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Christianity Today, March, 2009 |

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The Depression Epidemic

Why we're more down than ever—and the crucial role churches play in healing.

Dan G. Blazer | posted 3/06/2009 10:23AM

The church is God's hospital. It has always been full of people on the mend. Jesus himself made a point of inviting the lame, the blind, and the possessed to be healed and to accompany him in his ministry, ...

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Hale	Posted: March 14, 2009 12:57 PM

Great article, thank-you! When someone (Christian or Non-Christian) sees depression in another person or in themselves I think they rarely look first to their church or Pastor for the answer. If Pastors are looking for a conference that deals specifically with this issue they should think about the Redeemer Conference for Pastors on May 4-5 in Minnesota feature Ed Welch and RW Glenn. For more information visit our blog site at www.redeemerconference.com , our church site at www.redeemerbiblechurch.com or our media ministry at www.solidfoodmedia.com . Blessings, Hale Jay, Redeemer Bible Church

Rev. Shirley

Posted: March 13, 2009 11:12 AM

My vocation as a Congregational Health Chaplain is to develop faith-based health support groups in congregations; to support and educate those with similar health challenges, whether Diabetes or Depression. While most churches continue to avoid the subject and depression is still a stigma in ethnic communities, many churches in our faith-health network has managed to organize depression support groups to embrace those battling deprssion and educate and support their families. One has to persist in 'creating the culture' in the church and community to help those with any chronic illness.

Mario

Posted: March 11, 2009 12:31 PM


Good Article. I myself have begun to suffer from severe depression since entering this new year. This seemed to me like a timely article. Maybe there are many many other Christians out there right now who are going through the same thing. God Bless You All -Mario

S	Posted: March 10, 2009 11:17 PM

This is a very insightful article, thank you. However my comment is addressed to Ted. To suggest, as he does, that depression is "mainly the result of sin" is at best misguided and naive, at worse dangerous and false. I am a Christian who has suffered with depression for most of my life. Am I a sinner? Yes. Is everyone who is depressed a sinner? Yes. Is every human a sinner? Yes. This begs the question, why isn't everyone depressed? Or, why do many godly Christians suffer from depression? Why do objectively evil people often live free of any pangs of conscience? The entire book of Job debunks the theory that personal suffering is always the result of personal sin. Depression is the result of "sin" in the sense that in a fallen and Satan-ruled world, people suffer ill results. I'd venture to guarantee that anyone suggesting that depression is the consequence of sin in one's life has never suffered from depression. It's a simplistic answer that insults the sufferer and ignores reality.

NS	Posted: March 09, 2009 3:16 PM

This article took a fairly balanced approach to depression in considering both biological and larger social influences, a focus often missing from Christians. The two or three posts above, however, that claim that depression is punishment/evidence of sin, are opinions sprung from utter ignorance on the subject, and which are easily disputed with a little reasoning. No person is without sin in their lives, including Christians, and where does it say in the Bible that Christians are punished in this lifetime for a sin they committed? Furthermore, if depression is demonic possession, how then is it possible for it to be alleviated through medication? Depression is an effect of the Fall, no doubt, but so is every medical ailment. I don't know what church you attend, but if it teaches that hard times of any kind are direct punishment for previous actions, or indicative of the absence of the Holy Spirit, you need to find a new church that teaches a proper view of grace.

Stan	Posted: March 09, 2009 11:43 AM

To Nancy, Consider working with both a counsellor and physician in deciding whether to go off your medication. God has put some wise friends and health care workers in my life. I have been off and on under supervision and currently I need to stay on. God is in my life through the spirit, friends, health care workers and the medication. You may be closer to God with or without medication; just make sure you are under counsel and that you are not trying to rid yourself of medication because of pride.

Christina

Posted: March 08, 2009 9:58 PM

As a Christian counselor I can appreciate this article as well as all the comments written by those who read it. I believe all of the people who made comments have brought some truth to help all of us as the body of Christ to heal through sharing and to try to better understand this issue as we try to "carry eachothers burdens". I believe that all healing can only come through our Lord Jesus Christ and we are to be his hands and feet and those who are called to be counselors are only the instruments to be the voice of the Holy Spirit. But we must remember that God gave us the gift of science- science and God should work together. It is when we choose to separate the two that we skew the truth of the knowledge of science and we become God, thinking we have all the answers; hence we have counselors who mislead many into thinking psychology, medication etc... is the answer. Sin and suffering are very real and the further we fall away from God the more we will suffer... faith heals!!

