The Church of God a Worldwide Association has an article up on it's web page geared towards young adults. It starts off mentioning that many in the Church of God suffer from anxiety, emotional, and psychological problems.
No shocker there!
COGWA had the opportunity to start afresh with new ideas and new ways of doing things when they had their hissy fit and left United Church of God late last year All indicators over the last year have proven that they have no new ideas and that they are deeper entrenched in the worship of "all things Herb, all the time and in all ways."
Armstrongism has always taken a deep seated hatred against therapy, counseling, and psychiatry. HWA, GTA and Rod Meredith have always made tremendous effort to mock and ridicule therapy and psychiatry.
So what words of wisdom has COGWA spelled out for those suffering from anxiety, mental health issues and psychological problems in the Church of God?
Christians are not immune to the emotional and psychological problems facing many in the world today. We aren’t comfortable talking about them, but ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. How can we begin to deal with these challenging issues?
As Christians, we know that we will suffer various kinds of trials and tribulations and that our trials can test us and help us grow. Jesus Christ mentioned this reality and gave us encouragement: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Many in the Church of God suffer from anxiety disorders and/or other sorts of emotional and psychological problems. Speaking from personal experience, these are difficult things to deal with, and the subject is not talked of often within the Church. When facing difficult times, my searches generally uncovered little help beyond the advice to pray about it and try to overcome fear.
The second paragraph translates into Armstrongite speak that, mental health issues are "trials and tribulations that we bear because we are "aliens in this world." Because we live in this world we are filled with anxiety and suffer greatly.
Could that anxiety be coming from horrible aberrant doctrines and sermons by evangelists and ministers threatening the members with every imaginable kind of curse unless they follow their jack booted masters diligently?
What about the anxiety that is produced from endless speculation and silliness regarding the end times, the books of Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation? How much blood, guts and gore can people take before they have mental issues?
We saw that first hand when one of Rod Meredith's cult members snapped after listening to one of Rod's sermons and went on a shooting spree killing several members. We see it in action with all the end times speculation that is rampant in Armstorngism. In Bob Thiel's 2012-2016 bullshit, in Apostle Malm's specific date setting, to Wiener Dude Weinlands moronic prophecies which had ALL failed, to LCG's sick obsession with violence, death and torture in the end times. The list can go on and on.
So what is the magical COG fix for mental health issues?
The first thing they are told to do is pray about it. While this may work for a select few, this will NOT cure the vast majority of people with mental issues. Working with a 'higher power' along with good therapy and counseling techniques will work together for the better. But when "prayer" is mentioned in COGspeak it has different meaning than it does for most Christians. COG prayers are heard before all other prayers in the world. COG prayers have a direct pipeline into God's ears where it will be dealt with in some magical way.
Praying is our most powerful tool as a Christian; being able to take any problem to our Almighty Creator is an incredible blessing! And overcoming fear is also important, although those who suffer from anxiety are obviously going to have a harder time with that—and it doesn’t necessarily mean they are short in the faith department.
Next they are told to "overcome fear." as if it is their fault they are in this condition. Why are they fearful? Could it be because of aberrant doctrines and church teachings? Fear of theologically bankrupt ministers? Or, a deep seated fear of a god that they think is sitting there in glee waiting for them to commit some kind of sin so he can dish out well deserved punishment?
The author goes on:
I’ve grown up in the Church and am a baptized member of the Church of God, and I have an anxiety disorder. I’ve learned a lot through the ups and downs. Here are a few things I’ve learned:
Never give up on God!
No matter what, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, despite how impossible it may seem. The following scriptures helped me through troubled, and often scary, times.
“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by” (Psalm 57:1).
“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11).
Seek God’s help
Pray; fast; get anointed. God will bless you for seeking Him. Go boldly before God and ask for help.
Pray, fast and get anointed. You fast because you know you must have something topower to do what a real therapist cannot do. When this method is used it is an endless circle of disappointment. "Why haven't I been healed, I need to fast more and pray more because I still must be doing something wrong!" Years go by as the person does this cycle over and over as they sink deeper and deeper into mental health issues.
Don’t keep things inside
I know it feels like you’re the only one who has ever felt this way; but you’re not. Opening up to my pastor and to my family was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, but it was the first step in getting where I am today—and believe me, I am in a much better place today!
Seeking help from a trained and qualified pastor will work wonders if he is trained in good counseling methods. Sadly, there is not a single COG minister alive that has had proper training in counseling techniques and therapy! Almost all counseling training is "in house" training, because it is not tainted by the "world's techniques". That's why we have ministers in the COG refusing to deal with rapists and child abusers. With violent husbands, alcoholism and rampant drug abuse.
Get help
I think that in the past, a negative stigma has been associated with mental health problems and with seeking professional help for them. The stigma is not without cause. There are psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists who look negatively on religion and God and do not work within biblical principles.
On this the author is correct. The COG has mad a mockery out of mental health professionals. A well trained therapist or psychiatrist can easily see if dangerous religious beliefs are causing issues. The problem is that COG members think there is no issue with their beliefs. "There is no way what I have been taught is wrong. God revealed this lost information after 1,900 years to God's Apostle and there is no way he ever made a mistake!"
I met with one therapist who was convinced my religious convictions were somehow to blame, but obviously that is not the case. I think he would be shocked if he saw the positive change in me, even though I still attend church and have the same beliefs!
A wise therapist! A foolish COG member!
But, after praying and searching, God has led me to other professionals who have helped me, and who were supportive of my beliefs.
The decision to seek treatment and the treatment you choose are very personal choices.
At least this person did go outside the COG to get some help. However, like all god COG members, not too much credit is not given to those people, all the credit goes towards the church and the "truth" they have that they think magically cured them.
As long as any person remains part of an Armstrongite Church of God, there will never be totally mentally healthy.
I grew up in the Presbyterian Church and I don't believe I ever heard anyone use the words "the truth" when speaking of their beliefs. It was just beliefs. You know, the ones passed on from generation to generation and being Presbyterian, no one in the local church ever would think to question any of it. It didn't matter. Behind the scenes, one could believe what they wanted and it was all so generic and nice that I can honestly say I never remember one issue coming up that maybe needed to be looked at, or anyone uttering the words, "new truth." Old truth was just fine and who cared.
