A Christian's Guide to Mental Illness: Answers to 30 Common Questions

by David P. Murray, Tom Karel

A Mental Health Q&A from a Christian Perspective After the fall, the world was disordered from structure to chaos―negatively altering the nature of human emotions. Today, we witness its impact as mental health concerns surge and people continue to suffer. How should Christians approach the topic of mental health? What is the most Christlike way to care for those who suffer?  A Christian’s Guide to Mental Illness answers 30 commonly asked questions about mental health from a Christian perspective. Intended for caregivers, this accessible resource will equip family, friends, and churches with wisdom for caring for individuals with mental health illnesses. Authors David Murray and Tom Karel use a holistic approach as they share personal stories, professional expertise, and biblical wisdom to tackle difficult questions―ultimately providing hope for the hopeless and rest for the weary. 

Genres: Christian, Faith, Nonfiction, Counselling, Mental Health, Theology, Religion

256 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

David P. Murray is Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and worked for five years in financial services before being converted to Christ. He studied for the ministry at Glasgow University and the Free Church of Scotland College (Edinburgh). He was a pastor for 12 years, first at Lochcarron Free Church of Scotland and then at Stornoway Free Church of Scotland (Continuing). From 2002 to 2007, he was Lecturer in Hebrew and Old Testament at the Free Church Seminary in Inverness. He has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Reformation International Theological Seminary for his work relating Old Testament Introduction studies to the pastoral ministry. He and his wife, Shona, have four children: Allan, Angus, Joni, and Amy. He also blogs at Head Heart Hand.

Reviews

[Zachary Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The topic of mental illness of one that causes a lot of confusion and that brings up deep emotions for those who have suffered from mental illness or those who are caring for someone who suffers from mental illness. A lot of the questions addressed in this book are questions that I have asked about the topic and I appreciated the responses. The chapters are short, concise in content, and to the point in answering the 30 common questions. The most helpful chapters I found were, "What Causes Mental Illness?", (I would really like to study this particular topic more) "What Role does Medication Have?", "What Role do Mental Health Professionals Have?", and "What Role do Biblical Counselors Have?"

I would recommend this book to church members who have sufferers in their church family so they can be equipped to engage with the topic.

[Rob Schloemer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Is it perfect? No. But what book besides the Bible is? However, it is a wonderful introduction to a taboo topic, especially in churches where biblical counseling has ruled out physical illness. I resonated with every chapter as someone who is the son of a sufferer of mental illness and as one who has children struggling with mental illness. I have wrestled for years, trying to explain away these conditions as only sin issues. However, I have come to understand that there can be more involved. It takes a good pastor to help lead families in this. Families should start with their pastors for guidance—unless, of course, there are life-threatening issues at play. All too often, God-fearing people run to the medical community and never discuss their challenges with their shepherds, who are there to help care for them in totality. This book helps church leaders to understand. It may lack in some areas, but its point is to shed light on a neglected topic among believers. More needs to be written, and more discussion in the church needs to happen. This is a baby step forward on a long journey. Thank you, David and Tom.

[Caelah-Beth Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is comprehensive, necessary, and can be transformational. Growing up, I heard Christians (even prominent speakers and teachers in the church) say that diagnoses like clinical depression were an invention of the modern era. The book was written to help the church respond more "sympathetically and helpfully" to those who need help and treatment. The authors certainly accomplished their purpose in clearing up misinformation and prejudices with "truth, facts, and clarity." This is a resource I hope gets taught in many seminaries and church groups.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talking about mental illness can be difficult among believers. There are vast differences in thought about how to help those who are suffering and there are never simple solutions. This guide is full of compassion, kindness, and practical helps. It is also solidly based on Scripture. Those who suffer must take responsibility, but they also need help and patience during dark days. There were many times I teared up while reading as I know this pain and confusion, along with friends who have known the frustration and grief of loving sufferers. I hope many churches find this beginning primer helpful in caring for those with mental illness and their families.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Connor Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this book accomplished in me what the author intended: an introduction to mental illness through a Christian worldview. I appreciate Murray’s approach, which I believe to be well balance (not over spiritualizing, nor under spiritualizing), mental illness. I appreciate Murray’s emphasis on the role of the local church as being the primary means by which sufferers are loved and cared for.

