Mental Illness, why is it treated as a sin?

[Redefine_Me]

Just so everyone is aware, autism is NOT a mental illness, it is a developmental disability.

A couple of us have already pointed that out as well

[Scarletprayers]

I notice bi-polar isn't on your list................sin or disorder???????????????

[Axxman]

Hey Damo...I'm glad I misunderstood. I thought you were getting angry...I'm glad your not. I think its great that God has bleesed your church/ministry with the ability to handle the mentally handicapped. Some churches probably don't have the resources to even know where to start...so its good that they can call your church. I think autism and down syndrome fall into an entirely different catagory than whats being discussed here, but maybe I'm wrong.

[damo1]

Hey Damo...I'm glad I misunderstood. I thought you were getting angry...I'm glad your not. I think its great that God has bleesed your church/ministry with the ability to handle the mentally handicapped. Some churches probably don't have the resources to even know where to start...so its good that they can call your church. I think autism and down syndrome fall into an entirely different catagory than whats being discussed here, but maybe I'm wrong.

damo1

hay axx man

thanks brother i just needed to be open as i have become very prottective of mark as we only had one person of being charged for murdering a war vetran in our town it was a horrible murder axx man and it had the hole farming comunity in anger

yet we are praying that the police have the right person as it was a mental health patient being charged due to some one seeing him near the house at the time of the murder

this is something we notice with the people we have in our church axx man they become victems of crime to the point were you have to almost sheild them from any further attacks

in this community of ours that i am moving from many with mental health issues will call for help to the point were that help is not given to them many are left on their own to the point were the neghbours almost have to constantly cal the police or prottect those with mental health issues from causing harm to them selves or to those around them

since i have been with the chistian out reach center i have learnt a lot plus i have been shakken out of my comfort zone to the point were i have had to pray and ask god to change me from with in their were times i would come home in tears by what i have heard by some of our members

this is what the comunity does not hear and even though you do not hear of the crimes committed towards those with mental health problems these preciouse brothers and sisters are being violated

one young women with mental health problems was raped to were she had petrol splashed on her head and this was recorded on a mobil ph and the boys that did this did not get charged

you can get training resources and mental health workers also hold traning courses for any one intrested in bringing this into their own church

god bless from your brother in the lord damien stipic

[Axxman]

Hey Axxman - love ya brother (even if you did disappear on us in the Worthy Prophetic Football Predictions thread )

but, I'm trying to follow what you are saying...

You ask if God created mental illness, otherwise, you say it is man-made. Did God create cancer, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, etc.? I'm choosing things that generally happen later in life, but I of course could list a multitude of disabilities that manifest themselves at birth or early in life. I'm not following the connection, because mental illness is not a sin. Sin is still a choice, and I have live this first-hand with my ex-husband. Did his choices come about because of his mental illness? I don't know - I do know that God has promised not to give us a temptation that we are not able to bear, and that He will give us a way of escape. He does not promise that we will not have things to deal with and overcome, and that the choices will not be hard. I don't know - I have lived this first hand and am no closer to understanding the mental state my ex-husband is in than I was a year ago when he started to decline.

I also think it is important for us all to understand that mental illness varies greatly and we should not make assumptions/stereotypes that someone with a mental illness will do "x" or "y" or "z". I don't like the conclusion that is being drawn that mental illness is sin or automatically leads to sin.

Did you know that statistically, people with mental illness are more likely to be the victims of crime than commit crimes themselves?

Hey Redefine Me...

Yes, I believe God created cancer, arthristis, AIDS, and any number of physical ailments. I think God uses those things for His purpose, whatever it may be. I think God can and does use mental health issues for His purpose as well. However, I don't believe God created "eating disorders" and the like. I think that a person who is destroying their temple like that, and excuses it as if they can't help it, by declaring a mental disorder, is in sin. The only other way to view it is to say God created them to sin. I personally believe that mental illnesses like eating disorders and depression are man-made and that the true cure from them is repentance. I believe it is that easy because I have seen it with my own eyes.

All of the mental illnesses I posted before lead to sin or at the minimum interfere with our fellowship with God. Since God desires fellowship with His elect I cannot fathom why he would create an illness that directly opposed that fellowship. Unless you are willing to admit that He created them to be vessels of His wrath...even I'm not trying to go there. I don't know of any documented mental illness that is said to improve faith and fellowship with God. I believe that mental illness is a cover for sin...intentionally or not.

I would be willing to agree that Satan has clouded the issue of mental illness to the degree that some Christians may not know that they are buying into a secular system. Its not an excuse...but I can understand how we are willing to believe the best in people and excuse their behaviour through illness.

[Scarletprayers]

I notice bi-polar isn't on your list................sin or disorder???????????????

My answer is, "I don't know; it's not my field." My two cents.

Its not my field either, except for living with and trying to help one for the past 30 years..........

[OneLight]

If anyone wants to check this site out, it does have a lot of information. It appears that you can drill down pretty far.

Wikipedia

[Scarletprayers]

If anyone wants to check this site out, it does have a lot of information. It appears that you can drill down pretty far.

Wikipedia

What OneLight, your not going to cloud the issue with facts now are you!

[Axxman]

I cant see how any mental illness is a sin, if its real. If someone cant help but to be bi-polar, or depressed, or schizofrentic, or have multiple personality disorder, none of that should be considered sin. Its biological. Chemical reactions in the brain. We shouldn't suggest that people with these kinds of disorders should repent. Unless they willfully, knowingly, act in a sinful way, be it murder or vandilism or destruction or verbal or physical abuse, they need not repent for anything.

I cant believe this is even a discussion. There's nothing spiritual about disorders like these.

You can't see how nearly EVERY sin in the bible is now justifiable through mental health. People who starve (or eat) themselves to death aren't responsible for their actions...its an eating disorder. People who contemplate killing themselves or others aren't responsible...they are manic depressives. People who are pre-disposed to violence aren't responsible...its PTSD. You can go down the list. There is a mental illness for every sin in the book.

Show me ONE mental disorder that causes a person to show increased amounts of ANY fruit of the Spirit. It doesn't exist because these disorders are meant to mask sin. People who are oppressed by sin need to repent and give it over to God. I do agree that willfully, and knowingly is a "key" component. I think that a person who doesn't have the mental capacity to know their in sin, shouldn't be held accountable. However...MOST people open admit their mental health issues. "I suffer from depression" or "I have an eating disorder" or "I'm psychotic." Those people KNOW that they are in sin and should be called on to repent. If they cannot repent then there is only ONE reason why and thats between them and God.

[Vickilynn]

I am going to be upfront here..I have struggled with an eating disorder on and off for several months now. I have lost my best friend due to it and I have had the question thrown at me that if I really loved God and was secure in my faith, I wouldn't struggle with this...well guess what? I do love God and I am thankful for what He has done in my life, but yes I still struggle with this. Today I ate the first actual meal in about two and a half weeks. and God has sent a wonderful person in my life to help me who has been through this and she is a Christian. So yes, in answer to your question, we need to love them as Christ would.

Shalom Anne,

I pray for complete healing my Sister!