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Anyone going to church every week in NYC?
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I believe there’s a distinction between spirituality and brain chemistry that needs to be made here. Christianity is a wonderful thing for our spiritual life, but when there’s a serious diagnosis on our own health - we need to properly treat that
Where was Jesus’ discussion of brain chemistry when he rebuked the spirit that was causing a person to have seizures?
Great conversation. In the field and believe both are options. I also know from family and professional experience that meds are not always the answer because of side affects and other issues with using foreign chemicals in the body.
It can be good but it can also hinder - definitely not a magic button.
Spiritual support and love is also needed.
I’ve been a Management Consultant for almost 2 decades. Recently my spouse and I have committed to start a practice to help Child & Adolescents. She’s double-board certified in Adult And CAP.
I’ve worked with her in this space for a long time. I’ve seen first hand when a patient comes in professing to be possessed by or engaging with demons AND patients who are experiencing depression, bipolar and other conditions which require meds. Sometimes patients exhibit issues that require deliverance AND can benefit from the help that meds provide.
The issue is that some church leaders over-emphasize deliverance, fasting and prayer instead of medication due to ignorance. Sometimes only one or the other is required to help the patient… sometimes both. And this is part of a broader issue in SOME churches (especially in under-represented communities). Some local pastors are ill-equipped (personally or just plain lack the resources) to address all issues of their congregants (e.g. providing marital counseling and they have no counseling training, not addressing financial stewardship, etc.)
I view this as an opportunity to educate and advocate within our churches to help people understand that if you take an antibiotic or pain meds for a broken foot or high-blood pressure meds, it’s may not be any different.
Bottomline: Medicine can be used for these disorders, but unlike other fields of medicine, you need a provider who is equally comfortable with identifying and addressing the spiritual issues as well the medical.
Hope this helps.
My HONEST opinion? 👀 Many mental illnesses are a physical manifestation of some kind of spiritual affliction that frankly you will need deliverance from. As bible believing Christians, we should carry the understanding that no issue is too hard for God to resolve. Jesus gives us a blueprint that some things are a matter of deliverance and the spirit behind that thing need to be cast out. With some kinds of mental health issues, medication is only try to put a bandaid of a symptom as opposed to dealing with the thing causing it. You can take all the medication you want but the spirit behind the mental affliction is still there if you don’t get deliverance. At the same time, I understand that not every Christian carries a certain level of faith or this same level of knowledge and understanding. If the person is someone who they know they dont carry the faith they need in trusting God for deliverance then I completely understand if they take the medication. Faith is not something we can force as much as i wish it was! But the real truth in the situation is that God can heal and deliver us from every kind of mental affliction, it’s just a matter of having this revelation and access to someone who may be able to guide you in deliverance.
I’ve had struggled with depression and other mental health issues myself. I never went to get medication. The day the Lord taught me that it was a spirit behind the issue that needed to be CAST OUT was the same day the Lord delivered me and Ive never had any of those issues since! To the glory of God!
This is so good… 100% agree that most of these issues are spiritual and that as believers we have access to Holy Spirit to heal the sick and even raise the dead (John 14:12).
To clarify, my response is from perspective of a believer who works with a provider who who deals with mental health issues where medicine may be applicable - akin to needing pain relief medicine temporarily because of a root canal.
Love this discussion
If you get an infection do you take antibiotics? If you tear a ligament do you get surgery?
I personally put mental illness for the believer in the medical category and medicine is a common Grace given to us. If you are in Christ there is nothing more inside you to be “cast out” as you are already healed by the saving Grace purchased on the cross.
Evil spirits are every where, people can knowingly and unknowingly allow demons or spirits to enter, even if you are a Christian.
Otherwise, how could a Christian fall from grace and need repentance. It is certainly something that all Christians should be on guard against at all times.
1 Corinthians 10
Both are options depending on the individual's specific conditions. Prayer is always necessary whether one has mental illness or not, so that is a given for a Christian. However, when one is afflicted, it's especially important even when receiving mental health care in the form of medication. We should always act with discernment and grace on these topics.