Resources/Biblical Viewpoint/CCM Show

By Summer Lane

Photo: Deposit

Mental health. Those two words bring to mind a slew of images for most people: perhaps it’s depression and anxiety. Perhaps it’s anger. Perhaps it recovering from severe trauma. Perhaps, for some, it’s a foreign term that is easy to ignore.

But one can’t deny that mental health has taken center stage, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic. According to the WHO, the pandemic triggered a 25 percent increase in anxiety and depression worldwide (no surprise there!). Ever since, there have been more discussions about mental health, more resources, and more light shed on the importance of taking care of ourselves mentally as well as physically.

There is a dark side to the conversation, however. At times, the mental health field tends to veer into the territory of godlessness. As Christians, we know that all peace, all stability, all healing, and all power flow from God (John 14:27, Isaiah 16:33, Phil. 4:6-7, etc.). We must be careful, as followers of Christ, not to put our trust in secular philosophies or vacuous intellectualism.

To be clear: that doesn’t mean therapy or mental health treatment isn’t a helpful thing! Of course it is! What it means is that Christians should exercise discernment about WHERE and with WHOM they seek treatment. A good rule of thumb to start with is to make sure any counselor or therapist is also a Christian. Mental health, when unmoored from Christian morality, can be dark indeed (Sigmund Freud, for example, had an unhealthy obsession with studying sexual behaviors in children). There may be good tidbits of information to be gleaned from some of these scholars, but we should exercise caution when taking their observations without a hefty dose of Biblical truth to ensure it aligns with God’s teaching.

Colossians 2:8 reminds us, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosphy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental forces of this world rather than on Christ.” 

This is such a GREAT reminder! 1 John 4:1 also says, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 

Indeed: when we elevate mental health philosophies above the teachings of the Word of God, that’s when we get into trouble. Mental health is incredibly important, but for the Christian, we should always address it through the lens of Biblical truth. A good Christian counselor or therapist will not affirm sin or behaviors that are conflicting with God’s Word. When mental healthcare becomes a priority, take it to the Lord in prayer, and find someone to help who will dig deep into God’s truth as much as possible.

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

If you are looking for more information about how to live a counter-culture lifestyle with your kids, don’t forget to check out the Counter Culture Mom’s free parent media guide, which will point you in the direction of HUNDREDS of video games, TV shows, movies, apps, books, and more that will replace harmful, godless content with positive messages and good lessons. Download the media guide HERE.

*

Helping our teens and youth deal with mental health issues 

In the age of social media algorithms and instant gratification, it’s no wonder that teenagers are struggling with their mental health more than ever before. Monica Kim, a psychologist, author, and counselor, has tons of experience working with teens. She co-wrote Teenagers and Mental Health: A Handbook for Parents, Pastors, and Youth Leaders. Monica shares tried-and-true advice for church staff who are seeking to connect with local teens and make sure these kids get the resources they need if or when they find themselves struggling. She also shares ideas for how parents can get involved alongside church staff to make sure teens don’t fall through the cracks!

Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of 30 books, including the hit Collapse Series and Resurrection Series. She is an experienced journalist and editor who is covering the White House and Trump administration. She owns Write Revolution News.

Summer is also a mom and wife who enjoys rural country living, herding cats, and gardening. She is passionate about writing on women’s issues, parenting, and politics from a theologically-grounded perspective that points readers to the good news of the gospel.

Download Our New Counter Culture Mom App to get our trending news and pop culture alert notifications. Connect with other parents in the Parent Chat section to gain helpful ideas on how to counteract the Pop Culture Cult!

Be sure to contact us if there is an issue you would like to have us write about! Our mission is to help parents deal with today’s lifestyle trends and how to biblically navigate them.