THE THERAPEUTIC PASTOR

EQUIPING GOSPEL MINISTERS WITH ESSENTIAL COUNSELLING SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
King‘s mental illness as a possible cause of
schizophrenia(a long-term mental disorder involving
a breakdown in the relation between
thought, emotion and behaviour).
Further speaking, he encouraged everyone bedevilled
by mental health conditions should follow
the footsteps of the heathen king in seeking
for restoration: humility before God. You would
agree with me that there is nothing wrong with
the belief that healing can only come from God.
Yes, He is our only source of hope in this world.
However, it is a high level of ignorance to say
that every mental illness is traceable to one‘s sin
or has a root in the individual‘s failure to obey
God. Comparing someone‘s mental struggles
with the punishment God passes on sinners
is harsh, inconclusive and unreasonable. Mental
health conditions, to say the least, are not a
form of punishment from God.
Jesus in John 10:10 says: “the thief
comes only to steal and to kill and
destroy, I have come that they may
have life, and have it to the full.” (NIV).
No one will ever argue that mental health is a
part of the abundant life Jesus gave to us. It is
a pity that the church hasn‘t handled this issue
of a mental problem with grace. The church is
a home for all (believers and non-believers).
Everyone who walks in should find healing and
assistance, no matter the reason for which they
came; be it broken marriages, loss of a job or
mental health conditions.
a fractured leg is easily seen than a wounded
heart. By this, we know pastors and members
who are lacking the knowledge about mental
illness or how to provide the required support
when it is most needed.
Another reason why you need to be knowledgeable
about mental health as a pastor, church
worker or believer, is to be able to guide the
Christian community aright. Christians oftentimes
entertain the belief that sin or improper interpretation
or understanding of the holy scriptures
and the One behind the inspiration - God,
could lead to mental illness.
While proper understanding of God‘s word is
crucial in healing, believers often forget that a
proper understanding of the Word of God, His
love and unmerited favour, is the only way to
help a fellow believer overcome mental health
struggles. This has led to many feeling that their
sanity is down to their proper understanding of
God‘s word, and if anyone suffers mental illness,
it could mean they are not good Christians, to
say the least.
Nonetheless, mental health conditions are the
same as every other physical condition. It isn‘t
caused by a particular sin or struggle with the
faith, but due to the fallen state of man and how
broken he is. Like cancer or dysentery, anyone
can suffer mental health conditions even if they
did nothing to warrant the torture.
The church should be a place where help is
received before one let‘s out a cry. This is God‘s
plan. Life should be abundant within the four
walls of every church. Be that as it may, pastors
and most members alike, appear unconcerned
whenever a member is battling with things that
are invisible to the natural eye. This is because
VOLUME 1; 2020
04