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christ, christianity, demon possession, demons, hope, jesus, love, mental health, mental illness, mentally ill, religion, schizophrenia], writer, writing
I rarely write about politics or religion. In fact, I keep my political views and my religious views fairly private. I doubt many of you know that I am a Christian, but I am. I’m not the kind of Christian that preaches to anyone. I’m not the kind of Christian that calls people sinners. I’m not the kind of Christian that talks about my faith at all unless it is with my husband or with my aunt or my mom.
I am going to write about religion today, though. Normally, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt the reputation of the church or Christians in general, but I sincerely hope this serves as a smack down to Christians everywhere that push the most vulnerable of our society away from the doors of a church.
You see, I have schizophrenia, and today, a relatively popular blogger wrote about “double-mindedness” saying that you can’t have Scripture in your mind and believe in evolution at the same time and that to do so would be like having schizophrenia. I wrote to this blogger and told him he had a misunderstanding of schizophrenia and that it wasn’t like that at all. He replied to me by telling me to show him someone with schizophrenia and he would show me someone who is demon possessed and that a person like that has no Scripture in them.
I wrote back that I have schizophrenia, and I am a Christian.
What happened today is not the first time that someone acting as a “teacher” of God’s word has said something against me or other people with a mental illness.
Let me tell you what I believe. I believe in a man named, Jesus. I believe that he was radical. I believe he was a champion of the poor, the marginalized – the sick, the elderly, the widows, etc. I believe he was kind, compassionate, strong, and loving. I believe I am exactly the kind of person he would have included and not excluded.
Telling me that I am demon possessed because I have schizophrenia is like telling me that God hates me. Look, I pray. I have prayed not to have schizophrenia, but I gave up those prayers. Illness is a part of life and not a punishment from God. I don’t believe just because I have a mental illness, and you don’t, that God is more present or alive in you than in me. If anything, if you are turning vulnerable people away from seeking refuge in the church, I believe you are the one who is empty of the spirit of God.
I have met so many Christians that say they love Jesus yet victimize the very people he came to save. If you don’t care for the poor, the sick, the needy, the marginalized then you don’t know Jesus – that is a fact, plain and simple. He didn’t bring us the Old Testament with an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth and all of that. He brought us the new covenant, and it is about radical love.
You see, I know a thing or two about Jesus. He is my king and my hero. He wouldn’t allow me to be demon possessed and for you to say otherwise proves to me we don’t worship the same God. I know I am not perfect, but I know that I am loved.
And just for a little reality check, if I have demons how come medication kicks their ass?
I am so sorry someone said that to you or anyone. I have to agree with you that anyone who would say that is not Christian. I am not religious (that is one of the reasons why) I am Spiritual. I am hopeful your post will make some people think about what they consider Christian means.
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It surprised and hurt me. I guess I can still be shocked by some people’s beliefs about mental illness. I thought I was done being shocked.
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I will never stopped being shocked by people’s thoughts not even my own.
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Thank you for writing this. Our faith is also Christ-centered and our faith has been questioned because of our daughter’s illness on far too many occasions. My faith in God has been unwavering, but I have struggled with our place in a faith community all too often because of experiences like yours.
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And I greatly appreciate your final question. 🙂
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My hubby loved that, too.
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Oh, thank you so much. It’s been a difficult day. I went back and forth about posting this and then I just hit send. I assumed I would offend some people, but it can’t be avoided – I was deeply offended and hurt.
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You can take shelter from that ugly garbage with me!
Wow! I sure hope the “teacher” at least means well…. But of course that is pretty hard to believe from this viewpoint.
And I am sorry you endured that. But I love your statement of belief! And I am glad you made it public. And I expect that a number of people reading here will stand behind you, some with similar experiences, and will take strength from you words.
Ironically, though there is pain in the blessing, I am blessed.
Thank you for posting that.
Agent X
Fat Beggars School of Prophets
Lubbock, Texas (USA)
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Thank you for your kind words and support – much needed today 🙂
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Oh my gosh, I can’t believe people are saying mental illness is being possessed by a demon. What century are they coming from? The third century? Great post Rebecca!
