Are all Christians as bad as this guy

[jenny1990]

I'm really upset after talking to a Christian recently.
Thing is I'm bi-polar and he said that theres really no thing as mental illness. How could he say that? Is that what Jesus teaches?
I tried to explain to him but he just said that psychiatry is just materialism and is plain wrong.
Aarrggghhh! I could scream I'm so angry!
Then he invited me to his church where my 'problem' would be 'fixed' by healing!
This sounds like something from the middle ages, or voodoo or something. Driving out demons!
Come one, its 2006! surely this guy needs a soft couch to lie on for a while.
My illness is real! I need all sorts of pills to keep me in check. Without them I, well I dont wanna think about it.
How can someone who says God loves be so ignorant, so full of hatred for people who suffer?
I cant imagine I'd ever think god real after this.
I feel sick.

 

[dvd_holc]

I'm really upset after talking to a Christian recently.
Thing is I'm bi-polar and he said that theres really no thing as mental illness. How could he say that? Is that what Jesus teaches?
I tried to explain to him but he just said that psychiatry is just materialism and is plain wrong.
Aarrggghhh! I could scream I'm so angry!
Then he invited me to his church where my 'problem' would be 'fixed' by healing!
This sounds like something from the middle ages, or voodoo or something. Driving out demons!
Come one, its 2006! surely this guy needs a soft couch to lie on for a while.
My illness is real! I need all sorts of pills to keep me in check. Without them I, well I dont wanna think about it.
How can someone who says God loves be so ignorant, so full of hatred for people who suffer?
I cant imagine I'd ever think god real after this.
I feel sick.

No, mental illness is real. I am sorry that he insulted you. I am also sorry that you are bi-polar. Science knows that you have a chemical imbalnce problem.
In the same breath, Jesus can cure you. It is not vodoo or magic...or any such thing. Just because society has advance in technology or in ability to understand God's natural laws does not mean that is the final answer to bi-polar illness. God can cure you through His power that transcends your illness and what we figure are natural laws because God is above the laws that we call natural.
He did not empathize with you and I am sorry that he lost you. I hope that you don't turn away from Christianity because of his lack of empathy. I hope that this guy also grows to empathize you on this.

 

[soulsearching1]

All I'm going to say is this: I truly believe that mental illness IS in fact a real medical condition and that in many cases it has to be treated by professional medical assistance.

I know plenty of Christian doctors and nurses, so clearly medicine is not considered the work of the devil by all of us.

 

[MikeMcK]

I'm really upset after talking to a Christian recently.
Thing is I'm bi-polar and he said that theres really no thing as mental illness. How could he say that? Is that what Jesus teaches?
I tried to explain to him but he just said that psychiatry is just materialism and is plain wrong.
Aarrggghhh! I could scream I'm so angry!
Then he invited me to his church where my 'problem' would be 'fixed' by healing!
This sounds like something from the middle ages, or voodoo or something. Driving out demons!
Come one, its 2006! surely this guy needs a soft couch to lie on for a while.
My illness is real! I need all sorts of pills to keep me in check. Without them I, well I dont wanna think about it.
How can someone who says God loves be so ignorant, so full of hatred for people who suffer?
I cant imagine I'd ever think god real after this.
I feel sick.

Jenny, this doesn't represent the norm of Christian thinking.

Mental illness is very real. By all means, seek the medical help that you need.

I think this person meant well, but was just plain wrong, as we all can be.

Mental illness is real and Christians certainly can have it. But when a Christian suffers from mental illness, he has a distinct advantage over the non-Christian because he has prayer, which is excellent for people with issues like clinical depression, such as I have, and we also have the promises of God's word that God is our comforter and our healer.

Whatever happens, though, I'm praying for you.

 

[HeavenzAngel]

No, Alot of christians are very kind, mental illness is real, I have bi-polar too, God gave us doctors to help us.

to u

 

[£amb]

I'm really upset after talking to a Christian recently.
Thing is I'm bi-polar and he said that theres really no thing as mental illness. How could he say that? Is that what Jesus teaches?
I tried to explain to him but he just said that psychiatry is just materialism and is plain wrong.
Aarrggghhh! I could scream I'm so angry!
Then he invited me to his church where my 'problem' would be 'fixed' by healing!
This sounds like something from the middle ages, or voodoo or something. Driving out demons!
Come one, its 2006! surely this guy needs a soft couch to lie on for a while.
My illness is real! I need all sorts of pills to keep me in check. Without them I, well I dont wanna think about it.
How can someone who says God loves be so ignorant, so full of hatred for people who suffer?
I cant imagine I'd ever think god real after this.
I feel sick.

