Comments on: Why the Church Drives Away the Mentally Ill http://www.darkmyroad.org/2009/06/why-the-church-drives-away-the-mentally-ill/ A Lutheran View of Depression Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:20:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: der_m http://www.darkmyroad.org/2009/06/why-the-church-drives-away-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-1898 der_m Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:18:19 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=341#comment-1898 Mental illness I observe is something everyone has a hard time with. It's swept under the carpet or just considered embarrassing. Often, the mentally ill try to hide it and most try to let them. It's taboo. Sadly, that's not exempt from our Churches. Where the command to love should overcome our inhibitions, we let ourselves shy away from uncomfortable situations. Decorum precedes "exposed nerves." And I think a lot of Christians just don't know how to help, and therefore try to avoid the problem. I've had that trouble in the past, and probably still today. I just discovered the blog, and I'm excited to see what it contains. Assuming nothing sends up red flags, I look forward to reading the free book, too! God bless you and your ministry! Mental illness I observe is something everyone has a hard time with. It's swept under the carpet or just considered embarrassing. Often, the mentally ill try to hide it and most try to let them. It's taboo.
Sadly, that's not exempt from our Churches. Where the command to love should overcome our inhibitions, we let ourselves shy away from uncomfortable situations. Decorum precedes "exposed nerves."

And I think a lot of Christians just don't know how to help, and therefore try to avoid the problem. I've had that trouble in the past, and probably still today.

I just discovered the blog, and I'm excited to see what it contains. Assuming nothing sends up red flags, I look forward to reading the free book, too!

God bless you and your ministry!

]]> By: der_m http://www.darkmyroad.org/2009/06/why-the-church-drives-away-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-1900 der_m Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:18:19 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=341#comment-1900 Mental illness I observe is something everyone has a hard time with. It's swept under the carpet or just considered embarrassing. Often, the mentally ill try to hide it and most try to let them. It's taboo. Sadly, that's not exempt from our Churches. Where the command to love should overcome our inhibitions, we let ourselves shy away from uncomfortable situations. Decorum precedes "exposed nerves." And I think a lot of Christians just don't know how to help, and therefore try to avoid the problem. I've had that trouble in the past, and probably still today. I just discovered the blog, and I'm excited to see what it contains. Assuming nothing sends up red flags, I look forward to reading the free book, too! God bless you and your ministry! Mental illness I observe is something everyone has a hard time with. It's swept under the carpet or just considered embarrassing. Often, the mentally ill try to hide it and most try to let them. It's taboo.
Sadly, that's not exempt from our Churches. Where the command to love should overcome our inhibitions, we let ourselves shy away from uncomfortable situations. Decorum precedes "exposed nerves."

And I think a lot of Christians just don't know how to help, and therefore try to avoid the problem. I've had that trouble in the past, and probably still today.

I just discovered the blog, and I'm excited to see what it contains. Assuming nothing sends up red flags, I look forward to reading the free book, too!

God bless you and your ministry!

]]> By: Sarah in Exile http://www.darkmyroad.org/2009/06/why-the-church-drives-away-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-1896 Sarah in Exile Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:31:12 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=341#comment-1896 I think so many Christians are too quick to offer plattitudes. "Just cheer up!" "God loves you!" "You need to pray more." If I hear one more plattitude.... I think so many Christians are too quick to offer plattitudes. "Just cheer up!" "God loves you!" "You need to pray more." If I hear one more plattitude….

]]> By: Sarah in Exile http://www.darkmyroad.org/2009/06/why-the-church-drives-away-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-1899 Sarah in Exile Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:31:12 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=341#comment-1899 I think so many Christians are too quick to offer plattitudes. "Just cheer up!" "God loves you!" "You need to pray more." If I hear one more plattitude.... I think so many Christians are too quick to offer plattitudes. "Just cheer up!" "God loves you!" "You need to pray more." If I hear one more plattitude….

]]> By: CSchellenbach http://www.darkmyroad.org/2009/06/why-the-church-drives-away-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-1893 CSchellenbach Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:36:52 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=341#comment-1893 Any health care official worth being seen will state that there is a spiritual component to dealing with mental illness. Even if they are not Christian themselves and reference a vague spiritual presence that people should tap to help them with their illness, they mention it. That psychologist should have been happy you took such a direct approach. Any health care official worth being seen will state that there is a spiritual component to dealing with mental illness. Even if they are not Christian themselves and reference a vague spiritual presence that people should tap to help them with their illness, they mention it. That psychologist should have been happy you took such a direct approach.

]]> By: CSchellenbach http://www.darkmyroad.org/2009/06/why-the-church-drives-away-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-1897 CSchellenbach Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:36:52 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=341#comment-1897 Any health care official worth being seen will state that there is a spiritual component to dealing with mental illness. Even if they are not Christian themselves and reference a vague spiritual presence that people should tap to help them with their illness, they mention it. That psychologist should have been happy you took such a direct approach. Any health care official worth being seen will state that there is a spiritual component to dealing with mental illness. Even if they are not Christian themselves and reference a vague spiritual presence that people should tap to help them with their illness, they mention it. That psychologist should have been happy you took such a direct approach.

]]> By: MarkMeier http://www.darkmyroad.org/2009/06/why-the-church-drives-away-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-1891 MarkMeier Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:13:33 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=341#comment-1891 When displays of inappropriate speach or behavior are involved (either by the mentally ill or those whose illness is fear of them), there should be opportunities for repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation. That would be a healthy congregation in action. The reputation of that kind of congregation would attract concerned people of every kind. Advice is often best applied to ourselves first. Perfect love drives out fear. When displays of inappropriate speach or behavior are involved (either by the mentally ill or those whose illness is fear of them), there should be opportunities for repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation. That would be a healthy congregation in action. The reputation of that kind of congregation would attract concerned people of every kind. Advice is often best applied to ourselves first. Perfect love drives out fear.

]]> By: MarkMeier http://www.darkmyroad.org/2009/06/why-the-church-drives-away-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-1895 MarkMeier Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:13:33 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=341#comment-1895 When displays of inappropriate speach or behavior are involved (either by the mentally ill or those whose illness is fear of them), there should be opportunities for repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation. That would be a healthy congregation in action. The reputation of that kind of congregation would attract concerned people of every kind. Advice is often best applied to ourselves first. Perfect love drives out fear. When displays of inappropriate speach or behavior are involved (either by the mentally ill or those whose illness is fear of them), there should be opportunities for repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation. That would be a healthy congregation in action. The reputation of that kind of congregation would attract concerned people of every kind. Advice is often best applied to ourselves first. Perfect love drives out fear.

]]> By: MarkMeier http://www.darkmyroad.org/2009/06/why-the-church-drives-away-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-1888 MarkMeier Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:04:35 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=341#comment-1888 Psalm 1 Psalm 1

]]> By: MarkMeier http://www.darkmyroad.org/2009/06/why-the-church-drives-away-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-1894 MarkMeier Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:04:35 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=341#comment-1894 Psalm 1 Psalm 1

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