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I was shocked, too. It makes people with a mental illness feel like they just aren’t praying hard enough because if they were, “the demons” would leave them. It is a cruel message to send to people.
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I agree! Back in the biblical times they did not have the scientific information that we have these days- they honestly didn’t know better but there is no excuse for it in today’s times.
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When I was a teen struggling to come to terms with my mom’s illness (paranoid schizophrenia) many people in the church I attended said things like that as well. It left me feeling very abandoned by God/Christ, and it took many years to realize that it was their misguided notions and not really what God was all about. Whenever I hear those kinds of things today, it is alarming.
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I was so unprepared to hear anything like it. I was upset, shocked, hurt and angry. Why would people tell vulnerable people that? Honestly, do they have no compassion? Also, to believe that and preach that to others – making ill people believe there is some way to pray it away – it makes you feel like a failure if you are not healed. I could go on and on. It bothers me so much. I’m sorry you ever had to deal with that.
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What an absolutely disgusting and untrue thing for someone to say to you. And yet I’m not shocked, for I hear so often online of people who call themselves Christian yet seem the opposite to me
*You* seem most definitely a true Christian. I agree with all you say. I would hope I’m a true Christian too. I hope you’re finding comfort from this disgraceful attack now from someone who sadly probably doesn’t have a clue.
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The people who have left comments have been very supportive. I have received e-mails for parents who have experienced the same thing and wanted to support me. There are far more good people than ones who hold dangerous and hurtful beliefs. I need to hold on to the good. Thanks!!! 🙂
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Wow! I’m a Christian too and I can’t believe this ignorance is still occurring today. Where did he go to school? Where does he live? To try to define double mindedness and refer to mental illness is troubling to say the least. Don’t worry about those who “fake Christianity”.
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Thank you for understanding. It came as a shock to me.
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Yep, I can’t believe the ignorance of some who claim to preach God’s word.
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I keep coming back to your post. It really made an impact. I wanted to also mention that talk of demons, prophets, angels and such feeds the illness in the case of those living with religious preoccupations/ritual obsessions and delusions of prophecy. A lot of new age folks need to understand this as well. We’ve had just as many frustrating experiences from people pushing new age spirituality…as if sprinkling gold dust, soul retrieval or calling on angels will cure her…a few of many actual recommendations (all at a cost of a “donation”). And most importantly, this type of talk makes my daughter feel as if she does not have the strength of character to fix herself…feeling spiritually flawed…a failure. Like you, we share your absolutely beautiful description of Jesus and his message of radical love. Again, thank you for writing about this.
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This situation really got to me. It really did. It was so out of the blue for me and so unexpected. I don’t like just anyone to talk to me about spiritual matters because of some of the reasons you have listed – they remind me of being psychotic and make me feel vulnerable. Of course, it also makes me feel like my prayers are not answered and I am loved less by God or not doing something correctly otherwise I would be healed. It is a dangerous position to hold because it could cause people to go off their medication believing that they will be “freed.” The whole thing nearly knocked me off of my feet. I think I am going to write an article about it for some other publication and try to get it accepted – it is so important to get the message out there that that kind of thinking is harmful and possibly dangerous.
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Rebecca, I absolutely love this post! I am going to send it to our agency head (I work at a Christian pastoral counseling agency, and in addition to seeing clients, we work to educate local clergy on mental illness–what it is and what it is not, how common it is, etc.
This is a fabulous piece.
I am sorry to hear you were treated in this way by someone who is uneducated about mental illness.
I bet you have indeed asked many times for the removal of your thorn (a la Paul). Perhaps God is able to use you as an ambassador in this world even more as a result and so he allows it to remain? Maybe this will remain a mystery. I do not have schizophrenia but I am no less dependent on this king than you are.
Thank you for your beautiful and honest writing, always.
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Thank you so much! I really hope my words are able to help someone as you pass them along. As always, your kindness and support mean a lot to me.
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Your words are powerful. Keep writing! I could write on the topic but nobody would be very interested. You bring something very precious.
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Thanks!!! 🙂
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Hi Rebecca,
I’m very sorry to hear about your experience with the other blogger and other Christians who have said things against you. I’m a Christian, and I don’t believe that having a mental illness has anything to do with your faith, or how much Scripture you have in you.
