Mental Illness and Christianity

[Neostarwcc]

Trust me, I've tried everything to be healed. If it were possible to be healed, I would be healed. It isn't because of a lack of faith. We just plain cannot be healed. It's not that God cannot heal us, he can do anything it's because It's not part of God's plan. When something is not part of God's plan, it doesn't come to pass. Don't forget, we don't get EVERYTHING that we pray for. We can pray for a million dollars but if it isn't part of God's plan, it won't happen. Same goes for mental illnesses.

He heals some people with mental illnesses. But, a majority of us feel forsaken by God. But, God loves us and would never forsake us that much is clear.

 

[LadyCrosstalk]

I would recommend not judging those with mental illness. It only causes them harm. Would you judge others over Gods commands? I think you would not, so why judge them over mental illness?

I agree. I have worked in the "mental health" field for many years. At some point, I became convinced that there is no such thing as "mental illness". Jesus only recognized two categories of illness--physical and/or spiritual. I have seen both. There are physical illnesses of the brain (the "hardware" as it were). And there are spiritual illnesses of the soul (the "software" that rules).

The problems that seem to be the most intractable, of course, are the ones of defective brain functioning, because the medical establishment does not know how to treat it. They merely slap a drug on the symptoms with little effectiveness. Scientists now say that a majority of all the elderly will experience severe loss of brain function in the future. I hope the Lord comes for us before that happens. I see what I believe is an alarming loss of brain functioning in young people--probably due to a lack of proper nutrition, our toxic environment and sports brain-injury, drugs and alcohol, etc. At the same time, young people's souls are often very darkened by this dark world.

 

[ScumYetServant]

Perhaps you're offended by the Scriptures?
Because I have no criticized anyone at all.
I've merely shared my understanding of the Kingdom of God.
If that isn't a blessing to you, then maybe don't read my posts.
My intention is only to share truth of God's word and be a blessing.
God calls people drunkards, and perverts and all manner of things and
even though we're to be like our Father, I don't really call ppl that stuff.
He calls sickness "bad" and heals it.
In fact, when His disciples COULDN"T heal it, what did He call them?
Check Matthew 17:17
He called them perverted and faithless.
One version put it like this:
And Jesus answered, O you unbelieving (warped, wayward, rebellious) and thoroughly perverse generation! How long am I to remain with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to Me.

Yes we are indeed responsible for every word. And Scripture tells us to speak,
as the very oracles of God.
So we say what Jesus would say... so our answers should always be
prefaced with "It is written"
We should always speak the truth (in love)
I equate truth with love.

Aparently your not going to see other parts of scripture and take the whole councile of God, you take the passages out of context. Just keep in mind your words do hurt people. Be cautious.

 

[needhugs]

God says we need truth and that the truth will set us free.
Jesus suffered in our stead. Truth
God says if you're sick to what?
Go to the church and we "will" be healed
it's not 'comforting', to me, to be told that God wants me to learn to live with some excruciating back ( or shoulder, or head or etc) pain, when I know better.
And it's not 'criticism" to tell people the truth.
In fact, if we have the Spirit of truth IN us, we walk in truth and cannot abide in the lies that are from the pit.
God wouldn't tell us to go to the elders and we will be made well,... if it weren't so.
So if i go to the elders, and i'm not made whole, the problem is somewhere else.
His kingdom works on certain principles and laws.
I once had discovered a breast lump. Went to doctors (because my family insisted) They saw the lump and measured it.
Went to the church following week and had them lay hands on me.
By by lump.
Another time I wasn't able to move my arm above my waist.. shoulder was frozen and the pain was almost unbearable.
This suffering didn't make me more patient or kinder or stronger or anything else like that. It kept me focused on the pain, it kept me from being effective in the kingdom and from using my gift of faith to intercede for all my loved ones etc. as is my assignment right now.
Nothing mysterious about it, God is good, and does all good things.
Devil is bad and does all bad things.
If something doesn't seem "good" then it's not from God and needs to be withstood.
(Exception is discipline from our Father, so if you're hurting, it's always important to ask God if this is a spanking or an attack to be fought against)
IMO ONLY
Edit to say.. i prayed for healing in my shoulder and yet suffered on for a year, then another year, then working on another year, when suddenly BAM, One night i was studying about healing, listening to a video and laying in my bed. I wasn't paying close attention when a woman began singing about "I am the God that healeth thee" .. suddenly out of the blue, heat in my shoulder. I "knew" it was God. It had to be, it was nothing I'd experienced before. I jumped out of bed and raised BOTH arms straight above me. It was right as rain.
Why so long? Why almost 3 years?
NOT because God is slack or slow!
I found the answer to that in the book of Daniel, Chapter 10 I believe.
We have to fight for all these things God has for us.
We need to find out how the Kingdom of God works.. it's not like this physical realm.
It's GOOD to want GODs will for our lives, in every area.
That glorifies Him, and it blesses Him to see His children walk in truth.
Again,,, IMO

