Is There a Christian View of Mental Illness?

Is there a Christian view of mental illness is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi, I'm Bill Meyer along with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

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Later all I gotta tell you, you were accused of preaching some false teaching here program happens all the time. Bill Sinai had II guess I got that I've developed pigskin because you just think anytime you're opening up the word of God are people who disagree with you and that's okay. Let's reason together. Let's open up the Scriptures and and get to the truth. I love that will here's what David asks.

He emailed us and said I heard what you said last week about unbelievers and doing common good acts but Romans three says there is none who is righteous, no not one in Isaiah says you have to nothing offer nothing good to God except filthy rags any morality comes from God in us alone. There is no morality apart from Christ in us.

It is impossible and then he adds, please correct your false teaching on the air. Thank you David for that email.

Okay so I to get really important that we distinguish between works that are truly good before God and and then just you and the fact that all all mankind is made in the image of God has what we call natural law. You have the sense of right and wrong can can participate in what we might call civic goodness, you know, obedience to certain certain laws do good things in that sense you know we were not saying that there is no such thing as common grace in the world. There is, and we praise God for that. And that also comes from God from his goodness. But yeah IIII think I understand what you're getting at, Dave, and that's that. You know, in order for work to be truly good before God. Good works in the New Testament sent so that something that only a believer can do. And you're right. The Bible says it without faith it is impossible to please God. Are there certain things that a worker needs to have in order for it to be a truly good work before got the very first one is a heart of faith good works flow from a heart of faith. And this is the second piece they're done in accordance with God's law.

In other words, you and I don't get to make up what good works are. We can't say will will a you and I know God's word didn't command this but this is a good work for me this is what I'm going to do this is one of the issues that the scribes and the Pharisees had another making up all these rules that were given to them by God, by Jesus, and they were there were obeying those things that were neglecting the weightier matters of the law and so good workflows from a heart of faith is done in line with God's law sincere. It comes from the heart.

It's not just going through the motions hypocritically in the ultimate end of a good work is the glory of God were not doing it to to magnify ourselves to glorify ourselves to cause others to think highly of us were doing these things, for the glory of God and you think a boy I struggle with that.

Does anybody actually ever do good works, and if the if that's the case if they flow from a heart of faith are done with sincerity are done to glorify God about how many good works to actually happen it here. It's important to distinguish again between what we call sometimes it a truly good work in a perfectly good work.

None of us in in the good works that we do offers to God a perfectly good worker works are still tainted with sin. It's only through Jesus Christ that we that we can offer to God. Anything that he receives them, but they are truly good works because they could come from the Holy Spirit working in our lives and so we should be you should be encouraged unto good works, but but they come to us as gifts from the Lord and they flow from the heart of faith and so David, thanks for the opportunity to get to go little bit deeper. They are really important subject and I pray that the Lord blesses you. God bless.

Okay, just a follow-up for them when I was 16 years old. I tried to apprehend a person after who stole a purse from a little old lady and I I was a Christian at the time so was that a good work or not. Did you get them when you tackled the guy. He jumped and he jumped into a truck. His accomplices got away I got with Wells and you failed Bill, I'm sorry I don't offer that to God and get a better deal, the old lady liked it.

Yeah me good. Alright, okay, this is clear Christianity with Esther Israel said to were having fun on a Friday and would love to hear from you.

If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology, you name it.

Would love to talk to you. Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Brian who is calling in from St. Louis, Missouri Brian what your question for pastor. Israel you will know I've told people this being a Christian people have reviewed me because I got a sense of humor. I like well who you think created Hubert. I mean I tell Helene jokes all with all kidding aside, my question is what the Bible say is what is the unforgivable set.

