Column Entry, “Communicating and Caring for Anxious, Stressed, Worn-Out People,” by Joseph Bird

Column Title: Fanning the Flame: Reigniting the Joy of Christian Communication for Pastor, Pew, and Public

Column Entry: “Communicating and Caring for Anxious, Stressed, Worn-Out People”

By Joseph Bird, PhD, MDiv, William Carey University

Column Description: Preaching and teaching are public communication art and science, but never easy. It is especially difficult when we lose the joy we once had to effectively communicate God’s Word. This column aims to encourage Christian communicators–whether in the pulpit or in the pew- to find joy once again in preparing, crafting, and delivering God-honoring messages that equip the Body of Christ and witness the redemptive power of the Gospel to the world. The column engages with Scripture, Christian thinkers, teachers, and theologians throughout Church history, contemporary homileticians, rhetoricians, and other communication scholars and practitioners to rediscover a deep, lasting joy in Christian communication that nourishes and transforms.

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In 2023, the American Psychological Association surveyed stress in America. The association found that “there is mounting evidence that our society is experiencing the psychological impacts of a collective trauma…. Widespread trauma has not been limited to the pandemic. Global conflict, racism and racial injustice, inflation, and climate-related disasters are all weighing on the collective consciousness of Americans.” [1]

No one reading this is surprised that Americans are stressed and increasingly anxious. We don’t need Sherlock Holmes’ powers of deduction to see that this increased stress is not simply an American issue but a global one. The world is reeling in the throes of ever-increasing anxieties and the weight of unceasing fears, whether realized or not.

Christians are not immune to the fears and anxieties plaguing the world. As Christian communicators, we cannot be so naïve as to believe that we and our audiences are not struggling along with everyone else. Yet, we also cannot be so defeatist as to think that God does not have a word for us and our people about the anxieties of life.

Before discussing communication strategies that aim to encourage those overwhelmed with stress and worry, we must consider who we are and what tools we have at our disposal. Most of us are not trained psychiatrists or psychologists. We have much to offer our people, but we must understand our limitations.[2]

Where do we start when considering the best way to help anxious and stressed-out people? The following five principles can help us communicate and care for anxious, stressed, worn-out people.

Principle # 1: Choose Your Words Carefully

Our congregations are full of all sorts of anxious and worried people. Some need to read and meditate on Jesus’ words concerning anxiety in Matthew 6. Others need medication to help their brain regulate serotonin levels. Others need a professional to help them overcome past traumas. On and on the list goes. We must be careful that we do not flippantly speak about anxiety and worry from the pulpit or oversimplify complex issues and diagnoses. We can seriously hurt and confuse people if we are not careful.

I want to be clear: I am not saying that we strip the biblical texts of their power to speak concerning anxiety; instead, we do not need to read back into the text anachronistically. Take Ps. 55:2, for example, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” We must explain, illustrate, and apply the text for our people. We should encourage them to take all their burdens to the Lord, knowing we have a good Father who hears and cares for us. However, we should not pit this verse against therapists or anxiety medication by saying something like, “Clearly, God wants us to take our anxieties to Him, not to a psychiatrist.” That sort of language misunderstands the texts and perpetuates false dichotomies that would not be present in the minds of the original audience.

Principle # 2: Think Small  

Preaching and teaching the Bible in congregational settings is a preeminent part of the life of the church. Yet, our people also need friendship, community, and interpersonal interactions beyond large group settings. Many people feel lost in the crowd and alone, even in a room full of people. This is such a prominent issue that the United Kingdom recently elected a Minister for Loneliness who “will oversee the government’s efforts to tackle ‘the sad reality of modern life.’”[3]

People in our churches still need smaller settings in which they can get to know others and become known themselves. They need a place to talk about their anxieties and stresses, to be prayed for, and to navigate life together. Small groups do not replace corporate worship, but they can offer our people close relationships they could never have in a cooperative setting.

One issue that needs to be taken seriously is who you get to lead these small groups. The benefits mentioned above can quickly be negated if the wrong person is in leadership. If possible, people need to be trained before leading a small group. Just because a person is a faithful member and even a strong Christian does not mean they can intuit how to lead others successfully. We must communicate our intention for small groups and ensure the potential leaders understand what we hope to accomplish and their vital role as facilitators of those groups.

Principle # 3: Refuse Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

In their book Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Teenagers, sociologists Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton found that numerous American teenagers ascribed to a belief in God, which the authors called “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.” (MTD) Overall, the teenagers they interviewed for their research understood God as a cosmic therapist or butler who kept everything going but was not a personal God that people could know. These young people understood that they should strive to be good; however, they quickly pointed out that goodness was relative and could mean different things to different people. In the end, these teens believed that good people go to heaven.[4]

When Smith and Denton conducted research for their book in 2005, they exclusively studied the spiritual beliefs of teenagers. Of course, twenty years later, those teenagers are adults, many of whom have their own children. One result is that many adults today subscribe to MTD in some form or another.

