BIPOLAR characters in the Bible - please help

a little old

meant to type 'a little odd'

I doubt bipolar, but schizophrenic. People who claim they are talking to god are generally deluded or insane.

+1

most holy men were/are

Please don't take offense to this, Isaiah prophesided things that would not qualify him as 'deluded'

What are the characteristics of a prophet/prophetic person?

Perhaps so, because very few people are indeed prophets, who do in fact hear God's voice.

Interestingly enough, the one's in the Bible were all slain by their countrymen.

Seems inordinately harsh treatment of a bipolar person, but perhaps how true prophets would be treated by those who reject the Living God and the messages the prophets were relaying.

The bible says that Isaiah prophesised, we only have the information ex post facto from a single source. Not exactly a reliable one at that.

I personally think the only one who truly understands the heart of a prophet/prophetess/prophetic is God alone.

He knows the persecution they would have to endure, and I think God protected them, taught them, refined them.

It seems to me they have a divine 'knowing' of God. I'd even go so far as to say as hard as their calling was, the calling burned like a passion within them, they were unable to shake it no matter how hard they tried.

Many with the prophetic calling are very misunderstood and persecuted, mostly by their own in churches.

I've also gleaned a little understanding recognizing that in their infancy of the gift, until the Lord refines them, they can be a little out there, again, they lack mentoring.

The other gifts of Teacher, Preacher, Evangelist etc have lots of support and 'acceptance'.

I once heard someone say,
'you can recognise the prophetic in the church, they mostly sit alone (once others discover their gifting).

Its a tough calling to walk in the prophetic shoes.

No wonder God chose the ones He did, He knew who He could rely upon.

As crazy as some of them 'might have been seen to be', I thank God for their testimonies that I learn so much from and am blessed by it.

Your reply was a tad illogical.

How so?

If you beleive as you've written, why would you even consider that they might have been bipolar?

If this is for a study, I'd suggest you expand it to include the Fools for Christ chronicled within the Orthodox tradition. There's some truly interesting ones, such as the Blessed Basil who wandered around Moscow naked and freely spoke his mind to Ivan the Terrible when other's feared to do so.

King David says in Psalm 139 "Lord, you know my rising up and my sitting down". Pretty concise description of the disorder, there.

Johnny the Terminator.

Oh, wait ...

Very creative misinterpretation of scriptures.
Witty blasphemy, comical even.

D'oh! My bad. Can I get you to elaborate on the proper and true application of this passage? Thanks for any response.

Ok, I meant, just for an example, Ezekiel lying on his side for almost a year, and Jerimiah 'God your making a fool of me...yet it burns within me to do your will'

The prophets were very emotional, passionate, up and down roller coaster emotions, which 'may' be accused of bipolar equivalent (labelled) of today.

Personally I think there is just a deep deep love for God in some people, line a divine connection from their heart to Gods. They are compelled and passionate to call people to repentance.

Who in their right mind would do some of the things the prophets did, knowing, that persecution and misundstanding (from others) was ever prevalent toward them.

Only one chosen and called by the Lord Himself.

Prophets and prophetesses weren't odd in my books, they were courageous and sold out for Christ; wouldn't hurt anyof us who love God to have their passion to help point others to Christ.

I believe, "odd" in the sense that most of them are "loners" in a sense, as they spend a great deal of time alone with God.

One of the aspects of a true prophet of God is to rebuke, correct the errors of the "church" or believers.

For this reason, many, many people reject them when they speak what God is having them to speak. Experiencing a lot of rejection from people is a hard lot to bear.

On the other hand, after rebuking or correcting errors, they should also provide the solution along with much love and encouragement.

I'm getting the impression (and I could very well be wrong here) that maybe you are bipolar and because of that you are being led to believe that you possess the "gift" of prophecy.

If that is true and the basis for your belief, then I would encourage you to spend more time in prayer because that is not a valid basis.

There are many websites out there that discuss prophets, their personality, responsibilities and discerning true and false prophets, amongst other things. One must have a discerning spirit when reading these, as many are false, deceptive and will deceive.

