The multi-denominational mental health event was filled with all sorts of information. It brought Saddleback of Orange County CA, (and all her satellite churches) workshops hosted by the eight guest speakers, and it touted lots of mental health oriented advertising sponsors from the surrounding community. Saddleback even gave out a little conference notebook, that is chock full of advice from experts, advertising and articles, even prayers for attendees to pray.
Aaron Kheriaty who co-authored The Catholic Guide to Depression was a major guest speaker at this Saddleback Conference held last March. As an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Kheriaty gave reporters insight into the reason for the "Mental Health and The Church" conference saying,
"We want to convince Christians that psychiatrists,
religious leaders and mental health advocates,
all of us can work hand in hand."
Really? Who wants to convince Christians and of what? Kheriaty and colleges want to convince .... Christians. This is interesting.
(Please feel free to re-read Kheriaty's statement.)
There is something to convince Christians of... and that this is the point of the conference? According to Kheriaty it is.
Rick Warren about the point of the conference told the Associated Press,
"Our goal is, as we say, we crack the door open and then churches go, 'OK. If the diocese is doing this, if Saddleback's doing this, we can do this.'" He added, "And we'd love to see a movement started where people actually begin to say, 'We need to see this element added to our local ministry.'"
Asking questions get answers, and so, there are some other things to ask... like, what are they hoping to work for, toward? What are these people all building together or working on? And, these people who are, "working hand in hand," (you know... those now, but previous unconvinced, "Christians working alongside psychiatrists, religious leaders and mental health advocates....) to what end are they all now working together?)
Does it matter if these people are all Christian or not as they "work"?
Does it matter if they each have biblical understanding? Must all have even a mustard seed of faith in the true and living God? Does it matter, or not, if they even believe in God and then if they do, does it matter what or who the God they believe in is or is like? What is the example that is being followed? It is biblical to do this?
"Our goal is, as we say, we crack the door open and then churches go, 'OK. If the diocese is doing this, if Saddleback's doing this, we can do this.'" He added, "And we'd love to see a movement started where people actually begin to say, 'We need to see this element added to our local ministry.'"
Rick Warren
An atheistic psychiatrist... if you should know one, likely holds the notion that mentally sane people, (like him or her self,) does not believe in a "non-existent" God. Is this who Christians should hold hands and work with?
You can assume anything you want to about the beliefs of those Rick thinks your church should go to for help, or let in, but Rick does not say anything specific on these matters. Fortunately, Christians have examples in the scriptures that give keen and noble insight into "hand holding" with adversaries. Scripture also tells us that the adversaries of God, while they need the mercy, love and salvation God offers to all in Christ, have no real interest in respecting or furthering the things or Kingdom of God.
You can assume anything you want to about the beliefs of those Rick thinks your church should go to for help, or let in, but Rick does not say anything specific on these matters. Fortunately, Christians have examples in the scriptures that give keen and noble insight into "hand holding" with adversaries. Scripture also tells us that the adversaries of God, while they need the mercy, love and salvation God offers to all in Christ, have no real interest in respecting or furthering the things or Kingdom of God.
Let's take Zerubabbel and Jeshua for example:
"Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel. Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us." Ezra 4:1-3
Zerrubabel and Jeshua refused any "holding hands" or working together with those who had no real interest in the work of God, but Warren, for some reason, has no problem adding strange element to ministries. He thinks nothing of getting all denominations working together for a cause... mental health. Suggesting there be a crack in the church door to get these experts in mental health in.... or people out and into, Rick does not even lend credence to the understanding given to the church by Paul the Apostle when he says,
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
Light or darkness...? Righteous or unrighteous? Believer or not? Roman Catholic or Protestant? Does it matter? Yes it does matter, but Rick and friends just want everyone to "join hands" as he curiously promotes the notion that the church "ignores" mental illness and it's sufferers. He also promotes the concept that the Church needs his insight into psychiatry and mental illness in order to actually do things right as the church.
Light or darkness...? Righteous or unrighteous? Believer or not? Roman Catholic or Protestant? Does it matter? Yes it does matter, but Rick and friends just want everyone to "join hands" as he curiously promotes the notion that the church "ignores" mental illness and it's sufferers. He also promotes the concept that the Church needs his insight into psychiatry and mental illness in order to actually do things right as the church.
