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Christianity Today, November (Web-only), 2008 |

A Christian Cure for OCD?

Psychiatrist Ian Osborn claims that trust in God can overcome mental illness.

Review by Eric L. Johnson | posted 11/12/2008 10:04AM

Can Christianity Cure Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
by Ian Osborn
Brazos Press, April 2008
208 pp., $12.23

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a puzzling, well-known mental disorder. Most people are ...

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catherine++

Posted: November 17, 2008 8:13 AM

After you are saved through the Blood of Jesus Christ, He will help you. However, He does not promise to quote, quote, cure you of every thing that is wrong with you. God is much more interested in you staying in prayer over such illnesses. Really, most of what the world calls mental illness is nothing more than Satan. God will give you victories over him, if you stay close to the Lord thy God. Have a pleasant week.

noble

Posted: November 14, 2008 7:16 AM


To the aghast of mental health professions research from the 1960's that has been duplicated recently shows that conversations with a trusted friend results in about the same or better recovery as seeing a mental health professional. Just another example of the Word of God being an authority on any matter it speaks to.

Dakotahgeo

Posted: November 13, 2008 7:48 PM

It amazes me when I hear people articulate to others their advice when they have no experience in either the medical or mental illness fields. I would never advise a person with serious mental problems to see a medical Doctor, nor would I advse a person with medical problems to see a psychologist or Psychiatrist. A psychologist is basically a therapist. A psychiatrist has an M.D. degree AND a professional therapist license conbined in order to tackle the problem from both sides. Please leave the referral system alone unless you have deep knowledge of how it works. Everyone seems to be an armchair professional when subjects like this come up. Do your friends a favor and refer them immediately to a professional person who can then refer them to the appropriate source. Kindest regards, Dakotahgeo

anonymous

Posted: November 13, 2008 3:00 PM


I think OCD is one of those rare illnesses that is made WORSE by Christianity. That is all I have to say.

Susannah

Posted: November 13, 2008 10:43 AM

If faith and prayer could overcome OCD I would have been cured years ago and lived a normal, happy life. How many times did I beseech God to remove this "thorn in the flesh," and every time He answered, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Indeed, God has been faithful to me and has "cured" my mental illness with a little pill, which I give thanks for every day. Please, let's not go back to the Middle Ages and forget that in the majority of cases, mental illness is a chemical disorder of the brain.

Montague

Posted: November 13, 2008 9:33 AM

Despite the weaknesses of secular Psychiatry the Nouthetic approach has its weaknesses as well. Frequently such an approach will be extremely doubtful of biochemical causes of mental illnesses such as depression and OCD. A recovery process that addresses the whole person is needed instead of one that fits a theological straitjacket or 'one size fits all' approach over the problem. Sin may be part of the problem but I must assume that many who have sat under the Nouthetic approach have problems that go from bad to worse.

Ginger Edwards

Posted: November 13, 2008 7:17 AM

This is a very informative article, but the author appears to be completely unaware of the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors. He states, "Perhaps in coming decades, Christians in psychiatry, psychology, and the human sciences in general can break free of secularism's hold on these fields, and understand human beings Christianly, developing theories, research, and counseling practices that conform to Christian standards of good science and good soul care." This very closely describes the efforts of counselors in the NANC movement, founded by Dr. Jay E. Adams over 30 years ago.

Steve

Posted: November 12, 2008 5:10 PM

I agree that the poll is too narrow. A person may need Biblical guidance from a Biblical Counselor. To rule out true chemical issues bloodwork can be done, but to simply get some pills and hope for change will always fail. In a law enforcement capacity I spent numerous hours with many types of mentally ill patients. In some cases medication was needed before you could literally spend rational moments speaking with them about their issues. I am a Christian who believes both in the active demonic realm (Ep 6:12) as well as the sinful condition which tempts and attacks us each day. If this were not the case Paul would not have been nagged by his own thorn in the flesh (2 Cor 12:7). I believe we are providing false hope to a person if we throw a blanket over all mental conditions and tell them "you will be healed." It just might be the case that God's word and plan to them is "my grace is sufficient for you."

Diane

Posted: November 12, 2008 3:12 PM

I hope that this does not signal another round of condemnation for people who have mental illness as being evil or incarnations of demons. We have a child who has brain damage which causes some similar behaviors as certain mental illnesses. We have been told by many people who think they know all about mental illness that his problems are spiritual ones and we are coddling him by allowing him to act this way. We have great support in our circle of friends, but we frequently hear inappropriate remarks from people in our church.

Mark O

Posted: November 12, 2008 2:00 PM

I wonder if the author deals with the issue of counseling non-Christians who have OCD. As a beginning practicioner in the mental health field, I don't have many Christian clients. If they were Christian, educating them about RTT and the biblical basis for it sounds like a decent idea. However, if a client does not profess faith in Christ, do we simply use secular treatment methods for OCD? Additionally, how does the author address the effectiveness of secular treatment methods? Is it common grace?

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