tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19532009.post5197938894617701601..comments2023-05-02T09:50:43.941-05:00Comments on Reformed Baptist Blog: Toward a Biblical Perspective on Depression: Romans 5:1-5Keith Throophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112617983370327521noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19532009.post-38546547404327361772012-01-04T15:42:43.216-06:002012-01-04T15:42:43.216-06:00David, I agree with much of what you have said, bu...David, I agree with much of what you have said, but I would be quick to add:<br /><br /><i>First</i>, I never said or implied that sin was the cause of Job's depression. What I said was that Job "sinned against God <i>in the midst</i> of his depression." And, if you read the post that I previously wrote concerning Job (to which I linked in my previous comment), you would have seen that I expressly denied that Job's depression was a result of sin.<br /><br /><i>Second</i>, I also do not disagree that a depressed person should be honest about his feelings, including confessing sins both to God and to one another. But Job's sin wasn't that he was "honest about his feelings." It was that he sinned against God by speaking as though he had the right to judge His works and by accusing Him of wronging him. So, I agree that we should discuss our troubles with God and others and confess our sins; I just don't think that holding and expressing sinful thoughts against God is ever right. And I think that, while we seek to be understanding and gentle with the depressed, we must never shirk our responsibility to confront such sinful anger toward God as Job fell into. <br /><br /><i>Third</i>, I also notice that you make the statement that the depressed "need encouragement not criticism," after which you say that "they need to be restored gently." But I wonder how they can be restored without confrontation of sinful attitudes toward God that they may have developed in response to their depression. Wouldn't this necessitate at least some "criticism"? And isn't this exactly what Elihu did when he not only confronted Job's friends but Job himself? For example, didn't he clearly tell Job, "Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, for God is greater than man" (33:12)? And wasn't it Elihu alone that was not later included in the rebuke by God, whose own answer to Job echoed the same ideas that Elihu had expressed? In my view, we learn from the book of Job not just to be much more understanding and gentle than Job's friends had been, but also to be willing to confront actual sin in the depressed person when necessary, even if it may sound to some like being too "critical" or unloving.<br /><br />KeithKeith Throophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112617983370327521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19532009.post-59897206092690109522012-01-03T22:02:01.545-06:002012-01-03T22:02:01.545-06:00But it was not the sin that caused his depression,...But it was not the sin that caused his depression, it was the great loss he experienced, and God did not judge him harshly for being honest about his feelings. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." KJV A lot of people hold these poisonous thoughts in and it is a much greater sin to hold these thoughts in; it leads to self-destructive behavior. Only Jesus was the only sinless one. I would have fallen to. It was God's love that lead to Job's repentance, not being shamed by his friends for having shared such thoughts. A lot of people attempt suicide because they fear judgement for sharing such thoughts. They need encouragement not criticism. They need to be restored gently, and many times you cannot find this in the church today. Remind them of God's love. They have lost hope and they need to be lead to the author of the only true hope who is Jesus Christ. If I do not know what one is going through, I cannot know what they need me to pray for them about.David Wayne McCannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09906224259449835892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19532009.post-51149294913361980932011-12-23T18:48:56.857-06:002011-12-23T18:48:56.857-06:00David,
I think Job sinned against God in the mids...David,<br /><br />I think Job sinned against God in the midst of his depression, for which he later repented. I began this series of articles on depression with seven case studies, one of which included an article on Job that you can read here:<br /><br />http://reformedbaptist.blogspot.com/2011/06/toward-biblical-perspective-on_09.htmlKeith Throophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112617983370327521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19532009.post-27037385181477529972011-12-23T06:13:54.761-06:002011-12-23T06:13:54.761-06:00I have learned a lot about depression from a bibli...I have learned a lot about depression from a biblical view from the book of Job. He went through terrible anguish, and even cursed the day he was born, but in the end he put his hope in the Lord, and was greatly blessed and changed by the suffering he endured. I admire his brutal honesty about his feelings that many of us Baptist feel are shameful and on the verge of blaspheme. I believe it was his honesty that allow healing in his life. <br /><br />David McCannon<br /><br />http://safetyincounsel.com/manycounselors/2011/09/17/x-many-biblical-characters-got-discouraged-and-prayed-to-die/David Wayne McCannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09906224259449835892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19532009.post-1171032743905710742011-12-07T15:08:29.844-06:002011-12-07T15:08:29.844-06:00Keith, thanks for the insightful thoughts on depre...Keith, thanks for the insightful thoughts on depression.<br /><br />Started a blog and did a series on communication-mission of the church-and many various topics with a Biblical perspective:<br /><br />http://christianmusings-brian.blogspot.com/Brian Osisekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08709310535594194532noreply@blogger.com