The word trauma seems to appear everywhere these days. Surprising to me, even in the church. Historically, church leaders have looked askance at anything connected with psychology. There was a sense that if you saw a counselor outside the church, even a Christian in a different setting, you might compromise your faith. Perhaps they thought humanistic principles would override or displace biblical truth.
Whatever the reason, hearing trauma addressed in various Christian settings, perhaps most notably sermons, seems to signal an easing of the division between psychology and theology. If you check concordances to see what Scripture says about trauma, you’ll receive Oops! It looks like we couldn’t find any matching trauma message. Or a reference to Matthew 11:28-30 will appear though trauma isn’t there.
On this point, the words trauma and trinity share common ground. The word trinity doesn’t appear in concordances either. The primary trinity result is Sorry, we didn’t find any results for your search. However, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance includes a section titled Bible Verses About The Trinity. The Bible itself carries enough evidence to support the trinity concept with or with the word. But what about trauma?
Trauma Definition
Trauma is the impact of an overload of mental, physical, emotional or spiritual messages that come into your body too fast to be processed and absorbed. Diagnosis of a terminal disease, a serious accident experienced or witnessed, or a crushing disappointment without explanation can all push the autonomic nervous system into action. The decision-making part of the brain goes offline as the survival system takes charge.
Breathing and heart rate speed up as blood is diverted from digestion to the extremities. Cortisol, adrenaline, and other hormones course through the body to support the fight or flight response. In extreme situations or extended timeframes, the body moves into the deeper protective response of freeze or fawn. More fight, flight, freeze, fawn details here. A trauma episode is personal to each individual as is resilience, the ability to cope and recover.
Interestingly, trauma also occurs where the body receives an insufficient amount of supportive mental, physical, emotional or spiritual messages for too long. Inadequate amounts of the basic necessities of human care and attention result in the same sets of reactions. What might appear to be behaviors driven by weak character or a lack of willpower, are caused by actual changes to the brain. Such reactions are as automatic as a blinking eye.
Biblical Illustration
Trauma signals first appear in Genesis 3:7-13. Adam and Eve ate the off-limits fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and guilt overwhelmed them. Clearly, their autonomic nervous systems switched off the decision-making portion of their brains as shame sends them scurrying to cover their previously comfortable nakedness with leaves, as if they could solve the dilemma.
When they heard the sound of their LORD approaching as usual, fear drove them amongst the trees as if they could hide from Him. God called out to Adam who responded by blaming God for granting him the woman he received as a gift. Then he justified his illegal snack by blaming Eve for giving it to him. God asked Eve to explain herself, she blamed the serpent for her decision.
Confusion, guilt, shame, fear, rationalization, and blame are all part of the common behaviors that flow from trauma. Adam and Eve reacted outside of everything they knew of their LORD from His provision and care, in their conversations and fellowship throughout their lifetimes. And in this breaking of the vertical connection with God, we see the raw beginning of sin’s impact on the human brain and relationships as a whole.
We find a further demonstration of trauma at a gathering in the New Testament village of Bethany, Luke 10:38-42. Martha was the hostess and a lover of Jesus. She opened her home to the traveling Teacher and His entourage in spite of the magnitude of the task and the controversy surrounding them. She exchanged her role of respected mistress for that of a lowly servant as she busied herself with household chores.
As we might, Martha likely chose to match her preparations to the honor due her guest. If she had a list, perhaps it included a collection of meats and vegetables with savory sauces, a variety of sweet treats, and carefully selected beverages to compliment the appetizing meal. Of course, she would want her table to be inviting, beautiful, and complete at the exact moment her company was ready to eat. Talk about pressure!
It’s no wonder, Martha would aim her frustration at her sister. Mary was sitting around listening to stories while Martha was doing all the work. Who wouldn’t think the dinner party preparations would go better and the burden be lighter, if the responsibilities were shared? Pressure finally rose to the point Martha had to act. She went directly to the One she was trying so hard to please and made her point.
Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me! v. 40, ESV
Imagine the scene. Martha walked in and challenged the One she addressed as Lord. She accused Him of being thoughtless toward her and the situation as a whole. Then, right in front of a room full of people that included Lazarus, her beloved brother whom Jesus had brought back from the dead, she told Jesus what He needed to do to fix things, to ease her unjust burden. Clearly, Martha had lost her mind.
Actually, Martha’s reaction illustrates a classic trauma episode. Stress rose to the point her autonomic nervous system turned on the fight or flight response, and fight was the direction it took. Unhealed wounds and unresolved pain joined forces with flawed perceptions and poor coping skills to release behavior well outside her normal character. Today we might mention a martyr complex or abandonment issues.
We might be aghast at Martha’s bold approach to the Author of life and Savior of the world. But, how often have we overreacted when distracted with much serving? We take on a load of good and godly responsibilities that take us to an unbearable level of stress. We lose track of what we know and who we are. The blame game starts and we commit similar sinful behaviors … as legitimate yet redeemed daughters of Eve.
Thankfully, Jesus didn’t leave Martha to wallow in her dilemma, her sin, her regrets. He responded to her great need in the loving, compassionate, healing way of a Shepherd. Today we might say He was trauma-informed.
Trauma-informed Definition
A person, organization, or ministry that is trauma-informed understands the effects trauma has on the brain and behavior, recognizes the potential signs and reactions of trauma, and provides physical, emotional, and spiritual safety and support. The ideal approach is an open-minded and compassionate self-reflective perspective combined with skills to interact effectively with those who experience trauma that are imbued with a sense of hope.
You won’t find this current term in the Bible either. However, we see reflections of its definition back in creation with God’s response to the fall. He was loving though direct, compassionate though authoritative, and protective though just. He cursed the serpent with clarity about his demise. He explained health and relationship results to Eve. He laid out the consequences for all mankind and across creation to Adam.
God went on to care for Adam and Eve, first by providing them with clothing. Then by removing them from access to the fruit that, if eaten, would keep them separated from fellowship with Him forever. Rather, He sent them forth to toil not only in the soil, but also to find their way back to Him. And He set a guard to prevent their return and secure their safety. In essence, God Himself defines trauma-informed.
Biblical Illustration
By the time He got to Bethany, Jesus knew trauma. He understood the brains and bodies He created and tended both from His heavenly throne and along dusty roads. In love, He addressed Martha twice to draw her full attention to His person and His presence. A gifted trauma-informed coach would do likewise to reboot the thinking brain to process the support to be offered.
Compassion flowed as Jesus expressed His awareness of the burden Martha had taken on. The pressure she felt was indeed heavy, and her reaction made sense to Him. However, He needed her to know there was a higher responsibility to meet. With clarity and gentleness, He guided her to the sister she’d accused of irresponsibility to consider the better choice. And patiently declined to take up her misguided request.
Jesus knew and loved Martha and Mary. There was no blaming or shame attached to His response. His calm and direct application of truth in love likely settled Martha’s nervous system back to a healthy perspective of reality. In a sense, Jesus put Martha back in touch with her true sisterly relationship with Mary. My sense is He opened the door for mutual trauma healing along with repentance and reconciliation.
This biblical interaction with trauma ought to speak to us today. Christ wasn’t thrown by Martha’s attitude or behavior. He knew the woman He designed, understood the terrible pressure she was under and the trap she felt caught in that led to her outburst. He valued her enough to reflect on the truth of her situation and share the failure she needed to correct. He encouraged her forward in the context of her family.
The whole realm of trauma is intrinsically woven into the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation. Questions abound and I’m in the early stages of ferreting out the truth and health hidden there. One conclusion I’ve reached in these early days is we would all do well to be trauma-informed for our own mind, body, spirit Peace as well as our world’s
Michael W Smith and Matt Redmon provide music to support the one thing needed.
Related Topic – Trauma, Perfectionism, and Holiness
Watch for my next post on Trauma and The Gospel.
May the Lord hold you close in these days of overwhelm,
Sandra
