Prayer, reading the Bible, singing—aren’t they enough to address mental illness? After all, David didn’t go to therapy, and he didn’t take medication. In fact, he never spoke about mental illness at all. Does that mean the Bible forbids Christians from taking medicine prescribed for a mental illness (psychotropic medicines)? This is an important question, so let's try to understand what God says on the matter. First, the Old Testament.
People in the Bible were like everyone else: they used medicine to address pain and suffering. Most often, the medicine involved some combination of plants, leaves, or fruit. For example,
“From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with olive oil” (Isa. 1:6).
“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river...Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12)
“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people” (Jer. 8:22).
“Go up to Gilead and get balm, Virgin Daughter Egypt. But you try many medicines in vain; there is no healing for you” (Jer.46:11; 30:13; Ezk.30:21).
Medicine isn’t a new idea. It just looked different then. For instance, the word “balm” (צְרִי) is used often in the Old Testament as a healing salve. “They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm” (2 Chr. 28:15).” This was most likely the sap of a native plant that people used to relieve pain.
When King Hezekiah suffered from a deadly boil, Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs [lit. lump of pressed figs]” (2 Kings 20:5). Jeremiah writes about “medicines” or “remedies” (רְפֻאָה), which is from a Hebrew word meaning “sew together, mend, or heal.” The same medicines weren’t available then as now, but the underlying principle remains the same: sickness needs healing and humans combine insight, experience, and available resources to provide relief.
When we turn to the New Testament, we see a similar thing at work. By this time, people had assumed the role of "doctors," who practiced medicine and issued prescriptions in Jesus’ day.
For example. Luke informs us about a woman “who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse” (Lk. 5:25-26). Jesus recognized their purpose and place in society when he said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Matt. 9:12). Notice that he didn't scoff at medicine, but said, the sick "need a doctor."
One of his most famous parables involves the use of medicine. “But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine” (Luke 10:34). Olive oil was prescribed to treat everything from skin irritations to digestive problems. The Samaritan was treating the wounds with medicine of the day.
Likewise, the apostle Paul encouraged Timothy, “Stop drinking only water and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Tim. 5:23). Where did this idea come from? He wasn't speaking from a place of Spirit-inspiration here. Instead, he relied upon common remedies. Home remedy or not, his point was clear—pray and trust God, but also make use of the available resources for healing and recovery.
Even one of the gospel writers was a doctor. Paul called him “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor…” (Col. 4:14). After Jesus’ death and resurrection, we shouldn’t assume Luke quit his practice and relied on miracles. About sixty years later, Paul still calls him “the doctor.” In the early days of the church, we can imagine Luke working from a small room in a marketplace. People made their way to him to ease their pain. Luke treated wounds, provided medicines, gave them a hug, and prayed for God to relieve their suffering. While at the same time, Peter was saying to lame beggars, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6-7).
There were no psychotropic medicines during those times, but neither were there blood pressure checks or emergency rooms. What existed then and still does now is a desire to relieve symptoms and pain. King Hezekiah received some pressed figs, the Good Samaritan used olive oil, and Paul prescribed a glass of wine. Today, your doctor might prescribe medicine for an illness or condition of the body or mind.
There is an underlying theological principle here that is woven throughout the pages of the Bible: God provides resources that he expects us to use. Faith isn’t diminished when we use the gifts and resources he’s given. Instead, using them taps into his common grace to all. Using the gifts is itself an act of faith.
A clear example of this comes from Jesus himself.
Once Jesus was confronted by a desperate father who, “pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live” Mk.5:23). Before he could get to the home, the daughter died. Jesus “took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old)” (vv.41-42).
This should be the end of the story, right? No, Jesus wasn’t finished. After raising her, he instructed them, “give her something to eat” (v.43). There was still something she needed that Jesus did not directly provide: food for strengthening the body.
He could have easily provided her with physical strength and nourishment at the same time he provided her with the breath of life. Instead, he chose to use the natural process of healing and recovery. It’s a perfect picture of God’s direct and indirect intervention to bring about wellness. It doesn’t take anything away from God’s sovereignty and power when he chooses to work indirectly rather than directly.
God is still the one who heals and restores, regardless of the means. He created our bodies, as well as wisdom and resources to use in caring for them. He created the mind to discover cures, make diagnoses, and provide healing treatments whatever the field of medicine may be.
One means of healing doesn’t discount the other. God uses both.
It isn't wrong for Christians to seek help from mental health professionals. The Bible does not forbid Christians from taking psychotropic medicines prescribed by mental health professionals. God is the sovereign King of all that is. He still heals through miraculous direct interventions in people’s suffering, and he still works indirectly through doctors who treat, make diagnoses, and prescribe medicine. Included in those indirect means are psychologists, therapists, and other mental health professionals. We have no biblical reason to believe otherwise.
God, psychiatrists, and medicine.
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