A Gospel-Centered Approach to Mental Illness: Where P82 Project Restoration Stands

“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; 

maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

-Psalm 82:3-4

A Gospel-Centered Approach to Serious Mental Illness: Where P82 Project Restoration Stands

Serious mental illness (SMI) brings immense suffering, not only for those diagnosed but also for their families. Disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression can disrupt a person's ability to function, leading to isolation, confusion, and even despair. Families often struggle under the weight of navigating a complex and fragmented system of care while longing for understanding and support within the church. Some individuals may experience recovery after a psychotic episode, but others will require lifelong care, ongoing treatment, and a community that does not turn away.

The church is not called to fix every problem or offer all the solutions, but it is called to be a place of refuge within the biblical definition of its mission, bearing one another’s burdens in love. This is why our work at P82 Project Restoration is so vital—we seek to walk alongside both the sufferers and those who love them, offering biblical hope and practical support while pointing them to the steadfast presence of Christ amid their trials.

Two Incomplete Approaches in the Christian Community

When it comes to serious mental illness, there are often two dominant approaches in the Christian world—both of which fall short of fully serving those who suffer from SMI. On one end, some believe that mental illness is primarily a spiritual issue, rejecting medical treatment in favor of prayer, morbid introspection, and repentance. On the other end, some embrace the wisdom of secular psychology, integrating it into ministry without careful discernment.

At P82 Project Restoration, we take a different path—one that is gospel-centered, compassionate, and recognizes the complex reality of severe mental illness. We stand apart from Pastor John MacArthur’s stance, and Daniel Berger, the author of The Schizophrenic Unicorn, which largely dismisses psychiatric treatment, and ministries like Rick and Kay Warren’s “Breathe,” which heavily focuses on modern psychology and contemplative practices without critical engagement with Scripture.

Where We Differ from John MacArthur and Others

Pastor John MacArthur has been a faithful expositor of God’s Word for decades, boldly proclaiming biblical truth and calling believers to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. His commitment to the authority of God’s Word and the transformative power of the gospel has shaped countless lives and ministries. However, when it comes to the issue of mental illness, Pastor MacArthur and others within biblical counseling circles often view it primarily as a spiritual condition. This perspective assumes that what is labeled as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression is merely a result of things like unconfessed sin, guilt, lack of faith, insufficient sleep, exercise, or poor nutrition. As a result, medication and psychiatric intervention are often dismissed as unnecessary—or even harmful—on the grounds that relief from suffering comes solely through biblical counseling and spiritual discipline.

While we affirm that Scripture speaks to every aspect of life, including suffering and mental distress (2 Peter 1:3), and we certainly agree that sleep, exercise, and better eating habits can be beneficial, we also recognize that severe mental illness is a medical condition, not just a spiritual battle. The brain, like any other organ, can be affected by disease. Just as a diabetic may need insulin or a person with a heart condition may require medication, individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may need psychiatric treatment, including medication and professional care. Dismissing this reality denies the consequences we can both see and measure throughout our culture across every demographic, affecting Christians and non-Christians: increased homelessness, incarceration, and even families' safety due to untreated mental illness. 

At P82, we stand firm in the belief that mental illness does not make a person less of a Christian, nor does it hinder anyone from coming to Jesus. As Isaiah 55:1 declares, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” The “everyone” here includes those who battle serious mental illness and their caregivers. Because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, he is accessible to everyone who calls upon him!

We also refuse to place undue burdens on those who suffer. In Acts 15:22-35, God rejects the practice that Gentile believers must carry the weight of unnecessary religious requirements to follow Christ (Galatians 2:16). Likewise, we reject the harmful notion that those with mental illness must forgo necessary medical treatment to prove their faith. Telling someone to stop taking medication or to reject psychiatric care because they “need more faith” or “should pray more” is not only unbiblical—it is deeply damaging. True faith is not about denying medical realities but trusting Christ in the midst of suffering while using the means He has provided for care (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We reject the oversimplified view—found in these Christian circles—that denies schizophrenia as a legitimate medical condition simply because it appears in the DSM and falls under the category of “behavioral health” in Medicaid policy. While there have been serious efforts to reclassify schizophrenia as a neurological disorder, these attempts are often blocked by larger advocacy groups protecting their share of federal funding. The result? People with serious mental illness are pushed to the margins—out of sight, underfunded, and underserved. This is just one example of the uphill battle to bring serious mental illness to the forefront of compassionate care. Those who cannot advocate for themselves are too often discharged from hospitals and left to a cruel cycle of homelessness, incarceration, and abandonment.

As followers of Christ, we are called to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). We urge those who dismiss these realities to show humility—and to listen to the families who live this every day.

