Psychiatry or the Gospel, which one brings mental health? One psychiatrist gives his opinion

The debate never ends.

Hasn't psychiatry replaced religion? How can the Bible, written so long ago, be relevant for today?

After years of medical practice n American psychiatrist named J. T. Fisher offers an opinion.

"If you were to take the sum total of all authoritative articles ever written by the most qualified of psychologists and psychiatrists on the subject of mental hygiene, if you were to combine them and refine them and cleave out the excess verbiage, if you were to take the whole of the meat and none of the parsley, and if you were to have these unadulterated bits of pure scientific knowledge concisely expressed by the most capable of living poets, you would have an awkward and an incomplete summary of the Sermon on the Mount. And it would suffer immeasurably through comparison.

"For nearly two thousand years the Christian world has been holding in its hands the complete answer to its restless and fruitless yearning. Here rests the blueprint for successful human life, with optimum mental health and contentment."

-- A Few Buttons Missing: The Case Book of a Psychiatrist, by J.T. Fisher, M. D., and L.S. Hawley

Obviously, Dr. Fisher likes long sentences.

If we follow the thread through his comments, we find he doesn't waffle, but speaks in definite terms. (Kind of rpreferred efreshing, don't you think?)

He refers to Jesus' words in Matthew 5:1 to 7:29, commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount. We know Jesus spoke the words, but the exact location remains uncertain. Many scholars think the crowds following him were seated on the gently sloping hillside at the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee.

Read through these verses and you'll find many favorites, including The Lord's Prayer. Familiar phrases used by believers and non-believers are here, too, like, "salt of the earth" and "let your light shine."

So if the good Dr. Fisher were handing out a prescription for staying sane in the midst of the craziness, he might tell us to read a few verses every day and then spend time thinking about them. Anyone can fill this prescription and take this medicine, with or without medical insurance. You see, there is no co-pay. It's been paid for in advance, for every human being, for all time.

Here are a couple of verses that address what seems to be the universal mood right now:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? . . . Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? . . . Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. --Matthew 6:25, 27, 34

Let the debate rage on--and it will. All that matters is that each of us knows the One who spoke those words and offers us peace-in-the-midst.

Or as Dr. Fisher puts it, the One who holds out the answer to all our restless and fruitless yearning: Himself.

Now, here's a question for you: What are your favorite verses from the Sermon on the Mount? Why not share them in the Comments section?

Here's to filling our minds with the Good Stuff!

Lenore

(This post originally appeared July 15, 2010)

Comments

[Chloe Lavigne]

Hi Lenore,
Thanks for your writing! I think in times of distress (for me that would be suffering from anxiety disorder) its harder for us to remember to let Him in and help ease the burden. Fellowship with Christian mental health professionals is a big help as well - they are a rare gem. Where I am in Oklahoma, there is a treatment center that is faith based and looks like it could help. On the off chance this helps someone (and you're not in Lenore's area,) there are options. Here's one: http://www.renewalchristiancare.com/christian-social-anxiety-disorder-treatment/. Best wishes and God Bless.

(Note to readers: If you're interested in learning more about this facility, please check it out carefully, because I have no personal knowledge. --Lenore)

[Lenore Buth]

Thanks, Marj. I think what trips us up is we give our worries to Him and then we take them back again. So far I haven't quite learned how to leave them there. Like you, when I forget to pray, I'm out of balance.

Hugs,
Lenore

[James Gulliford]

I think worry is my second nature, it is not that I don't trust God, I just forget on occation to turn to Him and give my worries to Him and when I do, life is so much easier. I was talking with a gentleman the other day about funding for a special group called AWARE and he too reminded me that God is in control we just need to be obedient to Him. It is wonderful working with people who understand the power of Prayer and the knowledge that God is there for each of us, even me, we just need to keep our eyes on HIM. I loved your recent message. Love you Lenore. Marj.