Mental illness

[citygirl16]

Forgive me if this has already been brought up, I have not read through the many posts on here. While attending the same church they told us mentally ill people were demon possessed. Is this true? Bc I know many people from that same church who frequent my work place, just saying. So either they don't believe that, or they out right lie when they amen it. I'm so confused. Can anybody tell me why this is an opinion of some? So many questions. Also, im still in search of a church to call home. Forgive my ramblings.

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by citygirl16

Forgive me if this has already been brought up, I have not read through the many posts on here. While attending the same church they told us mentally ill people were demon possessed. Is this true? Bc I know many people from that same church who frequent my work place, just saying. So either they don't believe that, or they out right lie when they amen it. I'm so confused. Can anybody tell me why this is an opinion of some? So many questions. Also, im still in search of a church to call home. Forgive my ramblings.

Mental illness is not the same as being demonized, although many who are demonized find themselves acting in ways consistent with mental illness.

Jesus was a "man of sorrows", right? What did Paul write about being pressed on all sides, persecuted but not destroyed? Didn't he write that he groaned everyday waiting to be clothed with his heavenly body (I'm paraphrasing, but you get my drift).

As to why people think that mental illness is a result of demonization, it's because of bad teaching and a false sense of discernment.

If you want to know who is and who isn't demonized, get them into the presence of Jesus and they will act out, howl, shriek, vomit, cuss, fight, and all kinds of other terrible things, as the evil spirit works them over to shame and degrade them.

But bring an otherwise depressed, lonely, hurting saint to the presence of Jesus, and there will be tears of joy, healing, restoration, help, and blessing, and the way they respond to Him will indicate it is so.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by citygirl16

Forgive me if this has already been brought up, I have not read through the many posts on here. While attending the same church they told us mentally ill people were demon possessed. Is this true? Bc I know many people from that same church who frequent my work place, just saying. So either they don't believe that, or they out right lie when they amen it. I'm so confused. Can anybody tell me why this is an opinion of some? So many questions. Also, im still in search of a church to call home. Forgive my ramblings.

Who is they?

[votivesoul]

I've seen God save many "mentally ill" people, from people with schizophrenia, to people depressed and paranoid, to bipolar, to living in a half-way house as wards of the state. You name it, I've likely seen it.

He gives beauty for ashes, right? But what does that mean? I think the "ashes" are the remains of a failed, miserable life and existence without God. Give Him your ashes and He will give you His beauty in return.

[Evang.Benincasa]

http://www.szasz.com/

[jediwill83]

Also Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet....

We know that some mental illness is caused by imbalances of different chemicals in the brain and we treat those by trying to restore them to their correct levels.

I want to echo what has been said and say that demonic possession CAN mirror certain mental illnesses.

I've had some recent experiences with this.

Demonic possession IS real but so is mental illness that is NOT possession.

Like Votive said, it just takes some good discernment at times.

[Evang.Benincasa]

http://www.szasz.com/

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

http://www.szasz.com/

Do you have an excerpt? I don't like going to websites without knowing what to expect... lol

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

Mental illness is not the same as being demonized, although many who are demonized find themselves acting in ways consistent with mental illness.

Jesus was a "man of sorrows", right? What did Paul write about being pressed on all sides, persecuted but not destroyed? Didn't he write that he groaned everyday waiting to be clothed with his heavenly body (I'm paraphrasing, but you get my drift).

As to why people think that mental illness is a result of demonization, it's because of bad teaching and a false sense of discernment.

If you want to know who is and who isn't demonized, get them into the presence of Jesus and they will act out, howl, shriek, vomit, cuss, fight, and all kinds of other terrible things, as the evil spirit works them over to shame and degrade them.

But bring an otherwise depressed, lonely, hurting saint to the presence of Jesus, and there will be tears of joy, healing, restoration, help, and blessing, and the way they respond to Him will indicate it is so.

This is an excellent explanation of the difference between physical mental illness, and demonization.

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

http://www.szasz.com/

Yeah there is no one prevailing belief when it comes to psychiatry.