This is a continuation of my blog series where I critique Pastor John MacArthur's sermons on mental health, specifically anxiety disorders. In this blog, I shall review his second sermon, "Anxiety-Free Living". This is not a personal attack on Mr. MacArthur. I greatly respect the man for his bold stance on the Bible. It is quite refreshing to see a man of his stature stand up to the culture for God's kingdom. However, I do find his stance on mental illness to be quite damaging toward Christians who suffer from mental illnesses. Mr. MacArthur has a worldwide influence on many people and if any Christians who suffer from mental illnesses come across these sermons, they will be led to believe that there is something inherently wrong with themselves. As a result, these Christians may be led to believe that they are second-class citizens in God's kingdom. This is why I am devoting so much time to critique Mr. MacArthur's sermons. I want Christians who suffer from mental illnesses to know that not all Christians believe as Mr. MacArthur does. I also want Christians who do not suffer from mental illnesses to know that we are not second-class citizens. We do have value in God's kingdom and we should be treated with the utmost respect and dignity.
Mr. MacArthur bases his two sermons on Luke 12:22-34. In that passage, Jesus tells us not to worry because we should trust in God's sovereignty. He gives us the analogy of the birds and lilies by saying how they neither toil nor spin, yet our Heavenly Father feeds them and clothes them. Jesus then tells us that we are of much more value than they are. I agree with Mr. MacArthur on his interpretation of this passage. I believe that as Christians we have no reason to worry or fret if we truly trust that God is sovereign over all of creation. My contention is not with Mr. MacArthur's interpretation. However, I do have an issue with Mr. MacArthur's blatant trivialization of mental illnesses, such as anxiety disorders. He continues to make the insinuation that those who suffer from anxiety disorders are not truly Christians by comparing them to unbelievers. This kind of rhetoric is not only offensive but also very harmful.
The next portion of his sermon that I'd like to address is where he says the following,
In regard to our material needs, verse 30 says, “Your Father knows that you need these things.” In regard to our spiritual needs, verse 32 says, “Your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” He will give you whatever you need to sustain your life in this world, and He will give you all that you need to sustain your life in His kingdom. Worry, then, is unnecessary. Worry is a result really of two things. It is a result, first of all, of ignorance and/or unbelief. There are, I’m sure, people who worry not because they don’t believe what God has promised but because they don’t know what God has promised.
Ok, first I'd like to say that I do agree with Mr. MacArthur that God has given us everything we need for this life, whether physically or spiritually. I will not argue with him about that. As a Reformed Christian who firmly believes in God's sovereignty, I must not disagree with that statement. However, where I disagree with him is when he says that worry is "the result of ignorance and/or unbelief". Once more, we find Mr. MacArthur calling Christians who suffer from mental illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, unbelievers. The fact is, a Christian can know that God will provide for all their needs and even fully trust in His sovereignty, but that belief will not always eliminate PTSD, OCD, or other anxiety disorders. I do not like how Mr. MacArthur trivializes anxiety disorders by making it seem like it is as easy as changing your beliefs. I have met plenty of Bible-Believing Christians who still deal with Social Anxiety and Panic Attacks. Anxiety disorders are not the result of unbelief or ignorance.
The next portion of his sermon that I'd like to address is the very next paragraph. Mr. MacArthur says the following,
And the greatest way you could cheat a believer (greatest way you could cheat anybody) is to limit God or to teach them things about God that are not true or to give them a diminished view of God. In fact, this is a form of idolatry. Any misrepresentation of God is an idol, and worshiping and giving homage to a misrepresented God is a form of idolatry. It is incumbent upon all who teach the scriptures and all who possess the scriptures, meaning both us and you as well, to come to a true understanding of God so that we worship Him not just in spirit - that is, not just with our emotion and all of our faculties, mind and soul as well as every physical part of us - but to worship Him in truth.
Do you notice what Mr. MacArthur is insinuating here? Well, he is not exactly insinuating actually. He is outright accusing anyone who suffers from an anxiety disorder of committing idolatry. He is saying that if you suffer from PTSD, Separation Anxiety, or OCD you are an idolater. I hope that I do not have to explain to you how damaging this is. I can imagine a Christian who suffers from one of these disorders listening to this sermon and being filled with all kinds of shame because they cannot shake their PTSD away. Mr. MacArthur is blatantly saying that if you suffer from PTSD or OCD you do not have a proper understanding of who God truly is. The truth is, that we all live in this fallen world and because of that fact, we will experience traumatic events that will affect us for the rest of our lives (PTSD). It is also true that since we live in a fallen world, we could have messed up minds that cause us to believe that if we do not perform certain rituals something bad will happen to either us or our loved ones (OCD). None of this is a reflection of idolatry or disbelief in who God is. We are not "unbelievers" just because we deal with mental illnesses. The truth is, it is possible to know and understand God truly as He is and still deal with anxiety disorders. It does not make us any less Christian.
