The “Church” and Mental Illness: Is it all its cracked up to be?

April 10, 2013 — 2 Comments

'Depression #5 (staring at the park)' photo (c) 2005, Dave Gingrich - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Rick Warren’s son committed suicide, and due to his prominence in the “Christian Church Circles” of mainstream evangelicalism, the “Church” is “talking” about mental illness.

Here is my response:

Wow. The Church is talking about mental illness. In reality, the phrase “illness” undermines the true dilemma.

As a social worker, a walking contradiction, a “Christian Social Worker”, the malady is systemic. It is more deeply rooted in the culture and societal approach to how we treat individuals suffering from genuine organic issues, ie. Schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, or depression. And those with socio-economic adjustment problems, legal problems, or poor familial supports.

The range of legitimate organic and chemical imbalances compared to the faux disorders listed in the DSM-IV, and soon to come DSM-V, are growing at such an enormous rate that mental illness is more of an excuse than a legitimate manifestation plaguing the sufferer.

Don’t get me wrong, let’s not discount that people really do struggle with bi-polar and depression. But, most clients receiving services in the mental health system in our country, are only doing so to have their lives guided by someone with experience and resources. These things are what once was a staple of the familial and societal units. In large part, these agencies substitute, or are sub-contracted entities providing services that in large part SHOULD be concerns of the CHURCH.

These issues are much deeper than the individuals who actually have depression and are “suicidal.” For us, those who are part of THE CHURCH, listening is a crucial component for our ability to be the BODY of Christ to everyone, not just our brethren with mental health needs. Listening also employs education and empathy. If we are adhering to the principle of loving one another as we love ourselves, this is a no brainer. We shouldn’t be “talking” about mental illness, it should be a prerequisite to our obedience to the instructions of our Lord. No longer should it be tolerated that everyone with a mental health condition should be treated as though they have a demon.

But, we must also not discount the very real possibility that demonic activity is something to be taken into consideration in many cases.

Next time someone explains they are having struggles with mental health, don’t just passively encourage faith and tell them “you are praying for them.” Stop right there, pray right away, but most importantly, step-INTO that persons life.

One of the first places I recommend people go, for plenty of free resources and great material on the subject is CCEF. Do yourself a favor, read an article today.http://www.ccef.org/resources

http://www.ccef.org/sites/default/files/CCEF%20Now%20Volume%203%20small.pdf

In Social Work
 permalink

Portrait of a disciple: Stephen the sacrifice?

November 5, 2012 — 1 Comment

(Acts 6:8) And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Stephen, means crown, or crowned. This Stephen, selected as a deacon was also selected to die as one of the church’s first martyrs. Along with the many other martyrs down through the ages it is his blood that is considered as a worthy sacrifice to the Father (cf. Lev 4:7, Rev 6:9) Certainly a fitting name for such a one as he. After all, Stephen will be one of a few chosen to wear a white robe (Rev 6:11) and await the judgment of those who chose to take the life of the Father’s selected messengers (Rev 6:10).

It is true that Stephen was a martyr, but he was also a deacon (Acts 6:1-5). We know that the word for deacon is diakonos. Which otherwise means servant or attendant. You can find it used some thirty-seven times in the New Testament to reference the work of ministry in various forms, not just to the modern “office” we are accustom to assigning it.

What are some of the things we know and what is yet left to learn of this Stephen?

Stephen was:

  • selected as a deacon (therefore not one of the twelve) (Acts 6:1-5)
  • a servant of tables and widows (Acts 6:2)
  • full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3)
  • full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5)
  • full of grace and power (Acts 6:8)
  • a performer of great wonders, signs, and miracles (Acts 6:8)
  • an instigator of wicked men and provoked their conscience (Acts 6:10, Acts 7:54-7)
  • accused of blasphemy (Acts 6:11)
  • seized by the people to be condemned by a council of conspirators (Acts 6:12-15)
  • seen as having the face of an angel (Acts 6:15)
  • a man with a vision ofglory and a witness to the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56)
  • stoned by his accusers and of a man called Saul (Acts 7:58)
  • a man who chose not to resist evil men (Acts 7:60)
  • a catalyst of the church at Jerusalem’s dispersion (Acts 8:1)
  • a man who was greatly missed and revered by his brethren (Acts 8:2)

Truly a biography of an interesting man! While his ministry was short lived in the sense of our modern standards of “successful”, it is clear that Stephens actions were purposed! One of the most revealing condemnations of the Jewish rejection of Christ is also found in the message Stephen gave during his defense to the council who would soon put him to death. Certainly worthy of its own extrapolation we will settle for the conclusion that what Stephen stated was prophetic and enraged the hearts of these wicked men (cf. Acts 7:54).

So following the well accepted designation of martyr, let’s explore the duties discharged by this faithful servant, Stephen.

As a Deacon one should be:

Stephen was:

  • dignified (Acts 6:3)
  • reputable (Acts 6:3)
  • obviously innocent of his charges (Acts 7:58-60)

It is apparent that Stephen fulfilled the requirements of a Deacon, and did so magnificently. We should count it a guarantee that he heard the words, “well done!” (Mat 25:21).

