The Bible says that God's "power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him (2 Peter 1:3)." He has given us everything we need to handle the issues surrounding mental health problems!
The Bible also says that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
At first, this may not seem so. "If I have cancer," you might ask, "How will the Bible help me? Isn't that an issue for a doctor?" Therefore, you add, "How can it help me with mental health problems?"
First, I will explain how the Bible can help with medical issues like cancer. Second, I hope to show the differences between typical medical problems and other mental health problems. Mental health problems fall even more directly into areas the Bible can help you with. I hope that this gives hope to you or a loved one who is struggling with a mental health issue.
1. The Bible can help with medical issues. The Bible can help in several ways. First, following the Bible can reduce the risk of some medical issues. For example, heart problems and other cardiovascular problems may be caused because of years of stress and anxiety. This may in part be caused by not truly understanding and following biblical teachings on worrying, not taking a day to rest weekly, or pursuing worldly security instead of pursuing God. All of us would be healthier if we truly understood and followed all that the Bible teaches about managing our time, stress, and focus. Then, there is prayer! The Bible teaches us to pray and have faith in God. God may heal us through prayer.
Second, the Bible helps us with medical issues because it helps us understand them. "Why is God letting this happen to me?" "What reason do I have for having hope in the midst of this illness?" "How can I rejoice even though I am in pain?" "What can I learn from this illness?" All of these questions are things the Bible can help us with. It may not tell us how to find a cure, but it will help with how to handle the illness. So, when we face a medical illness, we need help from a doctor, but we also need help from the Bible.
2. But what about mental health? First, you need to understand the categorical difference between psychological disorders and other medical health issues. A psychological disorder is diagnosed on the basis of behavior, not a physical test. For instance, you can see cancer in a lab. There is nothing that is "seen" in ADHD. People with depression are often told they have a "chemical imbalance." Certain chemicals are involved in the transfer of information between neurons in the brain. If these chemicals are at abnormal levels, problems like depression may occur. However, this is only a theory. There is no way to test the levels of chemicals between neurons in a brain. Rather, depression is diagnosed on the basis of behavior. Now in some cases, medical issues like a problem with the thyroid may contribute to depression. A doctor may find a medical issue that can be treated, but if so it is no longer considered a psychological disorder but rather a medical health issue.
The labels given in psychological disorders are simply names for a pattern of behaviors. For instance, if I saw someone shouting, with a red face and clinched fists while shaking their head, I would say they are "angry." That is a label for certain behaviors. However, it does not explain why they are angry. Similarly, when someone behaves in a certain way, we say they are bipolar, or have ADHD. This is merely a label for the behaviors, it does not mean we know of a medical cause, or even that there is one.
What this means is that psychological disorders are right in line with the kinds of things the Bible can help us solve. Is there a medical aspect to them? In some cases, maybe. The theories in these cases may or may not prove true. Does this mean that medications cannot be helpful or should be avoided? No. Even if we do not know why they work, medication may be a means God uses to help bring some relief from the pain that psychological disorders cause. However, at the root of many psychological disorders are deeply ingrained patterns of thinking, behavior, or attitudes that the Bible can help us understand and find solutions to. Hebrews 4:12 says, "The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
I will address specific disorders in the future. For now, I simply want to express that the Bible offers care and support for all sorts of mental health issues. There is hope! Perhaps you or a loved one is getting treatment from a psychiatrist. I am in no way suggesting you should stop. What I am suggesting is that the counseling based on the Bible may offer you a greater range of options and depth at managing or even healing the disorder you are facing. If you have specific questions, feel free to contact me. You can reach me at 803-943-8237.
Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html
Let me start with the fact that I am a Christian first and foremost. I am however also a healthcare professional I find this line of theory very frightening. I have seen this line of thinking lead very sick people in need of medication believe that if that had prayed enough and been good enough they would be healed by now. I believe that the Bible can provide care and support but I also think we have to be very careful about making people think that if their faith is strong enough they will be cured. Just like cancer and other physical illnesses not everyone is going to be healed. Some will suffer and die. We have medications that can ease the pain of cancer and we have medications that can ease the pain of a mental illness. A Bible based counseling approach can be helpful but not take the place of a medical professional that can prescribe medication while the healing process occurs. I have seen very broken people over the years who most certainly have tired every method known to man for help. They have read the Bible, prayed and even seen Christian counselors and yet they still need medication. The flaw in this line of thinking is always that it will make some very broken soul feel they didn't have enough faith or weren't "Christian enough". I know you said they shouldn't stop seeing a psychiatrist but it say that perhaps a Bible based form of counseling may offer greater options. This is not bad information it is just a dangerous approach when dealing with the long term mentally ill person that can be easily misguided through good intentions. I have seen this happen or I would not feel so inclined to comment on the subject.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure where we disagree other than I don't think you understood what I was trying to say by "greater options." I didn't word that clearly enough. I think I should have said "additional" options that give you overall greater care. This is a complex issue so I will be saying more in the future, there was only so much I could say in one post. But I agree with all the points you have brought up. I know personally that this message has brought hope and encouraged many.
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