Is Mental Health a Myth? | Guest: Dr. John MacArthur | Ep 1008

Today, we speak with Dr. John MacArthur about his new book "The War on Children" and the various ways this war is being waged in America — through abortion, the promotion of homosexuality and transgenderism, the education system, media, and more. How can Christians fight back against the war on the most innocent among us? We also ask him to elaborate on his recent viral comments that PTSD and OCD are not real.

#johnmacarthur #ptsd #mentalhealth #ocd #alliebethstuckey #relatable #religion #news #politics #christianity #christian #bible #conservative #theology

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Timecodes:

0:00 Introduction
06:20 Are things worse for children now?
09:30 Why Satan goes after kids
12:01 How has it gotten so bad, so fast?
21:00 Do Christian bear any responsibility?
26:26 Balancing political involvement with reliance on God
29:35 How Christians changed culture
36:52 How parents can respond
42:18 Are PTSD and OCD real?
47:28 Share the Arrows event

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Today's Sponsors:

America’s Christian Credit Union – nationwide personal and business banking for people who still love God and country. ACCU is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Learn more and get started at AmericasChristianCU.com/SWITCH

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Relevant Episodes:

Ep 802 | Inside the Mind of a Mass Shooter | Guest: Dr. Nicholas Kardaras | Part 1

Ep 803 | The Science Behind Screen Addiction | Guest: Dr. Nicholas Kardaras | Part 2

Ep 822 | The Money Behind Big Medicine | Guest: Dr. Roger McFillin

Ep 821 | Why Antidepressants Don't Fix Depression | Guest: Dr. Roger McFillin

Ep 857 | Is ADHD Real? | Guest: Dr. Roger McFillin (Part One)

Ep 858 | The Disturbing Origins of Adderall | Guest: Dr. Roger McFillin (Part Two)

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[erikawoods]

I have experienced mind healing through Christ. I know it’s not what many want to hear but it is the truth.

[johnemmons]

My mother had what would be called PTSD from living with an abusive husband. She went to a physician who led her to Jesus. She said I will never have that problem again and she never did. She was strong through that for the next many many years and died at 97. She was a happy person.

[bethanyslawik]

My husband, a combat veteran, was diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety after serving in Afghanistan. He relied on medication for a while but eventually turned to biblical counseling. Now, he is off medication entirely and strongly advocates for avoiding it whenever possible. Having worked in the mental health field since 2013 and holding a Master’s in Military Resilience, I fully agree with both Pastor McCarthur and my husband.

[Brityf]

I'm so excited to watch this later. At 16 I was diagnosed as Bi-polar. The only reason was literally because I said my moods go up and down like a roller coaster while in the mental hospital. I looked at my identity through that lens... and acted accordingly. At 22, I "learned to control myself" to be sure my daughter didn't grow up witnessing what I witnessed. At 32, a psychiatrist asked deeper questions and determined I didn't have Bipolar but instead had PTSD and generalized anxiety. At 33 I was back to trying medicines again because I was desperate for relieve from fear anxiety. I was suicidal I met Jesus and a month or 2 later realized I had forgot to my medicine but I was better than I had been in years. That was fall of 2019. Aroumd February 2020 I realized I was healed and restored from the ptsd. When 2020 happened Holy Spirit showed me the nation was swept up by the same spirit of fear that had a stronghold on me when I had ptsd. Now, I'm not saying I don't ever have those same feelings creep up. Is do, but I can not recognize them as attacks and lies from the enemy and that God holds my entire life in His hand so I have no need to fear. I have yo anchor myself to Him.

[MicheMoffatt]

I love the clarification from John McArthur on saying that it’s not denying these conditions / but the distinction between brain and mind.
As a Christian who struggled with “PTSD” after rape and then also ongoing depression, I’m aware that it’s something I live with, but that I have a hope our Lord. I love the explanation here of spiritual virtues and the clarification of the meaning.
Thanks for all your amazing work for the Lord - both you, Allie and also Dr McArthur- I’m in Scotland and have grown so much from your teachings ❤

[simply_miki]

I love John MacArthur! The first time I ever heard expository preaching was from him. He helped me to better understand the bible and I’m so grateful to God for him!

[kathya]

Oh, thank you for having John MacArthur on your show! This man has made such an impact on me in terms of helping me understand scripture and follow the Lord more closely. Not a day - literally - goes by that I don't study God's word with this pastor's insights.

[suzannetessier]

Allie Beth, you are such a strong voice for the gospel and for women. God bless you.

