Depression

Amen Betty!

And I pray for the people who condemn us. May they never have to go through any kind of mental, nervous, or emotional illness to find out it is real.

Walk a mile in my shoes.........

 

By majority rule, I overstepped my responsibilities as moderator in locking this thread. It is now reopened, and God help us all.

Jim,

inactive moderator of this thread

 

Hello,

I'm new here...and I've just read all of the posts on this thread. In fact I responded to another thread here on depression before I found this one. I just want to say that I am deeply saddended by the lack of compassion and caring on the part of some Christians who have posted here. I, too, suffer with depression caused by a thyroid problem and chronic pain condition.

When I finish taking all of this in, (for I've just read this whole thread), I will post further. Until then, I will pray for those who I know mean well, but have undoubtedly hurt many with their erroneous assumptions and false interpretations.

In His love,
Grace

 

I have decided to post here for the first time. I was actively involved in this discussion on another thread and have stayed out of this one, not even reading it until last night. Let me make a few comments that I hope will be taken seriously.

1. Those who believe that depression can be a spiritual state are not "throwing John 3:16 at the depressed." That is a gross mischaracterization. Depression can be a spiritual state and when it is, should be addressed by spiritual means. Dr. Bob listed a host of biblical characters with depression, yet for some strange reason, he does not tell us that all of these men (without exception) dealt with it apart from medicine and psychology. That should tell us something, should it not? (I like Bob, don't get me wrong; but I think it's unfortunate he omitted this information from his comments.)

2. Those who believe that some depression is a matter of faith and trust do not deny that there can be medical/chemical causes such as thyroid, etc. We have many times affirmed that and have said when such is the case, get medical help for medical problems. Those things can be tested and treated.

3. Those who believe that some depression is a spiritual issue are not spewing out ignorant hate. We are not laboring under "erroneous assumptions." Your assumptions differ with us; that doesn't make ours wrong. We are offering hope that lasts for a lifetime, instead of hope that last till the next pill cycle. Psalm 42-43, among other passages, is a great textbook on dealing with depression. No matter how bad your depression, you are probably not yet in the situation David was in. If he could deal with it by his thoughts, then so can you. It is a simply willingness to be biblical.

4. The charge that we are denying medical treatment and implying that people should not go to doctors is absurd. It should never be brought up again.

5. It has been admitted by those on "your side" that controlling the thoughts is a possibility. In the previous thread, someone mentioned that when people like me said what I said, they just had to make themselves not think about it and tell themselves that they had done it right. That was a clear admission that our approach to dealing with this problem works. Here is a guy who, in his attempt to refute me, admits that he can control his thoughts, that he can control what he sets his mind on. That is a biblical principle that should be used in dealing with depression that is not attached to a definable, testable, medical cause.

In the bottom line, as I have often said, Christians are too quick to let psychologists remove our trust in Scripture by telling us it is too simplistic. What we are calling for is a radical return to Scripture. For some here, I don't expect that "return" because I am not sure they were ever there. But for those committed to Scripture, we need to be committed to scriptural methods of dealing with problems. When God said that Scripture is profitable for everything necessary for life and godliness, I assume he included the mental states that affect our life and godliness and I assume that he meant what he said. It is, after all, profitable to equip us for every good work. So let's be biblical.

[ March 01, 2003, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: Pastor Larry ]

 

I'm with you, Bro. Jim. Now that it's reopened, I really have the blues.

 

To add an addendum, I have already received a PM from the unnamed person I referenced. This person wanted to clarify that he/she could only do this after they had the medication/counseling.

My response is that it is more accurate to say that they only "did" do this after such treatment; it was not a matter of ability, but will. As I had said in the other discussion when this person listed their symptons, I have suffered from every one of those symptons for extended periods of time (meaning years). But never once did take medicine for it. I knew what the problem was and I knew where to go for answers.

I am sure there are those here who will say that I am too hard on something I know nothing about. But you have to remember you have no idea what I know about this and what my experience in dealing with it is.

There are those who will say that I am unloving. But you must remember that love is not about feelings; it is about doing what is right. The most loving thing I can do is be biblical in every area of life, including my counseling relationships. The most unloving thing I can do is take away hope for change by undermining the Bible and telling someone your only hope is pills for a non-medical condition. Too often, people define "loving" in terms of "telling me what I want to hear." When someone gives truth, they are automatically "unloving." That needs to change.

My heart goes out to those who suffer from depression. I do not minimize your feelings or your condition. I am not throwing trite Bible verses at you or telling you to pull yourself up by the bootstraps. I am simply saying that we need a radically biblical mindset. When that happens, much of this discussion will end in a heartbeat.

 

I'm glad to see it reopened and a chance for some other views to be expressed. I think? LOL
The thread in itself should not be depressing, I really do like to hear everyone's views and watch how those views may change due to other people's reactions and the information they are able to share.
Of course, I always think *I* am right, but I can say it doesn't hurt for someone to review what they think on a certain subject!
So relax, ENJOY the exchanges, and be open to a possible modification of your stance, or at the least get to know the "opposition" a bit better so you can present your side of things with more influence.
Gina

 

Could you please show where someone here has said things such are you report here? I haven't read the whole thread so I may well have missed it. I would like to see the posts if you would be so kind as to point them out for me.

 

hmmm trouble seeing here to huh larry?