Dealing With Anxiety Series

Have you ever been afraid of tomatoes? I mean, other than after watching the movie “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes”?

Today, you might not like tomatoes, but chances are you’re not afraid of them. But things were different in the 1700s.

During that period in history, a large percentage of Europeans feared the lowly tomato.

Scholars tell us that the fruit was nicknamed the “poison apple” because aristocrats often got sick and died after eating them. But it had nothing to do with the tomatoes, and everything to do with the plates they were eaten off.

Back then, wealthy Europeans often used pewter plates, which were high in lead content. Because tomatoes are so high in acidity, when eaten off pewter plates, the fruit would leach lead from the plate, resulting in people getting sick and dying from lead poisoning. No one made the connection between the plate and the poison at the time; instead, the tomato was blamed.

This is week four of our Metal Health series at Cornerstone. Over the past four weeks, we looked into the Bible to see what we could learn about depression, narcissism and renewing our minds.

In a recent survey conducted by CTV News, the question was asked: How would you describe your mental health since the start of the pandemic?

Out of 3600 respondents:

11% said that their mental health is actually better than before.

50% said that their mental health is about the same.

39% said that their mental health is worse than before.

This week I want to look at an issue that seems to be at the forefront of many of the mental health issues coming out of these COVID times, and that is anxiety. And we are going to park here for a while, next week we are looking at worry and the week after that we’ll be looking at fear.

According to data released by Amazon on the most highlighted passage in Kindle eBooks, the most popular passage highlighted in the Bibles one concerning reducing anxiety, and finding trust in God.

The specific passage is found in Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV). Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

But what about when you actually have something to be anxious over?

Let’s go back to the story that was read for us earlier.

Most Christians have a favourite scripture. Through the years I have heard numerous people tell me theirs, and of course I was both here and at our Windgate Campus when people wrote their favourite scriptures on the concrete before the carpet was laid. And right now, maybe you are thinking of the scripture that means so much to you.

Most Christians have a favourite scripture. Through the years I have heard numerous people tell me theirs, and of course I was both here and at our Windgate Campus when people wrote their favourite scriptures on the concrete before the carpet was laid. And right now, maybe you are thinking of the scripture that means so much to you.

Weirdly enough, mine is Matthew 8:26 in the King James Version where it reads, Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

And some of you know the back story, for those who don’t, In the spring of 1979 my best friend decided that I should become a Christ Follower. He had taken that step nine months earlier, and now he decided that I should do the same.

He put into play everything he had learned at Bible College about leading some someone to Jesus.

He told me the difference that Jesus had made in his life. He led me through the plan of salvation, and he asked me if I was ready to accept Christ as saviour and Lord of my life and I said “Nope.”

I’m sure that wasn’t the answer that Reg was looking for. After all, after all, he had shown me all the scriptures the book had said to show me. He asked me all the questions the book had said to ask me, and now all that remained was to lead me through the prayer that was spelled out in the book. But I had said no.

And in his frustration Reg deviated from his script and blurted out, “What are you so afraid of?” And I said “, “Nothing, it’s just that. . .”.” and I listed out a whole list of reasons why I couldn’t or wouldn’t become a Christ Follower at that particular point in my life.