{Day 4} The Time I Heard the Worst Sermon Ever and Need to Rant Just a Little
We interrupt our lovely homemaking theme this week to invite you to pull a chair up to my soapbox. Settle down and get cozy, friends. This is gonna be a doozy.
If you’ve read my blog recently you know that we have been having a hard time with “church”. We didn’t really attend church much in the summer, but when we returned from our trip to Toronto in mid-September, we decided to visit a few churches around town, to see if there was indeed a better fit for us. This past Sunday we visited the fifth church whose doors we’ve darkened since moving to Tiny Town. If the others were bad, this was horrible. If the others were not a good fit, this was just plain offensive. It was a guest speaker, thankfully (for the church’s sake), but it was absolutely horrendous and shocking regardless.
It started off being about Jesus and the Pharisees. One of my biggest frustrations in a sermon is when the overall message is completely incoherent. The beginning has absolutely nothing to do with the end, and the bits in between are random and choppy. This was the poster child for an incoherent sermon, but it was the last section that really killed it for me…
He (the preacher) said that all psychological diseases and disorders are actually sinful rebellion against God, and that taking drugs is denying the sin. He says that “Physical (medical) issues are testable and observable, such as a withered hand, a blinded eye, a lame appendage, a blood disease. Spiritual (psychological) issues occur when one struggles to function within the framework of his/her life setting without the joy and peace of a clear conscience before God.”
He claims that impulsive disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression are simply folly, fear and worry, and despair, and that we must listen to the Bible’s admonishment against such things, and acknowledge that those things are simply sin.
“All the people who advocated spiritual issues as “disorders” and “diseases” will be stripped bare and isolated at God’s judgement.”
What??!
Yes, he actually said all of that. I have the bulletin insert sermon notes in front of me.
I can certainly agree that it is possible that some people deny (or are unaware of) the spiritual aspect of their psychological issues. But to say that all psychological diseases and disorders are actually just sinful rebellion against God?!?!
Seriously?
I won’t even dignify this load of crap with intelligent counter-arguments, because to be honest I’m too angry (still, 3 days later). Having been familiarized with mental illness through some people that I love and care deeply for, I take personal offence to that sorry excuse for a “sermon”. That was a perfect play for Satan’s strategy of making people feel guilty and beaten down (oh, and he said that guilt is a gift from God. I am gonna have to vehemently disagree with that one too. Guilt is from Satan. Conviction to change is from the Holy Spirit. There is a BIG difference.)
The entire thing was flat-out wrong, offensive, and ignorant. It was the first time I was *thisclose* to walking out on a church service in moral protest. I almost wish I had. Needless to say we left as quickly as we could and have no plans to go back ever again. That may sound cold and harsh, but I assure you it is only a reflection on how strongly I feel about this issue.
The fact that the pastor did not get up (he was there – he was new, but he was there) afterwards and state that the church did not necessarily agree, blah blah blah… was a grave disappointment to me. I also heard a few “amen’s” as the sermon was in progress, which distressed me even more.
There are sinful attitudes that need to be addressed, but they sure as hell aren’t the mind-numbing consuming depression that so many souls suffer, nor the obsessive compulsive disorder that overwhelms and breaks families. Not the varied mental illnesses that are a tragic and difficult enough part of our fallen world and broken bodies already. No. They aren’t.
They are the self-righteous ignorant attitudes that condemn without mercy or grace, or experience.
They are the in the pulpit on Sunday morning.
And I wonder why in God’s name I am sitting there listening.
oh yiy… Sounds like someone was on a bit of a soap box but they didn’t really research their Bible… too bad
I guess if it’s someone local, they probably won’t be asked again!
Hopefully you guys find a great church soon!
If it’s any consolation to you, a number of people came into the TH who were also in that service and they too expressed the same feelings of shock and disgust that you have here …
That *is* good to hear, actually. Thanks for sharing. I hope I didn’t sound too hard on the church itself – my ire is really directed at that sorry excuse for a sermon (by a guest speaker).
It is really sad when stuff like this is said from the pulpit and people are either mindlessly accepting it, or stuck silently disagreeing. I’ve been there.
