God and Mental Illness
The Word of God contains divine insight into every Mental Illness known to mankind.
Before we get started, I would like to recommend a short prayer to you. We should always confess our need for God to give us wisdom, understanding, knowledge and revelation in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ better through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you are awesome in all of your ways. Please give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ more and more as I read this article.
More articles on mental health:
At the onset I would like to share my perspective on this very sensitive subject matter. First, I have found no evidence in the Word of God that Mental Illness is sin. There is, however, clear evidence that Mental Illness can be brought on by committing sin. There is also clear evidence that Mental Illness can be caused by demon spirits. I have a deep compassion and love for those living with a Mental Illness. Primarily because I have witnessed, and been the perpetrator of, the rejection that most of us dish out when faced with someone living with a Mental Illness. We usually respond this way because we fear that which we don’t understand or we don’t have the patience to deal with loving someone living with a Mental Illness.
Before I kick off this new series of articles on Mental Illness, please take a moment and ponder the following truth from scripture.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin
Heb 4:14-15 (NIV)Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases
Psalms 103:3 (KJV)The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed
Psalms 103:6 (NIV)
The truth above is very difficult for us to imagine, let alone believe is true. This is primarily because we all know Jesus lived more than 2000 years ago. This fact makes it hard for us to imagine, with our finite minds, how he could have been tempted by every sin known to mankind given the vast differences between our cultures. However, no matter how difficult accepting this truth can be, that doesn’t make it false. It’s interesting, our understanding of a truth doesn’t validate or invalidate that truth one bit.
To demonstrate this reality, let’s consider the miracle and truth of balance. Each time you walk, you demonstrate the miracle of the complex and interwoven system of balance God designed to be a part of your human body. Now, you could say Dwight you’re an idiot, there’s no such thing as balance. Either because you don’t understand it, or because you refuse to believe that balance is a truth. My point is, whether you believe it or not, while you’re walking away in unbelief, you’re demonstrating the miracle of balance.
I decided to make Mental Illness the subject for the next series of articles on this blog, for a number of reasons, a few of which I’ll share here.
- I am the legal guardian of my older brother who was diagnosed with a mental illness when he was 8 years old.
- I have repeatedly, by the design and will of God, been in relationships with people who I love and who live with Mental Illness, but have not had their condition properly diagnosed.
- I have studied mental illness for more than 8 years and have not come across a resource that provides a holistic approach to addressing Mental Illness that incorporates the truth of scripture.
- I have been given a compassion for those living with Mental Illness and the people that struggle everyday to care for them.
- More than 16 years ago, God told me I would be instrumental in my brothers healing process.
Prior to my mom going home to be with the Lord, she made a statement to me that rings in my ears to this very day. She said to me, Tony (that’s what the fam calls me), when I asked Jesus why my doctors couldn’t do more for me, Jesus told me “most doctors operate in 50% of their capacity“. As any rational person would, I dug further to make sure mom wasn’t hallucinating. I asked mom, what did Jesus mean? You know, physicians are in school for like 80 (my exaggeration) years before they practice an so on and so on. Why would Jesus say that? She said, Tony, they only deal with the natural realm, most of them are totally unaware of the spiritual component to most illnesses. So they do the best they can with what they know.
Why is this important as we discuss Mental Illness? Well, I’m not sure whether you’ve noticed or not, but there has been an absolute explosion of reality shows that put a television camera right up front and personal with people living with Mental Illness. A common thread with all of these shows is the fact that there are people from many different professional disciplines (Psychiatrists, Physical Therapists, Professional Organizers, Behavioral Therapists, etc…), except professionals that can discern whether the featured Mental Illness has a spiritual root or not.
Another common thread is that total recovery from the condition seems to be an impossibility, especially with Mental Illness conditions. This causes righteous indignation to rise up in me. I work for a health care company producing reports for a Care Management program. It is common, all across this nation, for health care professionals to repeatedly fill the atmosphere with the declaration that people cannot be healed from Mental Illness and chronic health conditions (Asthma, Diabetes, Coronary Artery Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, etc…). However, this is not what is taught in the Word of God. The Word of God does not promise that every person will be healed, it does clearly say that healing is possible, when it glorifies the God from whom all healing flows (see passages from Psalm 103 above).
Now, let’s return to the passage of scripture at the beginning of this article. Please take a moment to consider this thought. The Christian faith teaches that the only son of God, Jesus Christ, came to the earth in a human body and paid the penalty for all sin; once. Now it’s only logical, assuming this is true, that he would have to be tempted with every sin possible to mankind and understand every disease, yet without sin, in order to save us from the devastating effects of the sin we commit against a Holy God and intercede on our behalf for healing from every disease (see Romans 8:34). That said, I present you with the thought that not only did Jesus provide a way for us to be forgiven for our sin, but He also provided a way for us to handle Mental Illness in a way that honors God. While that could definitely be through healing, it could also be through receiving the grace to walk with a person with Mental Illness so they to can experience the love of God through one of God’s children.
My hearts desire and vision is to see the formation of a body of professionals come together and produce a holistic program that addresses all aspects and the needs of those living with Mental Illness and the families impacted by this challenging experience. This would include, the following:
- Medical Professionals – Research has conclusively proven that most Mental Illnesses involve some form of dysfunction in the human brain
- Psychological Professionals – Research has conclusively proven that doctors that can address the thought processes of those living with Mental Illness has extreme benefits
- Environmental Professionals – Professional Organizers, Behavioral Health Professionals, etc…
- Counseling Professionals – In addition to the professionals trained in understanding the natural aspects of Mental Illness, families that have a member living with a Mental Illness, need those who can walk with them as they love and support their loved ones.
- Vocational Professionals – Professionals who can help those living with Mental Illness successfully integrate into society as productive citizens.
- Spiritual Professionals – Of the professionals listed above, neither has been given the authority in the earth realm to deal with instances where demonic strongholds are the root of the Mental Illness.
It’s clear, from the two passages from Psalm 103, that the will of God is to demonstrate His loving kindness and healing to everyone living with a disease or oppression of the mind and/or brain. I understand the passages above deal with more than just the mind and brain, but in the context of Mental Illness, the mind and the brain are at the center of the condition.
As usual, I suggest a small prayer to you
Our Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you for your loving kindness you demonstrate toward me and my family everyday. Father, help me to understand Mental IIlness through the truth found in your Word.