When I read the letter, “Depression results from sin,” in the Feb. 4 edition of the Courier, I was offended by Rev. Owensby’s remarks and his evaluation of depression.
I was diagnosed with depression in January 2004. After a period of hospitalization and months of in-depth counseling and daily medication, I have quite a different view of depression than that of my brother. Depression carries with it a stigma that a person is being punished or disciplined by God for an unconfessed sin. The biblical passage used from Proverbs 28:13 hardly justifies the statement: “Depression is brought on most times from unconfessed and unrepentant sin.” Am I being judged by Rev. Owensby for my sickness? Will the same degree of judgment be used against King David and the mighty prophet Elijah, as they both suffered with bouts of deep depression? Will Charles Haddon Spurgeon be under this same kind of condemnation because of his ongoing battle against depression? Unless a person has walked through the dark valleys of the mind, experienced the ever-increasing darkness of the soul and the feeling of the utter helplessness of depression, they should be careful in their diagnosis of another brother or sister.
During my darkest days of depression, I was serving as the senior pastor of Open Door Baptist Church. I still thank God today for their genuine love and Christlike attitude that enabled me to find answers to a sickness that so many do not understand. Today I am serving in a different church with different responsibilities. I am so grateful for Hepsibah Baptist Church and the love and compassion from this great congregation and for the opportunity to help those who have had similar experiences.
Many pastors, and most churches, do not truly understand the issues of depression. Depression is real and can be a result of a broken relationship with God. However, depression can be a result of a traumatic life event such as abuse or neglect, or simply a misdiagnosed medical condition. How many people sit in our churches every Sunday suffering with feelings of inadequacy and shame? How many endure sleepless nights of helplessness and hopelessness? Our churches are filled with people who suffer silently because of the stigma of depression.
I have been told by many caring people to “put on a smile,” “just to cheer up,” or “you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” I have also been told that if I read my Bible more and prayed harder the depression would go away. Please don’t judge those whose spirit is broken and whose soul is hurting. Those suffering from depression need compassion, not judgment. Today, after nearly 23 years in ministry, I am more convinced than ever that dealing with the true understanding of depression could transform our churches. The Bible, along with two other books, helped me and countless others in dealing with depression. “Making Peace with Your Past,” by Tim Sledge, is a workbook designed to help people who bear the marks of a dysfunctional childhood. “Search for Significance,” by Robert McGee, exposes the lies of Satan against the people of God and gives the biblical perspective of a person’s worth.
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