Physical Effects
First of all, we know that our bodies are affected by sin, sin that was introduced into the world in the Garden of Eden. God had said to Adam, “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:1717But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:17)). The words “thou shalt surely die” in the Hebrew original could be read, “Dying thou shalt die.” Throughout human history man has been made brutally aware of the truth of this statement as he has experienced the disordered function and gradual deterioration of his body. The brain is part of the body and thus has been affected by all this. Since the soul and spirit (and ultimately the conscious “I”) must express themselves through the brain, they may find themselves unable to do so properly because of disordered function of the brain. The imperfect physical organization of man since the fall has rendered the mind (used in the general sense), through its connection with the body (in this case the brain), liable to false perceptions and abnormal expressions.
Such things as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, head injuries, and brain infections can all cause disturbances of behavior. The lack of proper sleep might also be included here. We can place alcohol and other substance abuse in this category, as they affect the brain in a physical way. Here we are already dealing with a combination of causes, for alcohol and substance abuse involve willful sin, while head injuries and a lack of proper sleep involve adverse circumstances and the effect of sin from without.
Most of us have had contact with someone who has developed Alzheimer’s disease and, as a result, no longer thinks or acts in a normal way. The individual often has poor concentration, poor memory for recent events, difficulty in planning and organizing his life, and impaired reasoning abilities. More serious are the resulting emotional and psychological problems such as changes in personality, inappropriate behavior in social situations, agitation, irritability, and even paranoia (an irrational suspiciousness or distrust of others).
In serious head injuries or after a stroke, the individual’s ability to function intellectually is usually damaged, but there are often other changes such as increased anxiety, emotional lability, and even aggression. In some cases there is an exaggeration of certain traits (such as stubbornness or impulsiveness) that the individual may have had before the accident and a lack of control over tendencies which may have been present already.
In addition to these somewhat obvious physical causes of mental illness, we know that the brain is involved in mental disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. It is not our purpose to enlarge on what medical science may have discovered in this realm, but suffice it to say that research has been able to demonstrate a biological component of some mental disorders. For example, various chemical substances are involved in the proper action of neurotransmitters in the brain, and when these are not present in the right amounts (either an excess or a deficit), symptoms of mental illness may result. This is certainly an important contributing factor in some forms of mental illness and predisposes the individual to a particular disorder. However, it is a mistake to categorize someone having a mental illness as simply having a “chemical imbalance.” The matter is far more involved than this, taking on a complexity in which multiple genes act in concert with nongenetic factors to produce a risk of mental disorder.
We will leave the matter of alcohol and substance abuse for now, as these are more in the category of a spiritual problem rather than a naturally occurring one. But the others that we have mentioned are things that occur because we have been born into a sinful creation. Although believers have had their sins forgiven, they are still part of a creation that “groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:2222For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22)). The next verse tells us that “ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Only when the believer has his glorified body will he function in the way that God intended. But again, the problem of mental illness is more complicated than simply a disorder of the brain.
Soul and Spirit
So far, we have considered only how sin has affected the physical side of man and how a diseased or damaged brain may not respond in the right way. But do we realize that sin has reached into every part of our being, moral and spiritual as well as physical? We would readily agree that the tendency to lie, steal or murder is definite evidence of sin which is in us because of the fall of man. We must recognize, however, that the soul and spirit are affected by the fall of man, not only in our having a tendency to commit sin, but also in manifesting abnormalities that sin has caused. We are all born into this world as lost sinners, and while the essential evil is neither in the body itself nor in human nature and its faculties, yet all of these are spoiled by it. While the body itself is not sinful, it suffers from the effects of sin, as we have seen. Also, it is through his body that man commits sin. David could say in Psalm 51:55Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5) (JND), “Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Paul says in Romans 7:1818For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Romans 7:18) (JND), “I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, good does not dwell.” The term “the flesh” as used in Scripture sometimes refers to man’s whole natural being—body, soul and spirit. (This is developed more fully in the section on “The Nature of Man.”) Scripture also tells us that naturally we were “sons of disobedience: among whom we also all once had our conversation in the lusts of our flesh, doing what the flesh and the thoughts willed to do” (Ephesians 2:22Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2)3 JnD). I would suggest that all of man’s being is included in these verses. Thus, the body (including the brain) feels the effect of sin in its disordered function and deterioration, and the soul and spirit, with all our faculties, have been affected by sin.
