For some reason when it comes to mental health, we as the body of Christ are far too comfortable subcontracting the treatment of mental illness to secular doctors. Or worse, to the psychotropic drugs those secular practitioners habitually prescribe.
Very well said and written my friend, your essay begins to extend a ray of hope to so many in America in dire need with their mental illness.
Yes the (American) church falls so far short in so many areas including not recognizing nor understanding mental illness issues. The church which loves playing "churchianity " and not real Bible based practices will unfortunately be judged as they fall farther and farther in Apostasy.
Sometimes I wonder if there are those whose fear of satan is too powerful and their understanding of God is too weak. Thirty years ago I was involved in deliverance ministry, but now it is hard to find others to come into agreement with to combat spiritual darkness, and it seems all too easy to rely on the quick fixes of a pill to cure what ails them rather than fighting for the spiritual healing that is so greatly needed.
Even among the highly charasmatic Spirit filled, there is a major reluctance to address mental illness through spiritual warfare. It's just too easy to blame it all on a mythical "chemical imballance" instead of dealing with the root cause like we do with every other issue.
There is a lot to unpack here and I'd like to go through it again; the point that jumps out is that drugs - the drug industry - are not in the healing business; they do not help with mental health and are not interested in the spiritual, at the very least. And no one with an honest bone in their body could argue that drugs actually work, could they?
No drug used to treat a chronic condition has ever cured that condition. Once enough people realize that it might make a difference about how we view the entire medical industry.
Modern medicine is the equavalent of pouring more and more fluids into a vehicle engine that’s leakling them out all over the driveway.
My problem with antibiotics is that so many doctors merely prescribe them like candy in leiu of digging into root causes. When in doubt, prescribe, which is fine when it’s clearly an ear infection or something but there are always time-tested alternative treatments (like using a steamed onion) that also work without drugs that further harm immune systems. My daughter was on several rounds of antibiotics when she was young and he body has price a price for all those drugs.
I agree there are times when antibiotics might be necessary, but should be a last resort. Most doctors merely follow a flow chart like this: Fire, ready, aim, fire, scratch head, fire, reasssess, fire again, refer to specialist.
I've just become immersed in spiritual warfare since my daughter began her struggles with suicide and now fentanyl addiction. Coming from a more Baptist background, it took my more charismatic friends to bring me to a place where I felt that I was at least in the battle. It has been very dark at times and I could tell you some stories. I've had opportunity to 'lay hands' on two people that were acting out physically, one just two weeks ago, where I hugged a girl, and threw up a prayer for healing in a few seconds, and she's seemed calm since and has approached me to speak normally to me. One was a young black man that was very agitated and my daughter said had gotten some bad drugs. He called me out across a park like a spirit recognized me as a Christian. A few days later, I laid hands on him amd prayed. He said, my Grandma in Jamaica would be so happy. He seemed better. I have no experience in this. Just a desire to pray for them. But I'm sure there are others better qualified.
Thank you for so eloquently pointing out what should be obvious to any scripture immersed Christian about treating mental health. Including myself. Prayer should always be our first choice. Let me tell you-passages of Jesus healing-even the healing of Peter's mother jumped out at me after doing some research, and praying with more spirit-filled Christians. One such friend addresses Holy Spirit just like that-no the. We don't say...The Jesus. Why do we say the Spirit? So much more to look into here.
Have you introduced your kids to any post-apocalyptic fiction? I'm a huge fan of EMP fiction. The Rule of Three series is YA and great for kids as the main charater is a teen. They bring community together which is a great teaching moment. Also Terri Blackstock's Restoration Series. She's a Christian. Anyway, I'm running on. Thank you for speaking out.
Thank you for being in the arena. So many Christians just don't understand they authority they have in Christ, and even ones who do shirk from exercising it, I've been guilty of that myself plenty of times when fear takes over and says, "Don't talk to that guy, you'll sound stupid." My wife recently said she heard someone say that (the friend) knows she's got about three seconds to obey when God tells her to go up to someone and if she doesn't the fear will often prevent her from doing so.
We all need to get past worrying about offending people, and get over our infatuation with being liked and admired by man and instead focus on obeying when God calls. There is so much work to do out there.
Haven't heard of the books but Shannon is the family librarian so I'll ask her. I've enjoyed mature apocalyptic fiction like One Second After, The Road, and Alas Babylon.