I would recommended this book to mature Christian’s who are 1. Interested in educating themselves on the matter
2. Have loved ones who are directly affected by a mental illness.

I would not recommend this book to someone who is actively struggling in their mental health. Plus, this book does not really cater to the one who is suffering and more so to those caring for him/her.

Overall this book is worthy to be on your shelf and can be a very easy book to go back to as a refresher/reference!

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been such a blessing to me as the wife of a Christian with bipolar disorder. It is written in a practical question and answer format and addresses some of the most poignant and piercing questions we all have about mental illness as Christians. It doesn't shy away from biblical truth, and yet it also does not oversimplify or dismiss the struggles of those suffering with their mental health. I especially appreciated the chapters that addressed the caretakers and their needs, as I have found that to be an oft overlooked subject. It is, in my opinion, a valuable and overdue resource for the church and its leaders. It is written in such a way that it is easy to reference at a glance, provides actionable steps and guidance, and can be used by leaders, friends, sufferers, and caretakers/family members alike. I hope many will be equipped and strengthened with the wisdom and guidance this book has to offer.

[Caroline McGill · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you lean in the biblical counseling camp, this book will likely frustrate you. There is some good common grace advice for those helping those suffering from mental illness, but there is very little emphasis on the heart, sin, or even the Bible. At one point it recommends that you should first approach those with mental illness (including those with depression and anxiety) assuming that they are suffering from an illness, not from their own sin. At another point, it discusses those with mental illness by saying some of them may be saved by God’s mercy because of their incapacity much like those below the age of accountability. I’m surprised Crossway would publish this. If you want to think well about medicine, mental illness, and the heart, I recommend “Descriptions and Prescriptions” by Michael Emlett.

[Joyce Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more of an introductory primer than I was expecting. Overall felt like a pretty good resource for someone new to the subject, although there were a couple small points that felt a bit concerning. One was that they briefly mentioned a couple times how God can use mental illness as divine chastisement for his children, and I think a statement like that needs a lot more nuance than they provided. I think “chastisement” is more punitive than “discipline”, but maybe that’s me getting too nitty with semantics. Fully tackling God’s mysterious yet absolute sovereignty even over sin and brokenness is perhaps a bit out of the scope of a short-form 30-question practical guide.

Also I felt like the numerous summary call-out statements were a bit forced and often ended up being too pithy and corny.

[Lauren Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so thankful a book like this exists! I think this book should be on every church pastor or elders "must read" list and should stay on their bookshelf for quick reference.

It's data forward, has many personal stories and is written from a biblical worldview. This is an extremely practical and powerful resource when seeking to understand, love, guide and walk alongside those with mental illness. It's written in such a way that it's a good resource for those who have mental illness, family members, friends, and church leaders.

[cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good primer that’s accessible, helpful, and practical.

[Laura A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book, with no specific issue or person I was concerned about or caring for with mental issues.
The book is split into 30 common questions about mental health, so for me, looking a general overview, this book was very repetitive and got monotonous to read.
However, if you wanted specific answers to a specific concern or question, the format would be brilliant as you could go straight to that question.
I came away with some good takeaways and it has changed my perspective slightly on mental health, but has left me with some further questions.

[Josh G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dry in its prose, but overall very helpful. The authors provide a robust biblical anthropology combined with a sensitivity to the role of modern medicine in the treatment of mental health. They deal with importance elements of character, sin, repentance, counseling, medical care, exercise, and many more issues pertinent to this discussion. I feel they avoided the errors on both sides of this debate while providing biblical guidance through the middle. I’m grateful a book like this exists.

[Melody T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christian’s Guide to Mental Illness: Answers to 30 Common Questions” offered me a lot of clarity and compassion in understanding how to support those struggling with mental health challenges. What stood out most was how the book balanced practical guidance with biblical truth. The references to Scripture were thoughtfully chosen, helping me see how faith and mental health care can go hand in hand.

I appreciated how it didn't shy away from tough questions and approached each topic with grace and empathy. It gave me new insight into how to love people well through their struggles without judgment—and with a deeper understanding of what they might be experiencing.

The reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that there were a few sections I wished went deeper, especially when it came to applying certain biblical principles in real-life, messy situations. Still, it's a solid resource for Christians who want to walk alongside others in a way that reflects Christ’s love and truth.

[Pat Baird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full cards on the table me and Dr. David Murray think very similarly when it comes to mental illness in the Christian life. I was very encouraged by this book.

I will likely utilize this book in the future as a tool to give to people that I’m training as biblical counselors or mature Christians that are beginning to think through how to love friends and family members close to them that are struggling with mental illness.

Overall, it is a great read, and I see myself coming back to it for reference. The chapters are quick and concise making it a great book to get people’s feet wet in this conversation.

[Peyton Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is intensely practical. If you’re looking to build a good “theology of mental health” this isn’t the book. It is primer for how to relationally engage with mental health in the real world. (An important task!)

Being broken up into 30 chapters of different questions lends itself to being a good reference book. Not crazy deep, a tad predictable and repetitive. Would’ve maybe preferred 15-20 questions answered more deeply. I also acknowledge that isn’t what the author set out to do.

Good intro book for anyone starting to think through these things.

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a really excellent primer for churches, with a lot of humility from both authors. This book is not exhaustive, and there's a lot more to say on mental health, but as a primer, it's excellent! The chapters are very short and digestible and the questions at the end of each chapter are great for discussion. I really hope more churches will start reading this book together, to at least get their feet wet on the topic of mental health.

[Tanner Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adequate. Not bad, not great. There are encouraging words but it is incredibly surface level. Murray may under spiritualize the reality of mental illness at times, I would have different conclusions than him when it comes to human’s being embodied souls.

It is a fair introduction to the topic nevertheless.

[Melissa Hyde]

Helpful resource for those who care for others and those suffering from any form of mental illness.

[Robbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars mostly for how practical and approachable the book is. Whether you’re a friend, a mentor, a family member, a pastor, or a sufferer, this book gives helpful tools for thinking through and working to love and care for people suffering through mental illness.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 stars. DNF.
This wasn’t a bad book; it just was incredibly rudimentary, for the reader who has never thought about or encountered someone with mental illness. It was straightforward, easy to read, accessible. But I don’t think I learned one thing from the sections that I read. The subtitle is “answers to common questions” and I do think they met that goal. I just thought there might be specific things I’d learn from it. If you are a Christian seeking to be compassionate with someone with mental illness and their family, this may be helpful. But if you already know some about mental illness, this may not tell you anything you don’t already know.

[Mike Wenzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very helpful book. It looks at psychology through the lens of a strong biblical worldview. It is really helpful for people struggling with mental illness and for people trying to live with or minister to people with mental illness. It addresses the concern that mental illness might be a cop-op or just some modern mumbo jumbo and while being deeply rooted in the Bible.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence from the introduction: What do you think when you hear one of these words: "depression," "anxiety," "bipolar disorder," "schizophrenia," "eating disorder," "obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)," and so on? You probably try not to think about them, and hope you never have to. But with one in five American adults suffering mental illness at some point in their lives, sooner or later someone we love in our family, among our friends, or at church will bring one of these scary labels to life in our lives.

The book is a question and answer format. It can be read cover to cover. But it does not have to be read cover to cover. It can be read like a traditional book--one and done. Or it can be used as a reference book, one that you return to over and over again.

There are two authors--David Murray and Tom Karel. Most of the answers are just straightforward (objective) answers. But after each question, the authors take turns sharing stories. These are clearly identified as Tom's story or David's story.

Some of the questions relate and flow into one another. Others do not.

Who is the book for? I'm not exactly sure it is written directly to those who have mental illness. A few questions, perhaps, could be useful and beneficial to those who are experiencing and struggling with a mental illness. But mostly this is one for caregivers, pastors, elders, counselors and therapists, family members and friends. It is written for Christians by Christians.

What is the purpose? This is stated directly at the end of the book--though to be fair, probably at the beginning as well. "...to help the reader understand how the broken brain does not work, to set the broken brain in context of the gospel, and to discover how the church can bring comfort to the mentally ill and their families."

