Hi, Lisa and Ryan- I almost had to chuckle at your article about the teacher blaming her sex with a student on her bipolar disorder.  I do biblical counseling at my church (have been for almost 12 years) and have twice had clients (both from different churches) come to me who were labeled with bipolar disorder (both women) who were told by their psychologists that they could not help their adultery, because it was the disease’s fault.  With one, the woman’s husband believed it and was satisfied to know that his wife could not help it and therefore it was not her fault. He said, “Finally I understand that she could not help it.” Both couples were not receptive to my counseling that it was her responsibility and she was accountable. They settled for meds dished out by a psychiatrist instead. It was very disgusting.

Another funny diagnosis is oppositional defiance to describe a child’s rebellious behavior.  Again, two families I know both opted for that diagnosis rather than dealing with the heart attitudes biblically. Today, the one couple insists that their son is schizophrenic, bipolar, depressed and anxious and will not hear of anybody’s counsel saying that there is sin in the camp. His past drug abuse and his current anger and violence, along with hallucinations, most likely caused from the conglomeration of meds he is on, are all not his fault. He is still very sick, they insist.  All because it started with a diagnosis of oppositional defiance. It is very disturbing that they are allowing their son to stay so sick instead of dealing with it biblically and allowing  him to have freedom in Christ.

I forwarded your newsletter to a well known speaker/ author in our area who was struggling with her own diagnosis of ADD she was being treated for. She was in marriage counseling with me and refused to believe she was guilty of any of the sins I recognized in her…it was all her husband’s fault (indeed he was unsaved and lived a wretched life, but he was only part of the problem). She would not acknowledge anything she was doing wrong.  She refused to receive it and decided that she preferred Ritalin and psychobabble to biblical truth. Another sad ending to someone’s disobedience and deception.