I read Daniel chapter 10 and i see no answer there.
So all of us who have suffered for years in spite of going to church for healing 100's of times? there is no answer?

 

[W2L]

God says we need truth and that the truth will set us free.
Jesus suffered in our stead. Truth
God says if you're sick to what?
Go to the church and we "will" be healed
it's not 'comforting', to me, to be told that God wants me to learn to live with some excruciating back ( or shoulder, or head or etc) pain, when I know better.
And it's not 'criticism" to tell people the truth.
In fact, if we have the Spirit of truth IN us, we walk in truth and cannot abide in the lies that are from the pit.
God wouldn't tell us to go to the elders and we will be made well,... if it weren't so.
So if i go to the elders, and i'm not made whole, the problem is somewhere else.
His kingdom works on certain principles and laws.
I once had discovered a breast lump. Went to doctors (because my family insisted) They saw the lump and measured it.
Went to the church following week and had them lay hands on me.
By by lump.
Another time I wasn't able to move my arm above my waist.. shoulder was frozen and the pain was almost unbearable.
This suffering didn't make me more patient or kinder or stronger or anything else like that. It kept me focused on the pain, it kept me from being effective in the kingdom and from using my gift of faith to intercede for all my loved ones etc. as is my assignment right now.
Nothing mysterious about it, God is good, and does all good things.
Devil is bad and does all bad things.
If something doesn't seem "good" then it's not from God and needs to be withstood.
(Exception is discipline from our Father, so if you're hurting, it's always important to ask God if this is a spanking or an attack to be fought against)
IMO ONLY
Edit to say.. i prayed for healing in my shoulder and yet suffered on for a year, then another year, then working on another year, when suddenly BAM, One night i was studying about healing, listening to a video and laying in my bed. I wasn't paying close attention when a woman began singing about "I am the God that healeth thee" .. suddenly out of the blue, heat in my shoulder. I "knew" it was God. It had to be, it was nothing I'd experienced before. I jumped out of bed and raised BOTH arms straight above me. It was right as rain.
Why so long? Why almost 3 years?
NOT because God is slack or slow!
I found the answer to that in the book of Daniel, Chapter 10 I believe.
We have to fight for all these things God has for us.
We need to find out how the Kingdom of God works.. it's not like this physical realm.
It's GOOD to want GODs will for our lives, in every area.
That glorifies Him, and it blesses Him to see His children walk in truth.
Again,,, IMO

Show me where a person without arms or legs are healed. They are never healed. Why is that? The truth as you say has set me free. Im free to love God because he comforts me in my distress over my mental afflictions, and he shows me that i can grow spiritually through it. Im healed alright, spiritually healed. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, even live with mental illness.

 

[W2L]

Who's judging anyone?
Certainly not me.
If someone who's mentally or physically ill comes to me for comfort, I comfort them. I pray for them and I'm there for them.
I always share stories of what I've seen God do in myself and others and if they want that I'm happy to pray with them, if they don't have faith for that I offer them some platitudes and leave it at that.
I would never shame anyone for their beliefs!
And certainly who am I to judge?
Not sure where you got that idea about me, but it's not correct

It seems as if you are judging those who are sick, as if they lack faith. Perhaps i misunderstood?

 

[W2L]

I don't know if I'd call my mental illness a blessing. It's more like a curse to me. If I had a choice whether or not I was mentally ill I would choose to be freed from it. Which is why sometimes I ask God why he has forsaken me by not healing me. But, God has a reason why he won't. My mental illness is a part of who I am. I hate that part of me, I wish I could be healed and it sucks that I have to wait until death to finally be freed from it. But, It's a part of me. It's part of why God loves me and took mercy on me when he made the plan of salvation for all before the foundation of the world. God knew that I would struggle with my mental illness and that I would consider myself worthless. But, other people do not consider me worthless including God. I am special to God. After all, he chose me and all who come to believe in his son for salvation. So, we all are special and dear to God the Father.

