I suffer from an anxiety-related illness. In my role as a pastor I deal with a number of people who battle anxiety and depressiion. So a thought occurs to me 'is there a difference between anxiety and anxiety?'
Jerry Bridges points out that of the 27 character traits taught in the NT, love occurs most frequently, then humility and thirdy trust in the Lord. We are commanded not to worry but rather to trust God. Indeed where anxiety reveals a lack of trust in God, it is clearly sin.
But what about people with OCD or other anxiety-related 'illnesses'--is their anxiety simply something that they need to repent of? Of course some of their anxiety may be a failure to trust God, but I would suggest that it goes beyond this.
People with anxiety-related illnesses have an anxiety that is irrational - the feeling of anxiety is not necessarily related to any particular issue. Their anxiety may be cuased by chemical imbalances. While they may be worried about particular issues, these issues are often symptons of their anxiety rather than the cause of our anxiety.
So I would suggest that there is a difference between anxiety and anxiety! Where anxiety is a refusal to trust God then it needs to be repented of. This is the worry that Scripture condemns. However where the cause of a persons anxiety is more complicated real care needs to be applied to the advice we give. There can be an anxiety that whose cause is not simply a failure to trust God and so itself is not sinful. People are complicated and wisdom is needed in helping them.
Jerry Bridges points out that of the 27 character traits taught in the NT, love occurs most frequently, then humility and thirdy trust in the Lord. We are commanded not to worry but rather to trust God. Indeed where anxiety reveals a lack of trust in God, it is clearly sin.
But what about people with OCD or other anxiety-related 'illnesses'--is their anxiety simply something that they need to repent of? Of course some of their anxiety may be a failure to trust God, but I would suggest that it goes beyond this.
People with anxiety-related illnesses have an anxiety that is irrational - the feeling of anxiety is not necessarily related to any particular issue. Their anxiety may be cuased by chemical imbalances. While they may be worried about particular issues, these issues are often symptons of their anxiety rather than the cause of our anxiety.
So I would suggest that there is a difference between anxiety and anxiety! Where anxiety is a refusal to trust God then it needs to be repented of. This is the worry that Scripture condemns. However where the cause of a persons anxiety is more complicated real care needs to be applied to the advice we give. There can be an anxiety that whose cause is not simply a failure to trust God and so itself is not sinful. People are complicated and wisdom is needed in helping them.
2 comments:
For you and me and the rest of humanity anxiety is a real factor we must deal with and overcome naturally so we can experience more Divine Energy.
Anxiety is the opposite of Divine Energy. When we are anxious we have lost touch with our real, loving self and the real, loving world around us.
Thanks Doris
I guess that you and I have a different worldview. I believe that the divine is a person rather than an energy, that the world is a mess because humanity rebelled against him, that he offers us reconciliation because of the cross, that he is with his people as we struggle in this fallen world and that he brings them to an inheritance beyond this world where suffering is only a memory.
Paul.
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