Ted	Posted: March 08, 2009 8:09 PM

This article is depressing! Seriously, the reason so many people are depressed is mainly due to sin. Most people I have encountered who suffer from depression need to confess their sinfulnees before the Lord. Only the great physician can heal the wounds today that need healing - all too often many so called Christians seek therapy and counseling and simply really need healing from Jesus Christ. Calling all Catholics - if you haven't been to confession in years chances are you are in a state of mortal sin and don't even know how badly blinded you are to the sin in your own life. It is time to return to the great sacrament of confession. Go to the priest and he will be very kind and gentle - Give Jesus Christ a chance to heal you so you will be able to throw away those prescriptions. God Bless.

Healed by Christ

Posted: March 08, 2009 3:13 PM

I suffered from major clinical depression and was hospitalized for several months due to the devastating effects this real illness had on me and I can speak from my standpoint and that is that I KNOW FOR A FACT that God loved me to wellness and it was a deacon from my (Catholic) Church who came to see me (and other Catholics in the hospital who desired the Eucharist and a friend who would listen) who reminded me that Jesus loved me, regardless of how worthless, guilty, alone (my family didn't care at all about me), or in pain I was emotionally. God loved me the way I was. The Depression left me and I regained my life! That was after suffering three solid years of MAJOR debilitating depression that left me despondent and literally mentally ill in the worst way. So I refuse to hear "therapists" dismiss God and His healing ability while they use their tiresome psychobabble that never works and just keeps a patient in the perpetual "client" mode, dependent and hopeless. God heals.

Kathleen

Posted: March 08, 2009 2:58 PM

For Heather: It is about loving and obeying Jesus (1Sa 16:14,15) The LORD's spirit left Saul, and an evil spirit sent by the LORD tormented him. His servants said to him, "We know that an evil spirit sent by God is tormenting you. (1Sa 16:23) From then on, whenever the evil spirit sent by God came on Saul, David would get his harp and play it. The evil spirit would leave, and Saul would feel better and be all right again. (Mat 4:24) The news about him spread through the whole country of Syria, so that people brought to him all those who were sick, suffering from all kinds of diseases and disorders: people with demons, and epileptics, and paralytics---and Jesus healed them all. (Mat 10:1) Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and every sickness. (Luk 6:18) they had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those who were troubled by evil spirits also came and were healed

Craig

Posted: March 07, 2009 10:04 PM

While working as an intake counselor in the largest crisis psychiatric/addiction unit in a major city, I diagnosed and treated hundreds of cases of depression. I'm also a former evangelical minister and professing Christian of 20 years. In identifying/diagnosing depression, professionals look at data related to family history, current life patterns, social support (including spiritual), thought processes, presenting mood and affect, major life stressors, health and substance abuse history, and recent life changes. Genetic make-up and social environment both contribute highly. Can the church be part of that solution? Of course. The church can support those who are depressed and help them get help. As individuals, we can represent Christ as the good doctors, counselors, ministers, friends that depressed people need and support responsible medical help that saves those who truly need it. In the meantime, I wonder if the church would do better by focusing on doing church better.

heather

Posted: March 07, 2009 8:03 PM

Hi, I am sorry, but I think if is pure VANITY that the Church thinks it can HEAL every problem that a believer or non-believer has. We don't try and mend broken arms, or cure diabtes - why do we think we can heal Depression? That is why God gave people the ability and knowledge to be Doctors - it may be "secular" but they can only do what they do because God has given them the gifts. And I reject the comment by one person that depression etc are spirits or demons. Sorry but there is no biblical basis for believing that. Sure, some people are healed, but they are in the minority.

