Biblical Masculinity
Topic: Are you seeing yourself the way God sees you
Characters: Gideon
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 2:19
And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Sir, God gave you his image and placed in you the ability to speak to what He (God) created and to name it. God placed His image, His nature, and His confidence in the man, and he did so for a purpose. When you view your manhood through the lens of the Gospel, you will see that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. In looking at yourself through the lens of God, you will know that you are not an accident or a mistake. You will find that the Lord created you for a purpose.
Many men think that the Gospel teaches men to be weak, but that is not true. You serve a God of war and a God of power. The Word of God never meant for a man to be anything less than what He, the Lord, called Him to be. It takes strength to be a husband, a father, a mentor, a brother, or a guide. It takes power to raise someone else’s child, to teach, to correct, to lead, or to coach. It takes strength to walk away from situations that are not good for you or to rise above the negative voices in your head or the demons from your childhood. It took strength for Jesus Christ to hang on the cross, and it took strength for Peter to weep, repent, and to lead the church.
Man, you can speak to and “name” your children, your family, society, and others around you. But not only do you have the ability to “name,” you have the keys to lead, to shield, to cover, and to build.
Your enemy is afraid of a man who knows who He is and understands Biblical masculinity. That is why the enemy spends so much effort in trying to distort and weaken the man. Factors like abuse, our society, family, drugs, prison, low self-esteem, rejection, poverty, pride, anger, etc. will all come to chip away at the plan that God has for your life. But if you can stay focused on the Gospel of Jesus Chris and His word, you will begin to see your self the way the Lord sees you.
Kanye West Inspired Post
Kanye West had been diagnosed and is living with a Bipolar Disorder (I do not know what type). People who are living with a severe and persistent mental illness like Bipolar also have friends, families, go to church, they have jobs, personalities, and opinions they are human. Kanye is disliked by many for various reasons to include his religious beliefs and political views, and I get it. But to those who are living with the symptoms of bipolar, those who think you may be and family members let me share a few points.
Coming to accept a diagnosis of a disorder that is so persistent and pervasive like Bipolar can be a process for many people. For some, the process can start with a mandatory hospital admission. During that first hospital stay, they are provided with a diagnosis and, hopefully, information about their diagnosis. While in the hospital, the person will more than likely be given medications and probably some brief mental health counseling. At the time of discharge, the person will leave the hospital with information, a diagnosis, medications, and, hopefully, an appointment with an outpatient Psychiatrist.
Once at their outpatient appointment, they will, among other things and depending on the location, be asked to complete some paperwork and then be seen at some point by a Psychiatrist (the may see an intake worker and nurse first). Depending on the team, the doctor and his/her depth and understanding as it relates to working with severe and persistent mental illnesses, the medications the person prescribed while they were in the hospital may be adjusted or left the same. The person will receive a follow-up appointment with his or her new outpatient MD.
Note: Not all mental health professionals understand Severe and persistent mental illness. Mental illness is any disease or condition that influences the way a person thinks, feels, behaves, and relates to others and his or her surroundings. Severe and persistent mental illness is defined at the federal level as having, at any time during the past year, a diagnosable mental, behavior, or emotional disorder that causes severe functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.
Severe and persistent mental illnesses last so long and are so severe that they seriously interfere with a person’s ability to take part in even minor life activities. Even with the use of psychotropic medications, individuals living with a severe and persistent mental illness may never really be free of symptoms. (https://www.samhsa.gov/disorders). Because the symptoms of severe and persistent mental illnesses started when the person was young, it may be difficult at times to determine if the behaviors you are seeing are part of their diagnosis or personality or a combination of both. Some people have been managing symptoms before they realized they had an illness. For example, some adults who are addicted to drugs started using as young adults after discovering that the pills helped to stop the voices they were experiencing.
The newly diagnosed person should also meet with a mental health counselor (the discipline at this point does not matter) or a peer support specialist.
What matters is that the person who is living with a Bipolar Disorder meets with people who can help him or her to understand their diagnosis better. It will be necessary for the newly diagnosed person to recognize the symptoms and presentation of their illness so that they can begin to separate the signs of the illness from their real selves. It will be vital for them to understand what living with their disorder will mean for their lives going forward. It will also be important for them to have a conversation around crisis management and relapse prevention. Learning to live their lives while taking medications for symptoms that they have grown used to living with, coping with depression, and engaging with other people who are in recovery are all strategies that will help them on their journey. Living with a disorder is a process that will require understanding, education, and patience.
It is Not The Members Fault
It is not the members’ fault that a pastor died by suicide. Suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair. Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated. Conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance problems, especially when unaddressed, increase the risk of suicide. https://afsp.org/about-suicide/risk-factors-and-warning-signs/.
There is no one reason why a person dies by suicide. Now I am not saying that members should not treat their leaders well. However, I am saying that pastors do not die by suicide just because their members did not come to church that Sunday. For someone who is living with a severe and persistent mental illness, stress can be a trigger. If you are living with a persistent mental illness, you have to manage your stress. Pastors and leaders have to be honest, are they performing a job that they should not be performing? And why? Are they emotionally/psychologically whole? Have they dealt with their emotional issues, or are they using the pulpit to work through problems? Are they operating in pride or fear, which is why they can’t be honest with themselves and or the congregation?
Living with severe mental illness, just like living with any long term illness or condition will require changes. Change in how you maneuver life, changes in diet, in sleeping habits, etc. must be managed. If you are living with a persistent and severe mental illness, you will have to manage your stress and make lifestyle changes. Now what is stressful to you may not be stressful to me, which is why you have to be honest with you. You have to be honest about your challenges and take steps to protect your health. You have to know your warning signs, relapse signs, and set up strategies to manage your mental health.
There is a lot of talk going around about how hard it is to be a Pastor. Pastoring is a stressful job, but so is being a police officer, firefighter, or teacher. But because being a police officer and or firefighter is a stressful job, individuals in those professions undergo mental fitness exams. Pastors do not have such a review that they must pass. So, unfortunately, we have many people who are operating in the role of a pastor or senior leader who should not be. We have many people who are serving in the role of a pastor or senior leader who have gone into the pulpit with unresolved emotional/psychological issues. Then you have Pastors with chronic mental health issues who need ongoing support but who are not getting it.
The objectives of the enemy is to kill, steal, and destroy. He can accomplish those objectives when we are not honest with ourselves about ourselves. You don’t have to battle your emotions; you can cast them on the Lord and yield to the Holy Spirit as He leads and guides. But you can’t do that if you are not honest and if you feel that you always have to have all of the answers. Pride, unresolved feelings of rejection and low self-esteem, will have us operating in areas like pastoring and other helping professions with a dishonest spirit. It is dishonest when we are not able to open up with what is going on with us and seek the help that we need. AL (IGBATT Copyright 2019)
Healing Can Occur Any Time
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Children and Youth
Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
TTY: 1-800-799-4889
Website: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call is routed to the nearest crisis center in the national network of more than 150 crisis centers.
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