What Does the Bible Say About Psychiatric Medication ?

Like most topics, the Bible says nothing explicitly about whether one should or should not take psychiatric medication. Some in the church claim medication is satanic and others say God made it, so it must be good.

Like most topics in life, the Bible provides guidelines only, principles, boundaries of God's will. There is biblical freedom with the choice to take medication or not. Contrary to common thought, the Bible is (all) about God not man, but this is a topic for some other post.

Before moving on I want to get personal and state that over the last two years, on different levels, I have personally processed through what I am going to write. That is to say I have had my own personal experience with medication, over a ten year period of time. Today, I do not take anything. I have not taken medication for a year and a half. Do I have mental health problems? Well, if you've read any of my earlier posts, what is at the core of every mental health issue? In that case, everybody has mental health problems. Now though, that I am off the medication, I see all my problems as heart-related spiritual problems, period. Admitting that I once took medication, for over ten years mind you, and now I don't should serve as a credibility factor when considering what I talk about. I write from personal experience.

I mentioned in another post about people dealing with psychiatric problems are, at the core, suffering. The bible has something to say about suffering:

James 1:2-4
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James suggests there is value in faith being tested and strengthened through trials. Suffering is not something that should always be escaped. Some may see this as unloving, especially if they don't see the Bible as authoritative, being God's word. Life in America too is all about claiming rights to a pain-free life. But suffering is not the enemy it is sometimes seen as, and so medication is not, or should not be, considered to first be the end all answer to psychiatric problems. In the final analysis, medication is not the source of hope, Christ is.

Now that all was a pretty wide brush stroke when looking at medication through a biblical lense. Some how, things seem to be more complex than that don't they. Consider this:

1. The depth of someone's suffering is never fully known by man.
   
2. In general, alleviating suffering is a good thing.
3. Since the Bible is not explicit on medication, the issue is not the morality of taking medication, the issue is about making wise, informed decisions.

When considering medication for yourself or another person, focus on what is clear in Scripture. Dr. Ed Welch points to the following passages that offer wise pastoral care: Hebrews 11 and 12. In these parts of Scripture it is shown that there have been many before us who have experienced suffering and have demostrated strong faith. Also, suffering calls for repentance and perseverance.

Scripture does not label medication right or wrong. As always, Scripture points out the motives of the heart and calls man to examine why? Why is someone taking or not taking medication?

Once again, medication is not the source of hope - "2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2