Gary H

Posted: March 07, 2009 6:27 PM

As a pastoral counselor we treat many people who are experiencing depression. I even experienced this battle of depression myself. I have found complete healing and victory without the use of drugs. Jesus was indeed sufficient. What I find dumbfounding about this Christian article is that it completely leaves out the realm and role of the Holy Spirit and the demonic in the lives of people. It presents a purely secular worldview. We have discovered incredible success overcoming depression by dealing with the reality of the demonic and their exploitation of sin, brokenness and woundedness in the lives of wounded people. In fact there are demons with functional names like depression, hopelessness, despair, suicide, hatred, anger and isolation, amongst others. They feed on such conditions of the afflicted and make matters worse. Through inner healing and deliverance we have seen literally hundreds set free from depression. Read "Deep Wounds Deep Healing"by Charles Kraft to see how.

Chantél F.

Posted: March 07, 2009 5:27 PM

Nancy, I will keep you in my prayers:) "By His stripes you are healed." I feel that this article was very well addressed and made points that most overlook, that as Christians we also get depressed and sometimes feel ashamed of this and desire to earnestly seek help that is not medication. One point that I wish to bring up that I feel is left out of pulpits across the nation is that we do have an enemy! Some pastors want to tickle our ears with what we want to hear, but the reality is we need to be fed the truth and not the "sweets" that we desire. That doesn't mean that depression is our fault, but Jesus knew from the beginning of time that he would die for our sins and for us. He showed human emotion because He was the God/man. He wasn't displaying the emotions that He did at the last supper and in the garden, until the devil started whispering in His ear. Our enemy roams like a lion to destroy us. We fight not by might or power, but by the Spirit of God with God's Word and truth. :)

susan

Posted: March 07, 2009 12:09 PM

In the midst of my darkness and depression, I have found I am closer to God than ever. I learn to accept myself and others more than when I am not "down". In the year after divorce, I took an antidepressant but the wise Dr. said that you must DO the things that also help, by continuing to be active at the church, go out once a week with others, exercise, and DO missions work...even if it is intercessory prayer or joining a more intimate group to share with. Pills alone may work for some people, but I will not let that be the way for me to "feel" better. I also look at Jesus' life, and his sweating drops of blood in prayer to the Father, and his anger over what sin and death has done (in the time of the raising of Lazarus). We live in a world that is devastating but we have to realize WHO we are and that we are to live lives of service and sacrifice as Jesus came and lived. We are to continue to live His life, the Life is His and we have Him in us. Change expectations and embrace.

Dr. Gary Sweeten

Posted: March 07, 2009 9:06 AM

Good article but will not do much to stop the rising tide of mood disorders. Frankly, most Pastors are not at all interested in helping members with any sort of problem, including depression and anxiety. Pastors are trained to talk not act. Preach not practice. Advise not listen and connect. Many churches have become as artificial and bureaucratic as a clinic where pills are distributed. I have trained Lay Helpers for thirty years and the number of Pastors interested in having a growth/ healing church today are fewer than in the Seventies. To be missional we must be helpful, caring and healing. So few churches are any of that and talking about being missional will not channge it. I have a counseling clinic and we pray fervently for healing churches. They are few and far between.

Nancy

Posted: March 07, 2009 8:11 AM


The use of antidepressants have worked the same way on me as they have worked on Joel Scandrett. However; I believe I have become antidepressant dependant and am afraid to come off of them. I can't seem to let God into my life even though I want Him there. I do blame the pills. HELP

Pauline

Posted: March 07, 2009 4:38 AM

King David fell into a pit because he had sinned against God. "When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin,when it is full-grown,gives birth to death"(James 1:15) If you take king David as an example, this implies that sinning causes depression.,which is true,but very hard to accept for those -and many of them are churchgoers!- who believe that sin brings life! Christ came for those who are sick, but some just don't want to leave the large road that leads into perdition.

Chaplain Leo Mora, U. S. Army

Posted: March 07, 2009 4:37 AM

An excellent start on an issue the Church has long misunderstood, primarily because we naively believe this is an issue best dealt with outside of our respective callings. Yet, this is an issue folks bring with them to our churches and chapels. The truncated nature of the article concerns me in that the message conveyed may leave church leaders to incorrectly reaffirm that Biblical sermons and prayer are alternative panaceas only. (Whatever happened to the notion that all truth is God's truth?) As Dr. Blazer has asserted, human make up is much more complex than many of the simplistic approches we as Christian leaders tend to prescribe for our congregants. It's time the Church understand this problem in more depth and understanding on what David, Paul, or even Jesus, who experienced anguish (despair) in Gethsamane (Luke 22:44). The Church needs Christ-centered pastoral counselors who understand and integrate approaches to the mysteries of spirit and soul (1st Thess. 5:23; Heb. 4:12).

