Church VS Mental Disorder Its upsetting to see anyone, believer or otherwise in vicious cycles with masturbation, sickness, gossip, idleness, pride, witchcraft e.t.c but there are even more intense issues which are not as popular as the ones that were mentioned before. We promote transparency, but we really only want to hear about every other brethren's sexual escapades or any other way a brother/sister might have fallen into sin, so that we can pull out our exhausted, but still especial scriptures and try to 'fix' them. We have ignored mental illness in the body of Christ because they are not as easy to 'fix' or deal with. Many of us struggle to understand mental disorders outside the spiritual realm and so we can only demonise it. Perhaps if we just stop to think that people in the body of Christ are dying because they are unable to reach out for help due to the stigma attached to mental disorders, this is why we always hear heinous stories about one outlandish bishop committing suicide or this upcoming pastor molesting little boys. We need to make it normal to have safe conversations not just about our action but our thoughts and feelings too. If the Church really is for the sick, let us include ALL illnesses. As christians we need to be aware of the realities and possibilities of mental illnesses within our community and find real and efficient ways to deal with it (Gal 6:2). We have made mental disorder so preposterous to even discuss among ourselves and avoid it all cost because of our pride and ignorance on the matter. We have persuaded ourselves that we are immune to it, when the bottom line is that we are very susceptible to it. I know that we believe as christians that God can change our hearts and renew our minds (2 Cor 5:17), but a lot of these things do not happen supernaturally; they begin with us helping each other. We also forget that our mind will be the first place that the devil will try to attack as to distort our views on our identity and on Christ, impairing our emotions and visions trying to render us helpless (1 Pet 5:8). Also having to maintain the balance between the truth of the word of God and our salvation through Christ and living an everyday life making sure that we stick out like a sore thumb without the comforting Spirit of the Living God seems like a recipe for disaster. Existing in distinction through the Holy Spirit and carrying on being in the world and not a part of it is really a lot to comprehend. Especially with many of us not knowing how to be led by the Spirit and struggle to walk by the Spirit and in many instances in life we quench Him when we feel that we can and give in to our flesh (Gal 5:16-17 ,Rom 8:14, 1 Thes 5:19). This as a result can be very detrimental for our mental stability and we may begin to develop affective disorders (these are dramatic changes and extremes of moods), such as manic disorder, depression and anxiety (notably when we feel like we have failed as children of God to connect with him and/or have fallen into sin). Having an affective disorder will most likely lead you into sin if not already keeping you there and push you further away from the Father Dealing with affective disorders:
Anxiety: Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Hebrews 13:6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Depression: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Psalm 30:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness Manic disorder/Bipolar: Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Psalm 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. Micah 7:8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and sadness at points in their life. However, some people find it harder to control their worries and irrational thoughts. When this increases and becomes constant that it actually interfere with your daily activities, it then becomes an issue and a disorder. The feelings and emotions are very real to the sufferer. We need to do better as a body to cater to the needs of all people on every level of need. God is a God that heals. I believe in prayer and faith more than anything, but let us use wisdom. In giving advice in situations like this, I suggest that we avoid making our experiences the threshold for other people. And if you feel as though someone's mental disorder is spiritual be very cautious about suggesting or implying this directly to them without full influence and direction from God and spiritual leadership. Ultimately our aim is to save more souls not lose them. Testimony Having been delivered of anxiety, I know all the turmoil and side effects that come with it. My first anxiety attack was when I was twelve (I was always the nervous/afraid child). My older cousin had managed to convince me that I had been poisoned (she was very mentally unstable), now believing that I was going to die soon, my whole body went into overdrive, I first got soaking wet off sweat in an instant, my heart was beating faster than I could handle, I got very dizzy, my legs felt like spaghetti, my stomach started to well up and it couldn't decide if I wanted to throw up or poop, by now I couldn't breath and my chest was so tight. I remember looking around the room and everything felt unreal and I was wondering why no one was helping me. Within the next 30 mins everything began to cool down and I realised that I was going to live to see another day. Every anxiety attack since then ALWAYS felt like I had been poisoned. By the time I turned sixteen and started college they got worse, they became more often and went on for longer. I had previously come from a background where I had been overly sheltered but not protected and wasn't allowed to do anything outside of home and not many things inside. My living situations changed and I suddenly had a lot more freedom than I needed. So trying everything for the first time was painful. The week before I got saved, I had my last anxiety attack, it was the longest the one and the most intense. It felt like i had panic attack after panic attack after panic attack. This very anxiety attack would have caused me to miss a true experience of God moving in my life if I had succumbed to it. I wouldn't know the people I do today, I wouldn't be a member of Qadosh Kingdom Movement and I definitely wouldn't be saved. The worst thing about having anxiety is how many things it prevents you from doing. You live in regrets of all the thing your mind won't allow you to do. Even when I first got save, sometimes I would become so afraid of being afraid and I would try to help God by not putting myself in situations I knew would obviously make me panic. Which I know now that I did from pride, thinking that I could do anything through my own strength and I quickly learnt the consequences of that. I also neglected the promises of the Lord for me as well as insulted God's sovereignty as if to tell him that he is unable. Now that I have exchanged my mind and spirit for His, I no longer live in fear of anything. (Yes satan, you can cross me out on that one). I pray that you go well and the peace of the Lord is eternally yours and that he may give you wisdom to work out all things. Temi F
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