His-Help, Self-Help

Mental-health services here in the UK, need more Christian workers. Had Jesus been with us in the 21st century, I reckon he'd make his presence known in psychiatric in-patient wards.

Eastern-mysticism and Buddhism, in the form of Perls' Gestalt Therapy, Jung's [crazy] Analytical Therapy, Freud's Psychoanalysis and especially Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (which is the epitome of self-help), abounds; and meditation, aromatherapy, reiki, EMDR, and many many others, under the umbrella of alternative medicine, is rife.

Such is the world that we live in. If there is no God, I guess the only other valid option is to look to self for help. Nietzsche, known for his elaboration of nihilism, had it spot on. But how would the gospel work in the mental-health services? No amount of tact will ever sufficiently blanket the heart of the gospel message:

"Yes, you are a sinner. Yes, you have done some pretty awful things in the past. Yes, your experiences of despair merely reflect that you and I live in an awful world... BUT, Jesus..."

The gospel message is SO ABSURD, but for sinners like us, and as fragile as it is, remains to be [if He truly has risen] our only hope.