As concerns with mental health continue to grow, it can be useful to understand mental health better. However understanding, in and of itself, is not enough. We still need to wrestle with the question: what, as a church, can we do to help those who are suffering? Or maybe, even, what should we do to help those in our congregations who are finding life hard? Before exploring ways to help, there are two important things to note:
From the fall, believers have always struggled with their mental health—we will continue to do so until Jesus returns. There is no way of having a church that is free from suffering. It is the context in which all of us (to a greater or lesser extent) come to Christ and grow in him. And the Bible is clear that a normal congregation will contain significant numbers of people whose backgrounds are deeply broken (see 1 Corinthians 6). And those who are particularly burdened and weak are to be honoured, not pushed aside (1 Corinthians 12:22-23).
There are physiological complexities in some struggles, and churches are not places of pharmacological expertise. There is a right sense in which we are called to let the medical experts do what they do best, while we, as faithful followers of Christ, do what we do best—pointing people to the author and perfecter of faith.
From the fall, believers have always struggled with their mental health—we will continue to do so until Jesus returns.
As Christians, we do not need to be suspicious of medicine, nor do we need to imitate medicine and remould our churches into therapeutic communities, but we can celebrate all the wonderful ways in which medicine can alleviate suffering in the here and now.
Within those two extremes, however, there is a wide range of options. Some churches—as part of their discipleship or evangelism programmes—may specifically seek to reach out to those who are finding life particularly hard. Some churches will set up outreach programmes for those who are addicted; others will establish services that are uniquely welcoming to those whose mental-health struggles are profound. Other churches will simply seek to love those who are struggling but persevering.
Wherever we sit in that range of options, there is one thing of which we need to be convinced: God has a huge amount to say to those of us who are struggling with our mental health. Often we can forget that in our congregations. Sometimes we can focus on the past and future aspects of the gospel to the exclusion of all else. We remember that Jesus’ death and resurrection has washed away our sin—we rejoice in the fact that his conquering of death opens the way to eternal life. But there is so much more. Scripture is overflowing with words of beauty and hope that enable all of us—whether we are struggling a little or a lot—to live a life worthy of our calling right now. The Bible has so much that can help us: comfort for past hurts, challenges for persistent sins, calls for better living, and coaching for complex circumstances. But, most importantly, it helps us engage with our Father, with our Saviour and with the Spirit who is living and active in all who believe in Jesus.
Scripture is overflowing with words of beauty and hope that enable all of us—whether we are struggling a little or a lot—to live a life worthy of our calling right now.
Our faith matters when we are struggling. And God’s words are both tender and transformative to anyone who follows him. That doesn’t mean that a sermon or a Bible study is going to take away someone’s pain. Nor does it mean that if we get our teaching right then pastoral situations will naturally resolve. But it does mean that there is a huge amount we can all do to help those in pain—confident in God’s generous provision of gospel hope, Scripture, prayer, people and his own indwelling Spirit.
This article has been adapted from Mental Health and Your Church by Helen Thorne and Steve Midgley. In the book, Helen and Steve offer knowledge and practical wisdom to help churches offer care to anyone struggling with their mental health
Helen Thorne is Director of Training and Resources at Biblical Counselling UK. She formerly worked with the London City Mission and has written Hope in an Anxious World, Purity Is Possible, Walking with Domestic Abuse Sufferers and 5 Things to Pray for Your City. She attends Dundonald Church in Raynes Park, London.
