I don’t generally think of Robert Preus as the source of all knowledge when it comes to mental illness, but I ran across this article recently. It is well done. Very Preusesque, but he really understands the relationship between faith and mental illness. Here’s one citation to pique your interest:
Pastors who suffer stress and affliction, like any Christian in similar circumstances, may be tempted to look to their faith as a reason for self-esteem and assurance, rather than to the only object of faith, Christ and His pardoning Word. They conclude that failure and inability to cope are due to weak faith or the lack of faith altogether. They are viewing faith as their act rather than as their reception of God’s mercy.
Robert D. Preus, “Clergy Mental Health and the Doctrine of Justification,†Concordia Theological Quarterly 48, no. 2 & 3 (1984): 120.
I recommend this little essay very highly. Check it out. I actually think that LCMS World Relief has this online somewhere, but I can’t find it right now. Can anyone help me out?
Rev. David Petersen over at Cyberstones has a very nice post about sorrow and mental illness. He is particularly talking about how difficult it is to get into the shoes of another person, to understand their suffering. We all suffer, but each person’s pain and sorrow is their own, and none of us can judge or lay claim to fully understand another person’s trials.
Occasionally I hear of someone who acts out their depression on other people. Lashing out. Anger, either expressed physically or verbally. I don’t really know much about this kind of manifestation. Does anyone hear have any experience and/or wisdom they could impart on it and how to deal with it either as the doer or as the loved one?
Occasionally I hear of someone who acts out their depression on other people. Lashing out. Anger, either expressed physically or verbally. I don’t really know much about this kind of manifestation. Does anyone hear have any experience and/or wisdom they could impart on it and how to deal with it either as the doer or as the loved one?
I just got word that the book is going to be published! An editor is being assigned, the publisher has taken my financial information so that I can get paid, and we are working on a timeline.
This is very exciting, and I am really looking forward to sharing more about this with you, my gentle readers, as soon as the opportunity presents itself. There are still hoops, blah blah, but this baby is a go!
I just got word that the book is going to be published! An editor is being assigned, the publisher has taken my financial information so that I can get paid, and we are working on a timeline.
This is very exciting, and I am really looking forward to sharing more about this with you, my gentle readers, as soon as the opportunity presents itself. There are still hoops, blah blah, but this baby is a go!
The year has begun. Happy new year, friends. I pray this is a good one. Personally, I have high hopes for this year. I think my book will get published one way or another, and I hope to move on to other projects related to mental illness/depression and the theology of the cross.
But to start with, I want to enjoy my family this year. That seems a good thing.
I am going to be out of town until the new year. I suppose it’s possible that I may be able to post, but I’m not counting on it. So if I don’t see you until the new year, God’s blessings to you and have a happy new year!