In his booklet Self-Esteem, the author states:
“Many of you are aware that there are different personality types, and in a general way we can all be fitted into one (or a combination) of these different types. For example, some people are hard workers, well disciplined, and good organizers. These are the people who can manage anything and who generally accomplish a lot in this world. No doubt this ability was given to them of God, and it is fair to say that they would have had this ability even if man had not fallen. But these people usually have a negative side to them, for they are often arrogant and intolerant of others. They may be sarcastic and often do not work well with others. They may rise to the top in the business world and be in managerial positions, but they are sometimes not liked by their subordinates.
“On the other hand, there are those who are far more open and friendly and are what we would call ‘people persons.’ They are intuitive, can sense other people’s feelings, and react appropriately. They usually have many friends and are well liked by others. Again, this is a God-given trait and would have been part of them without the fall. On the negative side, these people often have a problem with self-discipline and find it difficult to discipline others. They find it more difficult to keep an appointment on time, to manage their affairs in an orderly way, and to take responsibility seriously.
“What we see in the personalities of men, including ourselves, is partly what God in His wisdom created and partly what sin has brought in. We see beauty in nature and recognize God’s handiwork, but then we see the ruin that sin has brought in.”
Some of what is called mental illness or disordered behavior is really an exaggerated expression of what are normal mental and emotional responses, but without the proper integration with and balance of other traits that would enable the individual to react normally. Just as each personality type has a downside which is, no doubt, the result of sin, so the effect of the fall on the human soul and spirit contributes to abnormal behavior which may result in mental illness. The effect of imbalances in our makeup results in what is conventionally called personality—that combination of qualities that makes the individual unique. However, if these imbalances go beyond a certain point, the exaggeration of one or more tendencies results in abnormal behavior which we may call mental illness. For example, the imagination is an important, useful and interesting part of human personality, but an overactive imagination which does not distinguish between fantasy and reality may result in delusions and even hallucinations.
Let us consider a well-known mental illness such as manic-depressive (or bipolar) disorder. Is it merely a physical condition, or is there more involved? Is it caused simply by a brain that is “wired” to go off occasionally in a frantic flight, to be followed by a corresponding crash into depression? No doubt a distortion in brain function is part of it, and this is the reason that psychotropic drugs can effect some relief of the symptoms. However, I believe that Scripture would lead us to believe that sin affecting the soul, spirit and the conscious “I” is also involved. As we have already noted, the soul and spirit interact with the body (the brain) in a way that only God can fully understand, and since sin has pervaded every part of man’s being, the effect of it is felt in body, soul and spirit.
Many believers have suffered from mental disorders, and continue to do so. In some cases, these were largely due to factors beyond their control, as in the case of William Cowper, the well-known hymnwriter who lived in the eighteenth century. When he felt well, he could write beautiful hymns, such as “Ere God had built the mountains” and “God moves in a mysterious way,” and even lighter poems like “The Ride of John Gilpin.” But when depression overtook him, he was haunted by the blackness of despair, and several times he attempted suicide. All his life he was subject to the “highs and lows” of his illness, although he saw clearly the fullness of the work of Christ for his salvation.
I have known more than one earnest believer who struggled with schizophrenia, with its delusions and hallucinations. Others have to cope with anxiety disorders, being subject to such things as panic attacks and phobias, with the mental and physical anguish that these entities involve. Having known some of these individuals for more than twenty-five years, I am persuaded that the problem is neither purely physical nor purely in the soul and spirit. Rather, we must understand that, just as the body is subject to disorder and disease through sin, so the soul and spirit are also affected by it. Beyond even all this, sin has affected the conscious “I”—the essence of the individual himself that ultimately controls the spirit, soul and body. While this may sometimes be a spiritual problem and may always have a spiritual dimension, the tendency itself is the result of sin distorting the soul and spirit as well as distorting the body. Often sin distorts both the physical and the nonphysical at the same time, resulting in a complex origin for the particular mental illness. This brings us to a consideration of the second aspect of sin and its consequences, namely, sin allowed in our lives.