I really liked what Bree had to say, I am sorry but this is not a true man of God. Remember he said that in the last days there will prophets and false prophets, well, I think you ran accross one of the false ones that is in it for the money, because trust me, it can be a Great Money source with little effort.
I think that pastor should meet his God really soon, but I am a christian so I will not wisht that one him, although the human in me would like to smack him in the jaw.
Jesus says for us to come as we are, the sick and the dying, well the last time I checked Bipolar is considered a dis-ease, therefore a sickness, he also siad, that I have sent to you great Physicians, go figure they even know the name of doctor's that far back, so If you physcian sees you as being biploar, then I would believe him and let this false prophet go, sounds to me like God saved you in his own way of doing things. He also knows that we learn where there is pain. So sounds like you have a good learning lesson. But don't let it end there, find you another church, and pray about it, and let God guide you where it is that you are suppose to be. Now I am pretty sure that it is not going to hit you like a bolt of lightning, but just contiue to pray about it, and suit up and show up.
I too am more spiritual than religous, because, there are so many false prophets out there, I have not found the right church yet. But please do not let a false prophet turn you from the light of God, he is just not worth that. Hang in there and remember that God and Jesus loves you, and that your special, your faith is strong, that is why it was tested so desperately. So please keep us informed, and I pray you continue to go to church, It does heell the soul, maybe not the mind like I wish it would, but you see, I find that God made me special with being bipolar, I have studied it and have been able to help others, so maybe that is your calling, to not let this happen to anyone else. Think about it and please let us all know how your doing, I pray really, really good. Remember this was only a test, if it were a true emergency you would be told "Tune Into God!" So Tune Into God, ok babe, see ys, sorry so long

Oh hell yes....I battle between good and evil every fucking day.

There is no doubt that spiritual warfare exists. Satan's desire is to discourage and harm you any way he can. He can not take your salvation, he can also not make you sick. The Lord has forgiven you of your sin through the Lord Jesus Christ and would not desire for you to go on believing that your sickness is a result of sin. Our Lord is perfectly compassionate and desires to help you through your illness. That pastor has done more damage to the kingdom by saying something like that because it has made you hurt and bitter. Not all pastors believe such a thing Chelle.

This is the whole entire reason why I am pagan. If there is a God and I end up rotting. I guess I will have to cross that bridge when I get to it.

I could not have said it better than Tadeo. My thoughts exactly. There is spiritual warfare and in this case the pastor was the tool. Heehee in more ways than one. You stay strong in your faith! Trust in God, not in people. Don't let theweakness, ignorance, cruelity, and sin of man deter your relationship with your creator.

Zany, I am sorry this happened to you. I have talked to many people who have been given these same beliefs as truth. It is sad because it harbours emotions and feelings that push us away from God rather than bring us closer.

I have been a "Catholic" Christian all my life and have seen so many tormented souls in so many different organized religions. I have also learned that satan does not always appear evil. He can also appear to be a "faithful servant" of God. Hence, so many are led down the wrong path. I practice my Catholocism as a way to whorship God and a means to practice a "set of beliefs" that I have established through my own study and prayer. The most important thing in my life is my PERSONAL faith and relationship with God. I find that the closer I become to God, the harder satan works to sever that relationship. So, for me, constant prayer and knowing in my heart what God wants for my life, is the key to my discerning what I choose to believe.

I do not believe that mental illness, or any illness for that matter, is a result of the sin that I have commited. It is documented in the old and new Testement that God and Jesus cast out many evil spirits in the form of illness. However, you have to put those writings in the right context and remember that the Bible cannot always be taken "literally". It is interpretation and meant to guide us through life with the help of the Holy Spirit and the depth of our relationship with God. I have attenden my current church for over 22 years and have had the same pastor for as long. He has an entirely different perspective about mental illness and sin and he shares very lovingly about it through his sermons and eulogies at funerals for people who have commited suicide. This is not always the case with all pastors in the Catholic church.

I believe it is important to find a church, if that is what you desire, that gives you comfort and above all, brings you closer to God, not pushes you away. Dont put your spiritual faith in "other people" but in The God you find your comfort with. The God I know is loving, compassionate, and provides the strength and courage I need to deal with all that human kind forces my way and He is forgiving. I could not have lived through all these years with this disorder without Him and I have seen great things and great healing in my life through His Blessings.

