Running head: POSITION PAPER This position paper will address the following question: How can a Christian

understanding of grace affect our attitude and our approach to people with mental disorder? The definition of grace, the aspects of grace, and the integration of Christian grace and service are all points that will be discussed. Scriptural and literary references will be given to support the belief that when the Christian understands biblical grace, their attitude toward their friend, enemy or client will be one of grace. In order to decide if understanding grace affects the professionals approach to the mentally ill, we must first understand the meaning of grace. Most Christians will tell you that

grace is Gods free gift to us, and pastors and scholars have said that grace is unmerited favor. The Greek word for grace is charis, which is best interpreted as favor, in the sense of favors being given and favors being repaid (Marlowe, 2001). Charis is also used when referring to having a positive attitude toward someone. Strong's Concordance gives this definition; Grace, the state of kindness and favor towards someone, often with a focus on a benefit given to the object (Strong, 1996). In English, we would say regarding someone favorably, having favor on someone. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term used is chen, which is defined in Strong's as "favor, grace or charm; grace is the moral quality of kindness, displaying a favorable disposition; of speech (Marlowe, 2001). In this situation, we are hypothesizing if having and understanding Christian grace will affect our practice with the mentally ill. Conversely, the question of whether or not professionals can interact spiritually with their clients, showing them grace, regardless of said professionals personal faith; is sure to arise. It seems that professionals that claim to receive grace (as defined above) from their God or spiritual source, and also bear its evidence in their lives, will obviously have their perspectives framed by their experiences and beliefs. If they believe that their source

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(creator/Lord/object) had bestowed grace upon them, and divine grace had in fact been imparted to the believer, the recognizable signs of favor would be visible. Favor is defined as: to show preference of, an attitude of liking, support and kindness, goodwill and the benefits flowing from it(Merriam-Webster's, 1993). Grace, its form of transmission and reception, has been described as "the watershed that divides Catholicism from Protestantism, Calvinism from Arminianism, modern liberalism from conservatism" (Ryrie, 1963). To keep it simple: Catholic doctrine basically says that God comes through the sacraments, divinely, and that He uses the sacraments to facilitate the reception of His grace (Ryrie, 1963). Protestants (Christians) typically do not believe that divine grace is received through sacraments, but imparted through God, through Jesus Christ, to the believer. There are varying and numerous differences between the many world religions and denominations available for the professional to engage in. Religion and spirituality are important and do impact the perspective and the values of the practitioner, ultimately becoming integrated with their practice. This is a positive thing- over 81% of clients wished their practitioner had brought up issues of spirituality (Culliford, 2005). Depending on the specific denomination or branch of Christian/Catholic faith the professional ascribes to, each has a way they believe they receive grace from God. This raises the idea that any practitioner with faith in God, or faith in a spiritual being (one who must give grace), would likely be able to implement (if they have not already) the key elements of grace: regarding one another favorably and having kindness and benefit toward another. When individuals are being shown such kindness, goodwill and favor from their spiritual source, it is bound to affect the way they involve with others, including their mentally ill patients. Our spirituality is linked to our level of self awareness- if we are aware of the grace and goodwill

POSITION PAPER shown to us by God, we will be more likely to be aware of ways we can show others that same grace and goodwill. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and faith in God, the counselor can allow scriptural principles of humanitarian value, uniqueness, unconditional regard and agape love to govern their practice. The bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:8 (New International Version),

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. Abound means to Have in large numbers or amounts (Merriam-Webster's, 1993). Another definition says that abound means to to be copiously supplied used with in or with (Merriam-Webster's, 1993). This scripture points out that it is God who gives the grace and causes it to manifested, in our lives in a visible way, in large amounts so that we will use this grace, in and with our lives to live and accomplish the good works God has prepared for us. There are other factions of grace- such as saving grace, redeeming grace, and grace that empowers the Christian and keeps them from sin. Those aspects will not be covered in this discussion. There has always been a conflict between the church and the medical community when it comes to the issue of mental illness. Throughout history, the church has historically linked mental illness with spiritual health. Looking back hundreds of years, mental illness has been linked to demonic possession, practice of life-controlling sin, a curse from God, and other sincentered reasoning. Over time, the medical model began to emerge and doctors and counselors shied away from counseling/diagnosing from a spiritual model and began to believe that mental illness was the result of imbalances in biochemistry and brain chemistry. The Christian counselor aims to treat the whole person, the body, soul and spirit. A widely used form of counseling is the multi-path model, which includes many strategies to therapy and integrates the environmental, biological, spiritual, physical and social aspects of the person.

POSITION PAPER The Christian in counseling must remember that we all have a basic desire to be heard, loved, understood and listened to. If we are willing to learn and to listen, people will confide in us in a trusting and honest way. The Christian who understands the work of grace in their lives

should be able to look on the mentally ill with the Christian values of honesty, courage, patience (unhurriedness), tolerance, compassion, empathy and patience (Culliford, 2005). If we truly

understand what grace has done for us personally, we are able to practice in quietness, peace and joy to the benefit of the mentally ill clients we will encounter. Psalm 73:24 says that with your counsel, you will guide me. The counselor who depends on God for sustenance, grace and direction for their lives will see giving and receiving grace as a reciprocal process with all they come into contact with, personally and professionally (Sisemore, Arbuckle, Killian, Mortellaro, Swanson, Fisher, & McGinnis, 2011). Christian beliefs, specifically the belief and understanding of grace, are able to positively aid the professional in the counseling of the mentally ill. The bible tells us that .. the Spirit of Christ is the counselor(Isaiah 9:6, John 14:16, 26), that sin is the basis of all human issues and problems (Romans 3:23), that human behavior is derivative in spirit, soul and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23), and that Christians are enabled and instructed to behave differently by dependence upon Jesus Christ(Colossians 1:27). Working from those foundational beliefs, the Christian understands grace in such a way that they are able to: 1. Rely on the Spirit of Jesus Christ to counsel and help them, 2. To understand the consequences of the fallen nature of man and consequently, to look on sin with hatred while seeing the hurting and helpless with compassion, 3. See the importance of counseling the whole individual, and lastly; 4. To depend on Jesus Christ to govern behavior, actions and speech. A literal and personal

POSITION PAPER understanding of Christian grace can, will, and does, greatly influence professional practice of the mentally ill in a positive and significant way.

POSITION PAPER References Brisben, D. (2011). Recognizing God's active presence in a secular age: Recovering a theology of common grace for Christian spirituality. International Journal Of Religion & Spirituality In Society, 1(2), 1-12. Culliford, L. (2005). Healing from within: Spirituality and mental health. In M. Mclure (ed.). Partners in care research pack. London: Gaskell. Marlowe, M.D. (2001). Bible research, interpretation: Grace. Retrieved from http://www.bible-researcher.com/grace.html Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary (10th ed.).(1993). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster. Ryrie, C.C. (1963). The grace of God. Chicago: Moody Press. pp 10-11. Sisemore, T. A., Arbuckle, M., Killian, M., Mortellaro, E., Swanson, M., Fisher, R., &

McGinnis, J. (2011). Grace and Christian psychology - Part 1: Preliminary measurement, relationships, and implications for practice. Edification: The Transdisciplinary Journal Of Christian Psychology, 4(2), 57-63. Strong, J. (1996). The new Strong's concordance of the Bible. Nashville, Tenn: T. Nelson Publishers.