Why do some preachers preach that depression is a sin, or that true Christians don't get depressed?

Answer 1

thats wrong. depression is an inevitable fact of life, but with Jesus we can get through it. and no im not joking.

Answer 2

Probably because they are caught up in some false teaching of some sort that gives them a reasonable cause to believe that.

They are wrong even the earliest believers in the old testament were depressed. Job got depressed and he was an example of a man who trusted in God inspite of all the odds that seemed to be against him.

I believe that yes christians get depressed there are times that people aren't always going to be jumping up and down with joy. As far as what these other preachers preach they can go fly a kite. (Sorry but people like that frustrate me.)

Until they have experienced real true depression for themselves then they should shut up seek God and read their bible. The bible has the final authority not their own opinion!

I am a born again christian and I don't always agree with a number of them just because they think so. The bible is my final stand not what what they say. Everyone has their up's and down's.

There will always be sad things that will take us by surprise and also cause us to grieve or be sad over time about. So if these preachers conclude that is wrong then they really need to pray hard and seek God.

My father just passed away almost a month ago and I am still not over that mainly because I didn't get to say good bye and it hurts.

We weren't all that close but in some ways we did connect. I miss him very much and no he wasn't a christian as far as I know. I also lost a sister over a number of years ago and I miss her too.

You can never get back people that you love because you can not replace them because they are not things. Things you can easily replace. You hold on to the memories of your loved ones that you have had with them and you try to think about the good times and not the bad.

Is it a sin to grieve over someone you have lost? No but I would challege any preacher to find any thing in the word that suggests that depression is a sin.

Now if a person whom is depressed does something sinful then the sin it's self is considered sinful not the depression they are suffering from. Just incase you are wondering or maybe misunderstood the application for that.

Answer 3

I've never heard any say this (but I concede there probably are some who do).

I would say it is because they don't know anything about the issue - either the science or the spirit of it. A "true Christian" will be like Christ, and "mourn with those who mourn."

Depression can often be a step between sin and forgiveness (and cleansing) - James 4:8-10:

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Really, it is no-one's business to say who or who is not a "real Christian". I think most people know in their hearts who they truly are, and the responsibility for that rests with them. Most people are not in-tune enough to know what is in another person's heart, nor how or why it got there.

They have totally missed the point of Christianity if they think that people who are depressed should be excluded from the faith. I had depression for seven years, and my faith in Christ (which I had throughout those very difficult years) was the only reason I was able to overcome it. It all takes time.

Answer 4

Good question. While most of the answers are heartening, there is still an alarming lack of ignorance on display in some of them.

I have an intense problem with 'depression' being used to describe anything other than a clinical disease.

Someone said 'my mother had manic depression and Jesus cured her' (I paraphrase). Manic depression - Bipolar Disorder - is not the same as depression, it is a related but totally separate disease. The 'Jesus cured her' part has been addressed very well already.

Someone else said 'everyone gets depressed at some time in their life.' No, everyone gets sad, grieves, has rough times, but fortunately not everyone gets depressed - I believe the figure is roughly 1 in 5, but many of those are one-off, situational episodes. I'm not trying to say they aren't real episodes of depression, but there is a difference between having a single episode of, for example, post-partal depression and suffering from chronic depression.

Yet someone else said that depressed people isolate themselves and don't want to communicate. Again wrong. Many, but by no means all, people with depression do go through periods of self-imposed isolation. Many also go through periods of involuntary isolation through hospitalisation and the general inability of society to cope with those who 'refuse to cheer up.' In many cases long-term sufferers are so desperate for relief they will seek out and listen to anyone who offers even a tiny ray of hope. In this state they can be easy prey for various unscrupulous groups or individuals - some religious, some not.

And that's enough of a rant for now...

Answer 5

That is sad for a preacher to say. I have a very good godly Christian friend who went Thur depression and by the grace of God with melds and help from her family and friends, she came out of it, plus my pastor has battled depression while in Bible college. Depression does not mean you're not "Christian" enough. I don't think is a sin, and I think its morally wrong for a preacher to suggest this.

Answer 6

Whomever is preaching that depression is a sin is incorrect; it is unfortunately a way of life in today's society. With the many burdens of life's challenges and the utter chaos in today's world, many are burdened with depression and unexplained anxieties.

We may not feel like singing if we are ailing spiritually, perhaps because of wrong conduct or a failure to feed regularly at Jehovah’s table. If we are in that state, let us humbly call for the elders so that they may ‘pray over us.’ (Proverbs 15:29) They will also ‘grease us with oil in Jehovah’s name.’ As soothing oil on a wound, their comforting words and Scriptural counsel will help to allay depression, doubt, fear. ‘The prayer of faith will make us well’ if it is backed up by our own faith. If the elders find that our spiritual sickness was caused by serious sin, they will kindly make clear our error and try to help us. (Psalm 141:5) And if we are repentant, we can have faith that God will hear their prayers and forgive us.

Being depressed over an act of sin is different than having depression say if a loved one died, or we cannot pay our bills in a timely manner, or if someone is persecuting us.

Answer 7

What preachers are preaching this? I have never heard of any kind of sickness being a sin. Who ever is preaching this must be one on Tom Cruise's friends of Scientology

Answer 8

As a Christian who suffers from depression, I can only say they teach out of ignorance. There are hereditary predispositions for depression and related illnesses. No right minded person would say a true Christian doesn't have physical illnesses. But people are ignorant with neurological illnesses. Younger generations, I hope, know more about this.

Answer 9

Some preachers say that depression is a sin??? If this be true, there is no depth to the stupidity of some of the Fundamentalist Evangelical Protestant clergy.

Forgive me for swearing there. ;-)

Answer 10

Because they're lying. Any Christian -- Pastor or not -- who tells you that accepting Jesus makes everything all better and solves all your earthly problems is not really a Christian at all.

The closer we come to God, the more we will be tempted and tormented. And even though our spirit has been made clean, we're still trapped inside this sinful flesh.

There's a difference between being happy and having joy. God promises that we will always have the joy of knowing that we are saved through Jesus Christ, but this certainly does not mean that we will always be happy.

Answer 11

Because they are ignorant. In my opinion, it's as simple as that.

Biochemical depression isn't a sin any more than diabetes is a sin -- and no one is immune to it; it can strike anyone, regardless of religion.

EDITED TO ADD: For people who claim that "I know someone who was cured of depression by Jesus"... you do know that in most cases, depression has a limited length, right? The chances are pretty good that the depression had simply run its course and the cure was then wrongly attributed... at least, in my opinion.

In any case, deep depression is nothing to mess around with. It can lead to self-harm and suicide. Medical treatment is crucial.