Is Mental Health Treatment Compatible with Christian Faith?

Summary

Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.

Yes — and the ground: all healing comes from God

• The question posed (in the host's frame): seems like there's been a greater emphasis on mental health, in the wider culture, over the last few years. As christians, of course, we believe in divine healing. (You've done a podcast on that topic, actually.) And we certainly believe that god can heal mental health problems, as well: how should christians approach mental health, and mental health treatment? Is it okay for a christian to seek therapy, for mental or emotional problems? And what about psychotropic drugs ('psychotrophic drugs', as the question's letters spell it)? What kind of guidelines would you offer, for christians to follow, on these questions? The answer: yes, it is appropriate for christians, to seek assistance for mental health. So let me discuss this. Mental health is a complex subject. I'm not a professional. I will say: we have many professional apostolic, united pentecostal counselors. For our credential ministers and their families, we have points of refuge ('points of refuge.com', as he gives the resource). And we also have a network of counselors, as an endorsed organization of upc, called the center for apostolic counseling (as he introduces it), where people can get a united pentecostal, or apostolic, person who is a professional, licensed counselor. And they can seek help. So we have to understand that some problems are caused physically. So physical issues can — for example, a brain tumor can affect a person's personality, and their judgment. Now, we always believe in divine healing. So whether somebody has cancer, or heart trouble, or anything else: we pray. We ask god to heal. We don't believe it's wrong, to seek medical attention. Because the way i look at it: all healing ultimately comes from god. So even if we go to — let's say we have cancer. We pray. God heals us. Problem solved. But let's say god doesn't heal us. So we go to a doctor. The doctor does surgery. Removes the cancer. Well, still: we're depending on the body, to heal itself. The surgeon doesn't actually heal the body. The surgeon takes away the foreign element ('the forward element', as heard), or the dysfunctional element. But we're still depending on the body, to heal itself, and to recover. And that healing is a design of the body, that comes from the creator — which is god. So even in the case of surgery: we're praying for god to heal. And we're expecting the human body, as created by god, to get back on track, and heal itself. And for god to assist. And we pray for god to assist the surgeons. So i use that example to say: we understand that physical healing comes from god. But it's not wrong, to seek physicians or medication, in order to aid the process, of the body healing itself.

Mental illness — medication, the temporary bridge, and the counseling partnership

• Well, let's take the next example. Let's say someone has a mental illness. You go to the doctor. You find out it's caused by a brain tumor. The surgeon takes out the brain tumor, and the person is healed. So yes: god could heal directly, through a miracle — which sometimes he does. But if he doesn't: would it be wrong, to get treatment for that mental illness? Of course not. Now, some mental illnesses are not so clear-cut. Some: it may be a chemical imbalance, in the brain. Or we're not exactly sure what. But medication, or certain physical remedies, can help. So, when i was a pastor, i worked with people who had bipolar disorder. People who had schizophrenia. I saw them baptized in jesus name, filled with the holy ghost. People with autism. Some aspergers, or are on the spectrum (as he names it). Where they could communicate. Some who couldn't communicate. And we found that medication often helps. So, lithium, for example: it seems maybe it restores a chemical balance, in the brain. So someone who has bipolar disorder can take lithium, and function normally. But then, sometimes, they would say: well, i feel so good, i think i'm healed. I threw away my medication. And then, the next week, they crashed. And so i would tell them: look, if you feel god's healed you: go to the doctor, and get it confirmed. And maybe, if you're on medication, get a plan of weaning off of it. So that you can — because, even if you are healed, sometimes your body is used to certain medication. And just taking yourself completely off of that, can cause problems. And so: still work with your doctor, to verify the healing. And/or to have a plan, of weaning off any medication you no longer need. So that's another example, of a mental illness that's highly treatable. Of course, there are other mental illnesses, that seem to be totally psychological in nature ('in nation nature', as heard). But even then, going to a doctor can help: eliminate physical causes. Or, in some cases, the doctor can help you regulate it. So, someone's suffering from severe depression. Now, i don't ultimately think that medication is going to be the answer. And i certainly don't advocate just going and getting prescription pills, for whenever you don't feel good, and whatever. But sometimes, if a person is so dysfunctional, can't function normally: a medical doctor can give them appropriate medication ('appropriate meditation', as heard), to get themselves back in balance. So then they're able to benefit from the cognitive therapy — that is, the counseling, and the spiritual counseling — that they ultimately need. But sometimes they're so distraught, and so mixed up, and so confused, that you can't even hardly have pastoral counseling, because of their situation. And so, sometimes, a medical treatment can be a temporary bridge: to get their life in order, where they can profit from biblical teaching, and biblical counseling. Now, even then, i say: we pray throughout the process, because god can deliver. So i believe there's a role for a medical doctor. I believe there's a role for a professional counselor — ideally apostolic, or at least someone who is bible based, or fully respects biblical values. And of course, there's always a need for a pastor. As a pastor, what i did — as our church grew: at first our church was small, i developed relationships with counselors in the area, that i talked to them, and made sure they would respect our values. But then, as the church grew, we were able to get professional, trained counselors, within the church. And then i would partner with them. I would usually provide the initial pastoral, biblical based counseling. And if it's an ongoing situation, of relationship issues, or child abuse — a lot of times, people have severe emotional problems, because of a past life of abuse. And most pastors: while we can pray for them, we can share biblical teachings, we can share our pastoral experience ('our password experience', as heard) — we don't have the time, or the expertise, to invest in helping them unravel the severe abuse. And so that's where a trained counselor, in these issues, can help them. What i call cognitive therapy — which is a secular term, but that's very compatible with using the bible. And in partnership with the pastor: i would get permission from the person, that the counselor would share relevant information to me — not all the details, but share their progress — so we could work together, to help the person, in a holistic way. And i — so i found many people profited from that. So i do believe there is a role for a medical doctor, in certain cases. I do believe there's a role for a biblically based counselor, with cognitive therapy. Not all the psychoanalysis and freudian psychology ('frauding in psychology', as heard), there's sometimes associated with that. And then, of course, there is a role for the pastor.