Mr. MacArthur bases his two sermons on Luke 12:22-34. In that passage, Jesus tells us not to worry because we should trust in God's sovereignty. He gives us the analogy of the birds and lilies by saying how they neither toil nor spin, yet our Heavenly Father feeds them and clothes them. Jesus then tells us that we are of much more value than they are. I agree with Mr. MacArthur on his interpretation of this passage. I believe that as Christians we have no reason to worry or fret if we truly trust that God is sovereign over all of creation. My contention is not with Mr. MacArthur's interpretation. However, I do have an issue with Mr. MacArthur's blatant trivialization of mental illnesses, such as anxiety disorders. He continues to make the insinuation that those who suffer from anxiety disorders are not truly Christians by comparing them to unbelievers. This kind of rhetoric is not only offensive but also very harmful.
The next portion of his sermon that I'd like to address is where he says the following,
In regard to our material needs, verse 30 says, “Your Father knows that you need these things.” In regard to our spiritual needs, verse 32 says, “Your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” He will give you whatever you need to sustain your life in this world, and He will give you all that you need to sustain your life in His kingdom. Worry, then, is unnecessary. Worry is a result really of two things. It is a result, first of all, of ignorance and/or unbelief. There are, I’m sure, people who worry not because they don’t believe what God has promised but because they don’t know what God has promised.
Ok, first I'd like to say that I do agree with Mr. MacArthur that God has given us everything we need for this life, whether physically or spiritually. I will not argue with him about that. As a Reformed Christian who firmly believes in God's sovereignty, I must not disagree with that statement. However, where I disagree with him is when he says that worry is "the result of ignorance and/or unbelief". Once more, we find Mr. MacArthur calling Christians who suffer from mental illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, unbelievers. The fact is, a Christian can know that God will provide for all their needs and even fully trust in His sovereignty, but that belief will not always eliminate PTSD, OCD, or other anxiety disorders. I do not like how Mr. MacArthur trivializes anxiety disorders by making it seem like it is as easy as changing your beliefs. I have met plenty of Bible-Believing Christians who still deal with Social Anxiety and Panic Attacks. Anxiety disorders are not the result of unbelief or ignorance.
The next portion of his sermon that I'd like to address is the very next paragraph. Mr. MacArthur says the following,
And the greatest way you could cheat a believer (greatest way you could cheat anybody) is to limit God or to teach them things about God that are not true or to give them a diminished view of God. In fact, this is a form of idolatry. Any misrepresentation of God is an idol, and worshiping and giving homage to a misrepresented God is a form of idolatry. It is incumbent upon all who teach the scriptures and all who possess the scriptures, meaning both us and you as well, to come to a true understanding of God so that we worship Him not just in spirit - that is, not just with our emotion and all of our faculties, mind and soul as well as every physical part of us - but to worship Him in truth.
Do you notice what Mr. MacArthur is insinuating here? Well, he is not exactly insinuating actually. He is outright accusing anyone who suffers from an anxiety disorder of committing idolatry. He is saying that if you suffer from PTSD, Separation Anxiety, or OCD you are an idolater. I hope that I do not have to explain to you how damaging this is. I can imagine a Christian who suffers from one of these disorders listening to this sermon and being filled with all kinds of shame because they cannot shake their PTSD away. Mr. MacArthur is blatantly saying that if you suffer from PTSD or OCD you do not have a proper understanding of who God truly is. The truth is, that we all live in this fallen world and because of that fact, we will experience traumatic events that will affect us for the rest of our lives (PTSD). It is also true that since we live in a fallen world, we could have messed up minds that cause us to believe that if we do not perform certain rituals something bad will happen to either us or our loved ones (OCD). None of this is a reflection of idolatry or disbelief in who God is. We are not "unbelievers" just because we deal with mental illnesses. The truth is, it is possible to know and understand God truly as He is and still deal with anxiety disorders. It does not make us any less Christian.
This concludes this portion of my blog series concerning John MacArthur's sermons. Please stay tuned for Part 12.
-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website
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