Find your new strength in The God you now seek and leave your past experiences behind you that threaten your faith. Blessings to you Zany.....xo

That Pastor was very ignorant and bigoted. To be talking to a person who was mentally ill he could a pushed someless less strong into a suicide attempt. Pitiful. You are strong Zany. Just believe that there are other churches, try them out and find one that seems right for you. I am not religious but I believe everyone has a right to go their own way. If it gives you comfort there is a church waiting somewhere for you.

as a deeply religious person l believe your pastor deserves a slap as a wake up call what a croc how dare he say that to you.

no l do not believe that because of past sins l have bipolar, mine is part hereditory triggered by child abuse. l was a good child if l was satan in heels in my past life l think every time l walked into a room the music from The Omen would follow and l would have been hell on earth....literaly

The point of christianity is to say we sin because we have free will and the sins we make can be forgiven in this life if not l hope you like heat....its not to say you sinned so now you'll pay in this life. l believe our guardian angels will try to give us gentle wake up calls to guide us to a better life or decision but in no way does that lead to a disability l would have fried his ass if l'd overheard him say that to you your pastor has much to learn.

and please don't take to herat his words he may be titled a pastor and he may love god but he is a man as vulnerable to mistakes as the rest of us the jackass.

Thank all of you for your responses. I greatly appreciate them each and every one.

P.S.--For me, this was not a "why this" or "why that" or even a "why me". This was simply trying to sort out a very confusing event in my life that has thus far damaged me irrepairably. (sp?)

Zany, I know exactly what you mean. I have been raised around people like this and I come from a very religious family. It happens especially in southern churches. They are very judgemental and they look down on those who are less fortunate and they are very uneducated about mental illness.

They see people who as they think claim to be mentally ill as being under demonic possession. And because of these people, the things that I was taught growing up about religion completely worked against me in a state of psychosis.

I was lead to believe that I was evil and that demons were living inside of me. And for this very fact I no longer associate myself with the likes of organized religion. Its all a big circus with all their money, lecturing people, and gossiping about each other.

Alot of them show up for the wrong reasons and its to out do each other. Its pathetic. Whos given to the offering today? If you didnt then you were crap. If your not in it hardcore then you just werent a good christian. Whatever...

There are more hypocrites in the church then there are of those sitting in their homes on Sunday morning. I now think of myself as a spiritual person but not a religious one. My grandfather was a preacher, my uncle is a preacher, my cousin is, but that doesnt change my mind.

I dont know why I am mentally ill and I dont know why this has happened to me. But all I know is that religion will not take it away and it will not make it better. So theres my two cents worth. Love ya Zany!

Thanks girl. I love you too.

I think sometimes people feel that their belief is the only belief and that they have a mandate from God to share it. In other words, I don't think the pastor was intentionally trying to cast you away from God. Do I feel that he was wrong? Absolutely! Not all pastors are created equal. Remember that in many protestant religions, all you have to do to be a pastor is proclaim that you've been called by God to be one.

To sort this out Zany, all you need to do is spend a little alone time with God. Do some praying and let His presence surround you. Apparantly, you once had a tremendous faith and you can again, you just have to spend time talking with God. Don't worry about church or a pastor or others to tell you how to reconnect. It's up to you. I would recommend though that in your heart, you pray for the pastor that led you astray. He apparantly needs a lot of prayer.

Good luck and God bless you!

For those who found the Bible valuable check this, regarding the reason of this illness/condition.

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John 9:1-3

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. "

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Satan is the great deceiver and pastors can be jezebel spirits.

be careful who you listen to for spiritual guidance. if what someone is saying does not follow the gospel then i wouldn't think about it again.

i have grappled with this same ideology and people of the church are happy to dish it out. "if you have a mental disorder then you are not saved". i do not believe this. i do believe that maybe the mental disorder may make us better servants. did you ever hear about the OCD woman that gradually built up to praying constantly. hmmm

God needs our action and our service to complete anything on this planet. we make it happen. i think making the best out of our disorders is what we should be doing, whatever form that may be.

and would that pastor tell someone who is missing a limb from a car accident that they lost their limb to sin? i wonder what God would say about that.

please don't allow anyone, pastor or not, take away your faith or your duty to God. and i do believe in spiritual battle and right now... the enemy is winning if you shut down due to this pastor. you are worthy of God's love and he is worthy of your service to him.

some people pastor for their own praise, not to praise God.

Zany, I can't understand how u would let this one ass, a stranger pretty much , damage you in your words "irrep----". I thought you were stronger than that. Not saying it wasn't devistating. But you've handed your life over to him pretty easily. I ta not like this guy is someone who matters.