Common Misconceptions // Donnie Sanchez // Ep.5

Hey Cornerstone!

The past common misconceptions that I have written about have been on subjects that you may or may not have interest in. This month's topic is something that we all are impacted by. It's something that we've struggled with ourselves or know someone who has. The common misconception that I want to talk about this month is the relationship between mental health and our faith.

In the church, no matter how well-meaning, we tend to think that we need to get our life together before we can contribute. That if we don't have our stuff together, God won't be able to work in our lives or use us for His glory. But, this is not true! God uses us no matter where we are at with our mental health. He meets us in our mess and brings us to eternal life in Christ.

This false idea of having our stuff together is especially true when it comes to the issue of mental health. Mental health can simply be defined as a person's condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. This holistic definition covers the broad category of mental health (diagnosed & undiagnosed mental illness, mental disorders, various types of depression, etc.). The problem is that mental health can seem like a bogeyman. It's not something that we can always easily see with our eyes. But, mental health is similar to physical health. There are periods when we're sore from working out, sick from a bug going around, or we feel energetic because we've gotten enough sleep and are generally healthy.

Because it is not always easy to see or understand, many in the church write off those struggling with their mental health as people who need to "get it together," or we say "bless your heart" as we slowly try to ignore that they exist. The underlying issue in this way of thinking is that we have to meet some specific standard before we are worthy of receiving salvation in Christ. Of course, we wouldn't word it this way, but our actions speak louder than our words. How we treat those struggling with their mental health shows our faulty thinking.

This current issue reminds me of Galatians 2:15-21. Paul is writing to the Galatian church in Asia Minor. There is a group of teachers that had come to the church and told them that to truly be a Christian, they needed to become ethnically Jewish. The men needed to be circumcised, and they needed to follow Jewish ritual law. Much of Paul's letter is spent dismantling this false gospel. Receiving Christ has nothing to do with joining a certain social group. It has nothing to do with looking like you "having it all together." It has to do with trusting in the saving work of Christ and living under His lordship.

Just like the Galatians, we go wrong when we believe that, to be saved, someone has to fit the mold. To be saved, they need to dress a certain way, talk a certain way, look a certain way, and do certain things. In other words, rather than becoming like Christ, they need to become like someone you're comfortable with. This idea is eerily similar to the false teachers who thought that gentiles needed to become like Jews in order to be saved. After all, that was a safe bet. If they looked like Jews, it was less messy. Yet, Paul clearly shows throughout the letter to the Galatians that life in Christ is on offer to all. Both the Jew and the gentile.

Now, does this mean that we let those struggling with mental health stay unhealthy? Absolutely not! We journey with them towards health. We journey with them and encourage them as they grow in holiness. Paul speaks to this in Galatians 2:17-18. For the gentiles to become ethnically Jewish would be an absolute sin. Israel was to be a blessing to the nations. Through Israel, the nations would receive salvation. This was fulfilled in Jesus! Notice, their vocation was outward to the nations, not the other way around. If anything, Christ calls Christians to a higher standard of holiness than the Jewish law.

When we set the bar for salvation to being a part of a pseudo-social group, we're just like the false teachers in Galatians. Scripture shows that Jesus meets us in our mess and brings us to everlasting life. That is exactly what happened to the Apostle Paul. He went from arresting and killing Christians to being the most well-known church planter and an author of scripture. Jesus meets those struggling with mental health and brings them to everlasting life. He journeys with us and uses us even when we see no good in ourselves. If you're struggling with mental health, God has a purpose for you now. Not just when you "have it all together" (whatever that means).

Donnie Sanchez

NextGen Pastor

If you have questions or want to know more, you can connect with Pastor Donnie
who would love to answer any questions you may have!