Ministering in a Mental Health World

The term “mental health” for many years was considered off limits in our churches. Christians who struggled with mental illnesses or emotional issues were perceived as spiritually weak and lacking a strong trust in God. However, in this age of fast and overwhelming information, mental health issues are front and center not only in the culture, but in our churches. Mental health problems cannot be ignored in the church.

What exactly is “mental health?” According to Mentalhealth.gov, “mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.”

We live in world that thrives on information. Our culture is overloaded with news, social media, and internet feeds that allow the world to overindulge our minds. The church and Christians are not exempt. As powerful and dynamic as our brains are, they were not built for a non-stop flood of overwhelming information. As the world and its information dominate our minds, the Word of God takes a backseat. We tend to need God less as we find our identity in the world and all that we think it has to offer us.