Does the Bible Have Anything to Say for Those with PTSD?

Does the Bible have anything to say. For those with PTSD. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi, I'm Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day, would like to say a happy Memorial day to day to honor those who have died in the service of our country and also want to wish a special thank you to all of our veterans and those who are currently serving in the Armed Forces. You can call us right now with your question. Here's our phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 of kosher can also post your question on one of our social media sites and you're always welcome to email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Sam calling in from Kansas. Sam what your question for a drill to get yeah I like our way and is a good answer but did seem like he was asking something a little bit but I could be wrong but that he pointed out in Genesis 3 and he brought up the white husband Mikey was after. While there problem at the core of a woman or a wife and husband relationship. Why can there be anything like that verse in chapter 3 really explains best part of the curse that a woman will have a passion to control her husband and her husband will have a overbearing attitude sometimes is not not listen to her. Be more controlling than he should, and so on start on the call and part of the answer is plainly there in chapter 3. Also, I just hearing the commercial talk about PTSD later on I do suffer from that myself. So listen to anything. My comment basically that the men and women of the relationship was damaged in the in the fall woman will have a passion to control her husband and that the man will have a tendency to be overbearing and cruel.

The life Sam, thank you for calling for following up. Love love when people listen to previous episodes and and want to follow up and get some clarification on something and and Wayne was talking about those verses and you guys are both in Kansas, so maybe you guys can link up and have a discussion about this passage I know but that is one which you mentioned there is one interpretation of Genesis chapter 3 in particular, verse 16, where God says to the woman, your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.

Now there's a lot of debate about you how to interpret those those words mean it is desire. Their speaking of like I got contrary desire.

The negative desire torture has a sexual desire of the word is used in the book of song of songs to describe sexual desire incessantly is is that what's being referred to.

And then in terms of the rule kind of rule is this is this a power struggle that is that is one way that this passage has been taken there other ways that this text is been taken so there's there's quite a debate if you will about the proper way to interpret this. Maybe it's not adversarial desire that could could potentially be a a promise of returning to the husband. Your desire turning back towards your husband, and he him him ruling. The reason was a restoration of the relationship, and there there indicators in the text that could also potentially be the case, but we do know, generally speaking, that the reason that we have problems in our relationships today and in marriage in particular is because of sin, and then we did send enter into the world will certainly at the fall so that there are different ways a few different ways of people who have taken this one I think concerned that I have with we just say look, the woman just has this this ungodly desire that's innate to her. That is the part of who she is desires to dominate, but I think you gotta be careful there that we don't just impute that to every single woman, generally speaking, the connection be a problem. It says were approaching issues, missing marital issues. You know that I might one concern is that if the if that's interpretation that people take the and then right off the bat there just assuming well by your woman. So you just naturally have this ungodly desire because of who you are to dominate into ruling to control that's not the best way to just approach these kinds of issues in that I know that justice as a pastor and having dealt with and administered to couples now for almost a decade. Believe it or not. Today's that the nine year anniversary of my ordination congratulations yeah yeah somebody buy me a cake or something but it we just want to be wheeze when be careful with that so so I what I would do is is is say yes there there is just the reality of the effects of sin on our relationships and in particular on our marriages but there are various ways that people have taken this. This person may not necessarily be indicating this sort of innate negative desire per se, but is turning back towards the husband. This restoration and again throughout this pathogen is one thing though think of Wayne in in his call.

The previous episode is you have both the sort of challenges in and curses that are coming. As a result, the fall, but also the promise of hope and restoration and of the gospel and so we want to hold those two things together.

Thanks Sam for forgiveness call your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Jacob calling in from Charles City, Iowa Jacob, what your question for Israel. Talk about PTSD. I have a close friend that right now my question is Jesus as God the all-knowing God, why would he pick you this scary as a disciple knowing that he would later betray him bring them to is profit policy that but this why would Christ pick somebody like that excellent question. Jacob will one recently having conversation about dyslexia. In some ways similar questions we asked the question about fallen Angels, and why got even allows them to to exist why when when Satan fell. When the Angels turned away when they rebelled one guy just you know strike him dead right there if you will eradicate them and in and in some ways are there so there's similarities here with your question in terms of thinking about what what is Jesus did. Jesus knows all things.

Why has he picked chosen Judas Iscariot to be one of his disciples.

Matthew chapter 26 verse 24 Jesus as the Son of Man goes as it is written of him… This is something that was prophesied.

You have me have the prophecies related duties throughout the Old Testament and the Psalms. In particular I'm thinking. But Jesus is woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed, it would have been better for that man if he had not been born Judas who would betray him answered.

Is it I Rabbi and he said to him you have said so here holding together, but I think you know one that the sovereign hand of God in orchestrating all of the events related to the crucifixion of our Lord. And this is something that we see in Scripture, but also the, the, the freedom and responsibility that people have including Judas is a some people say what will is Judas, you know, forced or coerced to do these these things know he was he was free.

