Mental Health-calling Christians to care

Christians have become known throughout history for their willingness to care about human health and well-being.

Christians established and organized hospitals that still exist to this day. Christians founded orphanages at times when those societies could care less about the parent-less. Christians stayed and cared for the sick during times of plague when many others fled for their lives. And while Christians addressed these physical needs, they continued to care for the spiritual needs of one another and the people they cared for. They continued to worship, pray, and commune together on a regular basis. They lived what they learned. They gave away what they had received from God. They did what God said. They modeled their attitudes and lives after Jesus'. The most beautiful thing is that they did all this not to gain God's favor, but because they had God's favor and because they wanted the hurting around them to know and experience the grace of God too.

In fact, caring about human health and wellness became an authentic way for Christians to witness. After becoming the hands and feet of Jesus and literally "washing" feet as their Lord did, they were asked big questions. They were given an opportunity to share their deepest convictions. Their sacrificial ways gave them a captive audience. 

And what did they gain many times from their faithfulness in dire circumstances? Maybe one more friend. Maybe even the illness of the person they cared for. Maybe a financial drain on their resources that they considered more than worthwhile. And beyond all this, one more brother or sister in Christ. One more baptized. One more family awaiting the resurrection from the dead and life everlasting.

Sadly, I have noticed two unhelpful and unbiblical trends in our day when it comes to church's stances towards human health and wellness.

On the one hand, some churches declare that they leave human health completely up to the doctors, social workers and the like. I try not to engage in red-faced arguments about this because it would be an unnecessary drain of energy. I try, imperfectly, to continue to "participate in the sufferings of Christ" by being available to get deeply into people's lives. I try, imperfectly, to continue to lead my church family to do the same with me. 

I simply ask, can you divide a person like you cut up a pie? Can you divorce a person's physical, emotional, and mental well-being from their spiritual well-being? Can you then isolate the spiritual well-being, treat it, and send it back into the pie and hope it survives? I not only learned to ask these questions from real life ministry experience, but first from the brother of Jesus, 

"If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" James 2:16

This does not mean I doctor them, become their mental health professional, make an exercise plan for them, or proclaim myself their life coach. I know my pastoral role, (which is limited but essential because I introduce them to the Surgeon of Souls and continue to apply his wisdom to their hearts and minds), and I know my limits. Therefore, I find other people to help them with all other areas. At times, this means other Christians within the body of Christ with specific gifts that meet their needs, other agencies in the community with expertise, or other professionals who specialize. 

I am learning how to do this because of my biblical convictions that people are complex and amazing creations, "fearfully and wonderfully made", who must be cared for holistically. Let us use all the gifts God has given in this world to help each other. This includes his revealed Word in the Scriptures, the waters of baptism and the Lord's Table. This also includes modern medicine, research-based psychology and mental health practices, safe natural remedies and personal trainers, just to name a few.

On the other hand, some churches only address human health and wellness issues and largely ignore spiritual issues. Topics like heaven and hell, angels and demons, atonement and conversion are either not addressed or are watered down. Perhaps they are perceived as too controversial. Perhaps they are considered too futuristic and some would rather focus exclusively on the human condition in the here and now. 

I advance a few more simple, respectful question that need more dialogue. Can we really claim to care about human-kind if we try and make them comfortable, equal, and empowered in the here and now, but don't offer to prepare them for the life beyond this one? Can we truly be comfortable, equal, and empowered in the here and now if we don't know the author of life and salvation? By what means, by whose means, will we make people comfortable, equal and empowered in the here and now? Will we do so by the conflicting ways and words of people or by the ancient, eternal ways and words of the God of ages?

I am convinced there is a wiser way for the Church (us) to fully engage with the world's suffering. I have seen it with my own eyes! I have experienced it personally even before getting into the trenches with others! I need Jesus in the trenches with me to even be able to be in the trenches with others, and he is! 

Just as the gospel of Jesus called earlier Christians to care about physical health and well-being, social problems such as orphans, the widowed and the aborted unborn, the gospel of Jesus calls us to care about mental health and well-being. The gospel of Jesus actually addresses the basic needs every human being has (another post to come). When we see how Jesus has addressed these needs for us and continues to do so through his "living and active" words that now live in us, we will get it. 

And when we care about what Jesus cares about, we will "go and do likewise".

More to come.

A recovery story

Jesus said, "it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." Mark 2:17 One of the most meaningful things in my pastoral ministry so far has been learning from people who have addiction in their story. When they give me permission to walk with them through the darkness, I gain an understanding of how they got there that I never had before. I see how alike we really are. As I learn what is all behind the addiction, I find that I am flawed in similar ways. Tears come to my eyes when I see Jesus come between us, take both of our hands and lead us to the light of his forgiveness and a new life of healing and service. I am beyond thankful to have permission to share one such story with you from someone who continues to teach me so much through their faith-filled struggles.

-Pastor Aaron Schulz

I’ve kept the job, my family loved and supported me, I even had a church family. I struggled in isolation surrounded by many. I cannot pinpoint exactly how, why, or when things became unbearable, unacceptable, and desperate.

In my journey I had been given the suggestion to go into detox, because the person feared, in my situation, I had been drinking far too much to quit on my own, that it could possibly turn fatal. Rare for an alcoholic, I took the advice. After a long month of wanting to get on with the next phase of my life, which was terrifying, on December 26th, 2015 I was admitted to a treatment center. From there I was given choices, suggestions,  and a direction. 

I learned that in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous that I could have a stronger connection with God. I was blessed with the opportunity to contrast a Sunday morning church service that I regularly attended with what I had just heard shared at the meeting. Almost always there was a God connection and a solution to any thoughts I may have been struggling with.

A few months after I became sober my family relocated across the state. God had removed the obsession to drink. The community in which we were transplanted offered a variety of meetings to go to. Again surrounded by a church community and with the help of AA, my sobriety was on a well maintained path. I met with my pastor, my sponsor, and a therapist. All three expressed the importance of each of their roles and also the others to my early recovery. 

The problem with addiction is not the substance, but the thinking. Attitudes need to be shifted and our brains need to be retrained into focusing on a solution and not on what is unacceptable to us as addicts. It is cunning, baffling, and powerful when alcohol or any substance enters an alcoholic or addict, all goodness and light is clouded by the darkness of the disease. 

About a year after settling, I was approached by the pastor, he told me that there was a need for recovery in our church and wasn’t sure how to get a group started. I offered to start a group or two, one in the evening and one in the morning. I gave the pastor all the literature I could to educate him on the way an AA meeting is run. The success of the program is based in christian values and principles. Traditionally the meetings close with the Lord’s prayer. By using Alcoholics Anonymous our church has reached a greater part of our community. A wide variety of the attendees do not attend church at St Paul’s, however we are opening the doors and offering a safe place for recovery. I have many inquiries about our church from questions about our organ to how to register for our school, or even about services and times. Some of the attendees were raised in the church and at some point in their life and were treated badly by church leadership at the time. The meeting offered those individuals an anonymous way to reconnect to the church, and to receive some healing. 

My experience has allowed me to be of service and connect the suffering to a solution, if they will listen. The stars aligned in a way I can only attribute to God. The meetings are held at St Paul’s are not only vital to my recovery but help so many others, from the addict to their families. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my experience, strength, and hope.