Mental Illness and Christianity

Heavenhome said:

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

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mmbattlestar said:

I was really confused on what section to post this thread in so if it's in the wrong section could you please report it so that a moderator could move it to the correct section? Thank you.

So, I was considering writing a website to help Christians who have a mental illness get through their day to day life and to teach those who have a mental illness that it is not hopeless and that they can still accept Jesus.


I have experience with this because back in 2012 I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder with psychosis. Later on my psychiatrist found my "proper" diagnosis and diagnosed me with Schizo-affective disorder since I was showing symptoms of Schizophrenia as well as Bipolar. I've had my symptoms of my mental illness all of my life but I didn't get my first psychotic episode until I was 26 years old. My first episode lasted for almost a month.


I never really reported my delusions or hallucinations to my parents or doctors so they had no clue what was going on. A little over a year later in 2013 (November I believe) I decided to give my life to Christ. It was the best decision I ever made. But, it also was upsetting. Why? Because ever since I started becoming a Christian slowly I've been getting some really dangerous delusions. It's been a daily struggle just to survive with daily delusions of Jesus being Satan, the Holy Spirit being Satan, my wife being demonic, ...etc. Basically if it exists, I think that It's really Satan in disguise or it's demonic in some way, shape, or form. The last full blown psychotic episode I had almost 2 years ago, I had to be hospitalized for. Because it was my worst one ever.

About a month ago I had a really scary dream that Jesus was Satan. I don't believe it was a dream I believe it was an attack from demons/Satan. Why? Well because first of all, I don't really dream. Let me explain, I haven't had regular dreams since I was about 10 years old because I have had sleep apnea since then. I've been over 200 pounds for most of my life. My sleep has been black for almost 22 years. I get the occasional dream but usually, my sleep is black.

So, if I got a dream It's always been because God or the Devil or things demonic in nature have put them there. It isn't the first time that I've received a dream from God. I won't get into details but when I first came to Christ I saw the Silhouette of Jesus and I saw the holy spirit in a dream. And my spirit ascended to heaven. Basically, I saw my entire born again experience. I know that it wasn't caused by my mental illness and that it was supernatural in nature. A few days later I got a dream from Satan trying to get me to change my decision to following Christ. He disguised himself as Jesus.



Anyway, It's been really hard and It's really hard dealing with these daily attacks from demons. I don't believe that a chemical imbalance is causing these things to happen. I also don't believe the majority view that those who have mental illnesses are possessed by Satan. No, we who have mental illnesses are not possessed by the devil but we are attacked daily by demons.

So why am I telling everyone all of this? Because, I have a question that would be really useful for my website. There wouldn't be a purpose in making my website if this question isn't answered. My question is, can a Christian have a mental illness and still be saved? Can they have daily delusions similar to mine and still be saved? I know that It's scriptural that once a Christian has salvation they cannot lose that salvation. I know for sure that I am born again, since I saw the whole thing. I know that Jesus said that he would not lose a single person given to him by God the Father in John 6:37-6:40. But scripture also says in 3 of the gospels that if you commit blasphemy of the holy spirit than you have no forgiveness. Thinking that they Holy Spirit could be Satan could be along those lines. So am I lost? Are people who have mental illnesses lost? That's my question. I hope some people can answer me and thank you for reading my long and rambling thread XD.

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sunlover1 said:

Truth isn't cruel.
Lying to them is what's cruel.
And God is the very BEST doctor you can find. He calls Himself our "great Physician"
And it's by His stripes that we're healed.
In Scripture, did Jesus ever say to go find a med doc?
Never , not once.
He "healed" those who were "oppressed of the devil"
He called it "oppressed of the devil"
That wasn't cruel of Him, was it?

Be blessed

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sunlover1 said:

Truth isn't cruel.
Lying to them is what's cruel.
And God is the very BEST doctor you can find. He calls Himself our "great Physician"
And it's by His stripes that we're healed.
In Scripture, did Jesus ever say to go find a med doc?
Never , not once.
He "healed" those who were "oppressed of the devil"
He called it "oppressed of the devil"
That wasn't cruel of Him, was it?

