Courageous: Breaking the Mental Health Stigma in the Church

We’ve all heard the words before.

“Just have more faith, it’ll be okay.”

But is it really okay? No. When people of great faith fight battles that don't seem to go away, is it truly a weakness of belief in God's power on their behalf? I know many people who fit into this category, and I know for certain that their faith is not too small, nor is God too weak. The reality is that a lot of God-fearing Christians struggle with mental health battles, and are largely misunderstood in the place that they should be supported and understood the most. I wish this statement wasn't true. We, the body of Christ, are called to be His hands and feet, but more often then not those hands hurt the wounded and the feet drive the misunderstood away. Why is this the case? Is it a simple misunderstanding, or a choice by many to remain ignorant to the truth? The answer is both.

The subject of mental health is already often confusing to a lot of people, especially if they’ve never experienced a mental illness firsthand or had a family member or friend battle it. Because of that fact, many don’t understand it or regard it as an actual illness, but that doesn’t make ignorance okay. Especially in the body of Christ.

The Bible is clear that the mind is powerful, and it is chock-full with scriptures describing it as the battlefield where true wars are waged. It should be noted that in Matthew 22:37, Jesus says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." We know a lot about the spiritual importance of the heart and soul, as both of these have strong symbolic meaning in the Word, but what about the mind? Why would the mind be mentioned alongside these two if it wasn't just as important? The reality is that we are so quick to question the heart and intent of a subject, but intent doesn't reside in the heart alone. Intent also is borne of the mind. The mind is where the greatest battles take place, and it is a critical weapon in our arsenal...the problem is that we have no idea how impactful it is, or how to use it. In 2 Corinthians 1:4-5, it says "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." That doesn't sound like a petty circumstance to me. The Bible is clear that we as Christians must take our thoughts captive and train our thoughts onto Christ. Much like a soldier who prepares for battle, we are charged with the task of guarding our hearts and minds.

So, what does all of this have to do with mental illness? Well, I'm glad you asked. The stigma that mental illness is simply an attention-seeking pity grab has been a long-lasting one. I still to this day run into people who don't believe that mental illnesses are real. Others, that counseling is a sham. Sadly, I've run into many people in the church who adhere to these beliefs, and it deeply saddens me. As Christ followers, we of all people should understand that because the mind is such a powerful weapon, the enemy is going to do everything he can to attack it. Now, let me be clear, I am not saying that mental illnesses are purely spiritual. Just as the body can experience a cold of the flu, the mind can experience real sickness, too. Yes, the Word is powerful and God is mightier then any ailment, but that doesn't mean that we should pass off a very real sickness for fiction.

Now, I'm not attacking anyone or attempting to condemn. My heart behind this article is to educate. I myself do not fight a mental illness, and I know that sounds strange. Don't people who actually struggle with something speak up about it? If I don't fight it, what could I possibly have to say? A whole lot more then one might actually think. The reality is that more people need to raise awareness, and more people need to take a stand for what's right. I'm no hero or champion in any regard, but I don't like any kind of bully...especially bullies that have names such as depression and anxiety. Many of my friends fight these two illnesses, and by being there for them and supporting them, I've learned a whole lot. I see what helps them...but I also see what hurts them. The sad truth is that more things hurt then heal, and a lot of people don't understand what they actually face on a daily basis. I myself only have a glimpse into the life of someone who has to wake up every morning wishing that they didn't. The kind of pain that is a constant in their lives. I've seen them hurt by the church, and so burnt out by it all that they've almost walked from their faith. But also, I have seen such an incredible strength, as well as a courageous trust in God despite that pain. The kind of strength that makes you blink in unbelief when they get back up despite the blood on their lip and still keep fighting.

The reality is that if the world thinks those who fight with a mental illness are weak, those people have never seen true strength. They also don't understand true faith. Paul certainly understood it, and 2 Corinthians 12:10 clearly explains this, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." True strength is found when we lay aside our own pride and glory and surrender those desires to Christ. Instead of adhering to pious religion, we as Christians must lay aside our own desires to take up Christ. The problem is that a lot of people like 'playing Christian' but don't actually ever serve the God they say they love so much. When the heart is lukewarm, there's no conviction. And when there's no conviction, there's no standard. And when there's no standard...there's no true alliance. Thankfully, that doesn't have to be the case. God wants His people to turn to Him, He desires for us to walk with Him in this path called life. God is loving, and we are never alone. A truly wonderful scripture comes to mind when I think of the pain this world is riddled with. In Psalms 73:26, it says, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Also, in Isaiah 40:29, we are reminded that, "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

