Something the church, and especially its leaders, need to repent of …

For the past few years there has been what seems like a growing list of things some say the church needs to repent of. That list, and the voices calling for repentance of the things on it, has grown almost to a crescendo over the past year.

Whether there is a need to repent of all the things on that “list” or not, let me add one item that the church, and especially its leaders, most assuredly needs to repent of — the harm it has caused in dramatically adding to the stigma applied to people suffering from mental health issues or a diagnosable mental illness.

For a very long time, people suffering from mental illness have been shunned, scorned, mocked, discriminated against, and even abused — sinfully stigmatized — because of suffering from an illness!

AN ILLNESS!

The church has added decades (if not much, much longer) to the piling on of this stigma, and for a long time it was preachers behind pulpits leading the stigmatizing. For decades, preachers have condemned psychology and psychiatry before their congregations, have told their flocks they would never go to a “counselor,” and have many times purposely and publicly discouraged their local church members and the public from seeking out the services of a mental health professional. That nonsense continues to this day!

It is true that some churches and some church leaders have improved about this matter, and some leaders now openly recommend that anyone struggling with mental health issues or think they may have a mental illness to seek professional help. But the ongoing problem is that only some churches and some leaders have repented of their stigmatizing — many continue to denounce psychology and psychiatry without ever learning about either science, and still avidly work at dissuading people from seeking professional help. Some preachers still stand behind pulpits and tell those suffering from mental illness that they need to have more faith, they need to pray more and read their Bibles more, or they just need to “suck it up” and “get over” their “problems.”

This isn’t just an issue of gross ignorance (which it is), this is an act that harms others, something for which repentance is the needed action.

The number one reason why people who NEED clinical counseling don’t get the help they need is the fear of stigma. That fear routinely leads people who need clinical care to avoid getting that help; doing so can bring great pain and harm to themselves and the people who love and care about them.

For the role the church and its leaders have played in stigmatizing people with mental health issues and mental illness, it needs to repent. Such repentance will undoubtedly save lives and contribute to the changing of lives.

To be clear, to repent means to “turn around”, and that’s exactly what the church and its leaders need to do regarding mental health and mental illness.

Let’s get a little reminder about how “turning around” can change lives from this snippet from “In Other Words”:

Sandra Bullock won the 2010 Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Leigh Ann Tuohy in The Blind Side. The sensational film chronicles a Christian family who took in a homeless young man and gave him the chance to reach his God-given potential. Michael Oher not only dodged the hopelessness of his dysfunctional inner city upbringing, but became the first-round NFL draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens in 2009. At a recent fund-raiser, Sean Tuohy noted that the transformation of his family and Michael all started with two words. When they spotted Michael walking along the road on a cold November morning (the movie depicts it as nighttime) in shorts and a T-shirt, Leigh Ann Tuohy uttered two words that changed their world. She told Sean, “Turn around.” They turned the car around, put Michael in their warm vehicle, and ultimately adopted him into their family. Those same two words can change anyone’s life. When we turn around, we change directions and begin an exciting new journey. Some may need to make an about-face concerning their disbelief in Christ, or it could be a Christian needs to turn around and reconsider the value of fervent prayer. Whatever your situation, a great story of wonderful change could be just two words away.

It’s beyond time for the church and it’s leaders to “turn around” regarding mental health and mental illness.

May is national Mental Health Awareness Month. Let me encourage you to actively use this designated period of observance to inform and educate yourself on the topics of mental health and mental illness. There’s a vast array of ways you can do that. It’s far past time that Christians and church leaders shed their ignorance about mental health and mental illness and, instead of piling on stigma, begin to care for and serve those who suffer in this way. Of all places on this planet, our homes and our churches should be places that are welcoming, accepting, caring, and supportive of people with mental health issues and mental illness.

If not, we need to repent.

If Scott Free Clinic can be of help to you regarding this issue, don’t hesitate to contact me at dr.scott@ScottFreeClinic.org.

Scotty