We hear many voices:

• “It takes conversation with an intense rapport between a practitioner and his subject until the subject is mesmerized.”
• “One has to look beyond normal thought patterns, deeply into the subconscious to find the broken gears, the root problem, and then when those gears are repaired, the subject can have emotional health.”
• “Mental illness is a disease of the mind and can only be repaired by emptying the mind of all stray thoughts and allowing spirit guides to channel healing into the mind.”
• “Emotional struggles come from childhood and the wounded child within, but we can become healed as we find that wounded child and have a conversation with him.”
• “Listening prayer is the answer. Visualize Jesus holding you as a little child or walking with you in a safe place like a flowering meadow, then listen to the whispers He gives to your soul for inner healing.”
• “No, emotional problems come from imbalanced chemicals in the brain. If you can find the correct medication, then you can eliminate the stray or destructive thoughts that are disturbing your peace.”

As I listen to the swirl of ideas and philosophies and see the routes some groups choose to “fix” their struggling members, my mind keeps going back to, “But what does the Bible say?” We know there is an Authority that speaks from outside the narrow tunnel of human experience and earth life perspective. We have access to our Creator’s answers. What does He say is the way to experience change?

Transformation: 

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2Co 3:18). Here is a verse that promises change. But change into what? Reread the verse; it says changed into the same image. The image of whom? Why it’s the one being looked at, it's Jesus Christ Himself. That’s the change we want. Choosing to worship the Almighty puts everything else in life into perspective.

We choose the word transformation here because the Greek word for change is transliterated into English as metamorphosis. We use that word to describe what happens when a caterpillar is changed into a butterfly. That happens when a person takes the Bible (the glass spoken of here is a mirror) and turns it to look into the face of Jesus Christ in the context of eternity.

In seeing the face of Jesus, we see our selfishness, sinfulness, and our need for redemption. When we make that choice of repentance and discipleship of Christ, a fundamental change happens in our outlook on life. Paul later in the same book to the church at Corinth says, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2Co 5:17).

A retelling of this same truth is found in 2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. In knowing Jesus and worshipping His magnificence, we receive the divine nature and escape the corruption of our sensual desires.

It is interesting to note that the word “image” is taken from the Greek word “icon.” An icon in days gone by, was a sculptured copy or painting of a religious scene used to stimulate worship in a subject’s mind. In our modern usage, an icon is a logo on a computer's desktop, which, if clicked on, opens a program with capabilities the user desires for his task at hand.

Can we use this word to give us a mental image? That when we are “clicked on” in life, then the little Christ that is now us opens up to become a service of Christ in the life of the seeker?

Renovation:

After we are transformed, the Bible still portrays a continuing renovation that needs to take place. This renovation is similar to the original transformation. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (Col 3:10). The Bible describes a renewing “to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state” that takes place in the person who continues to grow in his knowledge of Christ.

This renovation comes as we relate to fellow church members in transparency and honesty. The verse before this forbids lying. Most of us struggle with transparency more than we do with outright lying. There are things in our experience that we do not want to own, so while we don’t deny them, we just do not bring them up. The Bible describes a scene in Acts 19:17-20 where renovation transpired. An evil spirit was cast out, and suddenly revival swept through the brotherhood. The Greek text brings out that those who had earlier believed needed to bring their curious arts and books to be burned. We still need individual and collective renovation in our midst today. If our congregations promote honesty and humility, they become a greenhouse for spiritual growth and emotional stability. On the contrary, if our church life is all about hiding the real person inside to preserve our reputation and honor, emotional and spiritual stability will be jeopardized.

Some may require special accountability. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (Jas 5:16). Strongs defines the “healed” as “to make whole, to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one's) salvation.”

And the same word “image” is used here as well. We will become an icon of Christ! While we may sing, “Why conquer so slowly this nature of mine?” we do rejoice in His work in our lives.

Connection:

The Bible gives an additional way to change. It is called “growing up” We receive our English word “wax” as in “wax old as in a garment” from the Greek root. This indicates a slow but very definite, steady, directional change. Here is the verse, I (Eph 4:15). This “speaking the truth in love” is given in a broader context of being a part of and used in a spiritual brotherhood that treasures the contribution and utilizes the gifts of all its members.

“Winds of doctrine” and “the cunning craftiness of men” must be rejected. Christ calls men to various positions of leadership in the church. But the context of this verse teaches us that growth happens as various members in the body give to and receive truth from each other. No elite group may control the rest. Sometimes we grow in listening to others. Sometimes we grow because we are called upon to contribute. Every joint must supply what it can give, and the overwhelming atmosphere must be that of love and acceptance for each other. It is amazing how people grow when they know their contribution is coveted.

Devotion: 

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby 1Pe 2:2). Another slow but sure change described by the word “grow” is our choice to desire Bible reading. The word translated “desire” is “to dote upon, i.e., intensely crave possession.”  We choose our love, but our love eventually owns us. Some people find Bible reading boring, so they bypass the discipline of focusing on the Word and choose to escape the humdrum of life in sensual reading or music. Is there any wonder that the aging process brings intense dissatisfaction and emotional disturbances?

Others diligently look for nuggets of truth in regular devotion to God, Who desires to be the passion of our lives.

We must admit we are all broken. Some of us have a troubled childhood environment to reflect on. Others of us are perplexed because we don’t know why our nature is so messed up despite a perfect childhood. It’s because we all need to be changed.

Let’s choose emotional and mental healing the Bible way, and let us choose the kind of church life that promotes change the Bible way. We will never be ashamed to meet the Author of the Book when we take His way.

More on this Subject:

• Keeping a Healthy Mind
• Anointing with Oil
• Man's Psychology Versus God's Solution

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Stephen Ebersole

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Pilgrim Mennonite Conference

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