It is not uncommon for well-meaning Christians to say hurtful things. One time I actually heard a preacher (Charles Stanley) proclaim this from the pulpit, "A Christian has no reason to be depressed". This shows a lack of understanding of mental illness. More important than that, however, is that it shows a lack of grace.
Sometimes people tell the victim that she just needs to "give it over to God". There is nothing wrong with this on the surface, but one can give it over to God while also seeking professional help. Only a radical would suggest that a believer "give it over to God" but not seek treatment for heart disease or cancer. The same standards applay to mental illness.
Sometimes the victim is blamed for not having enough faith. Maybe she just needs to "snap out of it". As somebody with depression I wish that I could just "snap out of it" when I'm in its grasp. This is not an option if you have major/clinical depression.
There are other ways that Christianity can be used in ways that are counter-productive in dealing with mental illness. We will explore these later. Let me finish this post by stating firmly that God is always good and trustworthy. Jesus Christ is never wrong or hurtful. Sometimes, however, religion can be.
God Bless you!
Brian
2 comments:
I enjoyed reading this.
Something that will keep a person equally stuck is blaming others, particularly when familly of origin issues are involved. The dynamics of forgetting and forgiving are powerful forces here.
Then there is the separate discussion of codependency and how codependers keep a person stuck, particularly friends and family.
Looking forward to more reads.
Thanks for stopping by and taking time to comment. I agree with what you are saying. At this time I'm focusing on ways in which Christianity can be harmful. The reason is because one usually hears such things from people who are not friendly toward Christianity. You and I both love it! Therefore, I want to address these issues at this time. This, however, does not take away from the insight of your remarks. You are correct.
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