The ERLC’s Latest Edition of Light Magazine Belittles the Power of the Scriptures by Relying on Secular Categories for Mental Health
It is no secret that many Americans are dealing with what we as a society have termed “a mental health crisis.” Week after week, we are confronted with stories of frustration and devastation in our anxious and chaotic age. Many of these stories are personal. We know our friends who are despairing of life itself. We see families pierced with the pains of anxiety, eating disorders, attempted suicides, and unstable emotions. Real people made in God’s image are harming themselves and harming others.
This topic needs to be addressed. But we, as Christians, must approach it from a sound theological and anthropological framework.
This week, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission released a new issue of their semiannual publication, Light Magazine. The focus of this edition is mental health. Included in it is an article by Southeastern Seminary Professor Brad Hambrick titled The Relationship Between Spiritual and Mental Health: Synonyms, antonyms, or something else?
Hambrick states that the goal of his entry is to give “practical definitions to guide our conversations around complex issues of mental illness.” The topic is certainly important and therefore it is unfortunate the blog not only brings about confusion but undermines the power of the Scriptures.
Mental Health Belongs to the Lord
After a brief introduction in which Hambrick encourages Christians to reject a “reactive binary” on the issue of mental health, he proceeds to list “5 characteristics of spiritual health.” Each of these characteristics, on their own or taken together, is sound: “Embracing the gospel, Spiritual disciplines, Personal devotion, Devout character, and a Robust theological framework.”
But then he writes: “I hope as you read them, you realize that each quality also has a positive influence on our mental health, meaning that each contributes to better mental health, even when they are not curative by themselves.”
Are we satisfied with saying these five characteristics merely make a “positive” impact on our mental health? Is that the good news of the gospel? Should we believe the gospel, theology, and devout character (fruit of the Spirit) are just “positive influences” on our mental health but not solutions “by themselves?” I think Jesus has much more to offer us when it comes to our mental health.
Hambrick then goes on to list “5 characteristics of mental health.” Here, he makes the error of treating “mental health” like a “third space” such as a coffee shop. But that is not true! Our mental health is also fully under the dominion of Jesus and in the spiritual realm.
His article fundamentally misunderstands how the Bible speaks about life and godliness. It presents a classic example of Integration rather than biblical counseling. Hambrick’s five characteristics of mental health, “Emotional regulation, Accurate sense of self, Relational intelligence, Reality testing, and Impulse control,” are not in a special “mental health” category that is different from spiritual issues and spiritual health.
The Bible uses the language of self-control, humility, love, seeking the interests of others, compassion, sympathy, fear of God, and putting off/putting on. When more closely examined, it should be apparent that these “five characteristics of mental health” are all spiritual issues. These are issues that belong to the Lord that have been addressed in his sufficient Word!
Hambrick mentions having “emotional regulation” in response to unpleasant circumstances. But this is exactly what the Bible speaks to repeatedly in places such as Psalm 46, Philippians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, and James 1:2-4.
He writes about how “relational intelligence” is when someone can have “compassion” toward the hardship of others. Is the work of Christ not about creating compassion in His people (Ephesians 4:23; 1 Peter 1:3)?
And he addresses “impulse control.” But isn’t this the fruit of the Spirit, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)? When someone is full of the fruit of the Spirit, they will have good “mental health.”
Biblical counselors believe the body is important. This has been declared many times. For a few examples, see the website of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors here or Heath Lambert’s short book The Gospel and Mental Illness.
Organic issues absolutely need medical help. That is not the issue here.
But to treat the five issues Hambrick outlines as physical or “like playing music, throwing a ball, drawing a picture, doing math, or learning a language” is shocking and insulting to how the Bible speaks about life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4).
What is mental health if it isn’t love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?
Is the gospel of Jesus too weak to produce in Christians full compassion for others?
Is the power of God unable to give Christians the ability to rejoice in any and every circumstance?
Is the presence of God too far to enable His people to respond rightly when unpleasant things happen in life?
Is the Holy Spirit unable to produce self-control in us?
In this blog, Hambrick and the ERLC not only offer a confusing framework, but they (intentionally or not) belittle the transforming work of the Scripture and Spirit by using the secular and clinical categories of mental illness/mental health for issues that are clearly spiritual in nature.
Is There No Cure Available?
Is there a better way? Absolutely. Jesus is the Savior that no DSM psychiatrist or therapist can ever be. Jesus Christ came to earth to redeem His creation—and that includes us and our minds!
He came into the world to seek and save those who are lost, confused, hurt, and responsible for their rebellion. Jesus knows the trials and weaknesses of humanity yet lived a perfect life full of joy, peace, righteousness, and self-control.
Jesus said that he came so we might have the fullness of joy. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:9–11).
Isn’t the fullness of joy what we need for mental health?
Isn’t perfect peace what we long for to be “healthy” again?
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cure for mental health. He promised that after his resurrection he would provide for us his Spirit to empower us for obedience.
We can have the peace of Christ: “perfect peace” (Isaiah 26:3) and “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:6-8) because we have his Spirit producing “peace” inside of us (Galatians 5:22). He came to give every broken person hope as the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep (John 10:11). He is the sacrificial shepherd who “restores our souls” (Psalm 23:3). We need our Lord to restore our souls.
For this to happen, it will require momentary grief on our part. It is difficult to acknowledge that we are responsible for our sins. It can be hard to view our suffering as a trial that is designed by God to refine us (James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:6; 4:12; 1 John 3:13). Yet when we bring our sin, shame, and suffering to Jesus Christ, he will not harm us. Instead, he will heal us.
Jesus will welcome us “just as we are” and transform us to be just as he is. Our transformation doesn’t happen instantly. It happens progressively from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18). Because of the resurrection, our transformation is guaranteed (Philippians 1:6).
Conclusion
I am, frankly, horrified by Hambrick’s article and what it represents: He is a professor at SEBTS, and this is the ERLC’s official publication. Is this the best that Southern Baptists have to offer on this issue? And it’s not just Hambrick’s entry that is confusing; other articles in this issue of Light Magazine are equally troubling and unbiblical.
The gospel of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit in sanctification, the sharper-than-any-two-edged-sword Word of God, and a robust practical theology are curative. We do not need worldly wisdom or therapeutic tips to be compassionate, self-controlled, kind, loving, and peaceful people.
God did not give us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places just to have a “positive” impact on our mental health. Jesus died and rose again so that we might have life and life abundantly! (John 10:10)
Don’t let anyone sell you short, or worse, sell the gospel short when it comes to mental health—even if they are Baptists who come to you under the banner of our official entities.
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Sean serves as the Associate Pastor at First Baptist Jacksonville and is an ACBC certified counselor with a specialization in marriage counseling. He is the co-author of three books: “Letters to a Romantic: On Dating,” “Letters to a Romantic: On Engagement,” and “Letters to a Romantic: The First Years.” He and his wife have also written “Should I Take the Pill?: Providing Biblical Counsel on Birth Control and Contraceptives.” He has a Ph.D. in Applied Theology with an emphasis in Biblical Counseling from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.