Is it ok, for a born again believer to be depressed, to the point of taking meds for it?

Question

Please add your church affiliation if any, and what state or province, in your answer. Thanks

Answer 1

Yes, Depression can be a chemical imbalance. These imbalances are more frequent due to us being further from the pure gene pool. (Adam and Eve) God gives us the medical profession to help if we are sick and he also gives us the Mental health community to use if we are depressed or have a mental illness.

let me ask you this, if you had diabetes... would you feel bad about taking medicine for it? Mental health issues are the same, but most people don't believe it is an actual physical problem with the way the brain transmits information. It is an actual physical problem with neurotransmitters.

I am actually a Biblical Christian but I attend the Seventh Day adventist church because I feel it is closest to the way that God had originally planned for us to worship.

EDIT: Chuck- I did not dismiss this so easily. I have a depression problem that I prayed about and prayed about. I believed God would heal me and I wasted precious time. I was told by a church to have faith. Well, I have faith but I realized that the sometimes God says to us "My grace is sufficient for you". Meaning, we do not need this miracle to increase our faith and he wants us to find an earthly solution to it. Jesus didn't run around willy nilly producing miracles, He did it to increase and instill faith. If you had a car accident and were really messed up, would you go to the hospital for their treatment? Or would you just tell the paramedics to leave you by the side of the road because Jesus would heal you? God can and will work in conjunction with natural means of healing. you need to come out of the dark ages and realize that this is a real physical illness involving actual chemicals that are mis-firing in the brain. Depression is not always caused by situations.

Answer 2

I think it's OK to follow the advise of a physician if you have a medical condition such as depression. If you are depressed you are depressed, whether you are a born again believer or an atheist. It's not a matter of OK or not. However, since you are a born again believer you are aware that you can give your troubles to Jesus and he will lift your burdens off of your shoulders and carry them for you so you don't have to be depressed.

Answer 3

I don't understand the question.
Is Ok for a born again person to be so depressed they need medication for depression, they're depressed because they are born again just does not make sense.
I am Methodist from upstate NY

My answer is yes, it is alright for a depressed person to take medication.

Answer 4

I am a member of an Anglican church, however my background has been primarily with Baptist churches in Colorado.

I, too am a born-again believer. I, too was depressed.

The source of my depression was from being traumatized, and beaten, etc. for an extended period of years. Coming out of that situation, as my Dr. explained to me, my brain's shape and functioning has changed. My brain can no longer make and maintain the correct chemical balance. The chemicals my body no longer makes leave me physically, mentally and emotionally depressed. The Christian psychologist and counselors I have been to each agree that this is not a spiritual problem for me. It is a physical problem, causing difficulties in my mental and emotional areas.

Is it OK for a believer to be depressed? Yes, it happens from any number of causes or stress overloads or grief or trauma or relational problems or physical illnesses. We live in earthly bodies - bodies get sick. Depression is one form of sickness we deal with.

Is it OK for a believer to take medication for depression? Yes, just as you would take medication for asthma or diabetes because your body was incapable of making what is needed, so too, your abilities to function mentally and emotionally can be returned toward a normal level by using medication to get your body to work correctly.

God wants us to be of service to others. He has provided medical Dr.s (Like St. Luke) to use their knowledge and expertise, and to treat us in ways that can help us to live as normally as possible. Jesus was known to heal people.
I am able to live the life of a "healed" person, with the aid of antidepressant medications. In my health I am able to be of service and usefulness that was impossible in my natural depressed state. I fully believe my medication is a gift from God - and he gave me my life back.

Working with counselors is equally as important as taking medication for a person dealing with a deep or lengthy depression illness.

Answer 5

Yes Definitely!

Just like if you were a diabetic, you wouldn't deny yourself insulin due to your religion would you?
Depression is an illness just like any other, seek help.


I'm Catholic and i live in Australia

Answer 6

Yes it is ok to be depressed. It is trial from God to help you. pray to him and ask for his help. I have several clients on meds- Christian Counselor

Answer 7

sure.. i am a born again christian(southern baptist) so is my mother who i am caring for.. she too is born again christian and is currently on medication for depression..

Answer 8

I'm a non-affiliated, born-again Christian, living in West Texas. When you ask, "Is it ok..." I'm not exactly sure what you mean. Do you mean, is it ok that you are very depressed, or do you mean, is it ok that you are taking meds for it? I think these are interesting topics and worth exploring as a matter of Christian faith.

The Bible says that God heals all our diseases (Psalm 103). That's a bold statement. We also have messages in the word that illnesses and misfortunes occur in our lives because of curses (Deuteronomy 28) and sin (John 5:14).

When you reflect upon this, you realize that the problem of illness is really no different than the problem of sin, and that our savior Jesus Christ heals and forgives everything if we turn away from our sins (repent) and ask Him to cleanse us.

However, I do believe this forgiveness happens only in relationship with God, that is, when you actually believe in God enough to ask Him for this forgiveness and healing, in prayer. Some people think that it happens automatically because you call yourself a Christian, but that seems presumptuous to me, like you think God owes you a favor. Be sure to spend time in prayer.

I personally am dismayed at how quickly Christians make excuses for being ill and for having problems. Many times you hear people say that God gives us these "trials" in order to strengthen our faith. That's not really what I read in the Bible. And if I can't find it there, then I don't accept it.

The Bible does say that we should praise God in afflictions, and it does say to be patient in trials (Rom 12). Jesus did say of the blind man that he was blind so that the works of God can be made manifest, but such statements in no way the same thing as saying "God made me sick so I would glorify Him." In fact, this belief in divine suffering sounds a lot more like stoicism, a Greek, non-Christian philosophy. Based on the Word, I believe when somebody is suffering, that it is much more likely based on sin than on some divine plan. However, that does not mean I judge anybody; it only means that I recognize in them the same need for forgiveness and mercy and healing that I also need.

The same people who claim that suffering makes us more Godly are usually the people who deny the plainly stated truth of scripture that we must be holy, and that we must strive towards sinlessness, even if we will miss the mark. Jesus told us to be perfect (Matt 5:48). If you want God to heal you, start obeying Him. If you are up to no good, or you have no-good friends in your life, it's time to make some changes.

So you should see your depression as some sort of a spiritual problem. It is up to you, in prayer and faith, to figure out what that problem(s) is, and to confess your sins in prayer to God, and ask Him to take them away. From there, you can expect in faith that your prayers to be healed will be answered. These may be old sins that you have given up, but have not confessed.

Remember too that faith comes by hearing, and that by the word of God (Rom 10:17). In order to know the promises of God to heal, you must hear (or read) the word in order to have faith. You can also fast for spiritual strength and for healing.

And there's more: Try to find a way to be of service to needy people, and do kind deeds to others. If there is anybody who has hurt you, forgive them in prayer ASAP. If you have hurt anybody, ask them to forgive you. Learn more about what the Bible says about curses, blessings and healing. I suggest reading the book "Blessing or Curse: You Can Choose," by Derek Prince. It is a discussion of Deuteronomy, and God's provision for our healing through Jesus Christ.

I wish the body of Christian believers had more faith, that they would rely on Jesus rather than on psychology and meds. I don't hold it against you that you use meds, but I would much rather see you fight for faith in God, and for faith in the promises we have in Jesus, which are written in the Word. If you have clean-living brothers (2 will do), who would be willing to pray for your healing as it is written in James 5:14, then ask them. Don't let just anybody pray for you in this manner; find somebody who takes holiness seriously. And be persistent.

God bless you and heal you and forgive you, in Jesus' name. That's my prayer.