In a recent TIME magazine article, Rick commented that churches are not doing enough and that pastors/leaders are ill-equipped for dealing with mental illness. But is this true? While Rick suggests that the church is head-in-the-sand regarding mental illness and must do more... curiously... he gave this little dissertation:
(Underlines are inserted for the purpose of highlighting his points.)
(Underlines are inserted for the purpose of highlighting his points.)
"(First)..from the Gospels, we know that Jesus cared for and ministered to mentally ill people during his ministry on earth. As Christ followers, we are compelled to continue His work today. In Christ’s name, the Church extends compassion, acceptance, and unconditional love to all who suffer from the pain of mental illness, and as his Body, we offer hope and the healing power of God’s grace.
Second, the church has been caring for the sick, both physically and mentally for 2,000 years longer than any government or agency. Most people are unaware that it was the Church that invented the idea of hospitals. For centuries the Church has been a refuge for the outcast, those on the margins, and anyone enduring societal stigma and shame.
Finally, studies have shown that when families or individuals experience the chaos caused by mental illness, the first place they typically call in a crisis is not a doctor, a law office, the school, or the police, but rather they call or go see their priest or pastor. Anyone who’s served as a receptionist for a church knows that they often are required to do triage in mental illness cases. Why is that? Because people instinctively know that churches are called by God to be places of refuge, comfort, guidance, and practical help for those who suffer.
"It’s time to stand with those who are suffering." Rick Warren
Is it that the church has been a bastion for safety and help in time of need, doing exceedingly well as a place of help for people, or has the church been inept without the experts who Rick suggests needs to come in, under his direction? Has the "time" finally arrived for the church to "stand" and do the right thing that it has been inept at doing for so long?
It is fascinating that Rick so eloquently gives a three-point praise of the Church only to make it all null and void by suggesting time has come.... for change? It is as if he did not mean any of his three points he made about the operation of the church in human lives but only spoke those words to draw attention away from what he really wanted to say. like a magician, Rick tells true things to his hearers and suddenly and unbeknownst to them, he hurls in an entirely new concept he adds with slight of hand... that the church is doing everything wrong and needs his leadership. Rick says, "It’s time to stand with those who are suffering." This is the coin pulled out from behind the ear," the change," and it amazes people.
The coin in his slight of hand glistens.
It's cash for Rick and friends who offer something new and greater. It's cash when hearers amass to purchase books and attend conferences. Rick is positive and uplifting and he is wealthy and famous too. Not only does Rick Warren understand the pain of the common man, the pain of being overweight or suffering with the effects of mental illness, he has plan to solve all the problems of the world too. He has a P.E.A.C.E. Plan and he writes books. God is moving... according to Rick, God is doing new and fresh things, changing the church through Rick and his wisdom for the Church.
The coin glistens. People in the audience are wowed.
Meanwhile Rick has only feigned a belief the existing church in all it's many faucets of light and truth stands for and is a beacon of hope holding forth the Word of God to the hurting and offering healing and comfort through faith in Jesus Christ in the midst of humanity'd suffering, turmoil and pain. This is merely a facade, the point of which is to merely suggest that the time has come for the church to "change."
"It's time to stand with the suffering," Rick states... as if this is something that the church does not do. (Has he convinced anyone with his glistening coin that you, church, need to change? )
Like the Horse of Troy, the door to the church is cracked open and in falls the glittery coin. Thanks to be God... even the gates of hell itself have no more power over those who take God at His Word. As religious leaders, psychiatrists and mental health advocates offer help you and your congregation attain a new "wellness of mind," some of us know, all that glitters is not gold. Look and listen. Rick Warren's use of flattering words, even at his best, stand ambiguous. But the foundation of God stands sure.
"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways,
and see, and ask for the old paths, where
is the good way, and walk therein,
and ye shall find rest
for your souls.
But they said, We will not walk therein."
Jeremiah 6:16:
EXPLORE MORE ABOUT RICK WARREN REGARDING THIS TOPIC
Christianity Today Article: Can Churches Separate Mental Illness and Shame?
Baptist Standard Article: Churches Must Remove Stigma of Mental Illness
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