Anyone encounter Christians/pastors who don't believe in mental disorders?

Ribosome said:

From my experience, it seems to be common. I know many churches are more developed to believe such a thing, but I've encountered pastors and people who don't believe in social anxiety disorder or OCD and have a simplistic view of how to get fix these disorders. They basically say to draw closer to God, read the Bible, pray, etc. like its gonna solve all the problems. Even worse, they even tend to directly or indirectly blame the afflicted people of not being spiritual enough as the reason for having these disorders. It is appalling to me.

Anyone else encounter these things?

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No, but I don't think I've been in traditional churches long enough to really see that. I also don't depend on people in church as much for those kind of answers.

Hi Ribosome,
Yes, I have encountered this but thankfully the tide is turning with groups that are dedicated to education within the church in regard to Mental Illness. One thing that I've come to understand is that most of this kind of rhetoric isn't really meant to be harmful but really just about a lack of education as the causes and the treatment for mental illness. Another reason that these types of statements are put forth is that the individuals who are saying them feel that this somehow insulates them the experience. And yet... there are many people strong in faith who do read their Bibles pray and draw close to God who still experience mental illness. Being a Christian does not make you immune. A study at Baylor University concluded that the rate of people afflicted with mental illness within the Church is the same as those in the secular community.
Then of course we have the history to reinforce this regarding some of God's great servants who have struggled with mental illness; Charles Spurgeon, John Bunyan, William Cowper, Martin Luther, etc.
For more support and information on educating the church and ministering to those who are affliction with mental illness check out: The Mental Health Grace Alliance.
I know it's hard to hear that kind of thing but I often find that if I respond with respect in listening to what they say that they are often open to hearing about my experiences and sometimes there is even a teachable moment.
Mitzi

Ribosome said:

From my experience, it seems to be common. I know many churches are more developed to believe such a thing, but I've encountered pastors and people who don't believe in social anxiety disorder or OCD and have a simplistic view of how to get fix these disorders. They basically say to draw closer to God, read the Bible, pray, etc. like its gonna solve all the problems. Even worse, they even tend to directly or indirectly blame the afflicted people of not being spiritual enough as the reason for having these disorders. It is appalling to me.

Anyone else encounter these things?

Click to expand...

I haven't encountered that, but I do know that some Christians have that simple approach to mental illness. It annoys me. It makes lol that some people ignorantly say that the afflicted doesn't have enough faith in Christ.

God has used my OCD to increase my faith in Him and reveal more of His character to me. This brings to mind an article in my city's newspaper written by a man who has Schizophrenia. I don't remember a lot about it, but I think he became a Christian after being diagnosed with Schizophrenia.

I liked how he described being a Christian struggling with a mental illness. He said there were bad days, but that he knows that God will never abandon him. Or anyone else with any type of mental illness.

I've never met anyone who thinks like that in person, but a few years ago (probably sometime around late 2010 or the first half of 2011) we had a poster like that on the forum here. Not on the OCD forum, because he would have gotten immediately booted, but on the Baptist forum that I frequented at that time. He would say some incredibly insensitive things to another user who did post on the OCD forum, and had her absolutely terrified that she was going to Hell.

My advice to anyone who does have a pastor or any other religious leader of that sort is to find a congregation that will play a more positive role in your life. Most Christians do not share that outlook on mental illness, and it's important that you try to set out on a journey through life where you can seek healing and recovery.