Sermon Q&A, Part 1 – Mental Illness

Robb- You are right on!. A perfect example is my fellow GIs who are suffering from PTSD or traumatic brain injury who may or may not be receiving proper medical treatment. Unfortunately in many cases in our woke military and the VA they are not receiving spiritual counsel as well. Certainly during my years of service not all our chaplains were true believers, but those who were could give sound Biblical counsel. We need to keep our military personnel and chaplains in our prayers. Thanks for preaching sound Biblical truth.

Thank you, Pastor Robb.

After listening to the sermon, I really appreciate the thrust of this blog series. Since there are two more posts yet to come on this subject, I don’t want to be premature in my observations, but I’ll share a couple of them here in regard to question #1 with the only goal that they are constructive and beneficial to all.

Question #1 refers to “physical trauma to the brain” and in the post, the term “medical issues” is used when saying, “People who have medical issues with their brains should treat those issues medically.” This can be true, but it can just as easily be problematic to the reader without further defining exactly what constitutes a physical/medical mental issue (illness). Part of the problem stems from the stigmatism that comes with a diagnosis of mental illness. Another problem can be almost the opposite, an overreliance or an identity built upon such a label. Both problems find solutions in God’s Word, specifically Gal 2:20, 1 Pet 1:3-9. So then, a lot of caution should be taken before using such a term.

I believe that we can know for certain whether to categorize it as such and begin treating it from a purely “medical” approach. I think your example of diabetes and the effect of insulin on the brain is good. It’s good because it demonstrates a condition that is measurable, observable, and quantifiable. We know empirically what a proper insulin level should be, and the medical intervention is targeted and specific. My point is that we should be very particular about using terms like mental illness so that we’re only describing organic conditions that are quantifiable and measurable/observable (i.e. show up on scans) and even then, I don’t think we can unequivocally say that they should be treated medically and that’s because even sin patterns (sin practiced over time, like porn) can cause observable damage to the brain. In those cases, the treatment simply cannot be purely medical, if at all. Even for direct trauma to the brain, we must be alert and ready to use God’s Word to treat the flesh as it reacts to such a trauma. In our modern world, the process of diagnosis goes like this: Identify a mental illness based upon an ever-changing definition of the term, prescribe the medical treatment that is popular at the time, and reduce all negative (sinful) behavioral traits down to merely attributes of the disease, thereby removing personal responsibility and effectively excluding it from Biblical scrutiny.

I would suggest that medical (i.e., organic) illnesses do not make us sin. To say anything less is to create a category of sin that one cannot be fully responsible for, and this is flatly rejected by scripture. There are no valid situations in which I am not personally accountable to obey all that I have been taught and commanded in scripture. In fact, as a Christian, I am told that I am not only accountable but I am also empowered to obey because of the gift of the Holy Spirit. My failure to do so rests on my failure to submit my will to God’s will and cannot be blamed on any infirmity I may be suffering. An example of proper use of “medical” (mental) illness would be concussions and resulting migraines, vertigo, memory, or vision loss, etc. The concussion caused measurable trauma to the brain that shows up on scans and has physical manifestations that are strictly amoral. That’s not to say that someone with a concussion and resulting symptoms is immune to having a sinful response to this. Self-pitying absolutely and invariably gets used to excuse sinful behavior and the loving remedy for this is to work to rescue our brother from this trap and see him restored to a right identity in Christ. What such an afflicted brother needs is Christ: to know Him and to touch His body which is you and I. Together we can play a part in the restoration of our brothers, but we must guard them just as we guard ourselves against any excuse for sin in the name of pity.

Consequently, I would suggest that the remaining “inorganic mental illnesses” (those which cannot be measured, observed, and quantified) can trace their root to this same pride, self-centeredness, and self-pity. I know that such a claim will be perceived as unloving and outrageous today, but only when we dispense with God’s Word and opt instead for secular philosophy. If God’s word is sufficient for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, then there is no area of life that it does not touch. There are no missing books in which God meant to deal more specifically with PTSD, anorexia, or schizophrenia.

We can fully trust God’s Word in every situation! It gives life and hope and light!

Gus, my husband, who is a godly man was diagnosed over 40 years ago by a Christian psychiatrist, as was my son at age 19. I know what happens when my husband is off his medication. It is not a situation that he can control with solely spiritual help. I am so angry that people want to judge him for something he has no more control over than does a diabetic does. It is the same situation that he encountered years ago when he tried to go without medication.

