who disappoint us and don't meet our expectations. We should avoid putting others on a pedastal or beneath us, because we're all equal in God's sight--we are all sinners in need of God's love and grace. Realizing God's grace toward us will result in more gracious treatment of others.

3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self. 

The Bible calls us children of God, forgiven, heaven-bound, and followers of Christ. Our identity is no longer defined by our self-image, how we are treated and viewed by others, our occupation, our possessions, or our power and influence, but instead, our identity is rooted in and covered by Christ and His righteousness. It is no longer "I" but "Christ."

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion (5).

The behaviors listed here represent feeding the flesh--fulfilling our own selfish desires instead of feeding the Spirit by crucifying our self-life and embracing the Christ-life by faith:

Luk 9:23 And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 

5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior. 

When we realize we are temples of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, we will not want to destroy that temple (1 Cor. 6:19). God loves us and values us. We don't need to punish ourselves from guilt, because Jesus Christ took all of our punishment upon Himself at the cross. He removed our guilt and shame--this guilt comes from the enemy.

6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days). 

A life lived in the Spirit (walking moment-by-moment by faith in the Lord) will produce peace and temperance/self-control, not instability (Gal. 5:23). God's Spirit also gives us a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). Mood swings and instability indicate a person is walking in the energies and passions of the flesh, rather than under rule and control of the Holy Spirit.

7. Chronic feelings of emptiness. 

Many verses in the Bible indicate a Spirit-filled life is a life full of joy, not emptiness (John 15:11, John 16:24, Acts 2:28, 1 Peter 1:8, 1 John 1:4, 2 John 1:12).

8. Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights). 

The Bible characterizes this type of anger as sinful, and exhorts followers of Christ to "put it off" (Eph. 4:31, Col. 3:8, James 3:10). The implication is that a Christian can overcome this behavior by simply choosing to obey God's commands on the subject--God will give the overcoming power when we choose to obey Him.

9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.