John MacArthur’s response to the controversy over his comments on PTSD, ADHD & OCD.👇🏼 “Is there post-traumatic stress? Of course! Is it a brain syndrome? No. “Psychology & Psychiatry has been trying to deal with mind problems with things that alter the brain…that’s all I was saying.”

JMac is obviously correct here. As I said before, I think the overreaction to his comments were telling of how much we’ve made mental “disorders” a part of our identities.

Full convo here! ⬇️

I get some of his concerns but he's flattening a complex topic. Everything we experience and do changes our brain in some way. People with PTSD literally experience nervous system damage from overwhelming trauma. These realities have been measured with imaging machines. He wants people to stop blaming and take responsibility. I share that desire. But there are more redemptive, helpful, and accurate ways of leading people in that direction.

McArthur doesn’t consider the central nervous system, neural synapses, and the very real role of the CNS with the brain. It IS physical. The CNS has a memory (physical). Experience and interaction determine how the brain interprets senses. For instance, following trauma the brain needs new, safe, healthy experiences to associate traumatic sights and sounds with. Still they remain unlikely to fully disassociate some depths of trauma. It’s evident that McArthur has never struggled with suicidal depression quickly reversed by SRI’s. He’s never been stuck in the second stage of sleep where the brain doesn’t delineate dream from reality. McArthur means well and there certainly are truths to his position. We would do well to live by Philippians 4:8–9. A firm commitment to this would stave off many ills. Respectfully however, and while I believe he means well, I don’t believe this is a one size fits all matter. Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.

Deeply ignorant and dangerous.

Old man too used to the mic needs to sit down

My CPTSD is a brain problem not a mi d problem. 😮‍💨 The abuse I endured started when I was born and didn't end until I was in my 40s. Please explain to me how this is just a mind problem? Living that way in such an abusive home changed my neuropathways in my brain. Clearly this man has no idea what he talking about. Other types of PTSD exist not just combat related.

I think the point he is making, that often there is a spiritual component to these conditions. It is undeniable - God can fix things including anxiety, depression, OCD and so on. As Christians, we need to make room for that, vs immediate pharmacotherapy.

I 💯 agree w/him here. Psyche means soul, not brain. Psychiatry & psychology try to solve "soul" problems w/o God. They utilize medicine & secular therapy. That may help symptoms, but it'll never get close to curing the root problem.