Comments on: Is depression a sin?

By: Marie

Marie — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:35:16 +0000

So I heard this speaker a few weeks ago… and he said it like this.

“Did you know that most of our unhappiness comes because we’re listening to ourselves, instead of talking to ourselves.”

The basic principle being, if you don’t discipline your mind and purposely focus on what is good and right, and speak truth to yourselves, your mind will default to wrong thinking.

I don’t speak as an outsider. I simply know that it’s true in my life. When I don’t consciously make an effort to be pouring God’s word into my mind and focusing on what I KNOW to be true by the revealed word of God, I start thinking wrongly and “lying” to myself… and I don’t do it consciously. I don’t even know it’s happening until I end up miserable and try to figure out why.

You can’t choose to switch off the wiring, but you CAN choose to short circuit it. Think you can’t memmorize scripture? Try it. Repeat it over and over and over again, let your mind dwell on that, and see God show up.

“There is no temptation that has seized you that is not common to man”

By: Laura Wigley

Laura Wigley — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:03:38 +0000

Can I just say how completely unhelpful and hurtful this “discussion” is. At the end of the day, who cares whether you think depression is a sin or not?!?

You say sucumming to depression like it’s a choice, like, along with all the other symptoms (which you seem to have ignored) like being unable to sleep, eat, extreme anxiety and terror, chronic pain, headaches, etc, we can just choose to switch off that “wiring” in our brains.

I found this discussion searching for help on depression. Jesus didn’t ask us to debate issues until we were blue in the face, but he demanded that we go out and help those who are suffering, and said that when we ignore their pain, we are ignoring his. Instead of asking, what part of depression is a sin, why don’t you ask, “how can we help, how can we support, how can WE, on the outside of this terrible, debilitating, soul and faith destroying illness, help, support and shine a little of God’s light in their darkness.”

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:16:41 +0000

Thanks be to God, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, that he came to HEAL the sick.

By: jana

jana — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:11:42 +0000

Mental attitude sins will bring on depression.depression comes through no fault of our own. There may be severe problems which are imposed by outside circumstances. There may be physical exhaustion and a weakening of physical and emotional strength.
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jana

Dual Diagnosis

By: mike

mike — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:01:53 +0000

what about abuse? is the reason why children are physically, mentally, verbally & sexually abuse is bec of sin? depression is one result of abuse.

By: kai

kai — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:48:21 +0000

‘You can see why I believe depression is sin, it means so many things are overwhelming you and you cannot appreciate the hand of God and the provision of His Son on the cross.’

to bishop - so how is that cross apply to the real world? and also if you think that depression IS a sin, then what can you say about physical, mental, & sexual abuse brought by an abuser to the one being abused? are you going to say that the reason for physical, mental, verbal & sexual abuse is because of sin?

statement like yours are the reason for people being overwhelmed & cannot see the provision of god. you are just an expert in the law, expert in quoting verse but do not practice what you preach. you are giving ’snake when asking for fish’, stone for a bread. you do not deal with day to day sufferings of people.

By: Linda Manz

Linda Manz — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:56:33 +0000

When I read your blog on depression or manic depression as being a sin, is just why some people turn away from God instead of towards Him. I am a Chistian and have been saved for over twenty years. I am also a praise and worship leader and have obeyed God the best I can. I have gone to church and many, many healing service. Many bible studies and so many other ways for God to heal me. By the way, I was NOT cured or healed…I have manic-depressin and so did my mother similar to a person who has epilepsy.
They are not CURED because they have secret sins in their lives. They are actualy strong for dealing with their pain.

If someone is in a wheel chair and is a Christian, it is not a “SIN” if he does not get out! It is his cross to bear.

Again, it is people like you, being the judge of others relationship with God that is a sin. You should be convicted for your seeming knowing it ALL…and knowing Gods purpose for each individuals life. Maybe having the illness draws people closer to God for needing to help one another. Like Paul who God would not remove the thorn from his side because GOD CHOSE not to.

Leave the judging to God and try to have some compassion and love for others instead of hurting them with your lack of understanding of, which you don’t have nor either understand…
Hurting souls who did not ask for their illnesses that are suffering from parkinsons decease, cancer, brain tumors, severe arthritis, down syndrome and many other incurable situations are not in sin. It is a fallen world where everything is NOT perfect..that is why we have Christ..thank you for listening. A child of God.

By: kai

kai — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:55:10 +0000

people who say that a certain suffering is the result of sin are human dogs. it is just like those pharisees experts in the law who say that the reason for blindness is bec. of sin. you sir are not a christian but a human dog. if your child ( if you have one) is run over by a car, is it bec of sin? if your car got into an accident, is it bec. of sin? it is bec of you people that put more weight on people’s shoulder & are an obstacle bec you always point to sin.

to bishop
“You can see why I believe depression is sin, it means so many things are overwhelming you and you cannot appreciate the hand of God and the provision of His Son on the cross.’

the reason why you do not understand the suffering of people is bec. you do not have a job. your mentality is to sit down, give your 10% & god will do everything. you are teaching laziness & you are a self righteous arrogant hypocrite. and you are a human dog.

By: Bishop

Bishop — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:48:21 +0000

I believe depression is a display of faithlessness and unreliability on God our creator. You can see why I believe depression is sin, it means so many things are overwhelming you and you cannot appreciate the hand of God and the provision of His Son on the cross. Friends, depression may not anything to you but to me it is more than feelings, it a show of hopelessness and helplessness, it is a war that every man must be determined to win by connecting himself or herself to Christ. Thank you.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:35:20 +0000

Although I haver read the Bible many times and studied it for years on my own before taking University classes, I refrain from references and quotes.
I have suffered from depression before I was 9 when I first had suicidal thoughts (over 50 years ago), perhaps by sins of my mother. That’s beside the point for me. When a nine-year-old wants to kill themselves, do you say go ahead, your feelings are sin-based?
I think not. The true Christain spirit is to embarace all, to love all. To spead love.
Now we have concrete proof that depression in caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals that cause the brain to not function correctly. Depression can be eased with medictions. It may be diffcult to understand but depression begins to change our thinging patterns. Depression closes out rationlity. If not treated, depression convinces us that we are unworthy and hopeless. This leads to suicide.
When a Christian says depresion is due to sin, they are inviting the person to end their life. This is not the Christain way of forgiveness and love.
Are people so emersed in thier own religion and it’s view that they lose track of Christ’s true message?
Find some resources on the causes of depression. We are not freaks or sinners. I am not a freak! Who amongst us is not a sinner in some degree? I admit that I have not liked co-workers, have not totally honored my demanding mother, I have not alwawys handled situations as I should have. I’ve never put anyone down, I do my best to not judge anyone for any reason. I’m not saintly but trying my best to live Christ’s commandment to love everyone.
How can a husband believe that depression is a sin and tell his wife that she’s a freak and just needs to stop sinning to get better from depression? This is totally against Christian teachings for husbands.
Frankly, I can’t see the loving God that I know. would allow this insidious illness of depression to affect people who or whose parent has not committed a terrible sin.
I am only left with the conclusion that drepression like any other disease attacts people bcause of genetics or simply that their physical problems simply appear. We don’t have the devil in our brains, only depression telling us that we are not worthy of love. Will you, as a good Christian offer love or stone us ror unknown sins?