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“This text teaches the sufficiency of the scripture to answer our spiritual problems. And let’s make sure that we understand that our emotional problems are also spiritual issues.” - P&D

Discussion

Tue, 08/11/26

Mental health problems are spiritual issues because Scripture is sufficient for them, and Scripture is sufficient for them because they are spiritual issues.

Anything seem a little off with that reasoning?

I don’t mean to single out Kevin here, because he has a whole lot of company.

Agreed: as always, human society is a mess, and as always, our deepest problems are ultimately to blame. Also agreed: you can’t fix the deepest problems with mental health therapy.

Therefore, what?

A lot that is alleged to follow from that really doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

Tue, 08/11/26

Dr. David Murray (and his wife Shona who is a Medical Doctor) co-wrote a helpful little book "Christians Get Depressed Too", based upon their journey with his wife's depression. It is a helpful balance of conservative theology with responsible medical care.

This is not a simplistic discussion. It is very nuanced, complicated, and worthy of much prayer, biblical wisdom, and medical expertise. Many have been well-served and poorly served by nouthetic counseling. The brain is so complex. Deficiencies can be well-served by medicine and thereby provide great gains in physical and relational health.

Mark Mincy

Tue, 08/11/26

I find the article a bit simplistic, with statements that have no backing. I do agree in general that therapist are not the answer for everything, and that all that we do should be rooted in Scripture. A few comments:

  • Who is Gilbert Freemont? There is a bold quote, but have no idea if this individual has the credentials to make this quote, or if this quote is scientifically accurate. It seems to be an observational quote to create a proof of what this individual wants to espouse potentially
  • "our emotional problems are our spiritual problems". This has no Scriptural or Secular basis. Some emotional problems may be, but some are not. PTSD is not a spiritual problem, and no amount of applying Scripture will cure it. Some are rooted in physical issues, some are related to conditions.
  • "Trained medical personnel can help identify and treat these things" in some cases that is what a mental health professional is.
  • "So absolutely, get help if you need it. Make sure you get biblically based counsel" that is what therapy is. Sometimes that can be done by biblically based counseling, and sometimes it cannot be. Sometimes your emotional and mental struggles need to be resolved with physical solutions. God did not quote Scripture or berate Elijah when he was struggling mentally. He sent an angel and focused on his physical condition. When that was resolved it helped Elijah. Othertimes when someone was fearful in Scripture they were scolded by God and told to return to His Word.

Tue, 08/11/26

Some of what was going through my head on this felt familiar. Then I remembered I wrote about it a couple years ago. My thoughts haven’t changed a lot since then. So I think I’ll repost tomorrow.

Although it wasn’t the focus, I did go a little bit into the question of how emotions fit into things from a biblical perspective. It’s not like there isn’t any information in Scripture on the topic. But we don’t have teaching that directly says, OK, here’s a model of the human personality and how all the pieces fit together—mind, body, emotions, actions. We can infer some things, with appropriate levels of uncertainty.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.