Yeah, great question that we received right on the broadcast before and I think one of the reasons is a question he continually comes up is because there are sincere believers who are concerned with whether or not they've they've committed the sin and I'm not talk to people you know who are in tears wondering, have I sinned away the grace of God is is got done with me. Have I have I sinned in such a way that the doors are forever shut and so it's really important question to answer. Now I will go to Mark chapter 3. This is where you get that the language of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Beginning in verse 22 we read and the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying he is possessed by be eligible and by the prince of demons he casts out demons may call them to him and said to them in parables. How can Satan cast out Satan. If the kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand it if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand and if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand what is coming to an end, but no one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man that indeed he may plunder his house. Truly I say to you all sins will be forgiven.

The children of man and whatever blasphemies they utter. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin for and I think this is important in terms of defining what the blasphemy to hold the Holy Spirit as Jesus says in verse 34. They were saying. He has an unclean spirit. And so, specifically, here and in Mark chapter 3, it's this group of religious leaders who should know better. I mean, these are these are the ones who describes you, who know the law who studied the law, they should know better. And yet there attributing the works of the Holy Spirit being performed by Jesus Christ as he's delivering people from Satan and from sickness there attributing his works to Satan. And so Jesus has a stern warning for them. He he he says look all sin will be forgiven, but the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit here attribute in the works of Christ not done through the power of the Holy Spirit to the evil when he says that will never be forgiven as I don't know that. The blasphemy of that.

I don't believe that the bless me the Holy Spirit is this the sort of one time thing that people do. It's this conscious rejection of the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit. So obstinate. Hardhearted that it even attributes the work of Christ in the goodness of the gospel to the evil one is over a Christian who struggling with this. And they're wondering you don't have.

I blaspheme the Holy Spirit in their their hearts are grieved and there there. You know, afraid that the note maybe God is not can accept and that that when they confess their sins. The Lord is not going to receive them all to that person.

I would say you have not blaspheme the Holy Spirit when you go to God sincerely repent and confessing your sins know that he forgives you when you approach them through faith in Jesus Christ.

The evil one. The devil wants to convince us that were hopeless, but there is hope in the gospel and so I would say that if young for me unforgivable sin is, is the rejection of the gospel and the hardening of our hearts against the truth of the gospel is what so important when we hear the preached word not to turn from it.

When you hear the gospel and in God's convicting you of your sins not to turn from that truth and to harden your heart and deceit of those Christians that is drinking bathwater. You know there there there there crazy you know Jesus doesn't really help you know that's not true.

The spirit of God is drawing people to Christ through the Scriptures and we need to hear that. Otherwise, we will reject that in unbelief there. There is no hope there. There is no forgiveness for a person who dies in their sins unbelieving and hardhearted as a brine that's that's what I would say about this and appreciate your your question and and glad that God gave you a sense of humor as well. God bless you brother and you have a wonderful day. A brides dimension. We do have a core question on this topic. It's called have I committed the unpardonable sin. In fact, it might be great for you. If you have a question about that or somebody in your life is saying. I wonder if I've committed that sin you can find that by going to court, Christianity.com/questions and by the way, we have some new Bible studies, we want to tell you about, and these would be great for summer reading room for a small group study yeah Bill, if you appreciate the answers to your questions.

We give on the show every day than our Bible studies are the perfect resources for you in these studies, we show you how to study the Scriptures and take didn't get deep into the word of God to find answers to the those really important questions we tackle. Often times on the broadcast we have foundational studies like how to read the Bible or core 101 in the gospel of John a study to the gospel of John, great starting points for you. If you're just getting into the study of the Bible.

If you're you're leading a Bible study with maybe some newer Christians.

We also have some some studies that are geared for for the deeper anchors if you want. Digging deeper into the Scriptures like a study in the book of Revelation or the book of Ruth or the book of Hebrews were we tackle more difficult books of the Bible and topics while remaining accessible for those who are new to their faith in Christ and so all of our studies to be a great option for fall Sunday school classes are small groups if you want to start working two books of the Bible and be equipped for how to answer your own questions and even the questions of your friends and family. So head over to core Christianity.com and get a hold of the studies for donation of $15 or more and if you're planning to host a Bible study through your church. Or maybe with a group of friends each of our Bible studies comes with its own leaders guide and if using the study for small group. We can also make a discount available for larger orders. You can find all of our Bible studies that core Christianity.com/studies again. Core, Christianity.com/studies course you can call us for any one of our resources at 833.