I’ve wondered what would happen if we started saying “What!?” or, especially in this case, “False!” along with the ameners? Maybe chaos. Probably we’d be identified as under demonic influence.
But I wish that sermons (the good ones too!) were more interactive, not just a captive audience being spoon-fed the message.
Yeah, I didn’t think that standing up and shouting would help much
I may email the new pastor my thoughts on it though. And I agree about the interactive sermons… that would be awesome!
Wow, just wow. Unfortunately this is sort of the kind of thinking I had for years even though that wasn’t how I was raised. I knew deep down it wasn’t true, that getting help, even medical help, was okay, but to me it was like my faith must have been too weak. So I waited for years before taking medication to get the help I needed. *sigh* Yes, I know I’m not perfect, I know I sin, but I am trying to seek Him! Anyway, sorry you had to sit through that. Praying you WILL find a church soon that is welcoming and truly seeking God and the truth in His word.
Love,
Krista
it’s hard when your church culture really perpetuates the lies. but good for you for accepting medical help. i hope it’s a blessing to you and your family!
I have a similar sort of sermon that I once sat through…based on the verses about being anointed with oil by the elders and prayed over. I didn’t have the option to walk out (we were leading the music and were guest missionaries!?!?!) but after, we wished that in the moment when we wanted to ask what exactly was being preached that we would have been able to think more coherent thoughts than This is so crazy!
It is really sad though and I am sorry that you had to listen but even more so that there were others amening.
yikes! what an awkward situation that must have been! i felt really bad for anyone sitting these suffering from any sort of mental illness, and how condemned they might have felt. horrible.
WOW. AS if people with mental illnesses don’t deal with enough judgement and prejudice, now at CHURCH? Unfortunately mental illnesses are often misunderstood and judged wrongly and it seems that several leaders at the church you visited were sorely miseducated. It is sad when you walk into a church and hear someone preaching something so wrong and you are faced with the dilemma – do I say something or no? If i were you I would totally email the responsible pastor with some educational materials, and state how offensive you found this to be. I feel bad for those sitting in the pews who may be dealing with mental issues and may have possibly been affected by this sermon. The one thing I try and keep in mind is that these leaders are human and what they say is sometimes not 100% true or right and they should be educated and taught as well. The sad thing is that most people sit in the pew and take what is said as gospel truth, which is why you heard the “amens”… they don’t critically assess what they hear and determine if that follows in line with their faith or not. Good for you for being discerning and I hope and pray that you find the right church for your family!!
xo
Mariam
I am considering emailing the pastor. I’m not really a stranger-confrontational type… but I might do it anyway this time. We’ll see.
Thanks for your encouragement Mariam
That’s so sad, but not an uncommon viewpoint especially in this little town. In the 80′s a bible college student suffering from schizophrenia was told by a conference speaker that he just needed to be prayed over for healing. He was prayed over, stopped taking his anti-psychotic meds and inevitably had a psychotic break where he decided to take a long walk outside in the dead of winter not properly dressed and he froze to death.
WOW, that’s a tragic story. Man, people are seriously ignorant and uninformed (at best). That story is so very sad. What was the response of the school? Anything?
Thats aweful! It reminds me of an issue i had with a local writer/christian speaker who dared publish in her newspaper column that rape is a consequence of unwise decisions (on the part of the victim!) I tried to address the issue but she just used her blog to misrepresent my point of view.
There are a lot of hurtful lies disguised as Christianity. It breaks my heart because I know it’s turning people away from their one and only hope.
kelly – that is TERRIBLE. oh my goodness!!! that stuff just makes me SO angry. not because i don’t have the ability to argue rationally, but because people like just will not “get it” no matter what. ugh.
Wow…I’m speechless! I can’t believe that someone would get up there & be able to speak like that & go unchecked…but then again I am unfortunately unsurprised that this exists in many churches. I don’t think that I would ever go back either. I think the fact that people obviously agreed at points during this sermon (not sure that’s the right word for it) would make me concerned about the kind of community that exists there.
Hope you guys can find something soon!
I agree. Concerning and shocking!