Mental Illness: Sin or an Exception to the rule?
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Dear Elizabeth619, It was common thinking among the Jews that someone had to have sinned becasue of physical maladies.
Yet Jesus said:
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. John 9:1-3
(v.6). When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
(v.7) And said unto him, Go wash in the pool of Si-lo-am, (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
Jesus confirms the truth addressed in Job. That is, physical infirmites or other sufferings are not necessarily related to human sin. God has often allowed suffering for reasons known only to Him, but, always with good reason, as confirmed in Romans 8:28
Just correcting. Don't know how the other one got posted in reply to Poet Mary. Another one of those interesting things on this forum.
Yet Jesus said:
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. John 9:1-3
(v.6). When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
(v.7) And said unto him, Go wash in the pool of Si-lo-am, (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
Jesus confirms the truth addressed in Job. That is, physical infirmites or other sufferings are not necessarily related to human sin. God has often allowed suffering for reasons known only to Him, but, always with good reason, as confirmed in Romans 8:28
Just correcting. Don't know how the other one got posted in reply to Poet Mary. Another one of those interesting things on this forum.
K
Well here is the issue when it comes to this, and that is in some mental illnesses the person does not know what they are doing is right or wrong all the time, or even at all. So the first step to understand this is not to place all people with mental illnesses under one category.
If you do know right from wrong and you do still do wrong then yes that is sinning, but in the more severe illnesses where that ability is not there then no I don't believe it will be counted against them. Then you say you have been diagnosed with severe depression, well I don't know how it effects you.
But my wife has severe depression and she will some times just break down and start crying for no reason, and we could even be laughing away at a comedy on TV just before she breaks down some times. It effects her thought process at times and I can clearly see that, as well as with 3 other people in my family.
I also have done a background study on suicide because of how some teach it is unforgivable and others teach it is. I did this do to the history of depression in my family, and have found out that the answer is actually both yes and no to it being forgivable. We have to leave it in the hands of the Lord because He will be the only One who knows where their heart was at, and if their though process was able to comprehend or not what they were doing.........
I work with a lot of students who have learning disabilities; I know it's not mental illness, but I want to make a parallel here. Some students (and their parents) acknowlege the LD, and want accommodation from the school, and often make excuses for the child's behaviour and academic progress. Other students (with support from their families) although they work with accommodations, realize that (or perhaps accept), even though it's not "fair" they need to work harder than the typical students in order to succeed in school.
Still, these students may not be at the top of their class, but they are working "at the top of themselves." And as their teacher, admire them. I know that in life, they will be ok, because they are learning skills and strategies to be successful.
I think it can be the same with any illness, be it mental or physical. With anxiety or depression, I have no doubt that it is more challenging to function day-by day than the typical person. It is not fair, but those who suffer will have to work harder (not unlike those people who struggle with addictions, or those more prone to addictions than others). On those days that they succeed, they should be celebrated, and on days they don't, much grace should be given.
I do believe though, that Christians who are conscience of their sin are held accountable. I am not sure what Paul's 'thorne' was, but he said the Lord told him that His Grace is sufficient.
Still, these students may not be at the top of their class, but they are working "at the top of themselves." And as their teacher, admire them. I know that in life, they will be ok, because they are learning skills and strategies to be successful.
I think it can be the same with any illness, be it mental or physical. With anxiety or depression, I have no doubt that it is more challenging to function day-by day than the typical person. It is not fair, but those who suffer will have to work harder (not unlike those people who struggle with addictions, or those more prone to addictions than others). On those days that they succeed, they should be celebrated, and on days they don't, much grace should be given.
I do believe though, that Christians who are conscience of their sin are held accountable. I am not sure what Paul's 'thorne' was, but he said the Lord told him that His Grace is sufficient.
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For one way or another I remembered this: "Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind? Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. "
When I was a child I suffered from ashma and, before I was 20 that problem disappeared... I hope all of you be healed (unless you enjoy that temporal state)
When I was a child I suffered from ashma and, before I was 20 that problem disappeared... I hope all of you be healed (unless you enjoy that temporal state)
F
Hello,
I would like to put my two cents in as well. Firstly, I would like to point out that I know of many pastors who have suffered from extreme depression. This maybe the devil attacking those who are the greatest threat to him, like with any other illness. God allows his attacks at times and we don't know why. But he sees a far bigger picture in everything. All we see is what is here and now.
