When we speak of depression, My mind first goes to Elijah under the broom tree wishing his life would come to an end. I think of King David and his bones aching and his long days spent unable to get out of bed. The Bible has quite a few characters in it that experienced what seem to be symptoms of depression. I also think about some of my friends and fellow believers who suffer form depression. Its fairly common among Christians. But what is also fairly common are various misconceptions about Depression. So, in an attempt to help us think clearly about a very serious topic, here are three things that depression is not.
1.) Depression is not purely physical. There is without a doubt a physical element to most cases of depression. These physical elements may often require medication. But, with that being said, medication will very rarely if ever bring about a whole relief. Why? Because we are more than machines with our wires crossed or our chemicals unbalanced. We are humans possessing of both body and soul. So, in discussing depression we must be careful not to fall into the extreme position of diagnosing it as purely a physical concern.
2.) Depression is not solely a matter of the soul. This is the extreme that Job’s counselors fell into. They thought that Job had to have had some secret sin for all of this stuff to o wrong in his life. He has so many enemies. He is experiencing so much calamity. God must be against him for some spiritual reason unrevealed to us. Repent! They shouted at Job. Now, on rare occasions depression may be caused in part by the influence of evil spirits. We seem to have precedent for this in the life of King Saul and perhaps also with the Apostle Paul. But, may we never fall into the horrific extreme of “exercising the depression causing demons” Moreover, it is clear that unrepentant sin may play a factor in depression but may we never jump to the erroneous and extreme position of labeling all depression as the results of unrepentant sin. Job wasn’t helped by that approach and neither will our friends find encouragement in it. In other words, may we never fall into either extreme of labeling depression purely physical or solely spiritual.
3.) Depression is not merely mental. It is not an ailment that the intellectually or emotionally weak suffer from. Depression afflicts the strong, weak, clever, simple, those with a happy personalities and those of a melancholy demeanor. Let’s heed the Apostle’s warning, “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).
So, may these three guardrails help us to more wisely and lovingly handle the issue of depression in our local churches.
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