Two mental health myths Christians need to stop believing
It is said in Proverbs 11:14 that:
Without good direction, people lose their way;
the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances. (MSG)
However, many Christians still believe that they must struggle with their mental health alone. A strong belief in certain mental health myths is one reason that many Christians have this belief. Yet, many of these myths have little basis in theology or Scripture. Instead, they are often a product of fear, a lack of understanding or a false assumption that the sufferer simply lacks faith. Here are three mental health myths that Christians need to stop believing:
1. God doesn’t care about my feelings.
It’s hard to see how many Christians have come to believe this. After all, God gave His only begotten Son for us. That very act implies a level of caring about every aspect of us that is practically beyond our comprehension.
The root of this myth lies in the fact that God doesn’t always answer us in exactly the ways we ask Him to, and this often causes people to think that this means God doesn’t acknowledge our feelings. Yet the Bible is full of examples of Jesus interacting with people who were experiencing mental and physical suffering. It’s also important to remember that God loves us as we are, even if what we are is sad, depressed or anxious.
2. I just need to have more faith to beat mental health issues.
There is a common myth among Christians that mental health problems demonstrate a lack of faith, and familiar comments like, “You just need to pray about it,” or “Just surrender it to the Lord” perpetuate this belief. The problem is that beliefs and comments like these assume, condemn, and fail to acknowledge emotional pain.
Rather than buy into this myth, it’s important to acknowledge that we’re not supposed to find perfection here in this life. Instead, Christians are called to wrestle with our issues, and that can mean seeking support through counseling and other mental health services. After all, reaching out for help means we’re bringing more people into our faith journey.
Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey
At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. We understand how it feels to struggle to find a place to belong, which is why we strive to welcome people of all types and backgrounds into our community.
Do you want to grow in your faith, or are you simply curious about who this Jesus guy is? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.