Knowing the Difference Between Disease and Sin

Knowing how much I appreciate Ed Welch’s, Blame it on the Brain: Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience, a woman in my church recommended that I get a hold of Dr. Welch’s first book on this topic, Counselor’s Guide to the Brain and Its Disorders: Knowing the Difference between Disease and Sin. I’m glad to have both of them, but I must admit, the 1991 publication date makes me long for a new book on this topic from CCEF (the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation)—the study of the brain has had many changes (advancements?) in the last twenty years. Maybe they’ll be publishing something in time for their big conference this year (Psychiatric Disorders: A Compassionate Look at Complex Problems)? That’d be great! I’m eager to learn, not just for my own personal application, but so that I can be a better friend to those who struggle, a better help to my church leaders as they shepherd the sheep, and just a more informed and loving human being in general.

It’s all very complicated, this topic of “mental illness”, isn’t it? It’s complicated for any person, but we Christians have a particular challenge to understand how our biblical foundation undergirds all of the information we receive from the medical sciences. Science is great! Fascinating. Helpful. Not to be ignored. But science does not answer all of our questions. Yes, sometimes we are medically sick; but sometimes we are caught in sin. Sometimes we need medical intervention; but sometimes we are caught in unbelief and destructive behaviors and we need to be called to faith and repentance.

Many times? It’s a complicated combination of all of these factors and more. Other people are involved; how they act and react affects the situation. Situational dynamics are involved; many times dynamics that are far beyond our ability to control. And yes, we have choices, but sometimes, for some people, there are extreme medical (chemical) issues at play such that rational choices are impossible in that moment—those are the moments that we need help.

Oh, the propensity to call sickness sin (and sin sickness) is strong. My friend told me this morning that people rushed to her side when she was fighting cancer, but the reaction is often different when someone is struggling with depression, extreme anxiety, a psychotic break that requires hospitalization, a suicide attempt, etc. We pondered various reasons why this might be the case … fear, ignorance, blaming the person for their troubles (especially because, often, there is some level of moral culpability even if there are overarching medical issues at play as well). We don’t know what to say, so we say nothing. We have no idea how to “fix it”, so we stand back and wait for the person to “get better.” Or at the worst extreme, we shake our heads and judge our brother or sister, rather than running to their aid, rescue, and comfort.

It’s all very complicated. Both the spiritual and the physical components must be considered and addressed. But the bottomline, to quote Dr. Welch’s Preface in his first book, is that:
 

“Even in the midst of brain and body disease, our spirits, by faith, can be vibrant and strong. This can give Christians hope where it is otherwise absent.”

Amen to that! And amen to a gradually decreasing sense of my chest being crushed, my heart being physically pierced as with a knife, and racing thoughts that race to the point of a blur of paralysis. No fun! A “particular hell” to quote the great Bible translator, J.B. Phillips. But a lessening one, thank God.

Hope your week is going well and that every day you are reminded anew that:

“We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Sending my love—

Your friend,
Tara B.