I once heard a minister say that depression is a sin...he felt that it was an insult to God because of all that He has done for us...basically saying that we don't have any reason to be depressed. What do you thibk about it...was he right or was he wrong ?
Is It A Sin For A Christian To Be Depressed ?
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tomwebster
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- Dec 11, 2006
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Completely and utterly wrong. How many times does Scripture (and therefore God) entreat us to not be downcast or worried or fearful? There is only one thing all Christians receive, forgiveness of our sins. We aren't turned into sinless superhumans, we don't become immune to the problems and worries of this world. We are saved from the consequences of our sin, not from sin itself, nor from the maladies of the flesh be it depression, greed, lust, sloth, etc.
Rather than a sin, I think of it more as a weak faith.
I will use myself as an example.
By many standards, I have ample reason to walk around depressed all day, every day. I've posted about most of it, but not all. Some days I get overwhelmed by it all and a mild form of self pity starts creeping in. That's when I know I've started trying to manage without God. I fully believe that God is carrying me though this enough that I am able to joke and laugh and be content with whatever I have, but still push on because I know that God has more in store for me.
Some days, that last thought before drifting off to sleep is "well, at least I have God". As, lonely as that sounds, He is more than enough for me. I can't complain too much about my situation because I know there are people that would kill for the luxuries that I, as an American, take for granted.
The point is that when God is with me, no matter where I am or what state I'm in, I know I'm never alone. It reminds me of this verse:
Romans 8
[sup]35[/sup] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [sup]36[/sup] As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[sup][a][/sup]
[sup]37[/sup] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [sup]38[/sup] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[sup][b][/sup] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [sup]39[/sup] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I remember reading this a long time ago and didn't give it much thought, but now I live it everyday. It's true that nothing in life compares to God's love -- nothing. I can only speak for myself, but there was a day a couple years ago where I was awakened to who God is and my purpose in him. I knocked when no other doors were there, and he did answer. That's the hope that keeps me going day to day. He put that in me, because it honestly wasn't there before.
(end essay)
So to answer your question, depression, to me, is a believer still clinging on to that last thread of rope before they reach for God's hand. Time and submission to God's will, is the cure. :)
What an awful premise! That will only ADD to the depression, not help it in any way. That line of thinking blames the sufferer for their malady be it depression, cancer, divorce, even the death of a loved one! We can't "faith" ourselves out of some problems.
I realize some depression (even a majority) is self inflicted and oft times needless, I know this from experience. But for those who do succumb to the temptation to be depressed heaping a failure of their faith on top of it will only deepen the depression, not help. Come along side those depressed and strengthen their resolve, not accuse them of failing.
It might be wrong to be so introspective of self absorbed, but the depression itself is the symptom of those deeper problems, not the problem itself.
I realize some depression (even a majority) is self inflicted and oft times needless, I know this from experience. But for those who do succumb to the temptation to be depressed heaping a failure of their faith on top of it will only deepen the depression, not help. Come along side those depressed and strengthen their resolve, not accuse them of failing.
It might be wrong to be so introspective of self absorbed, but the depression itself is the symptom of those deeper problems, not the problem itself.
God bless you! God looks on the heart, and He is pleased to see faith there in you.
My own personal truth is all I had/have, BiggAndyy.
Thank you, Lively Stone :)
There is no such thing as "personal truth". Personal experience, yes; personal truth, emphatically no.
I've never met a true Christian who was depressed.
What could a Christian possibly be depressed about?!
(Php 4:4) Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
What could a Christian possibly be depressed about?!
(Php 4:4) Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
aspen
“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
Depression is a feeling in the flesh.
Joy is a feeling in the Lord.
The Lord heals if we are a true Christian. He always heals.
It is a choice whether to recieve Jesus and His healing and be filled with His Joy.
Always. This is how it works.
You can tell if a person is in the Lord by what they talk about. If they speak of themselves and how bad they feel, they aren't rejoicing in the Lord.
Joy is a feeling in the Lord.
The Lord heals if we are a true Christian. He always heals.
It is a choice whether to recieve Jesus and His healing and be filled with His Joy.
Always. This is how it works.
You can tell if a person is in the Lord by what they talk about. If they speak of themselves and how bad they feel, they aren't rejoicing in the Lord.
Depression is a clinical disorder.
The joy of the Lord is not a 'feeling'.
When I suffered with a clinical depression, I never lost the joy of the Lord. He healed me, also.
I understand why the world gets depressed...they are without God and their hope is found only in Him. Christians however,have God to help and heal them... so that even if they do get depressed, they kbow where to go for help... and they MOST CERTAINLY do not have to allow depression to linger and linger for years and years, that only creates a tighter stronghold. And satan loves this because we can't be all that God wants and needs us to be if we are always head down as if we were not children of the Most High God. I agree that a person who is always depressed, is a person who accepts not the counsel of the Lord. He is well able to renew our warped thinking (which causes much of our depression) as we spend time in His Word. Sadness is natural and will show up from time to time as we go through the painful losses of life, but depression is a key weapon that satan uses to disable the warriors that we are and that aint happening...don't worry...be happy.
I must add to my earlier post that my words are not in any way to discourage anyone fom seeking mental health help, especially if one is suicidal...pick up the phone. to save your life.
It isn't a sin for a Christian to be depressed. Depression occurs when chemicals in the brain are out of balance. A depressed Christian actually has joy in the inner man, but is dealing with the back part of the brain that produces feelings. I know, because although I am on medicine for depression, and my "outward man" seems depressed, deeeeep inside my inner man rejoices in Jesus Christ.
You're right, Andyy.
Wrong word usage on my part. I don't believe in relative truths, either.
Yes, this is so right, as it is my experience! Even in my depression I would worship and praise God daily---such wonderful times right in the middle of it all. Thank you!
aspen
“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
Well, you seem to not only be an expert on your personal heresy, but also mental illness! Is the common cold an illness too? How about a broken arm?