I am well aware that I could easily be addressing both sides of this subject in this article, and that's okay. I want to encourage, but also to educate. If you're struggling with any form of mental illness, please take heart, and know that you're not as alone as you think you are. You're a fighter...and you've made it this far. God loves you, and He hasn't abandoned you, even in the darkest moments when you feel like you have nothing left. Just wait, and hang on a little longer; you're closer to the light then you know. Perhaps you're in the same situation as myself, maybe someone you love is fighting this war, and you want to do everything you can to help. Please believe me when I say this; you ARE helping, and what you do DOES make a difference. Don't let your fears, discouragement, and even weariness wear you down. Remember that God is your strength, and that you are loved. Maybe, just maybe, you've even lost someone along the way to suicide. I won't even dare to say that I understand exactly how that feels, but I was very close to having my life altered forever, had God not intervened in a dear friend's life just in time. Please know that God understands your pain, and in that hurt, turn to Him for comfort and love that only the Almighty can provide. And finally, if you are unsure or skeptical that mental illnesses are real, I encourage you to do some research. Ask some questions, and be willing to look at it with an open mind. You might be surprised by what you discover. God loves you dearly, and He wants you to walk in truth. Every single one of you are precious in God's eyes, no matter what you're going through, or what you have faced. Because at the end of the day, as long as we have Christ, we are never truly alone. And now, it's our job to tell the hurting world of God's redemptive, healing love.
   

Villains and the Christian Writer: How Dark is Too Dark?

Villains. Nearly every story has one.

All writers know that there must be some form of opposition in their story. Oftentimes in fiction, the hero is thrust into the "journey" by the means of a villain, or at least an opposing force that disrupts their way of life in some way. After all, if nothing ever happened to change the hero's life or to shift their course, would they even become the hero they're later known to be? 

Villains have a very important role in the story, regardless of how terrible people (or creatures) they are. Because of their impact, they often carry a legacy long after the story is over. Why is it then that villains can be more remembered and popularized than heroes? Characters such as Darth Vader, the Joker, Hannibal Lecter, Sauron, and Voldemort are just a few examples of antagonists who have become very well known in our culture. Every good hero often has a contrasting villain who is good...at being bad. 

 Naturally, this legacy they carry isn't a good one, it is simply a memorable one. Our society tends to put a heavy focus on villains, and while that certainly is problematic, it is a phenomenon that should be addressed by Christian writers. There certainly are two sides to this coin, considering that there are many books and movies that make things too easy for the hero, leaving the reader with a character who seems overwhelmingly good without enough flaws that make them relatable. How can writers create stories with memorable heroes and villains without becoming cliche? And an even deeper question must be presented, which is the heartbeat of this article; where should Christian writers stand on writing villains, and how dark is too dark? 

I personally haven't shied away from presenting my villains as dark, depraved people. After all, we live in a fallen world that is ripe with sin and despair, and I personally believe that stories shouldn't sugarcoat that truth. The reality is that even though characters are indeed fictional, they still should be treated as real, three-dimensional people when written into a story. So often I read books with washed, ignorant heroes and FAR-too-attractive-for-their-own-good villains. However, on the other side of the coin, I have tried my best to present villains as people who are driven by something, and have motivations that back their actions. People often view themselves as the heroes in their own stories, and villains can certainly fall into this category.

Give heroes faults, and don't gloss over their weaknesses. Heroes are human, they have fears, and they are far from perfect. Give them a reason to want to give up, and a drive to live for something. Likewise, give villains qualities, don't make them one-sided antagonists. Villains are human, they have strengths, and often aren't purely evil. Give them a reason to want to fight, and a drive to die for something.  

Good villains are memorable in part because they are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish their goals. They also are generally intelligent, charismatic people who tend to attract others to their causes. In fact, heroes can have these qualities too, but they aren't as prolific, and often are far more naive. Even though the 'ignorant hero' cliche often works, it also can often become boring...and when such a hero is contrasted by a complex, fully developed villain, they can be quickly overshadowed.

I have long striven as a writer to create heroes that are just as complex and fledged out as my villains. Even though I still have a lot to learn in my own writing journey, I know this goal is possible. We live in a culture that is obsessed with heroes. Movies about superheroes are always flooding the theaters, and prove that deep down, we long to feel safe, and protected, but sadly many of these heroes are one-dimensional and flat (don't worry, Avengers Endgame is NOT in that category, hehe). In order to create heroes that truly are worth the title, they have to be able to be just as interesting as the villain. As a Christian writer, my ultimate goal in writing my stories is to point people back to God, but sometimes showing the darkness for what it truly is can have a very impactful purpose. Yes, I believe there is a line that shouldn't be crossed, but depicting depravity that naturally takes place in a fallen world can be used as a tool to point people to the greatest hero of all, a hero that can truly set the captives free.