I found the first few chapters the most helpful. In particular chapters three through six. "What are the different kinds of mental illness?" "How Is Mental Illness Different From Ordinary Sadness, Anxiety, and Confusion?" "How Does Mental Illness Affect the Sufferer? and "How Does Mental Illness Affect Spiritual Life?" Of course, those weren't the only helpful chapters.


Quotes:
God is sovereign over mental illness, and he rules over it to produce good for those who love God, both sufferers and caregivers. He can take what seems like the worst garbage in our lives and turn it into something good and useful.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good introductory resource to mental health from a Christian prospective. Each of the 30 chapters focuses on a singular question, ranging from the authors' definition of mental illness, to the role of the church, to how we can help and support those we know with mental health struggles. I appreciated the recognition that mental illness, like all maladies and sicknesses, is a consequence of the fall and a regular part of life for so many people. The authors did a great job distinguishing routine sadness and worry from diagnosable depression and anxiety- but this book goes on to also cover other disorders such as bipolar and schizophrenia.

There was a good balance in explaining that mental health disorders do not stem solely from sin and that Christians are not at all immune to this type of suffering. It's far too common to encounter the belief that these disorders can be "prayed away". I did also appreciate the discussion on the impact of sin and how it can create/exacerbate mental health suffering in terms of our lack of obedience and the consequences of unrepentant sin and how this differs from true mental illness.

I do however, wish that the authors had touched on the role of physical health, particularly nutrition and gut health as vital components of mental illness. There is a great deal of research on these components of treatment that I feel should have been mentioned amidst all the talk of prescription medication and counseling.

I went into this book as someone who has a long history of diagnosed depression, have several people close to me with diagnosed depression/anxiety and also have a degree in social work and thus basic knowledge of psychology. I still got a great deal out of this introductory book and would recommend it!

Format: Audiobook via Hoopla
Rating: 3.75 stars
Book 23 of 2024

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts:
• As with all Christianity-meets-mental-health resources, I went into this incredibly wary, wondering whether it's congruent with what I know clinically, what I believe theologically, and what I've felt experientially. I think this does what it sets out to do and I'm pretty comfortable with most of the content.
• It's primarily geared towards those who find themselves in caring roles e.g. family, friends, church staff. It's not aimed directly at professional helpers or people living with mental illness, although these groups may also find something of value in this book.
• There are some Americanisms and some phrasing I'm not used to (e.g. "sufferer" instead of "person with a mental health condition"). Early on some things were very basic (but sadly necessary). I felt some sections were rather brief and would have benefited from further clarification, but the authors are pretty clear from the outset that this book is just an entry point, not a comprehensive manual. Each short chapter has a handy dot point summary of Problem, Insights, and Action.
• I like the emphasis on the goodness and necessity of intervention and medication. Theologically, the presence of mental illness in the world (and all other brokenness and disorder) is an effect of the fall, with a general stance of "this is a painful medical condition" rather than defaulting to excessive speculation and blame about what a person may have done to bring about or exacerbate their disorder.
• To sum up the position of the authors - It is not a sin to experience mental illness, although mental illness does have a very real impact on our spiritual life and can lead us to do and think things that damage our relationship with ourselves and our God, which in turn can make emotional symptoms more severe, therefore consistent and holistic (bio/psycho/social/spiritual) treatment and support is required.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some to commend, much to be concerned about in this book.

To begin with positives: there is much wisdom in caring for sufferers here, and the authors clearly want to make the church a safe refuge for bruised reeds and weary saints. I agree with that aim! And the writing is clear and easily digestible. But...

There are significant problems. The book appears to assume an integrationist model for soul care, relegating any discussion of the biblical counseling movement and its contributions to a single chapter. Over and over the assumption is that mental illness is "illness" as defined by "professionals." There is a particular bias towards biological explanations, especially brain studies, but no discussion of the ways this area of research is often vastly oversimplified in its popular presentations. The book encouragers those with mental illness (again, the term is quite vague) to seek help first from a PCP and other medical services. These are presented as "objective" measurements of the problem. But the problem is that these aren't objective measurements! The speaking of "kinds of mental illnesses" appears to really heavily on DSM classifications, which is deeply problematic, since those categories are descriptions masquerading as diagnoses (follow the work of a good historian like Andrew Scull on this topic).

