A Melancholy Faith 001

A Melacholy Faith 001

This series is intended for all of my brothers and sisters whose faith is a melancholy faith.  In plain English - it's for those, who like me, suffer from depression.
Our affliction is nothing new and certainly nothing exceptional.  It just is.  And becasue it "is" we need to understand what it means in the context of our faith and how we can have a strong and vibrant (if not a "yeeeee-haaaaa) faith.
It is my prayer that you will be encouraged, comforted and blessed as we walk in this together.  No, not necessarily happy, giddy or relieved - but if that happens that's well and good.  But as nothing can seperate us from the love of God, nothing can seperate us from the providence of God - nor can anything (except our refusal) keep us from being good and useful servants.
Please feel free to write or comment as we go along.  I don't have ll the answers but I know who does.  Also - if you are close to someone who has to deal with melacholy - please don't hesitate to share this with them.
sheepdog.ms@gmail.com

Depression?  Melacholy?  Huh?  

I've chosen to use the word melacholy instead of depression for a could of reasons.  the first is that when we talk about depression, too many people think they know what we're talking about.  Most don't.  For most depression is either just a bad case of the "blues," to be "gotten over," or it is some horrible, dar, deep flaw in one's mind.  It is neither!

The second reason I use the word melacholy is because it is a word we don't use very often and hence most folks have little problem asking for an explanation.

The third reason is that the Puritans of the 17th century "got it."  They knew, understood and appreciated "depression" which they called melacholy.  No, they didn't understand the neuro-chemical aspect of the affliction but they were not too far off.  However - they we very insistant on two things.  Being melacholy did not demonstrate any defect in the believer's faith and that sin made it worse.  They also made it clear that those who suffered melacholy should be understood and their affliction respected kindly and gently.

Now remember I am a Biblical Counselor and not a psychiatrist - so although I work closely with some psych's I in no way have their knowledge and understanding.  I say that because in the course of my own treatment for melacholy I have learned that it can manifest itself in a lot of different shades of blue.  It can be of short duration or long.  It can be cyclical with big dips below the line.  It can be exacerbated and or triggered by people, places, event, occassions and even nothing.

So my approach to melacholy is informed by my work with psych's (I use the abbreviation respectfully) to whom I owe a great deal of thanks.  But my approach is biblical - or threological, or doctrinal - take your pick.  I am concerned with your heart and soul.  I am concerned with your confidence in Christ and your comfortable assurance of your redemption.  I am also concerned with your service to God which, although it may be limited by our affliction, is no less valuable and necessary.

As we journey forward I hope we will keep in mind the words of Paul:

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 ESV
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. [5] For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. [6] If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. [7] Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

"Comfort"
Comfort is only necessary in affliction.  Ten times Paul uses some form of the term.  It can be "warm fuzzies" but it is actually more solid that that.  Where Paul wrote "who comforts us in all our afflictions," in verse four he uses the form of the word that means, "to call near."  What Paul wants us to see is that in affliction and suffering, God calls us to come near to Him.  

"Comfort"
"so that we may be able to comfort those..."  Same word - same idea.  We are to "call them near" in order to comfort them.

"Comfort" ????
This comfort is grounded upon our salvation not our circumstances.  But it is sooooo
common for our salvation to fade when we are afflicted and/or suffering.  When I drop a heavy weight on my foot, I hardly ever think of heaven.  When afflicted and/or suffering our attention is captive to our affliction and/or suffering.

Here's the tough part.  Is the promise of salvation (which is secure) enough to keep us going even in the midst of affliction and/or suffering?  This is why this word "comfort" also carries the idea of the comforter exhorting and encourageing the one in need of comfort.  If indeed "heaven" is our greatest desire, the secure promise of it should have a comforting value for us.  But, as I said, it is common in affliction/suffering for us to not see and certainly not "feel" it.

