Hi all,
Did
you know Paul wrote about emotionally ill Christians? He carefully
outlined symptoms and what a person needs to do when dealing with such a
person, and what that person must do to regain emotional health.
This
subject is so important I'll be offering an audio teaching of it at the
conclusion of this 3 part Weekly Thoughts - in the audio teaching I'm
able to go into more detail and share real life situations which will
help provide more in depth coverage of this important topic.
How Paul started talking about the emotionally ill Christian
Paul
is writing to Timothy in I Timothy 6:1-6 where he brings up the subject
of emotionally or mentally ill Christians. His statement that the
people he is writing about are emotionally ill is the middle point of a 6
verse teaching - the first 3 verses define the condition of their
heart, then he defines them as mentally ill early in verse 4, then
through verse 6 outlines their actions. Today, those first 3 verses
about the heart.
The
first 2 verses teach slaves how to work under the yoke of slavery - God
doesn't condone slavery as we are all equal in Christ, yet He had to
deal with cultures that had slavery, the Lord being ever practical.
Verse 1: "All who are under the yoke of bond-servants (slavery) are to regard their own masters worthy of honor and respect so that the name of God and the teaching about Him will not be spoken against."
In
our day this relates to believing employees who have unbelieving
bosses. Paul taught that Christians should have a sense of
responsibility to live with an awareness their actions could cause the
Lord to be thought of poorly by non-believers, or glorified when they
live properly in the work place.
This first verse is about our sense of responsibility in public to live godly lives knowing we have Christ in us.
Verse 2: "Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful
towards them because they are brethren in Christ, but they should serve
them even better because those who benefit from their kindly service
are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things."
The
Greek word translated 'disrespectful' is 'kataphroneo', literally
meaning 'to think down upon'. It is sometimes translated as 'despise'
because this compound word is made up of 'kata' meaning 'down' and
'phren' meaning 'mind' - to think down on about another, or to despise
them.
This second verse is about our sense of responsibility to live godly lives within our relationships.
Verse 3: "If any man teaches otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
Paul
says 'If any man teaches otherwise', which is 'heterodidaskaleo' - to
teach other teaching, from 'heteros' meaning 'another' or 'different',
and 'didaskalos', 'an instructor', 'a teacher'. In other words, these
people have another teacher, a different voice they are listening to,
rejecting Paul's teaching in favor of 'another master' that has taken
precedent over Paul's sound wisdom.
Consider what Paul asks in the first two verses...
What
person in their right mind would reject a teaching that says to be
aware how you conduct yourself before an unbelieving boss, and to treat
believing bosses with just that much more respect? Who would reject such
common sense, logic, and such a reasonable instruction?
When
he starts outlining the symptoms of an emotionally ill Christian, he
starts here saying they reject this teaching. The steps towards
emotional or mental illness begin, and are first seen here, with the
rejection of common sense and a logical understanding of what it is to
walk with Christ and godly relationships. Paul
is talking about relationships in these first 2 verses, and people who
reject common sense, social skills and wisdom when dealing with
others. Strained relationships, or withdrawing from relationships, are
the first sign of a person on a path towards emotional or mental
illness.
What
most Christians understand as common sense and logical, they take issue
with. They have other ideas, other 'voices' telling them to reject such
things in favor of their own thoughts on the matter.
As we will see later, Paul identifies arrogance and stubborness as major traits of someone emotionally ill.
The
word 'consent' is 'proserchomai' meaning 'to come towards', and is used
in Hebrews 10:1 of those who 'draw near' to the Lord. In the negative
here, it is used of people who refuse to draw near to the Lord. The word
also means 'to nod the head towards (in agreement with)', as one who
nods in agreement with the Lord will draw near to Him - and these people
refuse to agree and draw near.
They
are disagreeable when it comes to common sense, logic, and 'wholesome
words', claiming to have amazing new revelation from God or their
particular twist on old doctrine. Or, for other conditions, they become
obsessed with 1 idea in particular, maybe about their self-image, maybe
about their appearance, maybe focused on ending their life - or any
obsessive thought in between.
Because they reject common sense and logic that everyone else does, they become spiritual islands,
alone in what they believe, even in their marriages, unable to draw
near to the Lord in their own hearts, let alone drawing near in
relationships with others, or even partaking in the common faith with
their spouse or friends.
'wholesome words'...
...is
'hygiaino', where we get 'hygene' or clean - clean words. Healthy
words, sound advice, healthy teaching. Notice what Paul is saying thus
far: If any teaches otherwise, they have another master they are
listening to, refusing to draw near to the Lord and His clean and sound
teaching. Advice from family and friends don't help them. No one can
persuade them what they are thinking is off-balance. They are convinced
they are right.
These
people are sliding further into emotional illness as they reject clean
teaching in favor of other teachings and thoughts that prevent them from
drawing near to the Person of the Lord. They hide behind their
off-balance thoughts and doctrine often accusing others in arrogance,
while refusing to personally draw near to the Lord - a facade of a
spiritual life, often alienating those who love them the most, and in
the context of the verse, also their bosses and fellow employees and
other relationships - they pull away from others.
"...even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the teaching which is according to godliness."
Paul
says they are in fact rejecting the words of the Lord Jesus even while
claiming to be obeying Him in special revelation, or they can't leave
their thoughts for His. Their thoughts hold greater importance to them
than those of Jesus, which lead a person deeper into a closer walk in
godliness.
Godliness
is Christian character demonstrated by a lifestyle of love,
transparency, humility, integrity, giving, and healthy relationships.
These people are the opposite. They don't draw near to the Lord, nor to
their spouses spiritually speaking, nor to their bosses nor fellow
employees or friends.
You
can see where Paul is going as he highlights the condition of their
heart, for those who reject common sense and logic soon have no friends,
but either seek a platform to be heard, or they withdraw into
themselves. Often the underlying disorder has to do with lack of
self-love and lack of a healthy self-image, compounded by rejection - in
short, they don't know the Father's unconditional love, were never
rooted and grounded in unconditional love growing up and/or in later
relationships, nor do they truly know Him as Friend.
And I've run out of room for today, next week, 'wrapped in smoke'...until then, blessings,
John Fenn
www.cwowi.org and email me at cwowi@aol.com
New CD/MP3 Series
This
series links the life of David with Psalms he wrote during three
periods in his life: Before being king, during his reign, and in exile.
Part 1 looks at the Psalms he wrote before becoming king, studying each
event that led him to pour out his emotions in the Psalm related to an
event or challenge, with the result being the listener will know David
much better, and be better able to walk through the pressures in their
life. You will be able to related to David's raw emotions and spiritual
struggles and how he found peace and safety in the Lord in the midst of
stressful and often life-threatening situations. A fascinating series
that will give greater understanding to the Old Testament and Psalms and
their place in history.
When
a child is born with an infirmity or condition, or develops one, or we
unexpectedly must provide long term care for a loved one, an
unanswerable question of faith arises from within: How can a loving God
let this happen? Our faith is shaken to the core and we hear teachings
on healing and the loving Father but we are dealing with long term, life
changing challenges that don't make sense. This series deals with those
questions from John & Barb's personal experience with their
physically and mentally handicapped oldest son. Having walked through it
from babyhood to adulthood with him, and having walk theologically
through all the standard answers, including having their faith largely
destroyed and rebuilt in the process, this will offer help and answers
to those struggling with these issues, or for those who know someone
struggling with these issues. You'll regain peace, have some answers,
and be able to put to trust the Father once again.
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