Bible Question: While listening to a Christian talk show, the host stated that anxiety, fear and depression, while we are told that these are mental illnesses, cannot be an illness, since mentality is not a biological function, but basically due to personal choices when not caused by physical damage or defect. I could ot get thru to the show, so can someone show me how to back this up in scripture, without going to the obvious verse in Philippians 4:6? |
Bible Answer: Dear Tim, I suspect that your Christian talk show was painting pretty broad strokes in describing anxiety, fear, and depression the way they did. Theology seeks to uncover all that the Scripture has to say on all of the specific topics it raises. Those individual topics are what we call doctrine. Therefore, one subset of theology is called anthropology; i.e., what the Bible reveals about the nature of man. In telling us about man's nature, words like soul, spirit, mind, heart, flesh, etc. are used. I'd venture that the majority of our feelings arise from what we know. For example, we read in Acts 19:17a, "And this [the failed exorcism performed by itinerant Jews] was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus." This knowledge caused an emotional response: Acts 19:17b "and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified." Without the knowledge, the response wouldn't have been possible. We also see in the Scripture that a man's emotional response can be used to determine the roots of what they believe. Take Mark 4:40, for example, where Jesus upbraids the disciples for their failure to believe. Their fear of the storm revealed that they deemed the elements more powerful than the providential care of God. After Christ demonstrated His authority over nature (v39), the focus and intensity of the disciples fear changed dramatically (v41)! Do you see the role of knowledge here? In Matthew 6, Christ assures the believer of God's providential care. If a person is still anxious after that assurance, then I doubt he really understand what God is telling us. In Matthew 10, Christ explains that the disposition of the believer's soul is in God's hands. If a person is still fearful after that assurance, then I doubt he really understands what God is telling us. Throughout the Scriptures, the believer is told to rejoice in the Good News of what the Lord has done for us and will do for us. If a person is still depressed after such assurances, then I doubt he really understands what God is telling us. I generally don't like the phrase "mental illness." The Scripture only identifies physical and spiritual root causes. However, we commonly recognize abnormalities when things are out of sequence. Anxiety, fear, or depression which arise without cause are sure signs of a significant problem. (In a normal person, for example, it is possible to feel embarrassment for arriving late to an appointment. However, it would be abnormal to feel such embarrassment with the knowledge of arriving early to an appointment.) No doubt their can be biochemical reasons for these kinds of inappropriate emotional responses. That sort of thing is not what I'm talking about. Of course, all of this is difficult grasp in a world that over emphasizes feelings. Instead of being led by the Word, we are all much too influenced by the contrary advice of the world. How often do we hear the world tell us, "Follow your heart" or "Trust your feelings?" As usual, they have the cart before the horse. As one of my theology professors used to say, "Think then feel. Think THEN feel!" Consequently, I tend to advise believers to let their feelings show the gaping holes in their beliefs. Anxiety demonstrates a lack of belief in God's good and gracious providence. Fear demonstrates a lack of belief in God's beneficent omnipotence. Depression demonstrates a lack of belief in God's promises. But, of course, any or all of these feelings might also be symptoms that a person is not in right standing with God. When we are not walking in obedience, it only makes sense to be anxious about judgment and fearful of the perfect and holy Judge! On a final note, think about what it means if a person is tranquil, secure, and hopeful. Aren't these emotions misplaced in lost or wayward people? Aren't these emotions appropriate for people who have believed the Word of the Lord? In both cases, doesn't it boil down to a person's knowledge of the Truth? In Him, Doc |