You are looking toward heaven as a result of you mental illness, as we're commanded to look toward heaven instead of the earth.. Isn't that a blessing? While others who are rich and healthy look toward the world for their comforts, we look towards heaven for our redemption. Isnt that a blessing?

 

[ScumYetServant]

Show me where a person without arms or legs are healed. They are never healed. Why is that? The truth as you say has set me free. Im free to love God because he comforts me in my distress over my mental afflictions, and he shows me that i can grow spiritually through it. Im healed alright, spiritually healed. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, even live with mental illness.

 

[ScumYetServant]

I agree with you 100% thank you for that post.

 

[sunlover1]

Trust me, I've tried everything to be healed. If it were possible to be healed, I would be healed. It isn't because of a lack of faith.

I believe it's not due to lack of faith.Although i sometimes lack faith, i believe what you say, and i believe that we can have great faith, and God can be willing, and yet we're still not "seeing' the healing take place. I believe there's more to it.

We just plain cannot be healed.

With God all things are possible.

It's not that God cannot heal us, he can do anything

Amen!

it's because It's not part of God's plan.

Scripture says it is part of His plan.
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven." ~ James 5:14-15

"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD" ~ Jeremiah 30:17

...and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God." ~ Luke 13:11-13

When something is not part of God's plan, it doesn't come to pass.

Unfortunately that's not really a fact.
Me sinning yesterday wasn't part of His plan. It's not His will that I sin.
But we do know that healing is a part of His plan.
Scripture says so, as shown above.

Don't forget, we don't get EVERYTHING that we pray for. We can pray for a million dollars but if it isn't part of God's plan, it won't happen.

Of course, we don't get everything we pray for.
But if it's according to HIS WILL,
He says we will have that which we've asked for.
And healing IS His will.
Remember, God created us in paradise and His
desire is for us to be fruitful and take dominion over the earth.
It's not GOD who puts trouble on us.
If God's not the author, who is?
Well sometimes, it's the enemy.
If an enemy, and if we have armor, we need to FIGHT against him.
So if an enemy brings me pain, i might BELIEVE that I have a right
to be free of it (according to God's word) and I may even know that my
God WANTS me free of it, but that doesn't mean it just "poof" happens.
This IS a fight.. We literally have to fight and keep standing up for the
things God has freely given us, because we have an enemy who hates
God and His people and tries to steal from us, kill us, and destroy us.

I could just roll over and say, ahh, I can live with this limp... in fact, I
could even embrace the limp and wear it as a badge of what a "strong"
Christian i am, to suffer day in and day out. (false humility, iow, pride)
But the problem with me "Settling" is that it's not God's best.. it's "missing
the mark of the high calling" of God.. In that sense, it's maybe..... sinful

So.. by the grace of God, i fight.
by the grace and in the strength of God, I stand
With God I am an "overcomer"
(He calls us over-comers for a reason lol)

Same goes for mental illnesses.

I believe mental/physical is all the same too.

He heals some people with mental illnesses. But, a majority of us feel forsaken by God. But, God loves us and would never forsake us that much is clear.

Amen, He sure won't.
He sure is wonderful!

 

[sunlover1]

I read Daniel chapter 10 and i see no answer there.
So all of us who have suffered for years in spite of going to church for healing 100's of times? there is no answer?

I'm sorry, let me go look that up and clarify.
And yes, there IS an answer.
your faith will make you well,,,
but watch this it's Chapter 10
Davids been praying for a few weeks if i remember correctly..
now The angel of the Lord appears and tells Daniel that from the first day he'd set his heart to pray and fast (humbling yourself before God), that his words were heard (in Heaven I'm assuming)
And that this angel has come "in response to your words"
Then in v 13 he goes on to explain why he was detained.
a demon was fighting him.