I would suggest that you start researching the topic. God's Word has a lot to say about prophets also, so using Strong's Concordance on the internet and reading, studying and praying for understanding, read all the verses that have to do with prophet, prophets, prophecy, prophesy, would be an important start.

A true prophet of God is led by the Holy Spirit of God and not a pastor of a church.

Prophets are close to God, have gained much wisdom through studying the Scriptures, have an extremely deep understanding of God's Word and can readily discern what is in disagreement with God's Word. They possess a deep love for God's people and are encouragers as well as rebukers.

There is much, much more to being a prophet of God than what people generally, readily think the word implies and that is foreknowledge.

Remember, it is the Holy Spirit who gives the Spirit filled believers of God their individual gifts. We don't get to choose for ourselves.

Hope this helps.

Blessings

After I posted my first reply I came back to read more of the thread.

This post of yours is wonderful. It appears that you already possess much understanding on this topic.

A big difference from your first post.

Blessings dear one.

well....Lucifer is described as to b black or white side of character, im very positive hes bipolar

More than likely psychotic delusion; hearing voices they believe were an invisible god - not unlike today lol.

The Apostle Paul/Saul would definitely comply, from my experience - the 'beat my body and lead it about as a slave' dude, yeah, that's a box of dis-associative malaise, if you ask me.

Also, the 'Apostle' Peter would, qualify.

Probably Jeremiah and King David in his older years, as well as a fair amount of the minor prophets of the old testament.

of course, I don't really by the bipolar diagnosis in general, the primary symptoms are shared with DID, BPD (BORDERLINE Personality Disorder) and para/schizophrenic, and I would bet a good bit of them were actually DID (fractured) or borderline, not really bipolar.

except for maybe, I dunno.. JESUS.

Jesus!

You mean like, Lotus. She genuinely believes she is the new Messiah.

king david would probably qualify as being Bi-polar. One moment he is grieving for someone and the next he is having them killed. he danced naked in the streets and was prone to highs and lows in his behaviours.

Thankyou AC for the above, also thankyou Neesie for your comments.

I'm coming to realise that the Lord chose certain people (and their unique personalities) for their calling and the plan God had for their lives.

Many who love the Lord have a lesser journey to walk, as in, they will never have to walk the paths such as the prophets, Paul, Peter, John the Baptist etc.

God knows who He can rely upon to 'get the job done' so to speak; I love that scripture that says He uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise', it especially gave me great encouragement and comfort.

Neesie thanks so much for that commment, one moment David was grieved the next he was dancing naked - god love him, imagine the label society would place upon a person that was like King David's personality today.

Much thanks again, how I love the saints here that so often write such pearls of wisdom, it truly blesses me.

Thankyou also Wondering for your encouragement and comments; I especially loved reading that a true prophet is led by the Holy Spirit (the counsellor of truth), rather than a Pastor of a church, it really meant the world to me reading that.

A Pastor I've met one that I would consider to be an apostle, with such beautiful humility, a heart after God, wise and a true shepherd; his walk with God is so evident.
He truly has a heart to equip the flock God has entrusted to him, for one reason only, so they may find their place in the body of Christ.

I've also learnt those who thirst for God, the true shepherd hearted pastors, always, point people to Christ and avoid like the plague drawing attention to them.

Again, so many wonderful saints here on GLP, and you are one of them, such a blessing to many.

They knew about the North and South poles back then ?

Just a thought came to mind, most of the prophets 'sufferred' much, though through each trial and test passing, persecutions, rejection, etc their faith increased all the more.

Many bi polar people are extremely resilient, considering the depression, emotional highs and lows, lets not leave out the 'manic highs' and fatigue...sleeping for days, exhausted by the mood swings, anger and inner conflict.

I see a great similarity to modern day bi polar, they are misunderstood, rejection issues, thought to be 'off the planet' or discarded into the too hard basket (by family and friends!!! ...some anyway)

Seems God knows 'exactly' who will get the job done, so great that the verse says

'I confound the wise with the foolish things of the world'


I've met some very very 'prideful' people in the church; would rather the emotional honesty of a bi polar person that that of the 'older brother syndrome ie I'm perfect' or those who 'think' they've arrived.

Right,because we all know that You Are God!