I am echoing what others have said, and I believe that mental illness is a real thing. There are people within my church who are also Bi-Polar and live a normal life. Doesn't mean they are any less christian.

 

[BelindaP]

The guy was absolutely wrong. Mental illness is an illness just like any other. It afflicts the good and the bad, the rich and the poor, the proud and the humble.

There are some Christians who believe that all mental illnesses are either the result of your own sin or of demon possession. They think that if you have enough faith in God, any mental illness will just disappear. They are being hypocritical, because most of them would not say the same thing about cancer or arthritis. [The truly scary ones are the ones who do, though. ]

Bipolar disorder, in particular, has been shown to have a very strong genetic component. That means that it is biology, not spirituality that is at its core. Please don't let one poorly-informed Christian scare you off from the rest of us. We have great sympathy for you, and many of us suffer from our own mental illnesses. Just check out the Recovery and Mental Illness forums.

Blessings to you.

 

[seebs]

http://www.reallivepreacher.com/node/817

Not all are. Too many are. I am sorry that you had this bad experience.

My spouse is bipolar. If prayer always cured bipolar disorder, my spouse would not be bipolar. But... If I had to choose between my spouse, bipolar disorder and all, and someone else who was not bipolar, well, I made that choice well over ten years ago, and I got no complaints.

I think it's important to understand that some people don't like to talk about disorders because they are afraid that it will make you feel that you are defective or worthless. However, having lived with bipolar disorder in my household for the last fifteen years or so, I would say that it is ridiculous to deny that it is a real disorder.

 

[If Not For Grace]

To quote a George Jones song:

"The only difference between sinners and saints is one is forgiven and the other one
ain't".

Bad saint--but it has also been said "My people perish" due to ignorance.

Sorry this happened to you--we're not all like that..(and some of us are even worse)...

 

[Reformationist]

I cant imagine I'd ever think god real after this.

No. Not all Christians feel the way that particular person does. In fact, I'd say his is the minority position.

On a different note, I have no clue why you'd think it appropriate to denounce God simply because of something someone, who claims to be a Christian, said.

God bless

 

[GhostKid]

One Man does not constitute the behavior of the Whole.

There are extreme people in every religion... By no means should this one man turn you away from Gods Light.

 

[seajoy]

I'm really upset after talking to a Christian recently.
Thing is I'm bi-polar and he said that theres really no thing as mental illness. How could he say that? Is that what Jesus teaches?
I tried to explain to him but he just said that psychiatry is just materialism and is plain wrong.
Aarrggghhh! I could scream I'm so angry!
Then he invited me to his church where my 'problem' would be 'fixed' by healing!
This sounds like something from the middle ages, or voodoo or something. Driving out demons!
Come one, its 2006! surely this guy needs a soft couch to lie on for a while.
My illness is real! I need all sorts of pills to keep me in check. Without them I, well I dont wanna think about it.
How can someone who says God loves be so ignorant, so full of hatred for people who suffer?
I cant imagine I'd ever think god real after this.
I feel sick.

Jenny,

Please know that not all of us think the way this very wrong person thinks.

I have a very good friend, who is a pastor's wife, and she is bi-polar. He has never told her to stop taking her meds.
I have OCD, depression, and anxiety. I feel God led me to the correct doctors for the meds and therapy I needed to help me feel better.

I'm so sorry for the hurt that this person put on you. I don't think he did mean well. Some Christians just think they are superior. My parents treated me in the same fashion, and it hurt a lot. Fortunately I did not listen to them.

Please know that most Christians do not hold guilt trips over people with mental illness. I don't know what I would have done without my christian friends.

Also know that God is there for you, too.
Romans 10:13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
There is eternal healing, and earthly healing. Eternal healing comes from believing in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Earthly healing (mental or other illness) also comes from Jesus, and He can use doctors, meds, therapy, or miracles to do that.

Please don't let one bad apple spoil all your feelings for Christians.

seajoy

 

[Godslilgurlalways]

Jenny,

Please know that not all of us think the way this very wrong person thinks.

