as with many psychological issues, there are often both a physical and spiritual aspect of manic depression / bipolar disorder. While we believe psychologists often miss the true spiritual nature of the sickness, we strongly encourage anyone suffering with a mental illness to seek medical attention and counseling.
Bipolar Disorder, or BD, (formerly known as Manic Depressive Disorder) is a mental illness classified as a mood disorder. There are several forms of the disorder, some being more severe, and others emphasizing either the mania or the depression side of the disorder. In general, the disorder is characterized by extreme highs and lows in mood, which affect emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. The manic episodes are what make this mood disorder different from other forms of depression. Mania can include any of the following symptoms: a feeling of inflated self-importance, grandiose thinking, hyper speech, racing thoughts, increased energy level, risky behaviors, and wildly unrealistic judgment. The manic depressive is easily agitated or angered when these fantastic views inevitably meet reality. Thus, a manic episode is typically followed by an explosion of anger and a plunge into depression and despair.
The behaviors and mood swings are the primary indicators for diagnosing manic depression, as there is no organic or physical evidence of a chemical imbalance that causes this disorder. The research simply identifies areas of brain activity, not the precise neurochemical reactions to indicate a causal relationship to the symptoms (the brain activity could be a result of the disorder rather than a cause). Furthermore, medicine that targets brain chemistry is not an exact science. Medicine can reduce manic depressive symptoms for some, but not all patients.
The Bible does not use the term bipolar or manic. These are man-made terms used to describe behavior patterns and characteristics. The science of mental illness is a way to study and diagnose problems rather than find solutions for them. On the other hand, the Bible does provide answers to issues related to Bipolar Disorder; for example, a manic episode includes a prideful view of self, a strong desire to gratify wants, and uncontrolled, destructive anger. These are natural desires we are all born with, but we respond differently to them depending on our DNA, environment, and spiritual condition. These factors all play a role in how Bipolar Disorder can develop and take hold in a person’s life. Having Bipolar Disorder is not a sin, but blaming sin on BD is inappropriate. It is we who make sinful choices due to our sinful nature.
In summary, Bipolar Disorder is a type of human frailty that is ultimately caused by our sinful heart condition. BD does not determine a person’s identity, nor is it a life sentence that cannot be overcome. The answer to surmounting BD lies in the spiritual reality we face. We need salvation through Jesus Christ. Salvation sets the captive free from the chains of sin (Proverbs 5:22; Romans 6:6, 14). Without Jesus there is no hope of a redemptive work in our hearts to overcome human weakness.
The gospel is the first need of someone who suffers from BD. A relationship with Jesus is the first step and the only way to true, lasting healing. For those who are walking through this trial, the biblical advice is to examine what part they need to own and know how to respond biblically to temptation.
Having a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder will indicate an area of struggle, particularly with anger and pride (self-importance, selfish desires). A Christian who is dying to self and following Jesus must face these weak areas like he would any other temptation through the help of the Holy Spirit (Romans 13:12-14; Ephesians 6:10-18). Discipling, biblical counsel, support from Christian friends, and personal Bible study are essential tools for spiritual growth and victory over habitual sin. Medication and psychiatric/psychological counseling can be helpful, as long as it is done in conjunction with spiritual guidance. Otherwise, such counseling is nothing more than a band-aid for BD’s symptoms and could potentially cause more harm if it keeps a person from seeing his greatest need is Jesus. Those who place their trust in Jesus will experience the hope that does not disappoint (Romans 5:1-5).
altruistico 
I struggle with your post. It doesn’t seem to take in account the illness of Bipolar Disorder. BPD is a disease of the brain. An unstable person with BPD is not acting with their own will. Their brain isn’t working properly which leads them to make poor decisions. I agree we all need Jesus, but I worry that this perspective is not taking into account that a person isn’t acting as themselves when they are unstable. So your point that “It is we who make sinful choices due to our sinful nature”, doesn’t connect to the actual disease.
There is no choice when a person becomes unstable. Their brain is no longer functioning normal and they are incapable of making good choices. Bipolar Disorder is not caused by our sinful heart condition, it is a disease in the brain. Currently research is showing differences in brain scans, it is a biological illness in the brain, not a result of sin. It will only be a matter of years until we will be using diagnostic tools to diagnose the illness.
Would you blame a person’s cancer on their sinful heart?
My child has bipolar disorder. I have watched him struggle with this disease for years and yes, being a Christian, following Jesus is important, it is what holds us all together, Jesus is what gives us hope and helps us survive each day, but my child’s illness is not caused by my child’s sinful heart, it is an illness that he inherited, he will struggle with this disease for the rest of his life, regardless of the condition of his heart.