Unfortunately, as church leaders, we can unintentionally perpetuate MTD if we are not explicit about the gospel. Often, moralism is preached instead of the gospel. As a result, congregants leave church activities week after week, still convinced that they need to work to be better because a far-off “God” wants them to do better.

People at the end of their proverbial rope do not need to hear us teach moralism devoid of the gospel and the Spirit of God week in and week out. Our people desperately need the same thing they have always needed—the gospel!

The gospel calls broken people to run to, not away from, God. It tells people that God is near and cares deeply for them—that Jesus has done for them what they cannot do for themselves. The gospel calls people to submit first and let the finished work of Christ make them “good.” Further, the gospel compels them to submit to the Holy Spirit and to walk with Him every day of their lives. The gospel dispels MTD.

I contend that our people cannot hear the gospel too much. We need not be shy about constantly calling people to repentance and faith in Christ and encouraging them that they are not alone. The God they need is not far off in space somewhere; instead, He dwells inside them through His Spirit. This is fantastic news for isolated, burdened people![5]

Principle # 4: Consider the Humanness in the Text

As Christian communicators, we work hard to highlight God and his attributes in the biblical texts. We rightfully highlight God’s mercy, holiness, love, and sovereignty throughout the biblical narratives. This is vital. We must persist in displaying the character and attributes of the Trinity in our discourses.

On the other hand, we need to ask ourselves if we are adequately considering the “humanness” in the texts. The key here is to look for human emotions and struggles in the text and explore these with our people. One of the beautiful aspects of Scripture is how honest the writers are about human weaknesses and frailty. We do a disservice to the text and our people if we skip over the struggles. Our people need to see that even great fathers and mothers of the faith doubted, wrestled, and fought to keep the faith.

I encourage you to slow down and help people feel the anxieties that the people in the text felt. Let your people know that they are not alone. Let them know that part of being human, even for Christians, is to have moments and seasons of struggle and worry. Then, the ending of these types of stories—where God moves in the ways only He can to bring hope, peace, and restoration—is all the more powerful for us and our people.

Use Heb. 11:11 for example, “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.” The writer rightly declares that Sarah believed God was faithful and could do what He had promised. As preachers, we must remember that Sarah’s faith journey was just that, a journey. She did come to believe the promises of God, but she also “laughed to herself” regarding the promises of God.[6] Like the rest of us, she had mountains and valleys, moments of incredible faith, and seasons of doubt. Be careful not to skip the journeys of the people in Scripture. They are not heroes; God is the hero of the Bible.

Principle # 5: Transformation and Illumination

I hope this final principle will encourage you as a preacher and teacher of Scripture. We too often feel overwhelmed and burdened by life and ministry. It’s entirely possible that reading through the first four principles has caused you to feel that much more overwhelmed. What if we don’t say the right things? What if we do not have the energy we need? What if we cannot do all these things with excellence?

The good news is that, at the end of the day, we are not in charge of transforming people’s lives. We do not have the power or the ability to help people overcome all their anxieties and fears. The Holy Spirit is in control of that. We are simply heralds. Our job is to take the Word of God to the people of God and to let Him do what He alone can do.

In his book Doctrine that Dances, Robert Smith Jr. encourages us to “escort the hearers into the presence of God for the purpose of transformation.”[7] I find that notion incredibly refreshing. Our role is to escort our people into God’s presence through means of His Word and then let the Spirit work to do what only He can do in their lives—transform them. This transformation includes encouraging them, leading them, and convicting them. He will do His work. We do not need to carry the burden of doing what only He can do.

Keep up the good work! We all struggle with anxiety and stress, but we have a God who cares for us and our people. I pray blessings on you and your ministry.

Notes

[1] Stress in America 2023: A nation recovering from collective trauma (apa.org)

[2] For example, several years ago, a lady from my congregation set up a meeting with me. During the meeting, she told me that she had been seeing visions for several months. These visions were becoming more and more frequent, to the point she would see them any time she closed her eyes day or night. I was honest with her and told her that I was unqualified to give her the help she needed. I recommended a local clinic where she could meet with a psychiatrist. She followed through and quickly received help. She needed more than I was able to give her.

[3] The U.K. Now Has a “Minister for Loneliness.” Here’s Why It Matters | Smithsonian

[4] Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers (New York: Oxford University Press), 163-171.

[5] Brian Cosby does a great job of discussing MTD here: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism: Not Just a Problem with Youth Ministry

[6] Gen. 18:12, ESV.

[7] Robert Smith Jr., Doctrine that Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life (Nashville: B&H Academic), 9.