So here we have man prays, God hears
God sends angels to deliver answer.
Angel is held up by spiritual warfare.
In due time, the angel is able to defeat demon
and deliver the answer to the prayer.:

Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-onedays; then behold, Michael, one of the chiefprinces, came to help me, for I had been leftthere with the kings of Persia. 14"Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future."…


So if Daniel is praying and fasting (that's a long fast and prayer campaign!) what if that gives (somehow) strength to the battle going on in the spiritual realm?
When I had prayed for God to heal my frozen shoulder, and then I just "waited" expectantly.. well one evening during bible study, I began to sing a song a lady was
singing on the video, "I am the God that healeth me"
Next thing you know, AS i'm worshiping, BAM I get healed.

Anyhow, I'm not sure how it all works
But I've been healed more than once
i've layed hands on others and they've been healed.
And Jesus always healed "those who were oppressed
by the Devil.

So,,, I'm sorry you're suffering. I've suffered many times
and it's no fun
And may grace and peace be multiplied unto you regardless
of which route you take or what happens concerning healing.

 

[sunlover1]

Show me where a person without arms or legs are healed. They are never healed.

If i did, you'd say it's a lie/scam/fraud.
I have nothing at stake here.
God's word, that's all I"m sharing.

Why is that?

All i know is what God says:
5So He could not perform any miracles there,
except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.
6And amazed at their unbelief,
He went around teaching from village to village.

The truth as you say has set me free. Im free to love God because he comforts me in my distress over my mental afflictions, and he shows me that i can grow spiritually through it. Im healed alright, spiritually healed. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, even live with mental illness

We all have our own understandings and opinions and choices to make, and i respect your views and wish you well.

 

[ScumYetServant]

I'm sorry, let me go look that up and clarify.
And yes, there IS an answer.
your faith will make you well,,,
but watch this it's Chapter 10
Davids been praying for a few weeks if i remember correctly..
now The angel of the Lord appears and tells Daniel that from the first day he'd set his heart to pray and fast (humbling yourself before God), that his words were heard (in Heaven I'm assuming)
And that this angel has come "in response to your words"
Then in v 13 he goes on to explain why he was detained.
a demon was fighting him.

So here we have man prays, God hears
God sends angels to deliver answer.
Angel is held up by spiritual warfare.
In due time, the angel is able to defeat demon
and deliver the answer to the prayer.:

Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-onedays; then behold, Michael, one of the chiefprinces, came to help me, for I had been leftthere with the kings of Persia. 14"Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future."…


So if Daniel is praying and fasting (that's a long fast and prayer campaign!) what if that gives (somehow) strength to the battle going on in the spiritual realm?
When I had prayed for God to heal my frozen shoulder, and then I just "waited" expectantly.. well one evening during bible study, I began to sing a song a lady was
singing on the video, "I am the God that healeth me"
Next thing you know, AS i'm worshiping, BAM I get healed.

Anyhow, I'm not sure how it all works
But I've been healed more than once
i've layed hands on others and they've been healed.
And Jesus always healed "those who were oppressed
by the Devil.

So,,, I'm sorry you're suffering. I've suffered many times
and it's no fun
And may grace and peace be multiplied unto you regardless
of which route you take or what happens concerning healing.

Jesus healed the guy that was lame in his illness due to the pharisees faith, but that was not his main concern it was his son. Often times God heals us of that and choses not to heal the physical becuse we can be used to serve his purpose even in or more so with our afflictions. It's the way God works to be most effective. Becuse I can talk and relate to any one with mental illness, and reach others for christ becuse of it. Understanding them.

 

[sunlover1]

Aparently your not going to see other parts of scripture and take the whole councile of God, you take the passages out of context. Just keep in mind your words do hurt people. Be cautious.

I'm quoting Scritpure
Again, I'm sorry if SCRIPTURE offends you.
Apparently you're going to continue to attack "me" and say i won't listen to God
yet offer no rebuttal. I do not want to offend you, and yet I can't pretend it's cool and
godly to say that it's God who wants us to stay sick, so... I am asking you respectfully to please let it go and leave me alone...maybe just block me.
My words are what God says,
If you're sick, call for the elders, pray, God WILL heal you.
If this isn't the pattern, then it's not because it's not God's will.
GOD SAID THIS.. why do you keep telling me that my words hurt.
Not my words.. I'm copying and pasting.
Like i said, please block me if you feel my words are hurtful to you.
My intention is to share and bless and be blessed by others.
I cannot be the cause of stumbling.. so if you hate my words, please
dont read them anymore.
thank you so much.