I have a very good friend, who is a pastor's wife, and she is bi-polar. He has never told her to stop taking her meds.
I have OCD, depression, and anxiety. I feel God led me to the correct doctors for the meds and therapy I needed to help me feel better.

I'm so sorry for the hurt that this person put on you. I don't think he did mean well. Some Christians just think they are superior. My parents treated me in the same fashion, and it hurt a lot. Fortunately I did not listen to them.

Please know that most Christians do not hold guilt trips over people with mental illness. I don't know what I would have done without my christian friends.

Also know that God is there for you, too.
Romans 10:13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
There is eternal healing, and earthly healing. Eternal healing comes from believing in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Earthly healing (mental or other illness) also comes from Jesus, and He can use doctors, meds, therapy, or miracles to do that.

Please don't let one bad apple spoil all your feelings for Christians.

seajoy

Agree


Log as you know that God can work through the medince. If you want to it might make you feel better if you pray over the medincine (like you know people pray over oil you can pray over the medince) he can use the medincine, and work through the medince but if he doesn't want it to work than it won't

Please don't let what one person do make you have a col-heart towards another please forgive them

 

[ERice2nd]

I have OCD, depression, and anxiety. I feel God led me to the correct doctors for the meds and therapy I needed to help me feel better.

I have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and also believe God sent me to the people who are helping me now. Illness is very real, no matter if its of the body or the mind. Our physical bodies arent perfect and suffer sometimes. Gods provides doctors and cousellors to help those of us who are dealing with a mental illness.

 

[healthygirl88]

i believe there are mental illnesses but i believe that God didn't create anything bad for us and because of that i believe illnesses are brought on by demonic forces. as a christian you have to be ready to fight spiritual warfare. i'm not telling you to stop taking your meds because that would be irresponsible. i do believe that people can be healed from illnesses ( by His stripes we are healed) anyway i believe with deliverance and prayer we can be healed of such illnesses. i also think alot of illnesses nowadays are brought on by our diet the chemicals in our food, air, fruits, and veggies, water ect. i have bad allergies and asthma as well as severe anxiety and they all are going away. i do take 1 medication for the asthma right now and i have an inhaler in case of emergencies, but i believe that God will heal me completely.

 

[ebia]

The guy is an idiot. You could try breaking his arm and see whether he goes to hospital or church to get that fixed.

 

[Breaking Babylon]

How absolutely terrible! Lord have mercy.

One apple may be rotten, but the tree is not to blame. Christians are far from perfect, so please forgive us. I have to say, however, that you can't expect a sinful man to represent the Love of God entirely.

May God bless you abundantly.

 

[jenny1990]

Well thanks everyone.
Seems funny to me how ppl can interpret gods word in so many ways.
I wont judge all christians by this idiot.

 

[dvd_holc]

Well thanks everyone.
Seems funny to me how ppl can interpret gods word in so many ways.
I wont judge all christians by this idiot.

Your welcome, and I hope that you find in your heart to forgive him.

 

[yodafett]

Well thanks everyone.
Seems funny to me how ppl can interpret gods word in so many ways.
I wont judge all christians by this idiot.

Good to see you here again. I didn't see this thread until this morning, but I wanted to say hi and share my own experience similar to this. A very high percentage of "Christians" from my home town are just like the person you described. They kept me from believing for a long time. (I guess that's not entirely accurate, I kept myself from believing, based on them as a rationale). Flash-forward to the age of 26, I move to another state to spread my wings a bit, and my friend asks me to come to videotape his son's baptism and dedication, and as soon as I walk into the building, I see what True Christians are like to a non-believer. 3 years later, I'm born again, am involved in several ministries at our church, and enrolled in a Bible College, seeking to change my vocation. I've also been recently diagnosed with depression and other health issues. I go to Christian Doctors. I often pray for His exceptional grace in healing me, but I also pray that "Your will be done". Who knows, maybe he has given us so that at some point in the future, we can be a witness to someone else in the same position, or with the same malady, and they will see the joy and love of God radiating through us.

Maybe that will help with some perspective, or maybe not, but in any case, we're happy to have you here, and unfortunately, because Christians ARE human, you'll probably meet more than one of us who will say offensive and hurtful things, either intentionally or not. You can always choose to show THEM the love of God by forgiving them.