He freely betrayed the Lord and he suffered the consequences of those things in his betrayal tragically write what I wanted to lead to. It led to the crucifixion of the eternal son of God. Now that's horrible. And yet somehow through these terrible events. God is still at work and actually at work in a very powerful way, bringing about redemption for humanity. So while Judas is judged and justly condemned through his sinful acts.

God is somehow working together good for his people through the death of Jesus to the self offering of Jesus and this is precisely what we see in the Scriptures think of two places in the book of acts in acts chapter 2. Do do Peter's Pentecost sermon. He preaches the gospel. He talks about Jesus and he says to the Jews were there on Pentecost. This Jesus delivered up according the definite plan and foreknowledge of God right there is definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

God raised him up, loosing the pains of death because it was not possible for him to be held by BC of you have those two things there. Jacob, you have the sovereignty of God. The fact that he knows all things is is sovereign foreknowledge. His his definite plan, but you also have the responsibility of of the people who were there crucified you sinful men crucified him. He seemed the same thing. In acts chapter 4 and a prayer for the disciples make for boldness in acts chapter 4 verse 27 it says for truly, in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

Both Harriet and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place 30 feet again, this is this is happening even the stubble.

Judas it's happening according to what the Scriptures had foretold what God's hand hand had orchestrated what had been predestined before the foundation of the world and yet somehow these people, these individuals are still responsible and they have to give an account. Judas enough to give an account because he freely chose to betray the Lord and so to your question.

Why did why did Jesus pick Judas to be one of his disciples, will Jesus is extending his gratuitous love and in grace.

And yet, through Judas's betrayal. He's going to the cross so that we might have salvation. And that side, I respond to your question. Thank you for that for that call brother and may the Lord bless you hey thanks Jack appreciate you being a regular listener to core Christianity appreciate you what we got email questions, then right, left, and if you have an email for us. Here's the here's the email address its questions at core, Christianity.com again questions at core, Christianity.com here's one from Lawrence. He says I'm a Vietnam combat veteran and a 10 year veteran of the US Marine Corps. To this day I struggle with memories I'm involved in therapy with the VA it's been 52 years since I returned home and I still struggle I've been a Christian since early 1974. Many of us struggle with healing and making the connection and distinction between the healing available and that comes from God and the healing we received through the various therapies. The VA offers. Can you help explain some of these connections and differences. I have a pastor who once labeled Vietnam veterans as crybabies.

He's a sound preacher, but he makes it difficult for me to have any patients with him way when I'm so sorry to hear that that pastor said that you have experienced serious trauma in your life and that affects us that affects our minds. It affects our bodies, our memories is is is these wounds essentially that that we experience and we do, you do need healing and there is healing in Christ and there's healing in this sort of general common wisdom them glad that you're getting help through the VA and hopefully some some counseling, therapy, and Bill, I definitely want you to chime in here with your expertise. Thinking about PTSD, but I would just say as a pastor you know when when when I'm talking with someone who has experienced serious trauma. I think I think there is a process whereby you need to get that that the encouragement and help of the church. Obviously, that the ministry of the church, the ministry of the gospel. The hope that we have in Jesus for full and final healing, especially on the last day. The restoration of of all things of our minds and of our bodies, I also think it's important you noted to process those things with with professional help and I think that that can be that can be positive, but as you say you know can be years and years and years of still battling and clinging to the grace of of God and getting the support that you need.

Bill just in terms of of you know may be a good way forward for someone who's was wrestling with PTSD as a Christian and wanting you to wanting to incorporate the spiritual component but also thinking through you know how to deal with trauma what what would your advice be. While I think God can certainly use secular therapist secular psychologists and psychiatrists send and medication to help people as long as they understand the person's spiritual viewpoint that their faith is very important to them and that they don't in any way shape or form try to undermine their faith. I think that can be a real problem. So you go into the situation, saying, hey, here are my beliefs. Are you comfortable working with me and my really about my Christian faith and for the most part, I would say a good therapist would say certainly and with PTSD. We do know that there are serious changes that go on to memories and portions of the brain and are also some newer therapies a drill bit of help a lot of people and I know the VA is using those therapies so I'm really glad that he's getting some help there. I think the VA has helped a lot of people we know there's been some problems with the VA in the past and there's been waiting list and things like that but I think they're they're finally moving forward with some positive changes.

I'm so thankful that he's receiving help there and but yes I think God can certainly use those people in the healing process as as a Christian villain with with your background and in all of this.

What what can the church do for brothers and sisters who are struggling with PTSD or have PTSD because of some traumatic experience or experiences in their lives. Where can the church stepped in and and what is our obligation to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Great question what the Bible talks very clearly about our responsibility to encourage one another to bear one another's burdens, and I think we and all forms of mental and emotional problems. If if we can be doing that on a regular basis in the body of Christ. I really feel bad that this pastor said that to this gentleman I mean that is just tragic and he's wrong and pastor of you served in Vietnam, you would not be saying that some may just check that out.