Sin, oppression, and the altered brain — the multi-pronged approach

• Now, some things are primarily caused by sin, in people's life. And maybe they're depressed, or emotionally distraught, because they persist in sinful behaviors. And so no amount of medication, or therapy, is really going to address that, until they address the root cause. So there's always going to be need for preaching, teaching, pastoral guidance and counseling, dealing with sin. There's also the reality of demonic oppression and possession. Which — you need the discerning of spirits. But sometimes the devil needs to be cast out. And so i've personally — on the one hand, i've dealt with people with real mental illnesses. I've also dealt with people who had real spiritual strongholds, or oppression, or even demonic possession. So that's where you need a multi-pronged, holistic approach. With an apostolic church, a spirit-filled church, and the power of the holy ghost: many things will be taken care of, by apostolic preaching ('episodic preaching', as heard), apostolic teaching, pastoral guidance, prayer. But there is a place for trained professionals, to help with specific problems. So if someone is struggling mentally and emotionally: i think they should talk to their pastor. But there are certain cases where, yes, i would recommend going to a medical doctor — a psychiatrist, who is actually a medical doctor. And/or there may be a role for professional counseling, to assist them with life issues, and life problems. And i would say: overall, it all has to be saturated with prayer. And i believe that sometimes god gives an answer, instantaneously, miraculously. I've personally dealt with people who were suicidal, or who were in a mental hospital: god delivered them from suicide. God delivered them from severe depression. I have many testimonies in my newest book ('reaching austin', as the title's letters stand — see the delivery note), of people who were healed of mental illnesses, or delivered from serious mental conditions. So i absolutely believe in that. But just as i would say with physical healing: we pray first, foremost, and always, for god to heal. But if there's an ongoing issue, it's not wrong to seek professional help. And in fact, a professional — a doctor, or professional counselor — may be a good partner, along with the pastor, to deal with the total needs of the person. And we might wonder: why is it always so clear-cut? And we don't always know the answer. But we're a member of the fallen human race. So we do have illnesses and diseases, that weren't god's original intention. And so, if you've got some kind of a condition, it has to be addressed. And also because of — whether it's people's sin, or the family they're raised in — there may be various components. And while there might be a definite issue of sin, which there needs to be repentance and deliverance: that life can have altered the person, physically, mentally. There's a lot we don't know about the brain. But it seems like even the brain can be wired, in a dysfunctional way. Repeated sin — let's say drug addiction — can actually alter the brain. So, even though we can say the cause is sin: the cure has to involve something changing, in the brain. Whether god heals them miraculously, or whether they go through a process of medication, or surgery, or retraining — to actually change the structure of the brain, that's been affected by the sin, or the abuse. And so: it is a complicated subject. But i do believe that god is giving us answers. And if we'll trust the lord, i think he will lead us. And, as i've said, i have many examples that i could give, and that i have written, of god's delivering power.