1. Mental Illness and the bible
Scott Branam, MA, LMHC, MBA
November 12, 2015

2. A christian perspective
1. Pray First
2. Divine Healing is Real
3. God Works all Things for Good
4. Temptation is to be Avoided
5. Be Loving and Compassionate
6. Forgive

3. Examples of human dysfunction
Abraham and Sarah
Isaac and Rebekah
Genesis gives us our first Single Parent, Murder, Rape, Adultery, Drunkenness, etc.

4. statistics
Only 1% of Ministers reported that medication should never be a treatment option
71% reported that medications and therapy in conjunction with spiritual principles should be a treatment option
90% felt a moral and spiritual obligation to provide resources

5. Gaps remain
75% of Families with a mentally ill member believe they receive good pastoral care
40% believe others in the church even care

6. myths True Christian Homes are immune to Mental Illness
Drug use causes all Mental Illness
Mental Illness is Demon possession
Mental Illness is Divine judgement
Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 4)
Madness, blindness, and boils (Deut 28:27-29,34)
If you accept one, you must accept all
David Feigned mental illness (I Sam. 21:12-15)

7. Scriptural Examples Rape – Judges 19:25 Depression – Lam. 3
Trauma – Psalms 18
Anxiety – Phil. 4
Grief – II Sam. 18:33
Suicide – Matt 4:24
Loneliness – Psalms 69:1-8

8. Demons Evil entered the world through Satan
Satan attempts to convince humans he doesn’t exist
Many, including some Christians do not believe he is real
Satan attempts to convince the world that evil doesn’t exist
Many do not accept that evil is real

9. Common held beliefs Demonization is really all psychological
All Mental Illness is caused by Demons
Christians can’t be effected by Demons

10. possession Thoughts and many actions controlled by Demons
Change in Moral Character
Often Leads to destructive or self-harm behavior
Hatred of God
Opposed to the religious preoccupation we often see

11. oppression Robs Joy Overly Legalistic Constant Fear of God’s Judgment
Doubt
Feeling of Darkness
If Medication alleviates the problem it isn’t Demonization

12. Common issues Depression Abortion Suicide Trauma Marriage
Divorce/Remarriage
Addiction
Sexual
Anxiety
Grief

13. Conclusion
We are getting better and more open, and feeling more responsibility to minister to individuals about issues we don’t understand, and that in general scare us.