My look at secular psychiatry

Copyright, "All rights reserved, 2017. My intention with this blog is to look at some of the basic underlying  assumptions that are part of a secular psychiatry, which includes bias against the supernatural, whether it be God or Satan. . 

 












My Presupposition

My assumption, is that the more a culture gets away from God, the  more persons in that country will practice witchcraft, and there will be more occurrences of demon possession.
But the flip side of this is a culture that does not honor Scripture will often deny the existence of demons or God. Demonic doctrine is organized and extensive. But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1 ).  This anti-super naturalism was true in the Soviet Union before Glasnost. The authorities sent evangelical pastors to psychiatric hospitals and atheistic psychiatrists prescribed them medications that normally  are used for the treatment of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The Atheistic politico in  Soviet Union do not believe there is a God or anything that is supernatural. Therefore, they believed the pastors were insane and deluded and required psychiatric intervention.

I have also read and  pieced together, that this bias against the supernatural,  was practiced  by the mad doctors of the 18th century England. These psychiatrists actually petitioned the court to hospitalize, the despised Wesleyans  because they had ecstatic utterances and feelings.  Some of these evangelicals were put in the infamous Bedlam, which was actually Bethlehem Royal Hospital.

A Secular psychiatrist mocked me

When I was in a depressive state I  enlisted a well know psychiatrist in the Wilkes/Barre, Pennsylvania area to rid me of my depression.  This was in 1986. At that time some psychiatrists were calling the medicine used for depression as "poison". But I had researched the issue and knew that calling them poison was not reasonable.

 One of the  psychiatrists from whom I sought treatment,  mocked me because I was an evangelical Christian. He said that John the Baptist suffered from psychosis and  depression.  I took the reference of psychosis to refer to a passage which involved John and Jesus at the baptism of Jesus; The text says:  

But Jesus answering said to him, permit it at this time ; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water ; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased" (Matthew 18:15-17).

 Revelation is the act of God where He reveals to man that which he would not know.

This was no hallucination that John was experiencing.Those who do not understand the giving of the Spirit without measure conclude that John was not in his right mind.  However Jesus Christ had asked John to baptize Him  and was fully aware that the Holy Spirit of God was in a extraordinary manner given to Jesus.

 He also chided me saying, "I thought Christians were suppose to have the joy of the Lord and did not need medication." To be fair not all secular psychiatrists act in this way. when dealing with born again believers. But he did and I found him to be obnoxious and arrogant.

Often Christians will accuse those who have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia of being demon possessed; But there is a difference between them and some similarities. I would argue for a pastoral theology which is balanced and analytical. We must not be afraid to use diagnostic differentials to guide us in the area of targeting mental illness and/or demon possession.

A fascinating book on the subject can be seen at the address below.

http://www.amazon.com/Undertaker-Mind-Mad-Doctoring-Eighteenth-Century-Medicine/dp/0520231511.


Steve Bloem is an experienced clinical pastoral counselor. You can  get counseling  by Skype, by phone, or in person.  For more about counseling and support groups please go to the link. http://heartfeltmin.org/what-we-do.html

Co authors, Steve and Robyn Bloem
 One of the first Christian books on mental illness to talk
 about the medical model of mental illness.
A book  and a story.  

This book is on academic status with its 
publisher Kregel Publications
  http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Minds-Healing-Youre-Losing/dp/0825421187

 

Young evangelical Christian is killed by Muslim teens beause he drank from the same cup that they did.

Hebrews13:3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated,since you yourselves also are in the body.

 The Hebrew Christians at this point had been severely persecuted, which included losing their homes and being imprisoned. We see from Hebrews 13:2,3 that the pastor, missionary,Timothy had been imprisoned because of the gospel. The text says, "Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon. I will see you." (NASB Hebrews 13:23)

The writer of Hebrews has already in chapter 11 spoke of men and women of old who suffered greatly.  He says in Hebrews 11:36, "and others  experienced mockings and scourgings,yes, also chains and imprisonment (NASB).  Another good example of mockings and scourgings and imprisonment can be found in the book of Jeremiah. Time does not permit an exposition of this book. If you read it on your own, be sure to include Lamentations, which is also written by Jeremiah.

Because of the Internet, today, we more than ever have opportunity to be obedient to the command of Hebrews 13:3. 




The first part of the  passage says,   "Remember the prisoners". We must not forget them but seek to find out who is suffering, why there are suffering ,and where they are suffering.  We should  realize that it is necessary to  pray for every aspect of their lives. 

Not only this, but according to Hebrews 13:3, our remembrance in prayer is fueled by a heartfelt empathy, remembering them as though we are in prison with them. We are to picture in our minds what this suffering involves. This will help create empathy. What would you do if you could not shower, if there was sewage flowing openly in the prison, or if you were tortured daily.?  How would you feel? You and I must realize that our persecuted,  fellow Christians,  belong to the body of Christ. We should rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Please see Romans 12:14-15). We should ask the Holy Spirit to help us care.