Claire

Posted: March 07, 2009 1:29 AM

I could have been depressed because I too first considered whether I wanted to read six pages, but when I saw Skips remark, it totally broke me up. I had a good laugh and forgot for a while, how sad that some folks suffer from depression. So often there is some kind of imbalance, and people don't think this should happen because they are Christian, and the trick sometimes is to just keep looking for something outside ourselves to help. Sometimes just weeping for the plight of someone else can suddenly give us a thankful heart and our spirits rise, not that I'm trivializing the problem as we recently had a family member make an unreversable decision, that broke all our hearts and I'm sure that was the last thing he wanted..None of us knew why? I say keep searching there is a good answer. Whatsoever things are of good report.....etc.

Jim	Posted: March 06, 2009 9:08 PM

I am a Christian who has had several bouts with depression and has been on antidepressant medication for 15 years and fully expect to remain so for the rest of my life. My breakdown occurred 15 years ago and, looking back while in therapy, I realized it had been coming for some time. I just didn't understand what was happening within me along the way. I believe many of us, including myself, have the seeds of depression within our genetics and they are waiting to spring into full bloom when enough adverse events come together either singly or in a pile-up over time. It wasn't one single event that drove me over the edge, rather it was a lifetime of events triggered by one seemingly innocuous event. Then came the long climb out. Could all of this have been prevented? I still don't know.

HveHope

Posted: March 06, 2009 8:31 PM

I was researching 'suffering' and came across the "Suffering Christians Blog." (address: http://sufferingchristians.blogspot.com/ ). The site's author writes: "This blog is intended for born again Christians who are suffering from chronic illnesses or conditions, temporary circumstances or those who are interested in the subject of suffering in general. Most posts will be somewhat short in length, many containing quotes from Scripture, Bible based books and devotionals and occasionally a personal writing. I hope people will find comfort and encouragement here. My 'favorite' blog to date, however, is "I Trust When Dark My Road': toddpeperkorn@mac.com

Dr. James Willingham

Posted: March 06, 2009 7:49 PM

This is a worthwhile article. Depression on the part of individuals and society as a whole will become an unbearable problem, if the economic situation continues to worsen. One of the really big problems facing our nation is the lack of jobs. In 1990-91 I wrote an evaluation of some materials for a county Vocational Director concerning the future and jobs. At that time I concluded that there would be no jobs in the future for our children due to automation, computerization, and robotics. At that time one fast food establishment automated a 24 hr-7 day a week operation in NY which employed 400 people. They cut their work force from 400 to 20 Only two of the 20 made good money. 18 were clean-up crew. More could be said, but just look at the auto assembly lines. When they show the lines where robotic arm do the work, there is not a single living human in the picture while the arms are going full speed. If automation, computerization, robotics increase, humans will not be needed.

heather

Posted: March 06, 2009 7:24 PM

I have had depression on and off for many years. I was angry with God that he didn't help me deal with it, or if he did, it just came back. It was only when I went to the secular world that I could receive real help that made any difference. IE drugs, counselling, therapy - I went on a week long spiritual (not Christian) retreat that rid me of the last of my depression. I was still mad at God that I had to go to the "world" when He told me He was my healer. I do not think the Church is capable of dealing with depression quite frankly - anymore than it could deal with a broken arm or diabetes: it is unrealistic to think Church people can help with something as soul destroying as depression. Sure, some people do have miraculous stories of being healed, but they are in the minority. The Church as a body can love people, accept them, listen, but they cannot heal depression.

Scott

Posted: March 06, 2009 6:28 PM

Good article, thanks. I often tell my friends the world needs missionaries that are pastors but it needs people trained in counseling more, especially today. Homes are falling apart, kids are being raised in families with big problems. We know that. What are we going to do about it. My home church has two pastors with psychology degrees. That's a step in the right direction. I wish you hadn't used the word nuanced - it's overused and when it is used, it's usually by people on the left. The left is the most un-nuanced group of people, look at the universities and the pressure to conform. The non-conformists of the 60's are now in charge and their rule has brought about less freedom to express an opinion.

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