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The church was created by God to provide us with the support and nurture we need. He wants us to be involved with each other on a personal level.

If no one misses you when you don’t come, there’s a problem. It’s a common problem, but a problem nonetheless.

God uses brothers and sisters in Christ to show His love. How can that happen if they not only don’t talk with each other, but they don’t even know each other? It’s not a good idea to go to a large church in order to be anonymous. People who do that miss the point.

Consider these comments from the Bible:

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”   (John 13:35 NKJV)

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.   (Heb 10:24-25 NLT)

We are called to be part of a community: the body of Christ. It’s to be a vibrant connection with brothers and sisters. Community involves building friendships and giving as well as receiving.  Without being in community, we miss what God has for us.

Most people do not have this experience, but it’s still important to address it for those who do notice this.

We all have an impact on other people; especially with people who are close to us. When you begin to change, it may affect them, too. Essentially, you are changing the dynamics of the relationship with them, and they might not like that change.

It is respectful to let those close to you know that they might begin seeing you do things differently. Let them know you are trying to make things better for everyone. Invite them to tell you if they don’t like what’s happening so you can talk about it and work it through.

Sometimes, it may be best to include that person in a counseling appointment so the discussion can be guided. The goal would be to explain, to some degree, what’s happening and possibly allow them to negotiate a solution.

Prescription medications are strong. They have potential side-effects that are dangerous so they require monitoring by the patient and physician.

Based on studies discussed in news and journal articles, my opinion is that these medications are prescribed too often, not nearly as effective as they claim, and not monitored well by either patients or physicians. Consequently, injuries from medication are not uncommon. Some are mild, and others are severe and permanent.

These medications are managing the symptoms of a problem; they are not intended to “cure” a person of anything. That is a bigger problem in my mind. The message to the person is that suppressing symptoms is the best outcome; there is no hope of resolving the problem. I know that is a “broad-brush” statement and does not hold up in every case. However, I believe it applies to the vast majority of patients.

Options

I urge people to try other approaches before going to a doctor to get a prescription. All three aspects of the person are involved: body, soul, and spirit. Identifying which area is the main source of the problem, and then exploring interventions directly related to that area, is a good approach.

For instance, if a physical problem is the focus, I would recommend using safer interventions such as those prescribed by a Naturopathic Physician. Often the mind, will, and emotions (the soul) are involved with the problem, and that’s where biblical counseling can help. Obviously, our alignment with God – which involves our spirit – is also an area where biblical counseling can help. Best practice is to address all three areas of a person while giving emphasis to the area with the most urgency.

If you do…

If an individual chooses to use a psychotropic medication, I urge them to be familiar with the potential side-effects and to have a strategy for monitoring to detect any problems. I also encourage them to see the use of medication as a temporary intervention that will give them time to learn new ways of coping with the issues they are dealing with.

These medications have become so common that the professionals involved, in my opinion, accept them as routine and don’t give much attention to the potential side-effects. They rely on their patient to report problems, rather than actively questioning them about their experience. This is unacceptable, but a sad reality nonetheless.

Essentially, if someone asks me about taking a prescription medication for “mental health” my bias is against it. I would want to help them find relief and a solution through every other means before starting a prescription. Even then, I would want to help them make a plan so they could discontinue the drug as early as possible.

What about “Pharmakia“?

Pharmakia is a Greek word usually translated as sorcery or witchcraft. It is found five times in the New Testament (the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic, not Greek). The references are: Galatians 5:20, Revelation 9:21; 18:23; 21:8, and 22:15.

If you look up those verses, you will see all but one* uses the word as part of a list of unbelievers walking in the flesh. It is translated as witchcraft because drugs were used to achieve an altered state of consciousness in the hope of contacting the spirit world. An example would be the vision quest ceremonies of a Native American shaman.

If you are trying to have a spiritual experience by using drugs, you need to stop, to repent. If you are taking medication for a controlled purpose, pharmakia does not apply to your situation.

*In Rev. 18:23, pharmakia is used by Babylon the Great to seduce the nations. It is translated as witchcraft or sorcery.

In Scripture, Jesus said a worker is worthy of his wages when He sent out the disciples to minister (Luke 10:7). Paul wrote the same in reference to himself and his colleagues in 1 Cor. 9:4-14 and 1 Timothy 5:17-18. The principle is that those who are served should support the one who serves.

We call this a ministry because it is done in the name of Jesus, and our goal is to serve, not to accumulate wealth. Our rate was set much, much lower than the rates for other counselors in the area. We believe this pleases the Lord, and makes counseling more accessible.

Yes, either a debit or credit card can be used to make a payment. Cash or a check is also acceptable.

The Bible is clear that there are spiritual beings who are against us; they are known as demons or fallen angels. The chief among them is Satan.

Although they are much stronger than humans, God has limited their ability to interfere in human affairs.

Some people think of Jesus and Satan as opponents in a constant fight. That is not a true picture because they are not even close to being equals. Satan came against Jesus when Jesus walked the earth, but he had to leave when Jesus told him to leave; there was no struggle. Angels struggle with each other (see Daniel 10 where Gabriel describes this kind of struggle), but Jesus commands, and it’s done.

There are Christians who believe nearly every problem they have is caused by demons. That’s giving demons too much credit; Christians also have problems caused by the flesh and the world. Be careful, it’s possible to become so absorbed with “resisting the devil” that you take your eyes off the Lord.

If you believe you are having trouble with spiritual forces of darkness, we can talk and pray about that. There are solutions to that situation, but a Q&A column can’t cover all the factors involved.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.  (1 Peter 5:8-11 NKJV)