And so, we see that the ministry of a deacon is not just waiting tables, serving widows, or collecting the offering plate at the ends of pew after pew. The demonstration of deacon is that of service to others, even if those whom we are serving are picking up stones to murder us. So Christian, are you serving your brethren and your enemies?

____________________________________________________

This post is part of a series:

  1. Portrait of a disciple: Philip, deacon or evangelist?
  2. Portrait of a disciple: Stephen the sacrifice?

 

 

In Exposition
 permalink

Divorce and remarriage, no big deal?

November 5, 2012 — 3 Comments

Approximately three years ago, a brother and I were discussing the topic of marriage and divorce over lunch. During our discussion, this brother shared with me that one of our own brethren had completed a work on the very subject we were elaborating upon.

At that time, there was a PDF known amongst our brethren in the assembly as the “divorce book” and was appropriately entitled “Let Not Man Put Asunder: A Biblical Study of Divorce.” By H. Van Dyke Parunak. (This version is freely available at the above link to those interested in reviewing the version that surveys the entire bible on this issue). The brother in whom I was in discussion with, charged me with the exhortation to read this brother’s treatment of the topic.

With a conclusion that divorce was at times permissible amongst believers under exceptional circumstances, I could not reason with a free conscience that it was acceptable for divorced persons to ‘remarry.’

Yes, that puts quite a number of folks into a tight position does it not? It is a personal issue for many people, and a difficult and trying topic to wrestle with effectively. In the end, it creates a dilemma for those who would provide counsel or advise individuals facing marriage, divorce, or remarriage. It effects us at home and abroad. Mothers, Fathers, Step-Family, Cousins, Uncles, and Aunts.

Taking the advice of that brother who suggested I read the longer, more in-depth study of brother Parunak’s book, I read it from cover to cover. I was so intrigued by the careful attention to detail and the purposeful and structured approach this brother had taken with the texts concerning marriage and divorce in the Old and New Testaments.

H. Van Dyke Parunak, or as many of us in the assembly call him, Van, has taken his larger study and condensed it for the latest entry in the Energion Areopagus series “Except for Fornication: The Teaching of the Lord Jesus on Divorce and Remarriage.” From the preface of the new book:

“This volume focuses on our Lord’s teaching about divorce and remarriage in the gospels. It is drawn from a much longer study that covers the entire Bible. In this volume, I will sometimes refer to that study as “the longer book.” That work also offers more technical detail on the passages considered in this volume. It is available as a free e-book at http://www.cyberchapel.org/DivorceAndRemarriage.”

Without missing a beat, Van brings his teaching into the spotlight of Jesus’ statements in the Gospels concerning the ‘fornication’ clause. He also makes a case for the truth and understanding Jesus would have had and taught by examining the evidence from Old Testament scriptures. What proves most helpful is that Van does not leave us alone with Paul’s comments on the topic, he examines them in light of what our Lord taught as well. Convincingly, Van demonstrates their agreement, and that Paul does not make exceptions to the rule. A position that I found hard to reconcile until reading Van’s work.

Van goes on to make the statement,

“The Lord Jesus uttered only eleven verses on the subject of divorce and remarriage, mostly restating the same two principles: divorce is wrong, and remarriage after divorce is adultery.”

With this in mind, Van establishes his determination in seeking the truth of what the scripture itself says regarding this matter. With so much at stake concerning the impact that divorce and remarriage can have on families, it is essential to be diligent in understanding what the rest of the scriptures teach on this topic.

Dave Black, Professor at Southeastern Theological Seminary, Missionary, and Blogger, who is one of the editors of the Areopagus project, has stated on his blog at The Jesus Paradigm, that he feels this book to be one of the most important and helpful books written on the difficult subject of Christian marriage and divorce. He goes on to note,

“This book strikes me as a model of exegesis and interpretation. Not all will agree with its conclusions, but few I believe, will be able to ignore its biblical arguments.”

I agree with brother Dave Black, and hope you will soon find out for yourself that you do also. The careful exegesis and attention to the original languages are helpful. This entry in the Areopagus series also proves helpful and lends itself to the accessibility of those who have little or no training in biblical languages or classical seminary training.

Van has chosen this undertaking for his own personal benefit and knowledge of the problem as God sees it, and the end result is the benefit of any reader who chooses to pick up this incredible work and read it. It had a profound impact on how I viewed the dilemma of divorce and remarriage, as well as how I viewed my own approach to the woman I was preparing to marry.

In Reviews
 permalink

Being faithful to Christ in a “quasi-government” employment setting.

October 8, 2012 — 1 Comment

I work in Community Mental Health. Technically, I am not an employee of the government. But, by proxy, I am employed by a contractor whose major funding source resides at the County level. That County source gets its funding from the State, and the State receives most of its money for this funding from the Federal Government. So you see, essentially, if we want to keep our funding, we submit ourselves to the County’s protocol and policies regarding the manner in which we provide services.