 Prayer Requests
 
 

 
 A Christian teenager was beaten to death by classmates recently after being accused of drinking from the same glass as a Muslim. Sharoon Masih, 17, had begun classes at the exclusive MC Model Boys Government School Burewala in Punjab only three days before his murder. A Christian teenager was beaten to death by classmates recently after being accused of drinking from the same glass as a Muslim. Sharoon Masih, 17, had begun classes at the exclusive MC Model Boys Government School Burewala in Punjab only three days before his murder. He had been admitted to the school based on superior academic performance at his village school and was the only Christian in his class. A teacher in the room at the time of the attack said he didn’t notice the incident because he was reading a newspaper. Sharoon’s grandmother, who attends a church led by a VOM partner, said the family intends to ask the courts for justice. “Today is our son, tomorrow will be other sons and daughters,” she said. Pray for Sharoon’s family as they mourn their son’s death. Pray for all Christian children in Pakistan who face harassment at school and in their village.
For more prayer requests, please go to: https://www.icommittopray.com/

The Day that LIndsay and Emily Hope Died.

Happiness does not always last.

I was so happy when my wife Robyn and I had our second child,  Lindsay. She was somewhat fearful but also loved to laugh. She was a very law abiding citizen and never really hurt anyone. I remember taking her and her older brother to the movie Saving Private Ryan. I wanted to show them how our "forefathers" lived and died for our freedom. At one point Lindsay leaned over and said, "Now what war  this Dad?" She was never great at history. But she was a thankful young lady.


























Marriage 

.Lindsay was married  July 10,2001.  It was a great ceremony and the Lord was glorified. She and her husband decided to name their baby, "Emily Hope." They like many parents felt that God would use their baby some day. The name meant to Robyn and me that a great future for their family would be filled with faith, hope and love. But we never expected that  in the near future, a day would end in great violence and could be likened to the "fog of war."



















 Helpful Scriptures On Suffering

It was beyond our human comprehension how God would make something good out of this tragedy. But we did know what the Bible said, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren" ( NASB, Romans 8:28-29).

He is the great God of Heaven and earth.

 The Psalmist said, "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, But to Your name give glory; because of Your loving kindness, because of Your truth.Why should the nations say, Where, now, is their God?" But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever  He pleases" NASB) (Psalm 115:1-3,).

Two More on  September 11,2001  


On September 11, 2001, our nineteen year old Lindsay was excited to go to church and pray for our nation.  On the way home from church, she smiled and pulled ahead of us. A little after that she was hit on the driver's side of her car,  she and her baby,who was fully formed in her womb, died almost instantly. The man that hit her was shooting up heroin and was smoking crack.



She and Emily were like roses trampled on the ground by terrorists at home. 

 That night, when chief of the police said, "your daughter has passed;"I felt like  someone had stuck  his hand in my heart and pulled it out and threw it to the ground.In my opinion, there is no such thing as closure (except in Heaven). Today as every anniversary day of their deaths, her three brothers and Robyn and I still experience the loss of those we miss and lost.




An Angelic Escort

I believe with all of my heart and mind that the moment Lindsay and Emily died, they had an angelic escort carry them to heaven.  Earlier in her life she had trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. We know though our sorrow is great, we have a hope of reunion. Remember that I said that Lindsay was fearful? She must have been amazed when  the angels who probably stood by the accident and worshiped the Lord  for all his ways and works, took her and Emily in his arms and carried them straight to heaven.






Have you been confused about the losses in your life?
We are in the process of writing a book on the great losses of life.  We know the subject, we lived it. Please pray for us that we would do a good job of presenting Biblical grief!
We have already written a book that I had been slow in writing.  Losing Lindsay and Emily was a reminder to Robyn and me that our lives are like a vapor, a breath.

  Our book (Kregel Publications).
.Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It" is dedicated to Lindsay and her baby Emily.

In this ground breaking book we tell our story about Robyn and I dealing with the mighty blows of major depression.  But it is also an explanation of what the church needs to know about depression, so they can  help the believers in Christ that are suffering this painful malady.




Don't let the copyright fool you.  We wrote this book with "staying power." It is just as relevant today as it  was  in  2005,If you would like to order this book you can find it in both book and digital formats. All you need to do is to go to:   
https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Minds-Healing-Youre-Losing-ebook/dp/B004EPYNLE/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Is Mental Illness Universal?

More understanding of medical science as it relates to the brain has filtered into our churches. But there remains a prevalent attitude among many leaders to “cordon off” mental illness. It is separated from other physical illnesses. Many of those who treat those with mental illness in the Christian community use their counseling experience and superficial biblical proof texting to justify their position. Usually they attribute mental illness to some spiritual or emotional defect in the ill person. Some Christian counselors, psychiatrists, and psychologists confuse the issue because they apply a faulty hermeneutic to Scripture .Some use anecdotal evidence to deny the universality of mental illness. They believe the whole idea of mental illness is American or Western or limited in some other way by culture. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), which gathers health trends of all sorts around the globe.

Mental disorders are not the exclusive preserve of any special group; they are universal. They are present in women and men at all stages of the life course. Mental and behavioral disorders are found in people of all regions, all countries, and all societies. They are present among the rich and among people living in urban and rural areas. The notion that mental disorders are problems of industrialized and relatively richer parts of the world is simply wrong. ( World Health Organization, The World Health Report 2001: Mental Health: New Understanding, New Hope (Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2001), ch. 2, section 3.

From the preface of Broken Minds Hope for Healing
When You Feel Like You're Losing It. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications,( page 277)..
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0825421187/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=78683808586410&hvqmt=b&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_6aipoww3da_






For our website  heartfeltmin.org