What is a Christian perspective on borderline personality disorder?

Answer 1

Thinking about borderline personality disorder is a great opportunity to understand the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

"Borderline personality disorder" is a term that refers to a particular set of consistently exhibited psychological symptoms described in the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. These symptoms (self-emptiness, black-and-white thinking, etc.) are not unique to BPD sufferers, but those who suffer from BPD consistently experience these symptoms to a much greater degree than others who don't suffer from BPD.

Now, if the Christian worldview is true, it is very important for humans to define normal psychological functioning in terms of the divine life of the spiritual man in the kingdom of God. In other words, instead of seeking freedom from BPD, bi-polar, etc., we should be seeking the new life of God that is found perfect and complete in Jesus of Nazareth.

And Jesus felt pain.

Why is this important? Because the natural man needs coping mechanisms. He needs ways to cope with pain. But the spiritual man doesn't need coping mechanisms. He receives pain without shying away. Jesus felt pain, but he didn't shrug it off saying, "Ain't no thing. I'm a Survivor." He didn't withdraw from the source of the pain. He didn't put up emotional barriers or boundaries to block the pain. He didn't grit his teeth and stoically endure his pain.

The goal for a human being is not to develop a successful coping mechanism. The goal is to become the kind of being that doesn't need a coping mechanism at all! The spiritual man is no longer someone who consumes life from others, but rather a conduit of life who can give life to others.

Even using God as a coping mechanism is insufficient. BPD sufferers may often be inclined to turn to religion or spirituality as a more successful means to cope with their pain. But it will eventually stop working, like everything else. God is not a drug.

God wants to give you a new life--not to medicate the old one.

How do we get this new life? How can we be like Jesus, who doesn't need to cope with pain? God simply offers it to us. The one condition that Jesus asks is that he be the sole master of your life. Otherwise, if you hang on to your past, your parents, your lover, your future--whatever--you're basically saying, "I'm interested in you unless you say I can't have X." And what kind of relationship is that? It's one where you're still holding the wildcard--you can still get out if you want, because you're keeping secrets.

But Jesus will have none of that. It's all or nothing. It'll cost you your life, but that's fine, because YOUR LIFE STINKS. Doesn't it? That's the whole reason why we try and find coping mechanisms in the first place. If everything in your life is great, why are you sad and empty inside?

We can't be masochists anymore. Pain management is EXHAUSTING. If there's a way out of this life, we have to take it. It's a holy suicide. If we give our lives to Jesus, he will take care of us. He is safe. He knows what it is to be alienated, lonely, and hurt. But he reacted to those experiences in the right way. And he will give you his life of real peace and passion and joy--not nervous energy and fake plastic smiles.

Paul says, "If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you shall be saved."

What are you holding onto that could possibly be better?