The core let's go to Cory calling in from St. Louis, Missouri Cory, what's your question for pastor atrial hear me okay yeah we can hear you Cory okay thank you so nothing like that. This morning I am packing up the road trip to Memphis for work and I heard you guys talking about mental health and Christianity my client. I am an only child. My mother, he he has been diagnosed with personality disorder, an only child and I think the her getting aging and from what I understand about the correct analogy order increasingly getting word and I see her relationship to creating and I'm very concerned for her because her belief that nothing can be fixed outside of the Bible and I'll be true, but you break your ankle. You gotta go to the doctor and so if you have some mental health issues you have to go be a professional and I don't know how to deal with it and her favorite thing to say to me is because I sometimes go no contact with her to trying protect myself that not honoring her and therefore the commandment that God will not honor you know my life will not be blessed because I don't honor my mother and father so I struggle a great deal with it because I want a relationship with my mother but because of the toxicity that exist between us and hats for years.

I don't know how to deal with that. I hate that I go.

No contact with her, but sometimes I just have to because it's so completely physically affects me. Well Cory, I'm I'm really grateful that you that you called in and there's them in a lot of different ways to approach this. The first thing I would say to you is I don't think that it's necessarily wrong that there are times when you say okay I have to have the pullback because especially when an individual has narcissistic personality disorder and oftentimes a bit is unwilling to even see it on there can be that manipulative behavior me.

I think you're alluding to do some of that you know saying well you're you're not honoring me, and therefore God is not going to bless you part of the part of the challenge is helping an individual to see just how bad it is and how much they need help, but with the person who has narcissistic person personality disorder oftentimes really hard to even get to that point is I think part of part of what you can do is just pray that the Lord would soften your mom's heart so that she would realize that God gives us his word, certainly, and prayer, but that there's a lot of just of common grace, wisdom through therapists and counselors. People that can help her to see some of these patterns that she's created in her life and in how they're destroying her relationships, even hurting her and her relationship with with you with her daughter. A great resource on this that I want to encourage you to go on Amazon and buys is called when narcissism comes to your church, healing your community from emotional and spiritual abuse threatened by Prof. of theology professor named Chuck to grow and it's a it is a real practical. He's worked a lot with people who have narcissistic personality disorder, and so a real practical approach compassionate as well. In terms of you really seeing this as wanting to minister to an individual with with narcissistic personality disorder but also creating healthy boundaries when they need to be created and so I want to also build get your input here because I know that you have some some professional wisdom in this area as well. So what would you say to Cory, well I think what you said about boundaries is so key. Cory, I would agree with what Israel said there are times were you do have to physically separate yourself from your mom and you can't let her manipulate you by pulling out versus to you know back of her, her position. The Bible does say let your yes be yes and your no be no.

And I think at times you're going to have to say no to your mom when she is saying or doing things that are harmful to you, and since she says the only her only resource for life is the Bible. I think she can easily point out plenty of script lovingly to point out Scripture verses that would challenge her in her narcissism because there are plenty of those about humility and putting others first and then we could go on and on. So I think that's probably when you're in most conversations with her, and she's no proof texting Scripture, you may want to say mom let's consider these purses.

So again, you want to do that in loving let me in court because that because I just know how how difficult this is. I do want to pray for you and the Lord will give you wisdom in in your approach you with your mother, father, would you be with my sister Cory, would you fill her with your Holy Spirit and with wisdom. I do pray for her mother. Lord, that she would get the help that she needs from your word is certainly Lord that she would grow in her understanding of of your word and that the spirit, your spirit would work in her life through Scripture, but from others as well. Counselors, therapists even who could shed some insight on some of these patterns that she's created and I pray that you would help her to see Lord these destructive patterns and to turn from them to repent of them. We know Lord God that repentance is a gift that you give the work of your Holy Spirit, and so would you work that in Cory's mother and would you give our sister just patients, grace, wisdom for knowing when went to maybe create those boundaries and then went to press in and really try to encourage her mother and pointer to your truth and so be with her. Be with them. We ask in Jesus name, amen. I remember Cory thanks so much for your question. We will continue to pray for you and that situation, this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez were still taking your calls about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology, you name it.

