Christian views on mental illness.

[ebia]

Do you think...
1) People with mental illness are demon possessed?

No.

2) Are sometimes not responsible for their actions?

Sometimes. Or least their responsibility is impaired.

3) That God can forgive a mentally ill person for sinning if that person was 'not in control' at the time of sin?

God can and does forgive our sins whether we are in control or not.

4) That God loves people with mental illness?

Of course.

5) That other Christians can accept the mentally ill into their church, group or whatever?

They can and must. Unfortunately mental illness tends to be the 'leprosy' of our age - it scares people and most people don't understand it, so they react irrationally.

Sorry if these questions seem stupid.

Not at all.

 

[seebs]

Do you think...
1) People with mental illness are demon possessed?

No.

2) Are sometimes not responsible for their actions?

I don't think it's a yes/no question. I think mental illness often changes the scope of possible choices.

3) That God can forgive a mentally ill person for sinning if that person was 'not in control' at the time of sin?

Well, if God can forgive you for sins you did choose, then the only question I see with sins that you didn't is whether they even exist; if you were not in control, then you didn't act, and without action, there is no sin. If your body acted without your consent, I don't see any way for you to be morally culpable.

4) That God loves people with mental illness?

Of course.

5) That other Christians can accept the mentally ill into their church, group or whatever?

Some can, some can't. I don't understand the "can't" side of this, because it makes no sense to me.

Sorry if these questions seem stupid.

I wish they seemed stupid. I wish that Christians were consistent enough about staying on-message that the question of whether Christians could accept someone was a stupid question, like "hey, can fish be in water?" or "is food for eating?"

So I guess I'm sorry they're not stupid questions. They should be, but then, if they were, you wouldn't have had to ask.

 

[heron]

What is true is that Christians deal with the same issues as anyone else. We have depression. We get cancer. We get laid off. The rain falls on the just and the unjust.

Yes.

Even if poor health is due to poor choices, churches often have support groups, especially the larger ones.

Churches that believe divorce is a last resort also have divorce and single mother groups; churches that preach against porn also have men who meet together for breakfast to stand with each other in resisting; churches that preach pro-life also find housing and groceries for single pregnant women.

The point is to help you get through life, not to be always right in life.

 

[ihavementalhealthproblems]

Yeah, I must have missed that verse.

Well the Bible is a big book, right?

Who, for instance?

When my post count is high enough to post links, I'll get back to you!

 

[ihavementalhealthproblems]

Are there Christians who an insensitive to people with mental illness? Sure there are.

But I'm proud to say that they're in the majority and I'm happy to report that, if they do have these negative attitudes toward people who have mental illness, it's certainly not because it's what Christianity teaches but because they, like so many people, are ignorant of what mental illness is.

Hmm...I'll just summarise that.
You say that there are Christians who are insensitive to people with mental illness. And you are happy to report that they are in the majority.

My first thought was 'that must be a typo'. But I'm not sure.

 

[heron]

Hmm...I'll just summarise that.
You say that there are Christians who are insensitive to people with mental illness. And you are happy to report that they are in the majority.

Lol, it was 11:38 PM for him... can't expect perfection after ten.

There are insensitive people everywhere. But people joined in one premise assume certain commonalities, and can be held accountable to certain things.

For instance, Christians will agree that greed is a bad trait. That's not true of the whole society, because there are certain groups that will promote greed. So Christians will expect each other to not act out in greed. That doesn't mean we never do -- but we have an understanding that it's a bad thing.

Christians have an ethic of generosity and compassion. So even if we're not generous and compassionate, we will usually feel guilty when we're not! (-;

Similarly, a church will take a stance that mental illness is something a person can't help. But you might find one or two annoying people who insist on pulling up bootstraps, or try to pin the illness on a behavioral cause. But others surrounding them will be more sympathetic.

 

[MikeMcK]

When my post count is high enough to post links, I'll get back to you!

You don't have to post a link. Just tell us.

 

[heron]

The point I was trying to get across was that it seems to me that in old times, mental illness was looked at in terms of demons etc.

There was one instance I can think of, where King Saul was tormented by a spirit. His symptoms resembled mental illness.

But there were also cases of depression that were not attributed to spirits -- notice how melancholy Solomon gets in his later writings...

Ec 1:2
Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

Elijah's suicidal thoughts --

1Ki 19:4
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."

Job's despair:

Job 9:21
I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life.


Jonah feeling trapped in hostility, fear and discouragement....

Jonah 4:3
Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.

And actions of mourning or repentance...

Jer 48:37
For every head is bald and every beard cut short; there are gashes on all the hands and sackcloth on the loins.

Jeremiah 41:5
The second day after he had killed Gedaliah; and no one knew, men from Shechem came from Shiloh, and from Samaria, eighty men, having their beards shaved, and their clothes torn, and having cut themselves, and with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring to the house of Jehovah.