If find it offensive that you think my child can control his unstable behavior by responding biblically to temptation. When my child is unstable, his brain can’t even accept common reasoning, let alone be able to make spiritually guided decisions. Instead, medication has given him stability and has given him sound mind and the ability to walk with Jesus.
I am concerned that your message will harm those who are clinging to Jesus as they struggle with their mental illness. There are many Christians who walk with Jesus, yet still struggle with their illness. Already my child feels like he is worthless and God’s mistake. Your message will only reinforce these feelings of worthlessness that the disease already produces. If my child read your post and left believing that it’s his own sin that’s causing his illness, what reason would he have to live? In the mind of a suicidal child, the answer is none.
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I in no means nor manner wished to be offensive to you or your child. You asked, “Would you blame a person’s cancer on their sinful heart?” I am neither here to blame nor judge another’s actions. I do believe, however, that poor life style choices can lead to or influence one’s overall health. As in the case of “cigarettes/alcohol and a person’s choice to smoke or drink excessively.” The body is a temple of God within whom the Holy Spirit dwells.
The first thing to realize about these conditions is that they are nothing compared to the power, love, and grace of God. Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” Nothing in us or outside of us, nothing we do and nothing done to us, can keep God from forgiving us and accepting us as His children. He knows our physical state and our difficulties. He knows our mental and emotional capacities. But we are all pre-conditioned to sin.
The second thing to remember is rather a double-edged sword: God knows our limitations, and we are still expected to obey. God knows our starting point as damaged people. His promises of hope and healing are just as applicable to someone with autism or a mental disorder as they are to anyone else. But, while we cannot contribute to Christ’s work of salvation, we are expected to cooperate with God’s work of healing in us. The principles of sanctification and dying to flesh still apply. We are still expected to consider God’s plan for us above our own desires. That may mean continuing to take required medication, even if we don’t feel like it. Or being diligent with therapy. And “healing” will not look like what the world expects, but God never intended us to conform to the world—He wants us conformed to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29).
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I agree with your point,
“We are still expected to consider God’s plan for us above our own desires. That may mean continuing to take required medication, even if we don’t feel like it. Or being diligent with therapy.”
But your post was claiming that one’s sin is the cause for the illness. And you also seem to think that one can control themselves when they are unstable in their illness. This is not the case with bipolar disorder. The brain isn’t operating correctly, especially the frontal lobe which makes reasoning possible. If the frontal lobe isn’t working right and my child’s brain is switched over to the “fight or flight” mode, he isn’t able to even consider what God wants at that moment, let alone be able to make decisions based on God’s calling.
My child’s “poor life style choices”, as you put it, did not cause his illness. At age 7 he was wanting to kill himself, he suffered from serious depression and manic episodes that made it impossible to choose the right thing in the moment. Your comparison to alcohol and cigarettes don’t apply. My son didn’t get bipolar disorder because he was not taking care of his body. Instead, it was the onset of bipolar illness that made him want to destroy his body.
I agree that nothing compares to the love of Christ, but as Citizen Tom points out below, sometimes God doesn’t heal our illnesses. His example of Job is excellent. I hope you consider the danger in putting blame on other’s, that their own sin caused their illness, even the bible warns against this.
Mental illness has enough stigma. As the body of Christ, we should be showing Christ’s love, not judging others. I have heard of many families that have left the church because of such criticism and judgement, people who feel that their child’s illness was caused by their sin. This goes against everything Christ stood for. As Christians we should be loving one another and supporting one another. Thankfully we have not experienced this at our church, but I have witnessed this in our community. You have no idea what we have walked through, you have not witnessed by son’s illness as we have, you have not seen the suffering of a small child who has not lived a wicked life. Yes, he is a sinner as we all are, but nothing he has done has caused his illness.
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The Bible does not use the term bipolar or manic. These are man-made terms used to describe behavior patterns and characteristics. The science of mental illness is a way to study and diagnose problems rather than find solutions for them. On the other hand, the Bible does provide answers to issues related to Bipolar Disorder; for example, a manic episode includes a prideful view of self, a strong desire to gratify wants, and uncontrolled, destructive anger. These are natural desires we are all born with, but we respond differently to them depending on our DNA, environment, and spiritual condition. These factors all play a role in how Bipolar Disorder can develop and take hold in a person’s life. Having Bipolar Disorder is not a sin, but blaming sin on BD is inappropriate. It is we who make sinful choices due to our sinful nature.
