Mental Health from a Christian perspective
Comment: The changing face of pastoral care
"Love one another". Jesus made it pretty clear that this was an absolutely fundamental, non-negotiable must-have in the life of his followers. We have invented two 'churchy' words for it: fellowship and pastoral care. Fellowship is hanging out together. Pastoral care is how we look after people who aren't doing so well.
Pastoral care in older gen churches means having a Minister who visits people at home for an official Visit, and a Pastoral Committee who arrange stuff like meals and phone trees. This system works great if you get cancer or your brother dies. Not so great at dealing with mental health issues, though ... we get nervous about anything psychological.
Pastoral care in evangelical churches is the responsibility of small groups: intended to be safe friendship spaces for Bible study and prayer. Whether or not a person feeling depressed experiences their small group as a safe space depends on the skills of the leaders, who don't get any training in mental health pastoral care.
Pentecostal churches major on worship and healing prayer. Many modern worship songs talk about anxiety and stress melting away in the presence of God in worship. This is amazing, but what if it's not? How do you keep going back, feeling low, when you've already been prayed for several times and that hasn't fixed it?
What might competent mental health pastoral care look like now?
How do we equip our caring people to 'love one another' through the darkness of mental health challenges? These are not solved by a shepherds pie or a Bible study. Even the power of God in a Spirit-filled prayer may not be enough.
The good news is that the Christian faith contains vast riches of truth and wisdom which can help transform the loneliness and pain of mental health challenges with the grace the peace of Jesus.
It is our calling now to find ways to train church leaders and ordinary every Christians with skills and confidence to be present to those in emotional distress, genuinely communicating the love of God safely and effectively.
"Love one another". Jesus made it pretty clear that this was an absolutely fundamental, non-negotiable must-have in the life of his followers. We have invented two 'churchy' words for it: fellowship and pastoral care. Fellowship is hanging out together. Pastoral care is how we look after people who aren't doing so well.
Pastoral care in older gen churches means having a Minister who visits people at home for an official Visit, and a Pastoral Committee who arrange stuff like meals and phone trees. This system works great if you get cancer or your brother dies. Not so great at dealing with mental health issues, though ... we get nervous about anything psychological.
Pastoral care in evangelical churches is the responsibility of small groups: intended to be safe friendship spaces for Bible study and prayer. Whether or not a person feeling depressed experiences their small group as a safe space depends on the skills of the leaders, who don't get any training in mental health pastoral care.
Pentecostal churches major on worship and healing prayer. Many modern worship songs talk about anxiety and stress melting away in the presence of God in worship. This is amazing, but what if it's not? How do you keep going back, feeling low, when you've already been prayed for several times and that hasn't fixed it?
What might competent mental health pastoral care look like now?
How do we equip our caring people to 'love one another' through the darkness of mental health challenges? These are not solved by a shepherds pie or a Bible study. Even the power of God in a Spirit-filled prayer may not be enough.
The good news is that the Christian faith contains vast riches of truth and wisdom which can help transform the loneliness and pain of mental health challenges with the grace the peace of Jesus.
It is our calling now to find ways to train church leaders and ordinary every Christians with skills and confidence to be present to those in emotional distress, genuinely communicating the love of God safely and effectively.
Sermon on understanding mental health and resilience
Paul’s Astonishing Resilience: Mental Health Insights
Silvia Purdie
Bible reading: Acts 21
Paul has been violently attacked by a vicious mob, but then he stands up and speaks to the crowd. How? How did Paul do that? What capacity was in him that enabled that transformation? That is what I want for myself, and what I want to teach and inspire in others. What is it made of?
I have a list of 6 things I see in Paul that are good teaching examples for us.
Silvia Purdie
Bible reading: Acts 21
Paul has been violently attacked by a vicious mob, but then he stands up and speaks to the crowd. How? How did Paul do that? What capacity was in him that enabled that transformation? That is what I want for myself, and what I want to teach and inspire in others. What is it made of?
I have a list of 6 things I see in Paul that are good teaching examples for us.
Mental Health, Faith, and Medical Practice
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Dr Brett Mann is a highly respected leader in the church in Christchurch. A doctor in general practice, he has a deeply grounded clinical competence in mental health.
This presentation is an overview of key factors behind the terrible prevalence of mental illness among young people. He argues against social media, pornography and gender diversity ideology, and puts a strong case for a Christian theology in practice. A lecture brought by NZ Christians in Science https://www.nzcis.org/the-convo/mental-health-and-faith-the-struggle-for-soul-identity-and-flourishing/ |
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Pastoral Care Handbook
Written by Rev. Dr. Graham Redding, for the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership (2012) |
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