Jeremiah 47:5
Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has been ruined. O remnant of their valley, How long will you gash yourself?

And you know about Samson, the guy with the hair... I think he had a cracking point.

29
Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left.

And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life.



Most of these stories lack commentary, so there isn't discussion about why people acted how they did, or whether it was approved of God, or whether they were unstable.

I think that there are many times the Bible just recognizes that we are emotional beings who make decisions that aren't always wise, but reflect human passion, despair, loyalty, revenge...whatever. The history was what it was.

 

[swee]

I am bipolar, although diagnosed with unipolar depression, pffft...when in a manic phase I sometimes do things that fall outside of my realm of values, things I would NEVER do otherwise. It's as though I lack conscience or ability to process thought and consequence at times like these, and while I have repented, I still wonder whether it's enough because I manage to fit a lifetime of sin in one week-long period of mania. And then I tend to avoid the people involved so I don't have to lie, i.e. sinning more.

Back to the topic: I'm 100 percent sure I don't have demons.

 

[Lisa0315]

I am bipolar, although diagnosed with unipolar depression, pffft...when in a manic phase I sometimes do things that fall outside of my realm of values, things I would NEVER do otherwise. It's as though I lack conscience or ability to process thought and consequence at times like these, and while I have repented, I still wonder whether it's enough because I manage to fit a lifetime of sin in one week-long period of mania. And then I tend to avoid the people involved so I don't have to lie, i.e. sinning more.

Back to the topic: I'm 100 percent sure I don't have demons.

Oh, you poor thing. My husband's bipolar is well controlled now. How well do you take your meds? How often do you see your MD? If my husband even misses a single day, I can tell a big difference in him. He sees his MD once a month, and they do lab work on him often to make sure some chemical or another is in balance.

Lisa

 

[swee]

Oh, you poor thing. My husband's bipolar is well controlled now. How well do you take your meds? How often do you see your MD? If my husband even misses a single day, I can tell a big difference in him. He sees his MD once a month, and they do lab work on him often to make sure some chemical or another is in balance.

Lisa

I take them every day, but because my doc has decided I am just 'suffering from mild depression' in her words, lol, they make my manic phases worse. Luckily, I've just come to the end of a course of therapy and my therapist thinks I am bipolar too so likely it will be in her feedback notes to the doc. Unless my symptoms fit in with the depression questionnaire my doc asks me each time I go for a repeat script she waves her hand in my face and doesn't want to know lololol. I shouldn't laugh, but it would make a great comedy sketch.

During a recent episode, I repainted the interior of the whole house. At least I'm a productive nut

 

[Bondman]

I am bipolar, although diagnosed with unipolar depression, pffft...when in a manic phase I sometimes do things that fall outside of my realm of values, things I would NEVER do otherwise. It's as though I lack conscience or ability to process thought and consequence at times like these, and while I have repented, I still wonder whether it's enough because I manage to fit a lifetime of sin in one week-long period of mania. And then I tend to avoid the people involved so I don't have to lie, i.e. sinning more.

Back to the topic: I'm 100 percent sure I don't have demons.

COMPLETELY FORGIVEN - NOT CONDEMNED!

You don't have to wonder whether your repenting is enough, swee. When on the Cross Jesus bore ALL of my sins and ALL of yours. He's paid the price for them ALL, and so they are ALL forgiven.

Because... the true Christian repented of his sin and rebellion against God at his conversion, choosing, as you have, to aim from there on to live life the right way, pleasing Him. When we fail at this - as we all do - the great news is that those sins are still forgiven!



KEEPING AN OPEN RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR GOD

When the Christian Believer goes to the Lord to repent of them, and tell Him we're sorry that we messed up - again! - this will restore our relationship with our Heavenly Dad. If we DON'T do this is will affect our relationship with Him and our oneness with Him, and so we won't be so happy, but it does NOT mean those unconfessed sins aren't forgiven. (It's still very wise TO confess all known sin.)

If this were so then you get to the situation where you could die before confessing the 'latest' sins, and so there could be a concern that dying with unforgiven sin may mean that you don't make it to heaven. This is simply not Scriptural.

Besides - and very IMPORTANTLY - can you confess and repent of all of your weaknesses and sins of today, including the sins of 'omission', the things you failed to do that you should have done? I SURE CAN'T! I know I sin by omission all the time, but I don't know what the sins are, so cannot confess them.



GOD DOES NOT CONDEMN US!

Romans 8:1 has been my longest favourite verse. I discovered it nearly 50 years ago, and it's helped me ever since. I've passed it to countless people to help them too:

"There is therefore NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

NOT condemned! Wow, I can handle that!! And no guilt either - cos HE says I'm not condemned. If God isn't condemning me, then I sure ain't gonna condemn myself! (OR let the devil condemn me, which he just LOVES to do!!)

Hope this helps a little.