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Bipolar Disorder does not develop because of having a prideful view, or for having destructive anger, what you don’t understand is that people with bipolar disorder don’t exhibit these extreme conditions prior to the illness. My child was a normal boy, until his illness started at 7 years old. It was the onset of the illness that brought on the extreme behavior. One of the factors for diagnosing the illness is that the person’s unstable behavior is uncharacteristic of the person.
You say:
“The science of mental illness is a way to study and diagnose problems rather than find solutions for them.”
This comment shows me that you have limited experience with the science of mental illness. I have been following the research for years now and the science IS trying to find solutions.
Your description of mania is simplistic, and what you don’t understand is that it is not a natural state, it is a result of the brain malfunctioning, it is when nature goes wrong.
Thankfully we have Christ to walk us through it all, just as he walks with others who suffer from various diseases who are never healed by His hand. I watched my uncle die of Alzheimer’s disease and just like bipolar disorder, when the disease entered his brain, he no longer acted like the man he was. And just like Bipolar disorder, he did not cause his illness because of sin in his life. He was a sinner the day he was born and he died a sinner, but his sin did not cause his illness.
Regarding your final statement:
“It is we who make sinful choices due to our sinful nature.”
You have to understand that when a person is suffering from symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, there is no choice.
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altruistico – I don’t claim to know what causes Bipolar Disorder. I just know that when I saw someone affected by it their behavior changed radically. We are creatures made of flesh, soul, and spirit. When our flesh hurts — and that includes our brains — we hurt.
When Bible speaks of someone being possessed by demons, I suspect Bipolar Disorder is what they are talking about, but keep in mind how old the Bible is. These people had no idea what caused mental illness. So they described it as best they could using terms they understood. So when Christ Jesus cured “demon possessed” people they just described what Jesus had done as they understood it.
Are demons real? I guess so. Is Satan real? Is the story of Job to be believed? Did Job have any choice in the ills that Satan brought upon him?
When we are sick, what are we suppose to do? We can misunderstand what James said.
Is prayer all that is needful? No. In some translations, it does not come across, but that olive oil was the best medicine they had.
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When we try to use to the gospel to cure mental illness, we risk overreaching. As you mention early in your post, Bipolar Disorder is poorly understood. Fortunately, Bipolar Disorder is often treatable. With the use of certain drugs, many people diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder can lead productive lives. For that reason, if nothing else, we know Bipolar Disorder has a physical cause. Therefore, I think you reach this conclusion too soon.
If we want to go back to the sin of Adam and Eve, that statement is true. But bringing Gospel to someone with Bipolar Disorder is not a cure. Even though the Gospel helps everyone escape hell, it does not remove us from this world. What the Gospel does do is help us find peace and contentment. Thus, it helps the mentally ill deal with their illness, and it helps them (and all Christians) distinguish between right and wrong when they are well.
Consider. Does the mere fact we know Jesus fix a broken leg or just make it easier to deal with the problem?
Frankly, there was a time I scoffed at mental illness and suggested that mental illness is a moral problem. I have learned enough and seen enough I don’t anymore.
1. I know enough about biochemistry and biology to realize just how miraculous it is that our brains work at all. So I more readily accept the fact that a glitch in our body chemistry can be disastrous, and I abhor the sheer stupidity of deliberately doing drugs.
2. I have seen someone suffering from Bipolar Disorder. Their mind could not function appropriately, and they could not make it function appropriately. Nonetheless, when that same person takes a pill every day, they function quite well.
Even though we don’t know exactly how many of the medications psychiatrists prescribe work, we do know they work. Do psychiatrists over-prescribe some of these medications? Perhaps, but that’s a separate issue.
Is Bipolar Disorder difficult to diagnose? Is it sometimes diagnosed incorrectly? Do some people with severe moral problems exhibit what appears to be a mental illness? Are psychiatrists just human beings dealing with poorly understood problems?
Consider the Book of Job and Job’s three friends. Because Job had lost his fortune, his family, and his health, Job’s friends deemed that God must be punishing him for a hidden sin. That book remains a lesson for us. It warns us against committing the same sin as Job’s friends. That book warns us against speaking for God.
When the Apostle Paul asked God for a miracle to cure the thorn in his flesh, God said no. Sometimes He chooses to allow us to suffer. Why? Like Job, we do not always know why our suffering is needful. Then we can and must trust in our Lord, and we must help each other to persevere.
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