By BRUCE GREEN
RELIGION —
(Anxiety is a serious issue in our world today. In this five-part series we’re exploring this problem, as well as the difference faith in God can make.)
In the previous two articles, we looked at the increase in anxiety in our culture. Now it’s time to look at the difference faith in God can make. Where do we start?
1. We begin by recognizing that anxiety has a spiritual component.
Human beings possess a mind, a body and a spirit. That’s who we are. It is how God made us. Consequently, to think about anxiety only in terms of the mind and body is a failure to treat it fully and completely. It overlooks a significant aspect of our being. There is almost always a spiritual component in anxiety, which I’ll refer to as “spiritual anxiety.”
Having said that, we need to keep in mind the difference between a component and a cause. I am not suggesting that all anxiety has a spiritual cause. We know it can be triggered by hormonal or chemical imbalances, traumatic episodes, drug abuse, etc. (The CDC has been straightforward about both the short and long-term anxiety marijuana can cause.) However, I am suggesting that even in such cases there is usually a spiritual element that can be a contributing factor.
When you begin to look at the prevalence of anxiety in our culture, it’s difficult not to think there is a correlation between the diminishment of faith and the surge in anxiety among those in their 30s and below. The Pew Research Center reports that 37% of older millennials (those born during the ‘80s), identified as “nones” (no religious affiliation). Meanwhile, 63% of younger millennials (those born during the ‘90s), identified as “nones.” That’s a sharp increase and means that roughly 50% of millennials aren’t part of a church family. At least half of that number don’t believe in God. If someone detaches themselves from trusting in the transcendent God and the comforts of His people, what does it leave them with? Should we really be surprised if they experience spiritual anxiety issues? I think we would be more surprised if they didn’t.
2. Spiritual anxiety is fed by the attempt to live by bread alone.
When Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,” (Matthew 4:4), He knew what He was talking about! Just as we need bread and other food to nourish us physically, we need a relationship with God through His word to nourish us spiritually. We can choose to neglect this truth, but there will be consequences and eventually they will bubble up in our lives. Spiritual anxiety can be life’s way of telling us that something important is missing.
God created us for life with Him. We can walk through this world without Him, but it’s like driving at night without our lights on — we’re limiting ourselves and making things much more difficult than they need to be. More to the point, turning up the volume on the radio will not help us to see better! In the same way, eating more bread is not going to resolve our spiritual issues. Spiritual problems require spiritual solutions. Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).
We’ll look at some more ways faith can make a difference next week in Part Four of this series.
You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: a-taste-of-grace-with-bruce-green.com