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Hi all,
Many
of us know someone who lives in an ongoing state of emotional trauma,
or perhaps even emotionally ill. Statistics in the US state and
estimated 26% of adults over age 18 suffer from a diagnosable mental
disorder, which is 1 in 4 adults or over 57 million people - so most of
us know someone touched by a mental disorder. Yet helping these friends
and family become healthy and whole in their emotions and minds is a
mystery to most of us. (
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-America/index.shtml )
Where
does the emotional end and the demonic begin? Where do the
natural brain processes of chemical and electrical functions end and the
demonic begin? What does scripture have to say about the causes and
cures of emotional and mental disorders or illness?
"Conduct Disorder"
That
was the diagnosis of an 8 year old boy who compulsively lied and
believed his lies, with various behavioral issues related to Conduct
Disorder. By the time he turned 18 the diagnosis became "Anti-social
Personality Disorder". He was a compulsive liar, believing his own lies
and version of reality, a manipulator, thief, and would argue violently
if someone presented him with the truth.
In
his 20's his condition and behavior became more criminal and
complicated. He showed no remorse for any of his actions for in mind his
scheme was real and everyone else was wrong. "It was a
misunderstanding" became the most common explanation for everything from
criminal charges he faced to getting fired from jobs to broken
relationships.
He was
promiscuous as he presented women intricate stories of supposed trust
fund wealth and swept them off their feet, only to steal jewelry,
cars, and money along with their hearts in the process. For instance:
Several times he went to a high end car dealership, took a Ferrari or
other exotic car for a test drive, used it for a quick date, then
returned the vehicle, only to explain to the woman on the next date the
Ferrari was in the shop or he sold it and was waiting for delivery of
his next Ferrari.
He spent most of his 20's and 30's in prison for theft, larceny, fraud, and various other crimes.
Delusional or demonic?
He
eventually married and seemed to settle down, children came along and
life progressed. But he wasn't healed, delivered, nor was his mind
renewed by the Word. Christianity held no power nor hope for him and he
became an atheist.
He came
from a Christian family but was the child of divorce. Was he simply
mentally ill and needed healing, or did he need deliverance? What were
the spiritual forces at work that led him into mental illness, and how
much was willful indulgence and even enjoyment of the scams and
intrigue? Just where do the natural and emotional processes of the brain
end, and the demonic start?
Remember this example because next week I'll explain how he became that way, and his case will provide answers for others.
Suicide and Christians?
Mental
and emotional illness is seen throughout scripture, though other words
are used, and in some cases the situation is presented as having demonic
influences as the reason for the illness. In the last 10 years I've
seen more Christians than ever before battling emotional and mental
illnesses, and about once a month someone will email me asking if a
Christian commits suicide are they doomed to hell.
My
response is that Christians die of a physical illness and we don't
doubt their salvation, so why would we doubt a Christian's salvation
when a mental illness results in them killing themselves? Also, how many
believers are committing slow suicide through obesity, smoking, or
substance abuse? A person can be mentally ill just like they can be
physically ill while in their spirit, they are born again.
Mental illness a sign of the end times
In
this series I intend to trace the process that starts a person down the
road to emotional and mental illness, and how to reverse that process
with the Lord. We will look at what opened the door for several people
in scripture and look at solutions. I know many people who have
triumphed over emotional and mental illness and there are some common
elements that were key to their victory, which I'll share in this
series.
Jesus
and Paul made comments that in the last days people's hearts would fail
them for fear, the love of many would turn cold, people would have no
conscience, ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth, people would be allowed to believe delusions. Paul also said
people would become 'past feeling' or have no conscience (no remorse)
and so give themselves over to various sins and evil.
(Luke 21:26, Matthew 24:12, I Timothy 4:1-2, II Timothy 3:1-7, Ephesians 4:19)
Mental
and emotional illnesses are one of the signs of the end times,
yet teachings about this fact are few and far between. Our society is
emotionally and mentally ailing and we see the results in the headlines
depicting senseless violence on all levels, involving Christians and
non-Christians alike.
What solutions are there in Christian culture?
When
Jesus said at His return He is looking for a people who gave food &
drink to the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick and
imprisoned, isn't it likely some of those people came to be in
those conditions through emotional or mental illnesses?
In
popular charismatic circles teachings about mental
illness automatically blame demons without looking at other causes the
Bible presents. And there are some ministries that tell people they must
trace their family as far back as 10 generations to find what
ancestor opened the door to demons that now all these generations later,
are causing them misery.
Some
ministries consider any negative event in a person's life as needing
'inner' healing, and the person is often led with a 'coach' to visualize
the event, visualize Jesus coming into that event, and basically
re-writing history to include Jesus standing there with great love and
healing while they recall that situation.
The
prevailing theme woven throughout these efforts is basically 'It isn't
my fault', or 'the devil made me do it' or 'my ancestor is to blame for
me being in this condition', or 'I would could gain the victory if I
could find the one key that my ancestor used to open the door to the
demonic in our family line'.
The other end of the pendulum
If
attacking emotional and mental illness as always demonic is on one end
of the pendulum's swing, the opposite end is treating it as a strictly
clinical 'Christian' issue, which to most charismatic's appears
'non-spiritual'. This is what scares many Charismatic's away from a
'Christian mental hospital' or residency program - fear over the
combination of natural and psychological help when the assumption is the
issue is demonic. Yet success is often found in these programs when
they combine the Biblical and medical, which may include medications,
with practical skills for the patient to combat wrong thoughts and
emotions.
In
between these two seems to be a no man's land of mystery, danger
and suspicion. So let us start by looking at some people who suffered
emotional disorders, conditions, or mental illnesses in scripture, then
we'll peer behind the veil of their minds to discern the difference
between the emotional, mental, and demonic, and the healing power of God
available to all.
A few examples to consider
King Saul - uncontrolled outburst of rage, paranoia, fear - soothed by worship music.
Nebuchadnezzar - believed he was an animal, in modern terms: Lycanthropy, Boanthropy, Schizophrenia.
David, Job, Elijah - suffered from depression at times in their lives.
Gadarene man with 'Legion' - had an 'unclean' spirit (often means sexually unclean), cut himself, naked.
Judas - committed suicide when his plans to force Jesus to prove Himself failed.
Cain - murdered his brother in a fit of rage, but with a well documented path to his decision to murder.
And
with this list of just a few people in the Bible I've run out of room
for this week. Next week I'll examine THE root need in our lives as
taught by Jesus, and the results of a person not having that need met -
which can lead to mental disorders.
Until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at cwowi@aol.com
