5 Facts About Depression and Anxiety That Every Christian Should Know |
Posted: April 24, 2022 |
Depression and anxiety are two sensitive topics that are difficult to address from a Christian viewpoint. It's challenging not just because the illnesses themselves are complex, presenting themselves in a variety of ways, but also because attitudes about mental disorders vary considerably within the Church. Depression isn't always what the Church portrays it to be It's not a flaw in character, a spiritual problem, or an emotional problem. And, most importantly, there is no option. Asking someone to "try" not to be depressed is like to asking someone who has been wounded to stop bleeding. Such an attitude might be dangerously expressed in the Church as "if only you had more faith." For any Christian in need of healing, this is a record scratch. However, providing medical or psychiatric care to someone who has a mental disease is no different from denying it to someone suffering from physical sickness. The distinction between the two is that the former is imperceptible. It is critical to have confidence in God's capacity to heal, and personal faith can assist alleviate depression. It is not a sin to suffer from mental illness Yes, prior sins like physical abuse, substance abuse, and neglect may all lead to depression, and these sins are frequently used as coping techniques by persons suffering from mental disorders. However, a person suffering from depression or anxiety is not a sinner just because they are feeling the devastating impacts of their affliction. Alienation occurs when mental illness is seen as an unconfessed, unresolved sin. Individuals are discouraged from obtaining therapy because they regard depression as a sin in and of itself. The Bible does not give "simple solutions." The Bible is rich in insight and comfort for individuals suffering from depression and anxiety disorders, but it does not come in one-verse doses. "Be worried for nothing" and "do not worry about your life" are problematic when taken out of context. For starters (and most significantly), doing so fails to properly interpret Scripture, misconstruing the wider purpose of the verses. Anxiety and depression do not always appear as we expect When I tell Christian friends about my depression and anxiety illnesses, they are frequently astonished. "You always appear to be in a good mood!" Because of the stigma associated with the condition, depressed people become quite adept at concealing their symptoms, even from professionals. Churches frequently fail to treat mental illness, which gives the worship team guitarist or elder even more reason to keep it secret. Furthermore, the symptoms of depression sometimes contradict one another, making it extremely difficult for a person who struggling with depression to recognize it for what it is, let alone the Church. Depression is not "fixed" by strong churches Given the preceding, it's easy to see how the stigma associated with depression, even within the Church, prevents individuals from seeking Christian advice and help. Pastoral workers may be unprepared to cope with depression and may prefer a spiritual cure above psychological or medical care. Even the most Christ-loving and helpful community may lack the necessary foundation for dealing with such psychiatric illnesses, and many churches do not employ qualified psychologists. Have you ever been told that true Christians don't get depressed or that you simply need to pray more and you won't be sad? UnJoy is a book by Len Lantz that offers practical solutions about what works for Christians suffering from depression.
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