[brandyboyd]

“Don’t turn to chemicals. Turn to Christ.”
We can turn to both. During my bouts of clinical depression, whatever the cause, I turned to both. I’m so thankful God has used all that to draw me closer to Himself. It’s also very prosperity Gospel to claim ‘if you turn to Christ, you will feel better.’ You may not. That’s not how Christ works. If you turn to chemicals, you also might not feel better. I turned to both, and I am thriving today! Praise God for trials and (some) modern medicine!

[LykaLo]

As a Christian, it always frustrates me when other Christians deny mental illness. Is everything mental illness? No. But does mental illness exist? Yes! Don't forget that the brain is also an organ and that things can go wrong with it too. In addition, so many things also influence brain activity, from the gut to our hormones, and more. The book "The Body Keeps the Score" explains trauma and PTSD very well.

[RianneBustamante-pctt]

Thanks for this interview! I hold such deep respect for John MacArthur. As a mom with a child diagnosed with a very severe case of OCD 2 years ago (we could barely leave our house for about a year), my stomach churns a bit when this topic is brought up by pastors. But I appreciate the clarification this interview brought. Healing from these types of issues is complex and is indeed not solved solely by medication and secular psychology techniques. We did ALL that. But there is a deeper spiritual healing that is at the root - as I’ve discovered walking this road with my son. I’m glad you gave Dr MacArthur the opportunity to clarify what he meant by those statements, and after hearing his explanation, I tend to agree.

[angelaford]

Before I came to Jesus, I cussed all the time, I was on mood stabilizers and anti anxiety medication, smoke pot, I no longer am on any of those things, and I found healing. Do I still get anxiety? Rarely, but when I do, I pray and read the Bible, and it goes away. The voices in my head stopped the more I talked to him, the more I started forgiving and giving it to him, and also seeking his forgiveness, my sins against him. A peace that surpasses all understanding.

[TripleT]

Thanks MacArthur for going against the grain to speak out. My husband diagnosed with ADHD, after doing multiple brain scans from many bad concussions. - A top brain specialist in the NE. Anyways brain scans came clear but they diagnosed with ADHD bc of how he acting during the testing Process. Boy did with get an epic bandaid 🩹 until he needed more and more and more meds. Then Stronger doses. Then depression pills, then anxiety pills. He kept acting out of his meds once his body found homeostasis on them. We listened to Dr. mifillin and he got off meds cold turkey. We Found the root of the problem…. ANGER. and once we actually dealt with that and he repented to God of this. Our lives truly changed in many ways. Yes will go through extremely hard stuff it happens and you will go through battles of emotions but take HEART!

[folarin]

So grateful to God for Dr MacArthur's ministry.

[konagirl]

John MacArthur revitalized my faith and helped me to greatly increase my obedience to God's word. I wish I could shake his hand. I live a long way from CA, so I hope to meet him, thank him, and have a long conversation with him in heaven.

[LaynieLashes]

I can tell you first hand ptsd is very real. After going thru severe preeclampsia with emergency c section plus two readmissions and 4 days of IV mag I had ptsd. I felt like a ticking time bomb in my own body. My anxiety/fight or flight got so bad I was up for 4 days straight. I couldn’t eat or care for my newborn. I did have to turn to medication to allow my body to sleep. I also used medication to help calm my mind which then allowed me to get into counseling, start exercising, and join a support group for moms with ppa/ppd. I do believe medication helped me. I also don’t believe it should be over prescribed. I fought taking meds for 3 months until I hit rock bottom. I’m thankful my doctor said to me “I know you don’t want to try medication but you can’t live like this.” He was right!

[Jujbbyigs]

I see what he was saying regarding chemicals. I was a Paramedic for 10 years and have seen a lot of trauma. I have tried medication but now I just listen to the bible. I think they twisted what John said.

[desiraeturner]

I LOVE PASTOR MACARTHUR!! Mad respect and thanks to him for preaching the Word of God and remaining faithful! Such a blessing to have this man alive while I’m alive 🙏🏼

[minagelina]

I have to address OCD. I have it and my daughter has it. I fully believe its some kind of neurological problem that seems to be assisted by medication. My kiddo went kicking and screaming into taking meds after we tried all kinds of things that we natural. She has debilitating thoughts without it. She stafted having it after birth where we can now see how it manifested. I was able to get rid of the crippling compulsion anxiety when I really realized God was in charge and that nobody else did these rituals. However I still have compulsive movements that are a little.uncomfortable to fight wven though I am not crippled by them. Mine also switched to the mostly obsessive category. But my daughter is really struggling and we dont want to increase her meds at all, hoping to get rid of them. Its a very real thing.

[SeaSkyUniverse-Channel]

I agree with Pastor MacArthur who has really helped me to understand the Bible, what an awesome Bible teacher. We are so blessed to have him in this world. I thank Jesus for that. I had anxiety and complete madness before Christ. Now I am free from all of that.