Bless you heaps!

- Bondman (ministering the Good News of the Gospel)

___________________​

Here to help: CLOSE AS A PM! (any time!) ​

 

[swee]

Thankyou, Bondman. Your post brought a big smile to my face.

God bless x

 

[Bondman]

During a recent episode, I repainted the interior of the whole house. At least I'm a productive nut

Oh, my dear Sister in Christ, that is just priceless!!! rofl



And... ahh... feel free to visit us any time, okay. lol

- Bondman

___________________​

Here to help: CLOSE AS A PM! (any time!)​

 

[Lisa0315]

I take them every day, but because my doc has decided I am just 'suffering from mild depression' in her words, lol, they make my manic phases worse. Luckily, I've just come to the end of a course of therapy and my therapist thinks I am bipolar too so likely it will be in her feedback notes to the doc. Unless my symptoms fit in with the depression questionnaire my doc asks me each time I go for a repeat script she waves her hand in my face and doesn't want to know lololol. I shouldn't laugh, but it would make a great comedy sketch.

During a recent episode, I repainted the interior of the whole house. At least I'm a productive nut

Oh, no!! That is the worst thing a bipolar can do is to take a low dose of antidepressants! Wow! Your doctor needs to listen to your therapist, and if not, find another doctor! I am just astonished to hear this. The before and after with my husband is just amazing. You are not the crazy one. Your doctor is!

 

[swee]

Oh, no!! That is the worst thing a bipolar can do is to take a low dose of antidepressants! Wow! Your doctor needs to listen to your therapist, and if not, find another doctor! I am just astonished to hear this. The before and after with my husband is just amazing. You are not the crazy one. Your doctor is!

Even I, as a non-medical person, read online that it makes bipolar episodes worse, pfffft. Hopefully now I have a therapist, something might be done. I'm loath to change surgeries, as in every other way she is great - punctual health checks, well women clinic etc etc, but I know that until she diagnoses me and I receive proper treatment I am just taking the meds to keep her happy and they are not helping me at all. At least I am skyhigh far more than down now LOL.

 

[Lisa0315]

Even I, as a non-medical person, read online that it makes bipolar episodes worse, pfffft. Hopefully now I have a therapist, something might be done. I'm loath to change surgeries, as in every other way she is great - punctual health checks, well women clinic etc etc, but I know that until she diagnoses me and I receive proper treatment I am just taking the meds to keep her happy and they are not helping me at all. At least I am skyhigh far more than down now LOL.

Yeah, for a woman, the ups are better than the downs, I imagine. For my husband, it meant that the ups caused him to go do very dumb things, like gambling thousands of dollars that we didn't have. The downs meant self-destructive things, and a great deal of anger.

Lisa

 

[swee]

Yeah, for a woman, the ups are better than the downs, I imagine. For my husband, it meant that the ups caused him to go do very dumb things, like gambling thousands of dollars that we didn't have. The downs meant self-destructive things, and a great deal of anger.

Lisa

I can imagine if I were in a relationship it would be troublesome. For example, when I am up, I am like a child, with no thoughts of responsibility or consequence - I stay out and party, think nothing of skipping along in the street or singing and dancing in the supermarket, have grandiose ideas of being the next Bill Gates and start new businesses, stay up all night working on my websites, decorate the house on a whim, fly abroad or get on a train etc etc. For me, it's fun, but I imagine a partner would get stressed out.

 

[Lisa0315]

I can imagine if I were in a relationship it would be troublesome. For example, when I am up, I am like a child, with no thoughts of responsibility or consequence - I stay out and party, think nothing of skipping along in the street or singing and dancing in the supermarket, have grandiose ideas of being the next Bill Gates and start new businesses, stay up all night working on my websites, decorate the house on a whim, fly abroad or get on a train etc etc. For me, it's fun, but I imagine a partner would get stressed out.

You are 29. Can you look back and know the age of onset? I think my husband has been bipolar as long as I have known him, but he was only diagnosed about two years ago.

Lisa

 

[swee]

You are 29. Can you look back and know the age of onset? I think my husband has been bipolar as long as I have known him, but he was only diagnosed about two years ago.

Lisa

It's hard to say; I had a pretty messed up adolescence which was punctuated by eating disorders and obsessive exercise addiction. Searching for answers I felt I fit the Borderline criteria, but over time I feel I fit bipolar as I do not do the manipulating stuff borderlines do. I always used to equate my highs with completely normal behaviour - it was only the reaction of others, and my acceptance that sometimes I am irrational and short-sighted that led me to realise I wasn't just suffering with clinical depression. Like your husband - I have been known to spend hundreds, thousands in hours. Of course, I had a higher income then, I can't do that now.

Just thinking though, my therapist said maybe it's better not to be diagnosed as I would be pigeonholed PFFFT. People drive ME insane sometimes. Oooo I'm hungry...