Very well said and written my friend, your essay begins to extend a ray of hope to so many in America in dire need with their mental illness.
Yes the (American) church falls so far short in so many areas including not recognizing nor understanding mental illness issues. The church which loves playing "churchianity " and not real Bible based practices will unfortunately be judged as they fall farther and farther in Apostasy.
Thank you again good friend Vince.
Thank you for the kind words. I'm hoping this will spark some action. So many families deal with these issues.
Excellent post.
Thank you.
Sometimes I wonder if there are those whose fear of satan is too powerful and their understanding of God is too weak. Thirty years ago I was involved in deliverance ministry, but now it is hard to find others to come into agreement with to combat spiritual darkness, and it seems all too easy to rely on the quick fixes of a pill to cure what ails them rather than fighting for the spiritual healing that is so greatly needed.
Even among the highly charasmatic Spirit filled, there is a major reluctance to address mental illness through spiritual warfare. It's just too easy to blame it all on a mythical "chemical imballance" instead of dealing with the root cause like we do with every other issue.
There is a lot to unpack here and I'd like to go through it again; the point that jumps out is that drugs - the drug industry - are not in the healing business; they do not help with mental health and are not interested in the spiritual, at the very least. And no one with an honest bone in their body could argue that drugs actually work, could they?
No drug used to treat a chronic condition has ever cured that condition. Once enough people realize that it might make a difference about how we view the entire medical industry.
Modern medicine is the equavalent of pouring more and more fluids into a vehicle engine that’s leakling them out all over the driveway.
My problem with antibiotics is that so many doctors merely prescribe them like candy in leiu of digging into root causes. When in doubt, prescribe, which is fine when it’s clearly an ear infection or something but there are always time-tested alternative treatments (like using a steamed onion) that also work without drugs that further harm immune systems. My daughter was on several rounds of antibiotics when she was young and he body has price a price for all those drugs.
I agree there are times when antibiotics might be necessary, but should be a last resort. Most doctors merely follow a flow chart like this: Fire, ready, aim, fire, scratch head, fire, reasssess, fire again, refer to specialist.
That’s true, about the drug never being the cure. But for people to catch on en masse they have to start feeling uneasy about the system as a whole.
I've just become immersed in spiritual warfare since my daughter began her struggles with suicide and now fentanyl addiction. Coming from a more Baptist background, it took my more charismatic friends to bring me to a place where I felt that I was at least in the battle. It has been very dark at times and I could tell you some stories. I've had opportunity to 'lay hands' on two people that were acting out physically, one just two weeks ago, where I hugged a girl, and threw up a prayer for healing in a few seconds, and she's seemed calm since and has approached me to speak normally to me. One was a young black man that was very agitated and my daughter said had gotten some bad drugs. He called me out across a park like a spirit recognized me as a Christian. A few days later, I laid hands on him amd prayed. He said, my Grandma in Jamaica would be so happy. He seemed better. I have no experience in this. Just a desire to pray for them. But I'm sure there are others better qualified.
Thank you for so eloquently pointing out what should be obvious to any scripture immersed Christian about treating mental health. Including myself. Prayer should always be our first choice. Let me tell you-passages of Jesus healing-even the healing of Peter's mother jumped out at me after doing some research, and praying with more spirit-filled Christians. One such friend addresses Holy Spirit just like that-no the. We don't say...The Jesus. Why do we say the Spirit? So much more to look into here.
Have you introduced your kids to any post-apocalyptic fiction? I'm a huge fan of EMP fiction. The Rule of Three series is YA and great for kids as the main charater is a teen. They bring community together which is a great teaching moment. Also Terri Blackstock's Restoration Series. She's a Christian. Anyway, I'm running on. Thank you for speaking out.
Thank you for being in the arena. So many Christians just don't understand they authority they have in Christ, and even ones who do shirk from exercising it, I've been guilty of that myself plenty of times when fear takes over and says, "Don't talk to that guy, you'll sound stupid." My wife recently said she heard someone say that (the friend) knows she's got about three seconds to obey when God tells her to go up to someone and if she doesn't the fear will often prevent her from doing so.
We all need to get past worrying about offending people, and get over our infatuation with being liked and admired by man and instead focus on obeying when God calls. There is so much work to do out there.
Haven't heard of the books but Shannon is the family librarian so I'll ask her. I've enjoyed mature apocalyptic fiction like One Second After, The Road, and Alas Babylon.