But yeah, I think the church needs to do. Probably a better job of not sleeping things under the rug and being able to say somebody I know you're hurting. How can I encourage you.

How can I come alongside you. How can I pray for you. How can you let you have your for dinner and talk about what happened in Vietnam. I think those things are critical years ago our church had an organization come to provide training for for our congregation on matters of abuse within the church, specifically sexual abuse and how to protect against that his organization called grace stands for godly response to abuse in a Christian environment really heavy stuff and obviously you know when people who've experienced more time at something separate now people have experienced no abuse like this often have muses a serious trauma. They can often have PTSD and one of the things that they they it is this organization did when they came as they showed pictures a PowerPoint presentation should a picture of a tree that grew up and then will be so growing up vertically and then was bent over to the side and then went back up again and it was this the sort of object lesson that the person was leading the discussion so you know what, what, why utilize a tree growing this way and in apparently when the when the tree was much smaller. Another tree had fallen on top of it and began to grow crooked and then the other tree eventually fell off and then it sort of straightened out again, but with the point that this individual was making was helping of the traumas that we experience in our lives have a real effect on us that last for a long time knew they leave their their mark there their scars, and it it's so important for us in the church not to minimize that reality. Not to downplay it as you say, Bill, and also not to not to be hopeless, but to realize that there is true healing, and grace for four people and and restoration that can that can happen, but it but it requires I think hard work and care and and the whole body of crises needing all the one another's in the New Testament the commands to bear each other's burden is is you said Bill, but but also other other avenues as well that can be helpful and so appreciate your insights and let me to stop right now. I know it's amazing we would we launch this program today talking about been on think bills that were to talk about PTSD than two people said, I'm so glad because I struggle with this in the prisons. Nina someone else I know close to me struggles with this and so you may be listening right now. This is a real battle for you or for someone close to you and so I wanted to stop and pray for for this knee. Father God, I want to lift up to you all those listening right now who have PTSD for for whatever reason, Lord, men are haunted by and need your grace need support Jesus I pray, by the power of your Holy Spirit that you would bring healing, comfort, Lord hope, the hope of your gospel, the hope of the promise of restoration that one day every tear will be wiped away all our pain will be restored got its missa hope that we have Jesus in you, but but right now we still experience that pain and those memories as I by pray for my brothers and sisters listening right now for whom that's that's a reality or so near to them. We just ask God that he would help them that you would care for them that you would get them the encouragement that they need from the body of Christ and then maybe even beyond with with professional help as well but just lift their spirits. Even now we pray in Jesus name Amen amen. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez well here we are summer vacation just around the corner for many school kids and we are actually excited to offer a very special resource for families that they can use this summer has right Bill, you know, as we plan trips and activities to make the most of the good weather. What we wanted to hear it core Christianity is help you receive and reflect on the word of God. So midbrain resource 10 verses to memorize as a family this summer. It's a free resource that not only gives your family scriptures to memorize, but it also gives further explanation of the depth and beauty of the verses like the heavens declare the glory of God in the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Remember the Paul says to Timothy, his sincere faith first dwelt with his grandmother. How amazing is that you, God planted the seed of faith in Timothy do the faithful labors of his grandmother and mother in in in. This is how God works in our lives as we come together as family studying the Scriptures and memorizing those passages we want to encourage you to do that this summer so get a hold of this free resource over it. Core, Christianity.com would love to get that to you for your family this summer again. It's called 10 verses to memorize as a family this summer and you can find it by going to core Christianity.com/offers again core Christianity.com/offers.

Let's go to Carl who's on the phone from Missouri and Carl you been holding for a long time. Thanks so much what your question for pastor.

Israel is whole?

Thank you for your ministry hey Carl, thank you for forgiving us a call and hold the line so one I've known different kinds of seven testing to see if you amen I think that there are some who can operate more cult like I do know that I would put it in the same category as the Mormon church which I would identify as a colt or Jehovah's Witnesses, but there are some serious problems with the theology of the Seventh-day Adventist that I think issues that really are important and do strike it. Vital Christian doctrines related to the identity of Christ related to the law of God, specifically from the earliest days of mediated stuff related to the law of God so often that that the church got wrong and needed help with the think of Paul's letter to the Galatians specifically and there, in particular you names and you guys are you guys are turning from the gospel you're putting yourselves back under the old covenant with its rules and regulations thinking that you're justified by works of law, by your obedience to these ceremonial laws to any of these other laws as well and and I'm concerned you know when I think about Seventh-day Adventist that there is some of that in thereto with regard to going back to and and being under these old covenant regulations that's that's a serious problem. That's a serious error in the church serious enough. I think for Paul to address in places like the book of Galatians and so there are there are churches that I have been in movements have great disagreement with and I think there people there who can have true faith in Jesus Christ and of the believing that he read the Bible and and and Christ works faith in their hearts and their their need of God's children, but that doesn't mean that that their church situation that there is good and I would certainly you don't say hey get into a church that's faithful to the Scriptures that preaches the Bible and and does so.

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