When Sickness Is Called Sin Discovering the Truth About Mental Illness ...

When Sickness Is Called Sin

Discovering the Truth About Mental Illness

Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX—Imagine a woman crawling down the aisle of your church, her legs clearly broken and dragging painfully behind her.  Her eyes scan the congregation, desperately searching for someone who will help her.  Upon reaching the altar, she is counseled…to stop sinning and pray more.  A scene like this is almost incomprehensible.  But what if the illness was not so easily identifiable at first glance?

Statistically, one in four adults in America will suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder this year—conditions ranging from depression to schizophrenia.  And when those people look for help in their local church community, this is the advice many will receive.  In his new book, Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness, author Dr. Matthew Stanford advocates a far different response, presenting both the scientific evidence and the biblical truths that should shape the Christian view of mental illness.

As both a church leader and a professor of psychology and neuroscience, Dr. Stanford has seen far too many mentally ill brothers and sisters damaged by well-meaning believers who respond to them out of fear or misinformation rather than out of grace.  “Mental health research and practice have made significant strides in relieving the mental and physical suffering of those afflicted with mental illness,” he states.  “Yet there continues to be a high level of suspicion, distrust, and even fear in the church when it comes to psychology and psychiatry.  The simple fact is that Christians develop mental illness at the same rates seen in the general population, and the tendency to equate the condition with demonic possession, weak faith, and generational sin has been inadequate to deal with the problem.”

Grace for the Afflicted takes on several hot topics including the role of psychology and psychiatry in the life of the believer, the use of prescription drugs treatments, and the root causes of common mental disorders.  Describing each disorder, Dr. Stanford asks, “What does science say and what does the Bible say about this illness?”  Mental illnesses addressed in the book include:

·         Depression

·         Bipolar Disorder

·         Schizophrenia

·         Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

·         Eating Disorders

·         Substance Use Disorders

As evidenced by the book’s logical and user-friendly format, it was created as a resource for pastors and those in the church who really want to understand and help those suffering from mental illness.  Dr. Stanford presents the clinical facts with the clarity one would expect from a man of his training, but readers may be surprised by the obvious tenderness and compassion he expresses for the mentally ill individuals he works with every day—many of whose stories are included in the book.  “These are wounded people with damaged lives—precious children of God whom we have been called to love and whose burdens we have been called to carry,” he states.

Grace for the Afflicted by Matthew S. Stanford, PhD

Paternoster Publishing - September 2008

ISBN#:  978-1-934068-44-1/261 pages/softcover/$19.99

www.paternosterpublishing.com

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