Here are some thoughts about what is commonly called, “Mental Illness.” If anyone wishes to contact me, you can do so directly at “[email protected]” or (602) 384-4417.

•When we speak of the “Sufficiency of Scripture,” we are saying that Scripture is sufficient on all that is speaks about.  It does not purport to tell you how to change oil in your car, or set a broken bone.  But it DOES tell you how to be saved (2 Timothy 3:15) and how to counsel any problem of living (2 Timothy 3:16-17 and Psalm 119:24).  When it speaks on history, it is completely accurate.  When it deals with science, it never lies.  When it addresses anthropology, harmartiology (study of sin), Christology, Pneumatology (study of the Holy Spirit), etc it is completely sufficient.  And if it does not “answer your question,” then you are asking the wrong question, or a question that God has chosen not to answer.  And we need to humbly accept that since God knows all that we do not know (Romans 9:18-23; Deut 29:29; Ps 19:12; 90:8; Job 34:32).

•We need to be careful to distinguish between a “Brain Injury” and what is called “Mental Illness.” The former is due to trauma (TBI) or injury caused by an external force (such as in a motorcycle accident), the latter is due to other factors, which will be addressed below.
•”Mental Illness” (MI) is a metaphorical term. Please consider that your “mental” faculties cannot possibly be literally “ill.”
•When we say we have a “sick” economy or an individual does depraved/wicked things, it is common to say he is a “sick” individual. But this too is metaphorical – actually it is a euphemism. The same is true for MI. On the surface, it “seems” more merciful to categorize it euphemistically, but in reality it is side-stepping the real problem.

•It is cruel and lacking compassion to tell someone diagnosed with an MI that they “lack faith” or “just need to trust God more.”
•Taking medication is not sinful, but that is really not the issue.
•Getting a person off of medications is not the goal either.
•The goal is sanctification (if the person is saved), or salvation (if they are not).

•It is usually very difficult to counsel someone biblically who is on psychotropic medications since it typically masks the problem. Sanctification is very elusive for them. Nevertheless, I counsel people all the time who are on a variety of medications. I have been a certified Biblical (Nouthetic) Counselor for over 25 years.
•We should “put on compassion” (Col. 3:12) for those who have been labeled with an MI. Labels are often counterproductive to sanctification and trap suffering people, rather than give them the hope that we find in the gospel of Jesus Christ. When people say “I am bi-polar” or “I have clinical depression,” it is often hard for them to get past the label and find any hope for sanctified change. They become convinced that no change or improvement is possible. They believe it is the same as saying, “I have the flu” or, “I have cancer,” but it is not. Be careful to accept any label – other than those found in Scripture.
•The gospel of Jesus Christ is the key – believe it and apply it. That is not a simplistic answer, but it is simple.
•Martin Luther “The gospel cannot be preached and heard enough, because it cannot be grasped well enough.”
•I have counseled many people diagnosed with an MI (and am currently counseling several now). All people diagnosed with an MI can and should be counseled through the Word of God. In fact, for those who have been told by their Psychiatrist that they should be on (psychotropic) medication, I urge them to delay that until we can see how God’s transforming grace works in them through careful application of the Scriptures.
•I have counseled many people diagnosed with schizophrenia (including my own father), bi-polar disorder, suicidal tendencies and a host of other professionally diagnosed MI.
•I recently counseled two people who were suicidal due to trauma in their lives. Both were diagnosed with MI. Both are believers, but one rejected biblical counsel and decided to go the medication route. The other received the Word of God and has been applying it. The former is not growing and still has the same struggles. The latter is growing by the grace God supplies to him. I don’t condemn the former, but I am deeply saddened for him.
•Some (like the man above) view medication as a short cut. He does not want to humble himself before God’s Word. He wants a 
“quick fix” and going the medication route “seems” like a quick fix.
•I have counseled many schizophrenics and have yet to counsel one who did not struggle with pride and bitterness. See the following passages for insight (Psalm 73:21-22; Dan. 4:16; Deut. 28:28, 34; Zech. 12:4).
•Remember that “a biblical worldview,” should definitely include a view of the “sufficiency of Scripture” as described above.