I just wanted to say that I do think that some cases of Schizophrenia are both a medical and spiritual issue. I’m talking about people suffering from Schizophrenia who seek psychics, and “healers” to “connect to angels” to heal themselves. These practices and those mentioned by one of the commenters above are not Christian practices, and they expose one to the demonic realm. This is where the Enemy takes the opportunity to torment them and draw them away from God.
However, I believe that there is hope in Christ. Our God is a God who sees our pain, hears every cry, and loves us infinitely. He’s a merciful God who doesn’t necessarily take away our suffering, but gives us the strength to cope. He also provides us with the medical resources and helps us through them. I also believe that there’s a purpose for everything that happens, even if it’s beyond our understanding. What I see is how he has been using you as a source of support and encouragement to others who are going through similar circumstances with mental illness. And I thank you for that.
I’ve been following your blog for a while now because there are people very dear to me who are suffering from schizophrenia, and your journey is a huge inspiration. I felt compelled to share this with you because I believe the demonic realm is real, but God is VICTORIOUS, and we can put our HOPE in him.
“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” – Romans 5:3-5
(sorry for the super long comment!)
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Thank you for reading my blog, and for taking the time to comment. I definitely put my hope in God! 🙂
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I appreciate this point. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. No other. I would not want that point lost in any discussion I take part in.
I recognize a difference between mental illness and demon possession too. I am not qualified to argue that out in the finer details, but I do not believe the two things are the same – or two ways of saying the same thing. No.
But I have a strong visceral reaction to preacher/teacher types in the faith who hurt the flock with the kind of garbage that was portrayed here. If you love Jesus with all your heart and confess him as your Lord, then you are doing that by means of the Spirit of God. I will take your confession of faith at face value and trust it myself. And I will stand with you (and thus against) the insults and abuse dished out by the “teacher” who so casually inflicts this needless pain.
And one final note, I find blessing amid this curse. There is a real problem here that people sometimes have to face (usually alone). Your blog helps shape my sensitivity, and I expect helps others in similar ways. So, though you personally have suffered this ugly thing, by sharing it this way, you are helping others. That is a good thing that is coming out of the bad thing.
X
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Thank you so much for your input and for your support! I have received a lot of support about this post – I’m so thankful that most people don’t think mental illness is equal to demon possession. Thank you so much for your comments! 🙂
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Hi Rebecca,
I’m very sorry to hear about your experience with the other blogger and other Christians who have said things against you. I’m a Christian, and I don’t believe that having a mental illness has anything to do with your faith, or how much Scripture you have in you.
I just wanted to say that I do think that some cases of Schizophrenia are both a medical and spiritual issue. I’m talking about people suffering from Schizophrenia who seek psychics, and “healers” to “connect to angels” to heal themselves. These practices and those mentioned by one of the commenters above are not Christian practices, and they expose one to the demonic realm. This is where the Enemy takes the opportunity to torment them and draw them away from God.
However, I believe that there is hope in Christ. Our God is a God who sees our pain, hears every cry, and loves us infinitely. He’s a merciful God who doesn’t necessarily take away our suffering, but gives us the strength to cope. He also provides us with the medical resources and helps us through them. I also believe that there’s a purpose for everything that happens, even if it’s beyond our understanding. What I see is how he has been using you as a source of support and encouragement to others who are going through similar circumstances with mental illness. And I thank you for that.
I’ve been following your blog for a while now because there are people very dear to me who are suffering from schizophrenia, and your journey is a huge inspiration. I felt compelled to share this with you because I believe the demonic realm is real, but God is VICTORIOUS, and we can put our HOPE in him.
“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” – Romans 5:3-5
(sorry for the super long comment!)
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Thank you for reading my blog and for taking the time to comment. I am sorry it took me so long to respond. Your comment was stuck in a different folder – I apologize. Thank you for your support and kind words. 🙂
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I don’t think I would of acted as calmly in the same circumstances, brill post 🙂
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It upset me more than I said in this post. I thought about it a lot and shed a few tears.
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big hugs
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To you, too!
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