Be blessed

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Heavenhome said:

I don't know whether you read my post correctly but I said that " some people say no," meaning that they don't believe that a Christian can have mental illness and that it is all demonic.
I had that said to me and I have had clinical depression for 41 years. It is kept under control by meds and I know the signs and how to deal with it. I have been a Christian for 31 years and the comment when it was made to me if I had not been strong in my faith and relied on God, could have done immeasurable damage.

Of course there is demonic oppression but the OP asked the question can a Christian have mental illness?
The answer is yes, just as they can have cancer, diabetes etc. which all came about due to the fall of Adam.

The day will come when we are with Him and this will be no more.
Come Lord Jesus come.

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W2L said:

By His stripes we are healed, this refers to Spiritual sickness, not physical.

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Mental illness isnt a sin. Even us crazy folks need Gods Grace and love.

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sunlover1 said:

Says who?

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ScumYetServant said:

Just becuse your mentality ill does not make one crazy, and also God does heal some, not all, for he desires living sacrifices.

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sunlover1 said:

God only heals "some"?
Why is that?
I thought He was the same yesterday, today and forever.
And i thought He was "no respecter of persons"
Why would He heal one but not another?

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sunlover1 said:

I agree that a Christian can have cancer or mental illness etc.
But i believe that the day is NOW that this can be "no more"
And I also believe we do a disservice when we scold people for telling the truth because it may be awkward or "insensitive"
We're told in Scripture, "as He is, in the world, so are we"
Jesus didn't placate people or soothe their egos and say, oh gee, one day, you'll be with me and then it will be better".
He said "Be healed", and it was so.
He seriously suffered that we might have health.
Aren't we kind of spitting at His suffering if we choose to just live in pain?
What about the Christian who's on His death bed, literally laying there for years, unable to help or bless anyone?
Why is that? Is it GOD who put him there or wants him there?
If it's not God, why isnt he healed and forgiven (James 5:14)
I think we're missing the fullness of the wonderful gospel of Christ

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ScumYetServant said:

Becuse God has purpose for it all, why did he allow Paul to keep his thorn in the flesh. Why becuse God wanted to use him even in his weakness.

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sunlover1 said:

Who said GOD gave it to Him or wanted Him to keep it?
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Wonder why Berean Bible puts it like this:
Berean Study Bible
...or with these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

But let's say that this thorn was given by God, that it was God that wanted to torment Paul..

Please show me just one other place in the entire New Testamen where GOD puts illness on man, or where God says, No, I don't want you to be healed.

In fact, it says in one place, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
If God wishes 'ABOVE ALL THINGS, that we be in GOOD HEALTH, why would He say no if we ask for healing?
It says anything we ask, if it's according to His will, we know we have it.

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DawnStar said:

How long has it been since you have been to a mental health clinic to heal all of the mentally ill patients there? If you feel this way you should be out there healing people instead of just talking about it on a forum.

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sunlover1 said:

You don't believe this is for us?
...Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

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sunlover1 said:

You don't believe this is for us?
...Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

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ScumYetServant said:

The key word there is if its according to his will, often time he allows illness so we rely more on him and not in our own power and strength.

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sunlover1 said:

But it already says that it's HIS will that we proper and be in good health...
Good health IS His will.
Who says that he allows illness so that we rely more on Him?
I'm not calling you a liar, but we can't just assume things about God.
It's written?

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DawnStar said:

That is not the answer to my question.

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ScumYetServant said:

God allows sickness dr or all, becuse of Adam's orig8no sin this flesh suffers and dies. Now sir, you now are attacking all people with Illness. The Lord rebuke you for doing so.

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ScumYetServant said:

Look at Timmothy he had a stomic ailment and had to drink wine to get by, but not get drunk. Also why is luke a physician, which is a doctor. Seriously use your Gid given brain and realize there is sickness and illness for all while in this world, yes we can be healed thought a miracle but God doesn't always do that in every case.

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