Where We Differ from Breathe and Others

Rick and Kay Warren and others within the Trauma Informed Care movement have been instrumental in bringing conversations about mental health into the church, advocating for greater awareness and compassion for those who suffer. The Warren’s ministry, “Breathe,” has provided invaluable support to individuals and families navigating the challenges of mental illness. However, on this end of the spectrum, we have observed that ministries like Breathe fully integrate secular psychological theories into their approach to mental health without a critical biblical filter. The emphasis on therapy and psychological interventions overshadows the centrality of Christ’s redemptive work and the hope He offers through His Word in the midst of suffering, alongside necessary medical care.

At P82, we do not uncritically accept everything from secular psychology, understanding that much of it is shaped by a worldview that excludes God. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) offers descriptions of symptoms and patterns of suffering that can inform us about what an individual may be experiencing. Still, a diagnosis does not define a person’s identity. Psychology can offer helpful observations that may even be rooted in biblical principles. But neither the DSM nor Psychology can provide the sustaining grace that only Jesus and His promises can deliver amid the raging storms of serious mental illness. While such descriptions and observations can aid in understanding a person’s struggles, Christians must apply discernment, ensuring that our response is rooted in biblical truth. We are called to acknowledge suffering, help the weak (1 Thessalonians 5:14), faithfully proclaim the gospel (Romans 10:14), and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19), pointing those who struggle to Jesus, who brings comfort and help to us in our suffering. 

This is where P82 differs from ministries like Breathe and others. We believe Christ calls us to offer compassion and discipleship within the context of the local church. Walking alongside those who suffer means more than providing emotional support—continually pointing them to the truth and hope found in Scripture and patiently helping them apply it to their lives. While retreats that offer aromatherapy, art, yoga, and massages may provide temporary relief, they fall woefully short of delivering the lasting power that comes through knowing Jesus. He is the one who sustains us when we face the harsh realities of SMI that make it difficult to get out of bed on Monday morning.

The church isn’t merely a supplement to therapy; as the body of Christ, it offers an unparalleled refuge where sound doctrine meets compassionate care for those battling mental illness. We want to guard against worldly philosophies and an outward appearance of godliness, yet deny the power of the gospel (2 Timothy 3:5-7; Romans 1:16). In a world of fleeting remedies, the church stands as a steadfast beacon, reflecting the heart of Christ and delivering the hope that only the good news of the gospel can provide.

The P82 Approach: Holding Truth and Compassion Together

We believe that helping people affected by serious mental illness to have a complete life happens when the gospel and practical support work together. Unfortunately, the extreme approaches are leaving sufferers hopeless and, quite frankly, without God. Our mission is to lean into the suffering experienced by these individuals and families and to equip the church to effectively serve this overlooked group of people, to bring lasting hope and the good news that God has not forgotten them! The gospel is for everyone who believes. This means we:

• Equip churches: We help the faith community understand mental illness so those who suffer are met with compassion and care, not seen as a problem to be handed off. We want to support what your church may already be doing, not add one more program to your full calendar. We know pastors are busy and often overwhelmed. We tailor our training to your needs.

• Encourage treatment: We support people in their own medical decisions. At the same time, we recognize that a small percentage of people who live with SMI and are incapacitated by their illness have some form of anosognosia and may require something known as Assisted Outpatient Treatment. We support families and churches through this challenging process. We are not doctors, nor are we called to give directive advice. However, as Christians, we are uniquely gifted to comfort those who are afflicted with the same comfort we have received from Christ (2 Corinthians 1:4-5).

• Acknowledging suffering while pointing to hope: We do not minimize the struggles of mental illness, but we remind people that their illness does not define them—Christ does. The Bible is where we begin, tethering our hope to the truth of God’s word and promises we can rely on to sustain us no matter how difficult our circumstances are. 

• Supporting caregivers: We recognize that those who care for loved ones with serious mental illness carry a heavy burden. By equipping and encouraging caregivers, we strengthen the entire support system, which in turn benefits the person living with mental illness. We equip churches to host gospel-centered support groups with knowledge and confidence. Our turn-key discussion guides and training are bible based and designed to point people to a loving and accessible God.

• Speak up for the weak: God has uniquely called individuals in local churches who have been recipients of God’s gracious mercy through the gospel to speak up for those who are weak and afflicted (Psalm 82:3-4). People living with severe mental illness are among those who would be considered the widows and orphans of our day (James 1:27). The church has an opportunity to be a voice for this marginalized group of people. How can we do that if we are not welcoming the seriously mentally ill and their families into our churches with truth, wisdom, and compassion?

P82 Project Restoration rejects the extremes—we do not dismiss mental illness as purely spiritual, nor do we blindly follow secular psychology. Instead, we remain firmly rooted in the gospel, supporting those who suffer with the truth of Scripture and the practical care they need.

We also recognize that Scripture does not promise complete healing from mental illness in this life. Some may experience significant recovery, while others may endure ongoing and unimaginable suffering. Our hope is not in a guaranteed earthly cure but in Christ’s sustaining grace and the promise of ultimate restoration in Him.

For those seeking a gospel-centered approach to mental illness—one that acknowledges the need for medical treatment at times while holding fast to biblical truth—P82 is here to walk alongside you.