Now, I don't believe that all illness whether physical or mental is from the devil directly. And I think that God knows our hearts and he will judge according to that. For someone with mental illness it maybe harder to be "good" than those without. Perhaps can be a challenge and even a test from God to go through depression or other illness. It certainly seems cruel but we know that our God isn't cruel. It could have been put upon us to humble us, or maybe it isn't from God at all. This world is full of trials and sorrow And it isn't our permanent home so just keep praying and believing and believe that nothing on this earth lasts forever. There is a season for everything, sorrow and joy. And I am not a stranger to depression myself. I have had my trials.
I would like to put my two cents in as well. Firstly, I would like to point out that I know of many pastors who have suffered from extreme depression. This maybe the devil attacking those who are the greatest threat to him, like with any other illness. God allows his attacks at times and we don't know why. But he sees a far bigger picture in everything. All we see is what is here and now.
Now, I don't believe that all illness whether physical or mental is from the devil directly. And I think that God knows our hearts and he will judge according to that. For someone with mental illness it maybe harder to be "good" than those without. Perhaps can be a challenge and even a test from God to go through depression or other illness. It certainly seems cruel but we know that our God isn't cruel. It could have been put upon us to humble us, or maybe it isn't from God at all. This world is full of trials and sorrow And it isn't our permanent home so just keep praying and believing and believe that nothing on this earth lasts forever. There is a season for everything, sorrow and joy. And I am not a stranger to depression myself. I have had my trials.
Fortunately, victory does not depend on your strength. Jesus has said:" My grace is sufficient for you; for my strength is perfected in weakness".
Our Society pushes us to be independent and rely on our own strength; while Scripture urges us to be totally dependent, and rely on Jesus (and the Holy Spirit's enabling) instead of our own strength; even when we think we can handle it!
IMPORTANT: This is NOT intended to suggest that God cannot or does not work through modern medicine.
IT DOES INDEED SUGGEST that when seeking help from modern medicine; we would do well to seek it from a Christian practitioner.
Our Society pushes us to be independent and rely on our own strength; while Scripture urges us to be totally dependent, and rely on Jesus (and the Holy Spirit's enabling) instead of our own strength; even when we think we can handle it!
IMPORTANT: This is NOT intended to suggest that God cannot or does not work through modern medicine.
IT DOES INDEED SUGGEST that when seeking help from modern medicine; we would do well to seek it from a Christian practitioner.
J
how do we know depression is not sent from our Lord to bring us closer? when the Jews fell out of favor the Lord sent the philistines to turn them them back to Him. when I got divorced it was the worst time in my life, my son was 6 months old, my girl not yet 3. i cried every day, sometimes i prayed every 30 min, and these were the "pouring your heart out" types of prayers. i became close to the Lord like i was when i was a child, back when we saw our Lord everywhere.
Life on this planet can be overwhelming and chemicals in your brain can become unbalanced....
I too took medication for 18 months and had professional help after a suicide attempt when I was 40. My diagnosis was severe depression....
Is it a sin to have it? I don't believe so but because there is a fallen world with sinners.....we have these problems as if it were a perfect sinless world there would be no mental illness.....
But I don't believe at all that it is a sin to have a mental illness....the mind is just sick....like a broken bone or any other illness you go to a doctor for help should be no difference when our minds are suffering and broken.....with help and sometimes medication they too can mend.
I too took medication for 18 months and had professional help after a suicide attempt when I was 40. My diagnosis was severe depression....
Is it a sin to have it? I don't believe so but because there is a fallen world with sinners.....we have these problems as if it were a perfect sinless world there would be no mental illness.....
But I don't believe at all that it is a sin to have a mental illness....the mind is just sick....like a broken bone or any other illness you go to a doctor for help should be no difference when our minds are suffering and broken.....with help and sometimes medication they too can mend.