S12. Mental health

Some of the foundational principles that we now understand for the promotion of mental health such as taking responsibility for your actions, thinking positively, being part of a social community, doing things for the benefit of others and living for a purpose bigger than yourself are all woven throughout the Bible in it’s wisdom for life.

As obvious as these things may sound today, these are not necessarily the ‘wisdom’ of our time. While biblical wisdom is thought of as old fashioned and irrelevant in these ‘advanced’ modern times, society espouses:

• Let’s focus on our rights, rather than our responsibilities

• Who can we blame (and sue) for my situation? (If you have ever visited the United States, you will notice that this suing culture has gone completely out of hand there).

• Individualism and independence is the virtue as opposed to interdependency and community mindedness.

• The mantra “what’s in it for me?” rather than how can I help others.

• We are taught that we are the result of randomness and then wonder why people struggle to have a sense of purpose and hope.

It’s no wonder that mental health issues are at their highest levels in history and still rising. We think we know better than the Bible and are suffering the mental health consequences as a result.

ARE YOU SURE ... that modern science (and modern cultural norms) are disproving the wisdom of the Bible?