For the next five minutes or so, and if you can't get through. You can always leave a voicemail this weekend. Here's our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to John calling in from St. Louis, Missouri. John what your question for Israel, and allow the Bible in the last times of people only perilous terms that people know your indicate that the logbook many are lamentable to cold relating to the enzymes or people either Steve or so you know all kind of claim put themselves on the part of God's gone so I was wondering if it does that relate to the times are living now all increase in violence and I won't stand there and cheer, you don't think the questions on Matthew 24 in verse 12 Jesus speaking of the end uses the love of many will grow cold because lawlessness abounds. There are other passages that talk about the characteristics of people during the. The end times or the last days. If you want, and their other passages. They were in the last days. Think of John writing to the Christians he was addressing in in places like first John with the spirit of the antichrist is already here is a work were seeing these things with mincing these things for quite a while. You have Paul's words in second Timothy chapter 2 chapter 3 but understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents right you quoted that ungrateful, unholy, heartless, on a peaceable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving, good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power. Avoid such people in it that we we see a lot of this certainly mean just needed to scroll through your your social media feed and see how people that address each other but with regard specifically to this idea of of love growing cold that think actually what what's being referred to. There is may be a loss of passion for the gospel in its advancement when it comes to sharing the gospel evangelism. I get that from the fact you know in in in the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapters 2 and three were Jesus is addressing the seven churches one church in particular that he that he speaking to the church in Ephesus. The first when he addresses he says to them you have left your first love was your love is growing cold and there specifically in the context of Revelation 2 verses one through seven. It seems that you like like that coldness that had been created.

Another result of persecution of the lawlessness all around them resulted in their lack of vigor, passion for the advancement of the gospel.

They were no longer sharing the truth of the gospel like they once were. There was this in order growing insular, we look at that the lawlessness all around us are sinister to cut off everything and everyone, so I really think it is not specifically talking about, you know, the anger in the violence that we see all the love of many growing cold. I think it's I think it's that passion for the gospel and for the advancement of the gospel in society, and that's why we brothers and sisters need to know the word of God and pray that the Lord would light that fire in our own hearts. Lord help us to love you and to be lights, as you call us to be in the world, not not burning with our own flame book burning with the light of Jesus Christ and his gospel so that we might point others to it in these last days and so thank you for your question John. May the Lord bless you. This is core Christianity and let's go to a voicemail that came in from one of our callers. This one came in from Thomas Matthew know that you asked about humans from individuals in his time, and I was just curious if there was a modern-day equivalent. We don't hear about dressing up as this mental illness and generally orders the Christian view of mental illness just a little bit of a conundrum for me that's my question. Thank you. Modern-day equivalent would be demon possession. Today, the evil one is at work today.

Still, I do believe that people can be oppressed and even possessed by evil spirits and so on that.

That's still a thing and I think that's very different from mental illness and in according to Scripture, at least in US with the what's the Christian view of mental illness as a mental illness is a real thing. It is the result of the fall like all illness is, I think I can use doctors and medicine to help treat mental illness as we need to be willing to be afraid of that that common grace through wisdom that's out there in the world. I've seen this scene I've seen people who struggle with with serious mental illness really benefit from the care of doctors and in medicine.

So I think we can't rule that out. We give thanks to God for his common grace and and advancements in medicine and ultimately mental illness along with all other illness will be healed in the new creation is that's the hope that we have is we look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. But as you know we got that question earlier about mental illness and that we did. We just want to take it seriously and it's it's not helpful when we say okay this person has mental illness and you need to pray about it know you gotta go for big dig deeper and so may the Lord bless you and I thank you for reaching out to us countless thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together