In traveling to various parts of the world and interacting with believers of different cultures, I find that the subject of mental illness comes up frequently. Many have relatives and loved ones who clearly need help in this area and are perplexed as to where to seek treatment. Many questions arise, such as:
Should they seek help from psychiatrists and other types of counselors, or is the matter always a spiritual issue?
Is there sometimes a chemical imbalance that can be corrected by proper medication, or is this an unproven idea?
Do we know how drugs that affect the brain really work, and is there a place for their use among Christians?
How responsible is the individual for his behavior in cases of mental disturbance?
The answers to such questions as these are not always readily available. It is hoped that we will be able to take up the subject realizing that, as in physical illness, so also in mental illness, there are things that we do not fully understand. However, we count on God and His Word for answers to our questions, for on any moral and spiritual subject, God has given us in His Word the light we need.
We are told in 2 Peter 1:33According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (2 Peter 1:3) that “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” Our hearts need to get hold of this most important principle. We may not know or understand everything about mental illness, or about many other subjects, for that matter, but God has assured us that, “through the knowledge of Him that has called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3 JnD), we have all the light we need in order to live a godly life in this world. In view of these and other scriptures, we are confident in looking into the matter of mental illness in the light of the Word of God, and we will seek to find the answers to some of the questions that inevitably come up when the subject presents itself. We may not find the answers to all of our questions, but we know that God has given us all we need to know in order to live for His glory in this world.
Illness and Healing in the Bible
What then is mental illness? I believe there is a scriptural basis for using the term.
“Jesus went round the whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the glad tidings of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every bodily weakness among the people. And His fame went out into the whole of Syria, and they brought to Him all that were ill, suffering under various diseases and pains, and those possessed by demons, and lunatics, and paralytics; and He healed them.”
Here we find that the Lord Jesus healed every disease and every bodily weakness. When Scripture begins to refer to those that were ill, they are grouped under five different categories:
There were those who had various diseases, and surely these would include such things as infections, cancer, inflammations of various kinds, and diseases that result from aging.
Coupled with disease, there were those suffering from pains, which, of course, would include the pain resulting from such illnesses as arthritis, headaches or cancer, but would also include pains inflicted from outside the body. The thought of torment or torture is included in the word.
People were also ill when they were possessed by a demon, and, of course, this could affect both the body and the mind.
Paralytics are mentioned, as those who had lost the ability to use some part of their body, and thus were unable to function normally.
The word “lunatics” is also included in the list, as indicating those who had a disordered state of mind. The word in the Greek has the thought of being “moonstruck” or crazy, and it is a general word used for those not in their right mind. The same word is used in Matthew 17:1515Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. (Matthew 17:15) to describe the boy who threw himself into the fire or into the water. In this case, the lunatic behavior was caused by a demon. Such individuals are placed along with others who had diseases and pains, and they are categorized as being ill. The state of being a lunatic was an illness which the Lord Jesus healed along with other diseases.
Mental Illness
How then do we define mental illness? There is really no definition that will encompass every aspect of the subject, for we are dealing with a matter that does not have well demarcated boundaries. To some extent, our view of mental illness is affected by the culture and society in which we live. Also, as there is a variation in what is generally considered to be normal physical health, so there is a variation in what is considered to be a normal pattern of thought and behavior. All of us at some point in our lives may experience some of the symptoms of disordered thinking, but only if the symptoms go beyond a certain point will we be said to be mentally ill. Accordingly, we will define mental illness simply as being any abnormal pattern of thought and feeling that results in disturbed behavior, and which thus affects the individual’s ability to function in his relationships with others and/or in his work.
Here it is important to clarify our definition relative to what Scripture has to say, as the definition I have suggested is very broad. The Word of God uses the word “lunatic” to describe those with disordered thinking and behavior, and as we have seen, such individuals are also included among those whom the Lord Jesus healed. It is difficult to know how far this word extends in describing those whose behavior is abnormal and what degree of disturbance is encompassed by it. I quote the scripture only to show that the Lord Jesus recognized at least some abnormal behavior as a disease and healed it, as He did other diseases. We might well hesitate to place every individual with some abnormality of thought or feeling in this category and call him/her a lunatic. In this book we will discuss a wide variety of disorders that have at least some component of disturbed thought and/or feeling. The reader may not see all of them as manifesting mental illness, but rather simply the display of what Scripture calls “the flesh”—our sinful nature. As we will see, there is often a mixture of the two. Whatever the cause, I suggest that a consideration of all of these entities before the Lord is appropriate to our subject.
In dealing with this subject, we will look at what is clearly mental illness—those individuals with so-called “psychotic” behavior. Those who exhibit such behavior are not in control of themselves and, to a large extent, are out of touch with reality. They would definitely fit into the category of “lunatics,” as mentioned in Scripture.
Also, we will discuss abnormal behavior where the individual is still in touch with reality and not out of control. These behavioral disorders are often called “neuroses,” as opposed to “psychoses.” As we will see, there is often an overlap between the two. More than this, in both cases there are aspects of his behavior that the individual cannot help, but also part for which he must take some responsibility.
At the beginning of this book, I mentioned that I was going to approach the subject in the light of the Word of God. I trust this will be the case and that the conclusions arrived at, especially in the moral and spiritual realm, will be in keeping with the mind of God as revealed in His Word. However, since the author is a medical doctor and has sought the assistance of other Christian medical doctors, there will be occasional comments based on that training and background. I hope these will be helpful in “rounding out” the discussion of the subject, but in saying this, I realize that medical knowledge is constantly changing. Some of the comments made in this area may be superseded by better knowledge at some point in the future. Also, I will make other comments from time to time that are based on my own observation and experience as an individual, not so much as a medical doctor, but as a Christian. Such comments will be obvious to the reader, and, of course, must be taken as a personal judgment, rather than having the authority of Scripture.
Mental disturbances may have multiple causes. Some may be primarily organic (caused by physical changes in the brain), while others may have their origins in the soul and spirit. Frequently both are involved, and often such causes are interconnected in a way that may be difficult to sort out. There is a great variation of opinion on the subject, not only among believers, but also in the world at large. Since the subject does not lend itself to scientific research in the same way as do other medical disciplines, some of the ideas about the nature and cause of mental illness tend to be based on theories and concepts rather than on solid scientific evidence. Much that is done in the way of treatment tends to be empirical (based on observation and experience) and is, perhaps, framed and determined, to some extent, by the culture in which we live. Also, the realm of the mind is very interrelated with the spiritual, and here we are definitely in an area where Scripture and not science must be the final authority. This principle will have to be kept in mind as we deal with our subject and will surely throw us back on the Word of God, which “liveth and abideth forever.” It is very comforting and assuring to know that God has given us all that we need to live a godly life in this world, while recognizing that there are aspects of mental illness that are beyond our understanding.
It is not the purpose of this book to discuss in detail all the various types of mental illness that have been recognized, or to approach the subject through the classification used by the psychiatric profession. However, since mental illness expresses itself in a wide variety of ways, it will be good for us to have some idea of the scope of the subject. Thus, some consideration of these different manifestations is necessary before we can proceed. The terms we will use will be the same ones used by those who treat mental illness, as these terms are commonly recognized and understood. Let us look at some examples of mental illness and behavioral disorders.