Recent Twitter/X Posts
Sean Perron, on Twitter/X, posted the following two tweets within the past twenty-four hours:
Post #1: “The world can’t solve the problems of ADHD, but Jesus Christ can and does.”
Post #2: “OCD is not a disease like cancer. The cure has already been discovered and it is Jesus Christ. His Word is more powerful than this diagnosis.”
A Dozen Biblical-Theological Dialogues and Discussions: ADHD, OCD, the Bible, the Embodied-Soul, the Creation Mandate, and Biblical Counseling
I appreciate and resonate with Sean’s confidence in Christ and Scripture. At the same time, his blanket claims deserve some further biblical-theological reflection and discussion. We should maintain a 1 Thessalonians 5:21 discernment mindset that says, “But test everything.” We should be like the Berean Christians in Acts 17:11 who “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
Here are a dozen biblical-theological dialogues and discussions. They seek to address the overall issue of:
What does the Bible says about caring for embodied-souls who struggle with issues like ADHD and OCD?
A Family Conversation
These dialogues are not so much about discussion just between Sean and Bob. This topic is far more important than any two biblical counselors.
I’ve designed these dialogues to prompt a discussion in and among everyone committed to biblical counseling. This is a family conversation. Imagine a group of a dozen brothers and sisters in Christ sitting down face-to-face at a retreat center and having a robust iron-sharpens-iron conversation about these dozen prompting dialogues…
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #1: God’s Affectionate Sovereignty Over Every Square Inch
Biblically, is it possible that “the cure is Christ” means that we use all means given to us by Christ in His affectionate sovereignty (Colossians 1:15-20)—including biblical means, spiritual means, social means, medical means, neurological means, research means, educational means, etc.
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #2: Creation and Embodied-Souls
Biblically, since God created us as embodied-souls (Genesis 1-2), is it possible that OCD and ADHD have biological, brain, body, physiological, and/or neurological components?
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #3: Fall and Embodied-Souls
Biblically, since we are embodied-souls in fallen bodies that will groan until glory (Romans 8), is it not possible that OCD and ADHD have biological, brain, body, physiological, and/or neurological components?
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #4: Redemption and the Creation Mandate
Biblically, since we are embodied-souls, and since God gave us the Creation Mandate to have dominion over the world (Genesis 1:26-28), is there something scripturally wrong with addressing OCD and ADHD both with biblical/spiritual care and with medical, neurological, science-base, and research-based care?
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #5: Biblical Responses to Physiological Conditions
Biblically, what is the specific evidence (scriptural passages, theological constructs/concepts) that ADHD and OCD are simply/only behavioral choices or heart sins? Is it not possible, biblically, to acknowledge physiological components, and still help people to respond biblically to these embodied conditions?
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #6: Comprehensive, Wholistic Theological Anthropology
Biblically, while the world tends toward a one-dimensional materialistic view of human persons, is it biblically correct for biblical counselors to tend toward a one-dimensional spiritualistic/angelistic view of human persons (a neo-Platonic, neo-Gnostic view) which explains all issues only from a soul/spirit perspective?
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #7: Science, Research, and the Sufficiency of Scripture
Scientifically, other than simply using co-belligerent research, and ignoring other research that affirms the body/brain aspects of OCD and ADHD, can we prove from best-practice, peer-reviewed, evidenced-based research that OCD and ADHD have no biological/neurological components? If evidence-based research provides helps in treating ADHD and/or OCD, is the Bible not sufficient to equip us to assess whether and when to use such research?
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #8: Science, Scripture, and Proof
What scientific proof is there that ADHD is only bad parenting or sinful choices? What biblical proof do we think proves that ADHD is only bad parenting or sinful choices?
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #9: Fearing Science and Medicine
What is our fear? What are we so afraid might happen if OCD or ADHD were proven to have physiological components? Why are we allowing fear to drive us to insist that ADHD is purely a spiritual matter of sinful choices and bad parenting that must be addressed only by biblical counseling talk therapy? What do we think we lose if OCD or ADHD are proven to have physiological components? Is this a turf war? Are we afraid of losing “turf” and ceding ground to the medical world? If so, and if there are medical components to ADHD, should we not cede ground in those cases?
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #10: The Bible and Physiological Interventions
Do we think that the physical is not spiritual (compare Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)? In rejecting physiological interventions as part of comprehensive whole-person care, are we engaging in an unbiblical separation between the sacred and the secular; between the body and the soul?
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #11: Where Do We Draw the Line?
Sean states that OCD is not a disease like cancer. While OCD and cancer are certainly different, where do we draw the line? How do we define “disease?” What biblical passages and theological concepts guide us in determining what issues are “diseases” and which are not? Here are several examples:
- Is schizophrenia only a soul/personal choice issue and not a disease with potential physiological causation? Is it to be addressed only by biblical counseling talk therapy, or, are there other legitimate physiological interventions for schizophrenia?
- Is all major depression only a spiritual choice with no physiological-related issues or treatments?
- Ulcers were once thought to be a result of sinful worry, but now have been found to have physiological causes—are ulcers not a “disease”” Are they purely sin-related? Are they purely cured by biblical counseling talk therapy?
- Is autism only a spiritual/soul/choice issue, or are there physiological components to autism?
- Is bipolar disorder only a spiritual/choice issue, or are their physiological components that could be addressed with physiological interventions?
- Where would you draw the line on these various neurological disorders between a spiritual/choice/soul issue, or a physiological/neurological issue: Parkinson’s, MS, Migraines, MLS, Autism Spectrum Disorder, OCD, Tourette—all of these, like ADHD, are often categorized as having neurological, neurodevelopmental, and/or neurobiological components.
Biblical-Theological Dialogue and Discussion Topic #12: Where’s the Sin?
Biblically, where is the sin in ADHD? Where is the sin in OCD? I can have cancer and sinfully respond to my cancer. Or, I can humbly respond to my cancer with lament and with trust in God. I can deal with ADHD or OCD and act/respond sinfully. Or, I can surrender myself to God’s care, and to comprehensive help to handle my ADHD or OCD well and wisely.
Join the Conversation
What additional biblical-theological dialogue and discussion topics would you add to this conversation?
Recent CCEF Resources
CCEF recently released several resources that overlap with today’s blog post topic.
Ed Welch addresses the question, What Should I Be Aware of When Parenting My Child with ADHD?
Ed Welch next addresses adult ADHD in, Adult ADHD Brought Under Jesus.
In an Ask the Counselor video, Todd Stryd addresses the question, Can I Blame My Behavior on Bipolar Disorder?
Additional Relevant Free Resources
For some relevant resources I’ve produced, you may want to check out the following:
161 Resources for Counseling the Whole Person: Soul Physicians of Embodied-Souls
This is so helpful! These are conversations much needed in the biblical counseling community.