In the end, while I have much sympathy with the project and a fair amount of overlap in practical wisdom, it's deeply concerning to me that Crossway would publish a book that, in my judgment, tends to relegate the work of David Powlison, Heath Lambert, and others in the biblical counseling world to irrelevance, all while contributing to the broader cultural trend to biological-reductionism that sees everything as "brain sickness."

[Terence Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you Google search what you want to know about any mental illness, you will get tons of helpful advice from professors to sufferers.

That part is easy. I think the hard part is finding information on mental health from Christians who don't sound like they have a problem with mental health problems.

There are many Christians, including pastors, who make light of mental health. There are many Christians, including pastors, who don't know how to deal with it, who they don't see it as their problem. They say, "You have to go see a mental health professional because they are the only ones that can help you."

By no means, not all Christians are like that, this book is proof of that. But when you are searching online, you just don't know whether what you are reading is coming from God-loving, God-fearing Christians, who have studied mental illness, helped people with mental illness and have themselves suffered through mental illness.

If you are looking for a good Christian resource on mental illness that is not coming from extreme ends of the spectrum, I can tell you right now, you just got to get this book.

Full 2,327 word review: https://readingandreaders.com/podcast...

[Doug Vos · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Christian Guide to Mental Illness by David Murray and Tom Karel Jr. sits on my list of the top five books about the topic of Mental Illness." My wife (Jane) said this, and she has read several dozen books on the topic of Mental Illness. (I'm posting this review for Jane, because she found this book very helpful.)

Written in 2023 and 244 pages long, this book is divided into 30 short chapters which can easily be read in minutes/small chunks of time.

What makes this book especially unique and helpful is the very candid personal stories on the topic. At the risk of being pegged a gadfly, I will not repeat any of the personal stories. Suffice it to say that these stories add a definite tone of humility and utter dependence on the Lord, not to mention “personal touch” which draws the reader in and makes the book a “page turner”.

If my new method of marking especially helpful pages is any indication of the helpfulness of a book, about a dozen pages are marked with a folded corner to revisit, repeat and dig into again, indicating a very helpful book indeed. Also, the chapter titled “The Story Behind This Book” is very personal and adds a wonderful dimension to the contents. “Due to their painful experience of trying to care for Gary through these traumatic years, Norman and his wife, Vicki, felt called of God to donate this money ($70,000, which had been realized from Gary’s estate – Gary had been Norman’s brother and had schizophrenia) to a research project (this very book! Thank you!) that would ultimately help Christians care for other Christians with mental illness.” The very last line of the book (before the index) reads: “The purpose of this book is to help the reader understand how the broken brain does not work, (analogy to a broken arm) to set the broken brain in the context of the gospel, and to discover how the church can bring comfort to the mentally ill and their families by watching for a Galatians 5:22-24 moment.”

The first 11 chapters or almost 100 pages focus on mental illness: what it is, how it affects the sufferer and spiritual life and those around the sufferer. Moreover, addressed are how people react to having it, hurdles to recovery and causes.

The next chapters (12-18, about 50 pages) focus on roles such as the roles pastors play in helping sufferers, role of church community, role of family and friends. Furthermore, the part that professionals play, medications and biblical counselors are touched on.

The last 11 chapters (19-30) answer primarily “How can we…” questions. How can we help a sufferer grow spiritually, how can we help someone who is suicidal, and how can care be given for the caregivers. The last question deserves a full book – there’s so much more that can be said about caring for caregivers.

Some favorite parts - the authors give very helpful explanations of the two main types of mental illness, although there is overlap and both may be present in one person. The two categories are primarily affective (mood) disorders and mind disorders. The mood disorders mainly affect the mood or emotions and include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, …” page 24 The second main category is primarily thought (mind) disorders. “While the affective disorders are often disabling and devastating, perhaps more confusing and perplexing are the diagnoses classified under ‘thought disorders.’ These diagnoses would include: schizophrenia … psychosis.” There’s an ongoing struggle to “make sense out of reality.” This involves very disordered thoughts and often an inability to communicate effectively. These two authors also face the fact and effectively communicate the reality of voices, a topic often glossed over, and at times, disregarded or not thought to be true. Well, voices are for real, both auditory and visual hallucinations are for real, speaking of those that are not drug induced.

