Perspective
( Isa. 29:13 ; Matt. 6:22 ; James 1:8 ; Amos 3:3 ; 2 Cor. 6:14 ) Double minded man is a man who minds on two souls, a man of two minds - hesitating, dubious, irresolute - unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything (that he thinks, feels, decides). Forces acting upon the person causing problem behavior are forces distorting one's ability to perceive or evaluate the world as it is in reality or self-induced forces that cause one to misread or mislead one's self or others.
Schizophrenia is a disturbance, distortion or disintegration of the development of the personality resulting in a "split personality" .
Hope
( Prov. 28:1 ; 1 John 1:7-9 ) The behavior of any given counselee stems fundamentally from organic defects or from sinful behavior. In case of bizarre behavior careful medical examination may be in order to detect any glandular or other chemical malfunction - brain damage, toxic problems, etc. If problem is not organic or not only organic then counsel may be made on the supposition that such behavior must stem from sinful life patterns.
( Eph. 4:26 ; Prov. 28:13 ) After careful medical examination to detect any glandular or other chemical malfunction, and reasonably assurance that (at base) the problem is not organic, one will counsel on the supposition that such behavior must stem from sinful patterns. What is due to sin can be changed; there is no such certainty if schizophrenia is largely due to other factors.
( Jere 17:9 ; Rom. 5:20 ; 1 Pet. 3:12-16 ) Man is largely responsible for his behavior, even when it is of a bizarre nature. It is not impossible to command the control of one's emotions. By prayer, one can change in attitude and actions. A Christian can control his bodily functions and states as God intended him to. Counselor deals with schizophrenia in the same manner as he would in confronting those who have other problems occasioned by sinful living patterns.
Change
Overcoming three personalities: (1) Rejection, (2) Rebellion, (3) True Self .
( Jer. 3:12 ) Schizophrenics need time to adjust and to fall out of agreement with the false demonic personalities, point by point. He must come to loathe the schizophrenic personality, and fall out of agreement with it.
( James 1:8 ; Matt. 6:22 ) The core problem of the schizophrenic is 'rejection' and 'rebellion'. This problem begins with 'rejection', and commonly begins in childhood or infancy and sometimes while the child is still in the mother's womb. There are many 'doors' that lead to rejection, and rejection is usually the first personality that emerges. One can be rejected and not be schizoid, and still manage to form a healthy personality and be secure in themselves.
To the contrary, the schizoid is always floundering 'Who am I?'. The identity of the true self is confused and lost.
Love Deprivation
( Luke 6:45 ; Ps. 120:2 ) Rejection depicts a withdrawn type personality. It is a feeling within - it is agony within ... it is a starvation of love ... it is insecurity ... it is inferiority ... it is fantasy ... it is unreality ... it is all in the inside.
The second personality that emerges is 'rebellion'. When a child does not have satisfactory love relationships in life, he grows up being unable to feel and share in love relationships. Rebellion sets in. He begins to fight for love. Or he lashes out to those who have starved him of love.
Rebellion asserts itself in stubbornness, self-will and selfishness as one personality. Or it begins to be aggressive, lashes out in anger, bitterness, resentment, hatred and retaliation as another personality. The schizoid is literally under these two opposite powers-passive resistant, withdrawn or aggressive and violent. He can switch from one type of personality to the other in a moment's time.
There are really three personalities - the true self, the rejection, and the rebellion personalities. All three can be manifested at any time. The rejection and rebellion personalities are fueled by a root of bitterness. Thus, one must deal with three factors: rejection, rebellion, and bitterness.
True Self
( 2 Cor. 5:17 ; Gal. 2:20 ) The emphasis in dealing with schizophrenics is to concentrate on the true self, to draw it out, to relate the true self to Jesus. Jesus must start growing in the person, developing that personality and making it what He wants it to be. Identity with the 'true self' takes time. The person does not know who he really is. Until he does he will fall back to the false 'self' as a refuge. He must be weaned away slowly until the wounds within can be healed.
Biblical Approach
( Eph. 4:22-24 ; Rom. 12:1-2 ) Put-off the old man and put-on the new man is the basic tool. The root of all sin is lust. And the root of lust is thought. Therefore, the basic change involves the spirit or attitude of the mind. Godly thoughts begins the process of healing.
The inward self and the outward self must be dealt with , and the goal is for the person to change his focus from self to God and to others. The following provides an insight into the immensity and complexity of the schizoid personality:
Rejection/Inward Personality Fear of Rejection; Fantasy/Lust; Harlotry; Perverseness; Self-rejection; Insecurity; Inferiority; False compassion; False responsibility; Self accusation; Suicidal; Perfectionism; Unfairness; Compulsive confession; Jealousy; Envy; Fear of judgment; Self-pity; Depression; Despair; Hopelessness; Guilt; Pouting; Pride; Vanity; Ego; Intolerance; Frustration; Impatience; Withdrawing; Vivid imagination.
Rebellion/Outward Personality Rebellion; Self-will; Selfishness; Accusatory projection; Stubbornness; Suspicion; Self-deception; Persecution; Self-delusion; Confrontational; Self-seduction; Distrust; Pride; Judgmental; Unteachable; Controlling; Possessiveness.
Setting the Captive Free Process
( Matt. 7:5 ; Luke 4:18 ; John 14:21 ; Rom. 8:28-29 ) Understand the past but do not deal with it. Deal with the present moment, where the person is at the present moment, and that with the concrete reality. Discard and do not even discuss or refer to any illusions/distortions. Objective is to draw out the true self, bit by bit.
( Matt. 12:34-37 ) The person lives by his diseased and entrenched attitudes, the broken spirit of the mind. He walks alongside himself . He is his own god, constantly listening to his perverted self for guidance and direction.
( Luke 11:1-4 ) The total emphasis from this point on is to relate the person to God the Father. Healing process begins at this point. He has been worshipping a false god - himself. Therefore, until he acknowledges God as the source of his life, healing cannot begin. The first step is to teach the person to love God and that by simply obeying His commandments: to begin to think right and to do right, to practice daily devotions, to judge himself and not others, to forgive others and act forgiven and to be reconciled within self, with God and with others.
( Luke 9:23-24 ; Rom. 12:1-2 ; Rev. 12:11 ) This is a long term process, and it begins with renewing the mind. The person may appear to improve but falls back to zero, time and time again. For the counselor persistence is the key coupled with gentleness, kindness and goodness. God's love through the counselor touches the person. God's Spirit thus is being manifested in the situation.
( John 16:8-13 ) Our responsibility in dealing with the severely disturbed and damaged personalities is to present and confront with the truth, to comfort and to exhort. We are not responsible for the results. We are to rest by faith in God's words of wisdom, that God will do what His words say He will do. The Holy Spirit is responsible for changing the individual and for the final results.