 

[sunlover1]

It seems as if you are judging those who are sick, as if they lack faith. Perhaps i misunderstood?

Yes, you did misunderstand.
I don't believe that you lack faith.
I think there's more to it than that.
That there are tools we need to possess or have knowledge of in the Kingdom of God.
Its not like I'm saying I've arrived.. because I haven't. But as we all know, we grow and
learn more things about God that give us more power for living.. for being more effective
in the Kingdom, in the body of Christ.
We're all a work in progress.
I believe that you have faith and that your faith will make you well.
indeed

 

[ScumYetServant]

I'm quoting Scritpure
Again, I'm sorry if SCRIPTURE offends you.
Apparently you're going to continue to attack "me" and say i won't listen to God
yet offer no rebuttal. I do not want to offend you, and yet I can't pretend it's cool and
godly to say that it's God who wants us to stay sick, so... I am asking you respectfully to please let it go and leave me alone...maybe just block me.
My words are what God says,
If you're sick, call for the elders, pray, God WILL heal you.
If this isn't the pattern, then it's not because it's not God's will.
GOD SAID THIS.. why do you keep telling me that my words hurt.
Not my words.. I'm copying and pasting.
Like i said, please block me if you feel my words are hurtful to you.
My intention is to share and bless and be blessed by others.
I cannot be the cause of stumbling.. so if you hate my words, please
dont read them anymore.
thank you so much.

I love scripture, it doesn't offend me, however I take it in context, I pray that you chose to do so as well. And I don't ignore any one, it's not how I operate.

 

[LadyCrosstalk]

Show me where a person without arms or legs are healed. They are never healed. Why is that? The truth as you say has set me free. Im free to love God because he comforts me in my distress over my mental afflictions, and he shows me that i can grow spiritually through it. Im healed alright, spiritually healed. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, even live with mental illness.

I agree. We are never promised physical healing in this present world of death and disease. Brain disease (and there are many neurological diseases) is a facet of disease, like any other disease except for the devastating loss of what we call "mind". I watched helplessly while my mother "lost her mind" due to dementia, brought on by stroke. After she "recovered" from the stroke, she began to have hallucinations and delusions--that were indistinguishable from those of "psychotic" clients I had worked with.

That is why I believe that there is a physical basis for much "mental illness". I do believe that many with "mental illness" from early life have a likely genetic predisposition to it and there could be a variety of "triggering" elements for it. It has been known for a while that smoking marijuana can trigger psychosis in some. Other street drugs and alcohol could be triggering elements. Even prescription psychoactive drugs could be implicated as well. It has been known for some time, by the pharmaceutical companies, that approximately five percent of those who take SSRI antidepressants will experience "psychotic breaks". The way that SSRI's work is that they actually change the "architecture" of the brain--that's why they take a while to be effective and probably why they cease to be effective in some people.

I believe that what we call "mental illness" is either based in brain physiology, a spiritual illness or a combination of the two.

But, we are promised spiritual healing. "This present darkness" is spiritual illness and it is done away in Christ. Depravity does not come from brain disease but from a lack of faith and from poor moral choices.

 

[sunlover1]

I love scripture, it doesn't offend me, however I take it in context, I pray that you chose to do so as well. And I don't ignore any one, it's not how I operate.

Then please stop with the adhoms Thank you!

 

[LadyCrosstalk]

Yes I believe that Christians can have mental illness. I also know that some people say no and it is all demonic. This is such a cruel thing to say to someone who is ill
My recommendation to you before you think of doing anything is to make sure you have a good doctor.
Like all that we suffer it goes back to the fall and Satan can use things to weaken us, never forget
"Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world" John 4:4b

Having been in the "mental health" field for many years, I am convinced that what we call "mental illness" is on one hand, purely physical--something wrong with the brain of the sufferer. On the other hand, it is typically spiritual. Or even a combination of the two. I know a young man who suffers from an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and he purely loves the Lord. But, what comes out of mouth at times is quite bizarre. It is sad--but his parents (who also greatly love the Lord) tell him that in the Resurrection, he will be completely healed--that his brain will be perfect.

 

[ScumYetServant]

Then please stop with the adhoms Thank you!

Ok now you insult me with this word. Stating I am immature and attacking you, this is what you have been doing to everyone else here. And your to ignorant of the scriptures, and you pull a verse and do not take it into into context.