While working for my employer, I am defaulted into a position of being subject to the rule and regulation of Government Policy. This is not all bad. But in many ways, this poses significant obstacles to remaining obedient to the rule which matters most in my life, the rule of Christ.

Fundamentally, as a Social Worker, and an employee, I am hired to provide services to a multitude of individuals with various impediments, illnesses, world-views, and religious affinities. This set of characteristics is also synonymous with my co-workers and peers in the workplace. It is therefore not the environment, the funding source, or the people I serve and work with that raise a concern regarding my faithfulness to Christ and his rule, it is the test to remain obedient to Christ when others would rather you not be.

Principally, my profession requires you to be objective and constructive while employing your skills to assist, educate, and support our clientele and each other. The preferred tool of choice is an education that consists of knowledge from textbooks, clinical experience, world philosophy, and a hodge-podge of psychological/sociological theory.

While I would not throw the baby out with the bath water, as in some nouthetic approaches that staunchly promote the use of “The Bible Only” in counseling, I would err cautiously on the side of using tact. So without staking an empirical claim in either camp, what is then left?

I frequently find myself in the position of asserting the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. More often than not, the prevalence of Christian ideals and philosophy are more pervasive in human services and mental health treatment than one would assume. Even with a professional aversion to religion, specifically Christian religion, it is much easier to talk about the simplicity of what was taught by Jesus Christ.

At the end of the day, the most effective tools one can utilize in helping people who seek assistance from my agency, and by proxy me, is to preach Christ. Even with the adversarial nature of those who would oppose any form of proselytizing in the workplace, I always find myself coming back to the inner struggle with what I was taught professionally versus that which I have been taught by the words of the Lord.

So the safest philosophy to employ whilst preaching Christ and working for the Government is simple. Those who would normally stand against you are often those who scoff and blaspheme the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. At this point, their behavior becomes a qualifier and segue to open, candid, and purposeful discussion about what Jesus actually taught.

My clients, they generally are open and interested in knowing how to become freed from their afflictions, and often initiate discussions of Christ, the Bible, and living as a real disciple.

This leaves one last question to ask then. How closely does the life of the disciple match up with the words of his mouth? Which is more effective in a workplace where you are bound by government policies and hostilities toward your faith? Is it solely your words or is your deeds? Or is it better to ask is my life and doctrine compatible with each other to the extent that it is obvious to all those around me, client and co-worker alike? And ultimately, preaching Christ worth losing my job?

Act 4:19-20  But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,  (20)  for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

What do you think? How do you express your faith during the daily grind? Are you able to freely express your faith in the workplace? Do you find it difficult to share Christ with those you interact with? What has been your experience in this realm?

In Faith and Vocation
 permalink

John Piper says he’s a Christian Hedonist, how about you?

September 26, 2012 — Leave a comment

Following on the heels of a successful publishing the past 25 years, John Piper has again revisited one of his most popular works, Desiring God, Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. Originally published in 1986, this book has been the go-to manual of what John Piper defines as Christian Hedonism.
Buy through this link and help this blog!
Having never completed reading an entire John Piper book, I was not surprised to see it read like he speaks. John’s book touches on many critical issues effecting the Christian in today’s context. John has appropriately revised this entry to accommodate the advent of modern technology, the new ails of our age, and added an additional chapter to include, “Suffering: The Sacrifice of Christian Hedonism.” Concisely, academically, and scholastically, John defends his thesis, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him” throughout the entire text. John Piper also sufficiently demonstrates the story behind his passion for Christian Hedonism, and propagating it amongst brothers and sisters everywhere.

I had a difficult time engaging the book and being motivated to read it. It was not so much that the material or topic nature was not engaging itself, it is that I just found it a bit dry. I suppose John Piper may be able to level the accusation of anti-hedonist toward me at this point. Even though the premise of the book, and “Christian Hedonism” is to find joy in God, and thus draw God’s satisfaction in you, it challenges some of the paradigms of the modern Christians faith.

John Piper demonstrates that the Christian life is easily seen as sacrificial in  many regards. He also challenges the adage that finding joy in the “less-than” lifestyle Christ calls his disciples to lead is not itself as controversial as one might find. After all, having true joy in Christ is dying for him, storing up for yourself treasure in heaven. Knowing that there is reward for your temporal loss is at the center of John Piper’s Christian Hedonism.

I enjoyed the book, but I am not sure I have been converted to Christian Hedonism just yet! Nor am I ready to call myself a Christian Hedonist. There is plenty of sound advice and good strong scriptural support for John Piper’s Christian Hedonism. I also have now been afforded a glimpse into the “Desiring God” battle cry John is so well known for. With the addition of another chapter, and a group study guide, this book is worth the purchase for those who have never experienced it, and for those who have previous versions. A refreshing updated Desiring God will not disappoint!

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review!

In Reviews
 permalink
Page 1 of 812345...Last »