Mental Health and the Christian: Revisiting Medications

One of the hardest things I faced when first diagnosed with bipolar disorder was whether or not to take medications. To be precise, was it okay for me as a Christian to take medications in my struggle with mental illness? There were all sorts of "voices" going on in my mind. Was it lack of faith? (In particular, reliance on man-made remedies as opposed to trusting God alone.) Was it sinful? Would others judge me? For example, a 2013 Lifeway study found that nearly half of evangelicals believed that prayer alone could heal mental illness. A more recent study from 2020 (Ref. 1 below) found that nearly one-third of self-identified evangelicals reported experiencing teaching that exclusively spiritualized their mental distress, that is as opposed to physiological origins.

Others have written, and I would certainly agree, that there is a double standard here. On the one hand, most evangelicals would have no problem with a diabetic taking his or her insulin to control their disease. But many of them would oppose medication for folks struggling with mental illness. I've written before about medications in treating mental disorders, and the following paragraph is reprinted because I think it is so informative.

The story of the Philippian jailer in Acts chapter 16 is helpful here. The apostle Paul and his companion Silas were severely beaten and jailed for having cast a demon out of a slave girl, who made money for her owners by fortune-telling. In the middle of the night, while Paul and Silas were singing praises to God, there was an earthquake, their bonds were unfastened, and the prison doors were opened. But there is one thing missing from all the miracles (including the conversion of the jailer and his family) in the account. Did you catch it? There is no mention of the wounds on the backs of Paul and Silas having been supernaturally healed. Instead we read of the jailor "washing their wounds." As in the story of the good Samaritan, this most likely involved "pouring on oil and wine," which had medicinal properties. You could say that the great apostle Paul had received "medication."

So yes, mental illnesses can certainly be, and should certainly be treated by Bible study and prayer. And talk therapy with a reliable counselor should be an early choice in treating mental illness. But these ALONE may not do the trick. In my instance this was certainly the case. I think I can safely say that I would not be here were it not for medical intervention. So if you can do without medications, good for you! But if not, you should not feel guilty or ashamed. Paul wasn't.

Blessings,

The Christian Bipole

Ref. 1: "Demon? Disorder? Or none of the above? A survey of the attitudes and experiences of evangelical Christians with mental distress," Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 23, no. 8 (2020); 679-690.