"Comfort"
Comfort is not relief but comes with the hope of promised relief.  For us that "relief" may well not come until we are with Him.  Our comfort is our trust in that hope, the assurance we have in Christ.  In is not uncommon for it to be a real battle to be comforted - but that's where comforters and THE Comforter come in.  Those who have grasped the comfort given by the Comforter are obliged to call those in need of comfort to come alongside them and walk together in exhortation and encouragement.

And so - I call you to come alongside me - to call others in need of comfort to come as well - that we might exhort and encourage one another in our afflcition/suffering.

This and That - Worth reading

As a Biblical Counselor and Teacher I have the the wonderful opportunity of working with men and women who struggle with what we call "mental-illness."  I really don't like that designation because - fundamentally they either have a neuro-chemical imbalance (a physical condition) or an emotional wound (a "soulish" condition).  Apart from their physical or soulish dis-ease (not disease) they are just like us, struggling saints seeking to live their lives to the glory of God.

It's tough to find good solid biblical perspectives on the conditions faced by these brothers and sisters.  Too much of the contemporary material is shallow or judgmental (not all, just most).  There seems to be a supposition that these folks deserve a special and on the fringes place n the Kingdom which, as well as being sad, is sinful.  In relegating these saints to the fringes the Kingdom does itself a grave harm and makes itself poorer by not having the gifts and insights of these believers available for the whole Body.

Yes, my experience has been that these brothers and sisters have a great deal to contribute to their faith family but because it comes packaged in an unusual wrapping they never get the opportunity to serve.  Yes, it can be difficult and it can, at times be  disruptive - but so????

One work I have found to be a real blessing is Richard Baxter,s work, The Cure of Melacholy and Overmuch Sorrow by Faith.    Though the reader must keep in mind the time in which it was written and the limited understanding of these issues it is a wonderful work.  The tenderness and depth of understanding that Baxter brings to the table is well worth the effort of getting through a 17th century work.

In particular I was blessed by his treatment of those who suffer depression (of various types).  There is an implicit demand in the work that we seek to understand and minister to these brothers and sisters.

When he is dealing with those whom we would see as "clinically" or "chronically" depressed there is not condemnation nor even judgement.  He basically says that they are as they are and that although none of us is free from the effects of sin we must not simply ascribe their condition to their sin or lack of faith.  Actually, he pretty much rejects that whole idea.

What he does do is give us insights that enhance our understanding and appreciation of what they struggle with and what that struggle looks like.  Their condition is not a "spiritual" problem but rather a problem that adversely affects their spirits.  They do not have some "lack of faith' but rather a condition that obscures or weakens their ability to recognized the faith they have.

He tells us that though we may feel that we, in a depression, are condemned by God he states;
"nor will He condemn you for those ill effects which are unavoidable from the power  of a bodily disease."

He also writes:

"But so far as reason yet hath power, and the will can govern passions, it is your fault if you use not the power, though the difficulty make the less."

This is something all of us who struggle with psychiatric/psychological dis-eases (not diseases) need to take to heart.  Baxter is telling us that whatever our condition, it is not what we can not do that we are accountable for but rather what we can do that we do not do.  This should encourage all of us!

God does not expect a lame man to run or a deaf man to enjoy opera but He does require that they do - for Him and His - what they CAN.

We can listen to or read the Word.  We can attend worship (some of us have to sit on the back row ready to bolt - but that's OK).  We can listen to and sing praises.  We can pray - there is no one acceptable method - but there is a model.   We can all give - something.

That which, as a consequence of our condition/issue, we can not do we are not held accountable in.  But, and it's only right, that which we can do is acceptable to Him regardless of how "well" (whatever that means) we do it.  He wants you to serve Him right where you are.  For some of us the hard part is finding a place where we will be allowed to serve Him. - Ouch!

I encourage you, whether you struggle with these issues, know someone who does or are just moved with compassion by the Spirit - to get a copy of Baxter's work and read it slowly.  He does chide those who engage in overmuch sorrow out of ignorance and sin - but those he sees are only two of the categories of people who struggle with overmuch sorrow.

It is my hope that in this work you will find understanding, sympathy and compassion with all of those in our faith family who so struggle.