THE BIBLE
AND MENTAL HEALTH (1)
Our World of Emotional Problems
INTRODUCTION:
1. Mark
5:1-15.
a) Christ
and his disciples crossed to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee and found a
man who was possessed with demons.
b) This
man lived among the tombs. Men tried to bind him with chains but were unable to
do so because he would break the chains. This possessed man roamed among the
tombs and mountains, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
c) When
Jesus met this man, Jesus cast out the unclean spirits (demons). All of the
demons asked to be allowed to enter into a herd of swine feeding nearby. When
the demons entered into the herd of swine, the herd ran down a steep hill into
the sea and was choked.
d) The
men who had been taking care of the swine went into town and told the people
there what had happened. Naturally, the people were curious and went out to see
what had happened.
e) The
people found Jesus sitting with the man, who was now "in his right
mind." Instead of being awed by the power of Jesus’ miracle, the people
asked Jesus to leave. Many people today have foolishly deprived themselves of
blessings by not allowing Jesus in their lives.
f) But
we should not overlook an interesting point – when the demoniac found Jesus,
he regained his sanity. There is soundness of mind in being with the Son of God!
DISCUSSION:
I. Troublesome
times.
A. Mental
illness is one of the major health problems in our society.
1. It
has been estimated that at least half of those persons in hospital beds are
there for no organic reason, but because they have emotional problems.
2. Dr.
S. I. McMillen, author of "None of These Diseases," has made
the statement that "medical science recognizes that emotions such as
fear, sorrow, envy, resentment and hatred are responsible for the majority of
our sickness. Estimates vary from 60 percent to nearly 100 percent."
3. The
Yellow Pages of the telephone directory in any large city are filled with
listing for psychiatrists and psychologists.
B. Psychologists
suggest that, mentally, people fall into three general classes.
1. Normal
– these people experience their share of daily problems, get tired, are
angry on occasion, and have their ups and downs.
2. Neurotic
– He is able to live in society and work around other people. However, these
people often experience anxiety. These people may be hypochondriacs and
imagine they are seriously ill.
3. Psychotic
– this person has an emotional disorder that is so severe he requires
custodial care. He has lost touch with reality and may be subject to delusions
or hallucinations. He sometimes completely withdraws from society and does not
respond to others around him. He tends to live in a world of his own.
II. Causes
of emotional disturbance.
A. Sometimes
the origin of these disturbances is organic, hormonal, or chemical. Persons
affected in this manner need medical attention.
B. Genetic
defects, degenerative changes that accompany advanced age, the use of alcohol
and other drugs can precipitate physical alterations in the brain that
manifest themselves in emotional trauma. As with the first group, these people
often require medical attention.
C. However,
not all mental problems are genetic or organic in origin. People’s emotional
problems are often times spiritual problems that have been allowed to go
unresolved. They have been allowed to escalate to the point where these people
simply cannot enjoy a happy, fulfilled life. These people become a misery to
themselves and to those around them. Persons who suffer from emotional
problems caused by spiritual problems do not need the advice of modern
psychologists or psychiatrists nor do they need drug treatment.
D. Sin
places an enormous emotional toll on those who sin. Consider the following:
1. Sin
separates a person from a being of absolute purity, God (Isaiah
59:1-2). No one can enjoy true happiness as long as he is separated from his
Creator.
2. Sin
saddens. The prodigal son was in a state of depression until he
"came to himself" and was reunited with his father (Luke 15:11ff.)
3. Sin
scars. Even when a person knows he has been forgiven of his sin, he may
continue to carry the burden of his sin. Long after his conversion, Paul
referred to himself as the "chief of sinners" (I Timothy 1:15).
4. Sin
sours. Carrying the burden of sin can cause a person to become negative
and critical – "misdirected hostility."
5. Sin
sickens. Sin can produce heart problems, ulcers, and emotional
difficulties.
6. Sin
sears. When sin is left uncorrected it allows the heart to become
hardened. Paul spoke of those who were "past feeling" (Ephesians
4:19).
III. Spiritual
problems have spiritual solutions.
A. Modern
psychiatry is often unable to deal with man’s problems.
1. Modern
psychiatry is often atheistic and thus humanistic, viewing man as a mere
animal.
2. Modern
psychiatry often strives to be morally neutral and refuses to make judgments
concerning values.
B. There
is only one solution to those emotional problems that are spiritually caused.
1. That
solution is God’s word – II Peter 1:3.
2. The
Bible is the best psychology textbook in the world. The Bible not only
diagnoses humanity’s weaknesses, it also provides the cure.
CONCLUSION:
1. Just
as Jesus restored (through the miraculous) soundness of mind to the demoniac, he
can restore soundness of mind (through his word) to those who have emotional
problems due to spiritual lapses.
Outlined from "The Bible and
Mental health" by Wayne Jackson
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