Another very helpful page was page 61 where the authors discuss submission and service. In the context of the chapter on “How does mental illness affect those around the sufferer,” we read that part of a healthy response to mental illness is “accepting God’s will in the matter.” “We stop fighting and denying. We bow down and say ‘Not my will, but your will be done.’ Going further, those around the sufferer must recognize and accept the sufferer's limitations and “adjust accordingly.” Accept it, don’t think or try to change it. Why? :This is the only way to silence torturous questions like, “Why me?” or “Why them?”

The comments about service were very much appreciated as a clear recognition of the long term problem mental illness often is and repercussions. “...therefore it’s best if we frame it as one of the primary areas in which we serve God, rather than as an inconvenience that may hinder our service to God.” How freeing and affirming to read that on page 61.

In the section pertaining to the role the church community has, the reader is reminded that although mental illness isolates people and “makes them feel unloved and unwanted, deepening the illness,” we should never “underestimate the power of including them and welcoming them in the church family.” In other words, “Mental illness cuts off, but the church family connects.” page 109 (Reviewer’s note: another book could be written on this and the great need of the church to do more.)

There are so many more gems and highlights of wisdom in this book. It’s really like a treasure trove, and very readable. In fact, the use of white space, bold headings, parenthetical quotes and chapter summaries including problem, insights and action, plus stories, make the book very readable, not daunting which one might think, given the subject matter.

A shortcoming of the book is the too short chapter on caring for caregivers. This is such a neglected topic in the whole discussion. (After all, there are still people who think the parent caused the issue or that the sufferer can merely snap out of it…even some who think it’s contagious and they might catch it if they get too close.) So much more could and should someday be written about the caregivers who often rarely get out because they cannot leave their loved one alone. There are many reasons for this, which may warrant yet another book!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t recommend this book enough because it brought me such clarity on a wide rage of mental and common questions regarding mental health such as:

How Is Mental Illness Different from Ordinary Sadness, Anxiety, and Confusion?

What Role Do Family and Friends Have?

How Can We Reduce the Stigma of Mental Illness?

This book has been extremely helpful in understanding my own sufferings and how to best love and support those around me to provide ‘hope for the hopeless and rest for the weary’. In the past, I have felt helpless in situations with close friends and family so to have a great resource like this has really encouraged me to lean in to my relationships more intentionally. I know I will come back to this book time and time again. Although we might not understand suffering and hardships, we can learn how to show up for our family, friends, and community and lead them to Jesus.

[Adam Pentek · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, while informational, downplays the significance of biological factors relating to mental health. Nature vs. Nurture isn't mentioned or even implied; according to the authors, sin is the only cause and God uses mental illness to draw humans closer to him. They blame all mental illnesses on sin (and more often than not it's personal sin) and completely neglect how environments and genetics play a role in the development, progression, and treatment of mental illnesses. The end of the book speaks on mental health being a "good thing" that God uses to teach us and use us to teach others. Personally, there is zero good in mental health disorders and diagnoses; lives are changed, jobs are terminated, families are separated, and lives are ended, all due to mental health concerns. This book does not offer a true, holistic approach, but rather carries a "pray the depression away" mentality.

[Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great practical guidebook, with lots of tips and suggestions on how to work with someone struggling mentally. However, it does lack in many places theologically(looking especially at Ch. 19- age of accountability and people being able to “save themselves”). I felt like it often made Scripture seem secondary. Obviously every case with a mental illness is unique, but throughout the book, it often felt like medicine should come first and then Scripture. But as men, we are body and soul, so if both are not being taken care of, then the individual will continue to suffer. It seems like this lack of emphasis on using the sufficiency of Scripture in counseling may be from Murray’s own experience. Overall, it is a helpful book, but it doesn’t quite strike the balance I wanted.